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.

Bridge the gap

Resources
Five stepping stones or platforms such as milk crates, pallets, tree stumps, etc.
Three planks or beams (pioneering poles are suitable and add challenge).
pegs and ropes or similar to mark out the river/ravine.

Preparation
Mark out the banks of the river or edges of the ravine with rope and pegs. Place the "stepping stones" in a pattern that crosses the area. Make sure that at least one of the gaps to bridge is longer than the longest pole available.

The task
Transport the entire Patrol and all of the equipment (the planks/poles) across the ravine. Any person or equipment that touches the ground inside the ravine will be removed by the observer and placed at the start of the course.

Solution(s)
Work as a team to bridge the gap between the stepping stones with the planks. Use fulcrum action (see-saw) to balance the poles if necessary to bridge a wider gap.

Dowse the flame

Resources
One rope suspended out of reach above the ground.
One candle (and matches to re-light it, of course).
One water balloon (filled with water).
Staves or bamboos and some string or rope suitable for lashing them - each stave should be shorter than 3 metres.
Pegs and ropes or similar to mark out the exclusion zone.

Preparation
Mark out the banks of the river or edges of the exclusion zone with rope and pegs so that there is at least a 3 metre stretch to the crash zone (the further the distance, the harder the challenge). Suspend the water bomb on the rope so that it is above the height of the average Scout. Place the candle, lit, beneath the water bomb.

The task
Use the equipment to burst the balloon and extinguish the candle without entering the exclusion zone.

Solution(s)
Work as a team to build a poking stick that can reach the water balloon and burst it over the candle. This is a great task for spotting a leader who uses team members as it is possible to do it on your own.