On Monday 31st March, we did some skills based around the Elsie Barlow competition. One of the bases we did was tracking using matchsticks. Tracking is one of the traditional scouting activities and involves Cub scouts leaving signs or symbols from natural materials on a trail or course for others to follow. The cubs managed to pick up on the basic symbols and had a go at each of the signs in groups.

On one of the other bases we did knots which are also a traditional scouting activity. The cubs with Rikki’s help did some traditional knots and seemed to get all tangled up as they learned.

We also did a jumbled up relay as a team exercise which involved a normal race with a twist. The cubs formed lines as sixes at one end of the hall while at the other end Raksha and Hathi were waiting at the other end. As each cub raced up to the leaders they received a word 13 in all they had to put them together to perform a task. The twist was that no two tasks were the same. The cubs enjoyed the activities as there was an element of competition in all the bases they did.

The final base they did was to make up a story each cub added their own piece. The cubs were very imaginative with what they came up with but a very good story was told.