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Description

This activity is inspired by movies where someone has to get across a space protected by laser beams, without breaking any of the beams. Beavers make obstacle courses with wool to represent the laser beams. Groups of Beavers build and test a course, and then try each others' courses.
This activity has been very successful for us just after teaching knots, because the Beavers can use their simple hitches, reef knots or other knots to attach the wool.

Resources

For each Lodge (or other group):
1 ball red wool (or similar with low breaking strain - not monofilament)
~8 chairs (or posts, poles etc., to string the wool between)
Scissors
Sticky tape or blu-tac

Instructions

(This description is for a Beaver colony, the section with which we've run the activity. I would expect it to work for older sections, and have suggested some extensions at the end. )

Make a gangway across which to thread the 'laser beams' - we do this by making two rows of chairs with their backs facing each other (see photo), But it could be done using lines of bamboo poles if outside, or by threading between trees.
This activity has been very successful just after teaching knots, because the Beavers can use their simple hitches, reef knots or other knots to attach the wool.

Make a very simple obstacle course to demonstrate the idea - e.g. stretch three lengths of wool across the gangway at ankle height, or at Beaver chest/head height. Let the Beavers try this obstacle course.

Then, in Lodges, or similar groups, let the Beavers make their own courses, giving each group their own gangway in which to work. Tell them that they will later try each others' courses.

We give each Beaver group one or more adult helper(s) who:
*Ensures each 'laser beam' is a seperate length of wool (making the entire course out of one cat's cradle is a bad idea as someone who tries the course & trips might get tangled. Also, if Beavers are practicing knots, then we feel that they should do as many knots as possible!)
*Encourages teamwork and keeps the group on task
*Helps with knotting if needed (and has sticky tape/blu tac to attach the wool for any Beavers who don't have the dexterity to manage knots).
*Gets the group to build and then try their obstacle course, making improvements (and repairs!) as they go. In our experience, some groups build a very basic course to play with asap, and then realise it's too easy. Others spend ages building the most fiendish course they can, and only realise when they try it for themselves that it is impossible to get through. We find that a cycle of build-test-improve works best to keep everyone engaged, and to end up with workable courses.
*If the helpers are occasional helpers (e.g. from Beavers' families) we remind them not to be too helpful - they should let each group design their own course (including trying impractical ideas provided they aren't dangerous), rather than directing the group

After a reasonable time, let each group try the others' obstacle courses.

This is enough for our Beavers- for older children I'd experiment with using the course for games. Games might include using the obstacle courses for races, or allowing the team that built to course to 'defend' it (if someone is going through the course and snags a 'laser beam' then a 'defender' may start through the obstacle course after them, aiming to catch up with them and tag them).

Safety considerations:
* Use wool that will break or come unknotted easily if someone does become tangled or fall across a 'laser beam'.
* When Beavers are trying the course, either let only one Beaver try it at a time, or keep gaps between Beavers on the course (Beavers crowding up too closely can accidentely kick, knock or tread on each other).

Tags

• agility
• construction

Badge Links

• Camp Craft - Reef knot
• Health and Fitness - Agility
• Outdoors - Knots
• Teamwork - Challenge
• Teamwork - Team game