Cub Scout Games, Songs, and Activities

Games and Activities

Akela, Leader of the Wolves

Mark a 4-foot-diameter circle on the ground or floor. Akela stands in the center. One by one, the other "wolves" (Cub Scouts) try to push or pull her or him completely out of the ring. A wolf who succeeds becomes the new Akela.

Bagheera's Eyes

This is an observation game. Divide the den into two teams. Give each team a dozen or more common articles-pencil, ball, card, toy truck, Cub Scouting book, jackknife, paper clip, etc. Ask the teams to go to opposite sides of the room and arrange their articles on the floor any way they want as long as the items are six to twelve inches apart. A leader should note the final arrangement of the articles on a sheet of paper.

Each team then goes to the other's teams arrangement and looks at it for exactly 1 minute. Then they gather up all of the articles, return to their original place, and try to arrange the articles the same way the other team had them. The team with the most articles placed in the correct position wins.

Balloon Batting Relay

This game may be played by two or more teams. Arrange teams in parallel lines with teammates spaced about 15 feet apart. On signal, the first player on each team bats the balloon with either hand toward his next teammate, who bats it to the next, and so on until the balloon reaches the finish line. If the balloon touches the ground, it must be brought back to the starting line and the team must begin again.

Block and Tackle Experiment

This simple apparatus shows how block and tackle increases power. You need two lengths of broomstick and a length of clothesline. Fasten one end of the line to one of the sticks. Wrap line loosely around both sticks as shown. Have two of your biggest den members grasp the sticks and try to keep them apart while the smallest den member pulls on the line. He should be able to pull the sticks together no matter how the others try to keep them apart.

Catapult Experiment

Catapult Experiment -Use a ruler and an eraser or other soft projectile. Have a boy strike the short end of the ruler. How far did the projectile go? Now have him try it with half the ruler over the edge and hit it with the same force. Is there a difference in the distance? Why?

Cockfights

Two Cub Scouts hold their left ankle behind them with their left hand and keep their right arm close to their side. The arm must not be used to strike or shove. On signal, they try to upset each other by charging or shouldering, or try to force the other to drop his left foot. With a large number of players, a free-for-all may be held. The last player to remain standing wins.

Collecting Cocoons

At this time of year caterpillars that will become moths and butterflies can be found on trees and bushes. So can cocoons, the next statge in the life of a moth or butterfly. If your boys find a cocoon on a nautre ramble, carefully cut off the piece of branch to which it is attached. Treat it gently as you carry it home. Make a home for it out of an empty, clean ice cream tub with a window cut in it. Cover the window with plastic wrap. In due time, the cocoon will spring forth as a moth or butterfly.

Den Safari

For the third den meeting this month, it is suggested that the den go on safari within your community. Your destination could be a nature center, wildlife refuge, or large park where local wildlife might be spotted. Or safari could be a nature ramble. For activity ideas on the ramble, see pages 8-3 to 8-6 in the Cub Scout Leader's How-To Book.

Fitness Circle Game

Form a circle as large as the room permits with all Cub Scouts facing the same direction. Give instructions for various activities as follows:

1. Start walking in a circle, and keep walking between these exercises.
2. Start hopping.
3. Make yourself as small as possible and continue walking.
4. Make yourself as tall as possible and continue walking. Now reach your hands high over your heads.
5. Bend your knees slightly, grasp your ankles, and continue walking.
6. Walk as if the heel of one foot and the toes of the other were sore.
7. Walk stiff-legged.
8. Squat down and jump forward from that position.
9. Walk on hands and one foot with the other leg held high, imitating a dog with a lame foot.
10. Walk forward at a rapid pace (don't run) while swinging your arms vigorously.
11. Take giant steps.
12. Walk forward, raising your knees as high as possible with each step.
13. Run, lifting your knees high.
14. Walk on your hands and feet.

Nature Scavenger Hunt

This hunt is intended to test the boys' knowledge of nature in an exciting competition. It is run like any scavenger hunt, with each den having a list of nature objects and identifying as many as possible in a time limit set (10 to 20 minutes). The list should have 20 to 50 objects from nature that can be found within the area. The should be common enough that a Cub Scout can identify most of them.

Your list will reflect nature items which can be found in your locale. These are some suggestions:

• Anthill
• Oak Leaf
• Maple Leaf
• Dandelion
• Needle from an Evergreen
• An insect
• An animal home
• A cocoon
• A spider web
• Animal track
• Bird's nest
• Barrel cactus

Safari Binoculars

Don't forget to take your binoculars! You'll need them when searching for lost cities of gold or a herd of wild elephants. Each boy will need two toilet paper tubes to make his safai binoculars. Cover one end of each tube with a 3-inch circle of colored cellophane and tape it securely. Tape construction paper around each tube and then tape the tubes together. Poke a hole near the viewing end of each tube and string a 2-foot piece of yarn between them to form a neck strap.

Shere Khan

(The Tiger Game; it is also known as Pom-Pom-Pullaway.) One Cub Scout is Shere Khan, the tiger. All others line up against a wall. Shere Khan stands in the center of the play area. The object of the game is to cross to the opposite goal without being tagged. To start the game, Shere Khan says, "Who's afraid of Shere Khan?" The others answer, "No one," and immediately run across the open space towards the opposite side. All cub Scouts tagged help Shere Khan tag the remaining players. The last one caught becomes Shere Khan next time.

Water Life at Night

To see below the surface of a pond or stream at night, put a lighted flashlight in a watertight jar. (A large instant-coffee jar is good.) You might need to add a stone or two in the jar to make it sink. Screw the top on tightly and tie a cord around the neck of the jar. Lower it into the water.

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