Magpies nest
pack night programs.
balloons.
Program submitted by Barry Smith from PAWScouts.
With all the recent interest in the race to be first around the world in a balloon, why not run a pack night around the theme of balloons?
Before the Cubs arrive, hide balloons around the room, and as they come in, ask them to find a balloon and blow it up,
the six with the most balloons just before you are ready to start the pack meeting, get, (out of breath hopefully!) the points, or, whatever you decide appropriate.
Do your usuall subs, grand howl, flag break and start to the pack meeting then try this game:-
Radioactive, Draw a large cross on the floor at least 12ft square, or use rope or 4 large hoops, place a team in each corner and throw in a large balloon, the game is then to
get the Cubs to pat the balloon, or `radioactive cloud` to one of the other `countries`, or `islands` or whatever you wish to name them, then with your back to the game, blow
a whistle or some other way of signaling stop and the team with the balloon or `radioactive cloud`in their section has to go to a designated area to get de-contaminated, the ladies toilet
usually prooves popular! after prior warning and preparation of course! If you need a winner then the country with th least contaminations is the one.
About 10 mins is right for this game.
Activity:- You will need plaster of Paris, paper tissue or crepe paper, straws or light canes or some other materials to make simple ballon shapes with a fairly wide neck, try and make them as light as possible but it is supprising just how heavey articles can be made to fly! Believe it or not, a plastic shopping bag can be made to float to the ceiling full of hot air. For the hot air to power the balloons a variety of ways can be utilised, the best of course is an outside fire without the flames (glowing), but this is not always practicable, so try a hair drier or fan heater inside or even a primus or other stove, but please make sure you have sufficient leaders to supervise this activity very carfully indeed as all these materials are very flamable! Demonstrate how the hot air is lighter than cold air by the way it makes the balloons float up and then drop when it cools down.
Link this activity with the scientist badge.
Game:- Rocket race.
You will need enough string to reach across, or, the length of the room, 4 short (2ins) and 4 longer (4ins) lengths of platic hose or plastic piping, 4 balloons, (or more if they pop, as they invariably do!) string or tape and plenty of puff! String the 2 ins tube onto string, tape the 4ins tube to the shorter one and attach the balloon to it. When you blow the balloon up and let it go it powers the tubes along the string. Teams or sixes blow up balloon via the long tube and at a given signal let go, and the `rocket` that either reaches the farthest or is first at a given point wins. This game can also be used as an activity for the scientist badge or a link if you do jet engines for a topic. Again 10 mins for the game plus prep time.
Game:- Balloon basketball,
The `goalies` stand on a chair at each end of the room with his arms shaped like a hoop.
and the teams have to get the balloon through their own `goalies arms to score a `basket` with the other team trying to stop them of course!
Play till the pack meeting ends.