Games

Articles related to Games

Picaria - A Native American Game  Picaria is a Native American board game. It is like a cross between tic-tac-toe and checkers. It could be used with Tiger, Wolf, or Bear electives or with a group working on the Indian Lore merit badge.

Tell It Like It Isn’t Game  Every now and then people will contact me with a question about how I did this requirement or that. One question I have received a few times is "What are the rules for Tell It Like It Isn't for Tiger Achievement 4?" The instructions can be found in the Tiger handbook, but I think sometimes as den leaders we look at something and think it must be more complicated. Tell It Like It Isn't is the game most of us know as Telephone. Yes, it really is that simple.

Chicken on a Hut Game  This game makes a fun break in a meeting. It is a favorite with our Venture Crew. Because of the physical contact with the partners, when playing this game with our coed Crew, boys are partners with boys and girls are partners with girls.

Citizenship Football Game  The purpose of the game is to reinforce the ideas which are discussed in the Webelos Citizen activity badge.

Kick the Can  Kick the can is a classic game which combines tag and hide and go seek. This is a great wide area game for a large group. Use it as an activity at a pack campout or to add some physical activity to a pack meeting.

Dock Your Flying Saucer Game  The idea of this game is to put the flying saucer (a Frisbee) in its space dock (a box). This is a good game for indoors or out.

Elbow Balloon Pass Game  This game is all about cooperation. Talk afterwards about what made it easier to pass the balloon and what made it harder.

Hail Storm Game  This game doesn’t take much space, so it can be played indoors. If you think ahead and take the materials to camp with you, you can even play it under a fly on a rainy day.

Guide Me Game for Webelos, Boy Scouts, and Venturers  This game makes a fun break in a meeting. It is appropriate for Webelos, Boy Scouts, or Venturers. The will have to work together to accomplish their goal.

Red Light Green Light  When working with Cub Scouts, remember KISMIF - Keep It Simple. Make It Fun. Sometimes we come up with elaborite or complicated plans when our young Scouts would really be just as happy with something simple. Red Light Green Light is a great example of this. It is simple and requires no preparation or materials. My Cub Scouts always enjoy these "classic" playground games.

Human Knot Game  This is an icebreaker in which a group must work together to "untie" themselves from a knot. This is a cooperative rather than competitive game.

Hubbub - A Native American Dice Game  This is a traditional Native American game. The scoring systems seem to vary from one reference to another, so the system below is a simplified system which scouts should be able to follow.

Capture the Flag  Capture the Flag is a great game for a large group. Our Boy Scout troop plays it often as an interpatrol activity during meetings. Cub Scouts can play it also. We had a joint Pack/Troop flag retirement ceremony at a local park in the spring. When the ceremony was over, the Boy Scouts organized a game of capture the flag, putting some Cub Scouts on each team. They used most of the park as their play area. It was legendary. :-)

Crossing the Alligator Pit Game  This is a very challenging game which combines lashing skills and teamwork. It would work well for an interpatrol activity at a meeting focused on pioneering skills.

Light the Candle Game for Cub Scouts  This is a simple game which works in well with a holiday themed meeting. It only requires a few materials and not much preparation, which makes it ideal in my mind. And it works indoors.

Cub Scout Nutrition Game - Food Pyramid Go Fish Game  This is basically a go fish game with different types of food. I liked how the kids talked about the different types of food they saw on the cards.

Soccer Marbles  If you are having a soccer or sports themed meeting, a soccer drill can be a fun way to burn of some energy. Soccer marbles is a three person soccer drill. It is simple enough for young Scouts.

Island Tug of War Game  Island tug-of-war is an adaptation of traditional tug of war which not only requires strength but also agility and balance. This game is appropriate for all ages from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts to Venturers.

Clothesline Relay Game  In this relay, the Scouts are doing the laundry. They hang out towels on a clothesline and then bring them back in.

Snapper Fishing Game  This is a traditional Scout game which might date back to Baden-Powell himself. It practices Scoutcraft (lashings) as well as cooperation and problem solving.

Steal the Bacon  Here is another game for a large group of Scouts. This is fun for all age levels - from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts to Venturers. Your older Scouts might try to employ some strategy when playing this game.

Kims Game with Items for a Home First Aid Kit  Kim’s game is a traditional Scouting game which was introduced by Sir Robert Baden-Powell. It is based on a game describe by Rudyard Kipling. This version of the game helps Scouts learn what should be in a home first aid kit.

Caterpillar Race Game  Here is a fun game for Cub Scouts. They will have to work together to match their movements, so it teaches them teamwork and coordination.

What’s In the Bag Game  What's In the Bag is a simple guessing game which can be adjusted for any meeting theme. Use it at a den meeting or a pack meeting.

Soccer Tennis  When my den meetings were immediately after school, I often did a physical activity during the gathering time. The Scouts needed to run around and burn off a little energy before they were ready to concentrate on the den activities.

Sharks and Minnows  Here is a game to go with this month's aquatic theme. It can be used to fuflill requirement 2 for the Swimming belt loop from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program: "Play a recreational game in the water with your den, pack, or family." This is a simple version of the game. There are many, many variations and some groups add "house rules" as well.

My Story Mystery Game  The My Story Mystery Game is a great way to get to know some "history" about a group of individuals. It makes a great icebreaker. It can also serve as an introduction to a discussion about oral history and storytelling.

Show Me the Truth Game  Let's be honest. Some of the Cub Scout requirements which are all talking can be tough to do with a group of restless boys. Sometimes when I am looking at a requirement and I see the words Character Connection, my first instinct is to sigh. But then I take a deep breath and remember that playing a game can make it fun.

Classic Outdoor Games  For this month's theme, I am focusing on classic outdoor games. These are games which would have been played by the Scout's parents or even grandparents. There are a few ideas listed on the right, and more will gradually be shown on the Classic Outdoor Games Theme page.

Sleeping Pirate Game  This month I am featuring the Cultural Awareness Troop Program Feature for Boy Scouts. The meeting plan for week two suggests playing Sleeping Pirate as a opening activity while the Scouts are gathering. This works well for this purpose since it doesn't require much equipment and additional Scouts can join in as they arrive.