Scout Leadership Course Session Activity Notes

Session activity

Solutions and Decisions: Task 1 (Outdoor) Page 1 Page 2

Time to allocate for this activity

4 x 15 minute bases, following introduction

Resources required

Cue cards. See individual activity for resources.

Activity Notes

These activities are designed to give opportunities to identify tasks, individuals and groups in a problem solving environment. At each activity, the Patrol must nominate a leader before they are handed the cue card. The cue card gives all the information they need to get started on the task. An adult leader acts as observer to monitor the group, offering advice and guidance if the leader appears out of their depth, off-task or if the Patrol is in danger. The observer will note the progress of the leader through the stages of solving the problem to report back later. All tasks require outdoor space to run and some resources as detailed below:

Release the cork

Resources
1 x plastic pipe - wide enough to hold a cork, with many holes randomly drilled up the entire length. There should be as many holes as there are fingers on the average Patrol! The holes must be large enough to let a decent flow of water out, but small enough to be covered by the average Scout finger. Remove any burrs or sharp edges. 1 cork (plus a replacement if lost). A pourable water supply (a couple of jugs maybe) containing enough water to fill the pipe.

Preparation
"Plant" the pipe into the ground so that it is stable (or mount on a stand). Place the cork in the bottom of the pipe. Leave the water supply close at hand.

The task
Retrieve the cork from the pipe without lifting or moving the pipe.

Solution(s)
Work as a team to cover the holes with your fingers. Fill the pipe with water and have a "catcher" to grab the cork when it floats to the surface.

Spiders Web

Resources
2 upright poles (goal post style) or 2 trees about 3 or 4 metres apart.
A large length of rope - or several shorter bits.

Preparation
Create an uncomplicated web of crossing ropes between the two posts. Make the spaces formed by the ropes of varying shapes and sizes, but big enough for a Scout to fit through. There needs to be at least as many holes as there are Patrol members, distributed to make it difficult to get everyone through at a lower level.

The task
Each member must cross through the web without touching it and waking the spider. As a Scout passes through a hole, it becomes locked out and cannot be used again.

Solution(s)
Work as a team to identify the best hole for each person. Sequence the pass-throughs so there is help is on either side to lift Patrol members high up.