Individual Games for Cub Scout Meetings

Scout games teach skill-building.

The Cub Scouts provides boys with a sense of community through activities. One principle that Cub Scouts teach is that boys should always do their best during games whether they win or lose. To help promote this idea, scouts are taught skill-building activities by playing games. Among games Cub Scouts play are ones designed to teach knots, sense of direction and aim.

The Blind Knot Activity

Each scout is given a blindfold, rope, pencil and paper. Except for the leader, everyone sits in a row and puts on the blindfold. The leader ties a knot and passes it down the line and every player holds the knot for 10 seconds. The boys then write down the type of knot they think they just felt, and try to replicate the knot with their own pieces of rope. The leader then checks the tied knot versus the written knot.

Compass Point Exchange Game

The scout leader lays poles or draw lines in chalk on the floor indicating the directions of a compass, including north, south, east, west, southeast, northeast, southwest and northwest. The leader has a scout stand at the end of each pole or line. The leader then calls out two directions. The scouts standing on those directions must run around the outside of the circle to the other scout's spot. The scouts that move when they should not, or do not move when they are supposed to, are "out." The last two scouts remaining win.

Bowline Island Rescue

This game requires a 30-foot rope. Have the scouts stand clustered in a group and draw a chalk line around them on the floor. The leader stands outside the circle and explains that the scouts are stranded on an imaginary island. The leader tosses the rope to the first scout who must catch it and tie a bowline loop around his waist. The leader then pulls him through the "water" surrounding the island. When the scout reaches safety, he must quickly untie the knot, coil the line and toss it to the next scout. This is repeated until all the scouts are "safe."

Dueling Candles

Each scout needs a candle and squirt gun for this game. A leader positions each dueling pair of scouts 10 to 15 feet apart, depending on how far the squirt guns can shoot. The leader places a lit candle in front of each scout. After the leader yells "ready, aim, fire," the scouts shoot their squirt guns once at their opponents' candles. The first scout to put out his opponent's candle wins.

References

• Boy Scout Trail: Boy Scout Activities