Camporee Activities

Here is some info about the events that are a part of the Fall Camporee

Events

At each Event Station, historians and re-enactors will tell the boys

about the historical significance of this particular location, as it relates to the

Vicksburg Campaign; they will demonstrate an aspect of soldier's life during

the Civil War.

At each Event Station there will be a very simple team building

activity, which the Adult leaders will supervise. This activity will engage the

boys for 10 or 15 minutes while waiting for the group in front to finish the

history lesson. All materials and supplies for the Teamwork Activity will be

provided to the Host Troop.

The Event Trail is 1.5 mile loop.

Vicksburg

History lesson: Running the Gauntlet

Teamwork Activity: "Giant Slingshot"

Giant Slingshot

Scouts will launch tennis balls at plywood cutout of Civil War Gunboat

Port Gibson

History lesson: U.S. Infantry

Teamwork Activity: "Island Hopping"

Island Hopping

Equipment: Two 2x4x12" boards for each Troop member;

plus one extra 2x4x12" board

Procedure: Place the 2x4x12" boards in a single line on

the floor, perpendicular to the finish line. Each patrol

member stands on two of the boards, facing the finish

line. One board should be left unused at the rear of the

patrol line. On signal, the extra board is passed

up the line from the last player to the first, who places

the board down in front of him and steps onto it with

his rear foot. Each Scout in line advances by moving his

rear foot to the newly vacated board ahead of him. The

remaining empty board is passed forward and the process

is repeated. If a Scout steps off a board, the

entire Troop must move back and start over.

Bruinsburg

History lesson: U.S. Navy

Teamwork Activity: "Tangle Knot"

Tangle Knot

Procedure: Ask a group of 10 to 16 Scouts to form a tight

circle. Have everyone close their eyes and extend their

hands toward the center of the circle. Ask each person

to grasp someone else's hands in both of his hands,

keeping his eyes closed. When every hand is grasping

another hand, tell the participants to open their eyes

and listen to their objective.

Object: Without letting go of hands, the group is to

unwind, freeing themselves from the seemingly impossible

knot and forming a circle.

Rules:

1. Hand-to-hand contact may not be broken when

unwinding the knot. Grips may change and palms

may pivot on one another, but contact must be

maintained.

2. When the group is finally arranged in a circle, the

arms of some individuals might be crossed. This is

part of an acceptable solution.

3. If time is running out, the problem can be simplified

by breaking one grip and asking the group to form a

single line instead of a circle.

Raymond

History lesson: Artillery

Teamwork Activity: "Swamp Walker"

Swamp Walker

Equipment: one pair of Swamp Walkers for each team,

made from 2x4 x 8 ft long with rope loop handles.

Procedure: Clear a relatively flat area 50 ft wide.

A team of four Scouts puts their feet on board and grasp the rope loops.

Team must coordinate leg movements to navigate Swamp Walker across the

field, and then return to the starting point. This can be run as a relay.

Jackson

History lesson: Cavalry

Teamwork Activity: "Newspaper Basketball"

Newspaper Basketball

Equipment: A stack of old newspapers; 5-gallon bucket ; 10 ft measuring

rope.

Procedure: The Scouts in each Troop line up in relay formation.

Place the 5-gallon bucket 10 feet in front of each Troop.

The first Scout in each line crumples one sheet of newspaper into a ball,

then tries to throw the newspaper ball into the bucket.

If he succeeds, the second Scout takes his turn. If he doesn't

succeed, he must retrieve his newspaper ball, return, and throw

until he makes it in. (He does not crumple a new sheet after each miss).

Clinton

History lesson: C.S. Infantry

Teamwork Activity: Hoola-hoop Pass"

Hoola-hoop Pass

Equipment: hoola-hoop

Procedure: Ask a group of 10 to 16 Scouts to form a tight circle.

Place a hoola-hoop on someones arm.

Have everyone grasp hands.

On go, the Scouts move the hoola hoop around the circle while

holding hands. The person's adjacent to the boy with the hoop

can help manipulate the hoola-hoop around his body, as long

as their hands do not come unclasp.

Rocky Springs

History lesson: C.S. Home Front

Teamwork Activity: "Period Correct Meals"

Period Correct Meals

Patrols will describe how the researched, selected and prepared their period

correct breakfast and supper.