Scout Lore of Troop 10

     About 25 years ago I needed a "plan 'B'" idea for when we ran into trouble at a Troop meeting and thus the Scout Rope was born. From that we actually have 3 "uniforming" lore traditions that go together.

     #1. The scout rope, a 6' long strand of mountaineering rope, which you can now really buy anywhere as long as it is that multicolored polypropylene rope (cool colors get the boys to carry it). The rope is issued to each boy when he joins, his first meeting preferably so he walks out with something special. They are told to keep the rope on their belt at all times to "be prepared". The rope can be used for first aid but more importantly it is used for games and competitions. It is also a great filler for a slow point in a Troop meeting. I'm sure you had this happened more then once, the person with the skill challenge forgot to plan anything so "Everyone stand up and we are going to find out who is the fastest to tie a Bowline." The kids whip out their rope (no rope, out of luck tonight, no shot at the prize) and they get ready by holding the ends of the rope about a foot apart, "ready, get set, go!" and in seconds you hear a yell "DONE!” You've got a winner and now the boys want to beat him the next time. We do it 2 out of 3 times so it's not a fluke but skill. I would only do 1 or 2 knots at a time or is "dilutes" the effectiveness of this quick filler challenge. I think it is important to put the fastest boys name on a chart so the other boys will want to be faster the next time. Scout ropes also look good hanging on the belt... it gives the boys a "scout like" ready look.

     #2. We also do a "fire bag". The concept is based on the Indians "possible bag" (http://www.matoska.com/possbags.htm). The American Indian carried a bag with his "magic" in it. It would contain medicines and herbs and anything he might need to survive. The closest thing I could think of a use in Scouting for this great Indian Lore idea was to have the boys make a bag filled with all kinds of fire starters. The ideal bag is something in fabric, like an old marble bag, though a plastic 1 gallon bag will work (but plastic doesn't have the right "feel" as I don't think that Glad bags had made it to America in the 1800's). We take a meeting here and there to have the boys make wax egg carton fire starters (boil the wax outside in the parking lot) and also make different match fire starters (dipped in wax or nail polish) and pine cone fire starters (Google for ideas, the more the better). We tell the boys to collect lint from the dryer at home and keep in the bag. We will occasionally give out a flint and steel kit as a prize for an event or fund raiser. All of this is to encourage the boys to once again "be prepared". We encourage them to use the bag materials for camp fires and cooking fires throughout the year. We will also use it once or twice a year to have fire building contest and tell them they can only use what is in their Patrol members collective fire bags. The contest are your traditional camporee games, burn the string, boil the water, etc.

     3. The third tradition was to bring back the Scout stave (http://members.tripod.com/~SNE/staff.gif graphic is a light scan but you can find a better by searching). The funny thing is 20 years ago you had to buy broom handles as the Scout office didn't stock them like they do now. Anyway Google for Scout Stave's and you will find games and traditions related to them. They are great to carve on, make measuring rulers for fish measuring, and use for stretcher races etc. We took the tradition 1 step farther and introduced the kids to the Indian lore "Coup Stick" (http://www.fourwindsnp.com/dance_coup_sticks/). The Indians would decorate them with beads and skins and feathers. It seems to me that they were also a weapon, as in "counting coup, but we don't tell the boys that part. We want them to take the staves to campouts and especially camporees as they are nice to display in front of their tents. We also have stands that they stand in for each Patrol to decorate their patrol corners