Rove Around the World with Scouts.

Challenge:

Using simple supplies, youth can design and build a boat that can float the weight of their team’s “sailor.” Your sailor can be an item that represents your small team (for example, the Bear Lodge may choose to use a small bear), something that represents your Section (like Scouter Marc’s beloved coffee mug), or anything else you can think of (small dollar store plastic animals would work well!).

For an added challenge, add more weight to the boat, like coins or rocks. You can also test how water-tight the boat is by challenging the youth to float a piece of cotton candy in the boat—as soon as the cotton candy gets wet, it will disintegrate!

 

 

Safety Tips

What tools are you using and does everyone know how to use them safely?

• For older Sections, ensure the use of a life jacket for anyone on the raft or floatation device.
• Scouters—if you are using natural water (river, lake, etc) as part of your safety moment, make sure everyone knows the boundaries of the activity and that you have an appropriate entry/exit area from the water in the event you get wet!

 

 

Other Activities

Other activities to explore the SDGs (through the Scouts for Sustainability program)

SDG #14—Life Below Water:

Four Seasons,Climate Scientists,Climate Charades,Bow, Stern, Port, Starboard, Echolocation

Resources

• Stay Afloat
• Australia’s First Watercrafts
• How to tie a bowline
• Ocean Wise—Take action, learn from their research and more.

Supplies:

Per small team (Lodge, Lair, Patrol, etc.):

• Boat-making supplies: Milk cartons, duct tape, non-plastic straws, reused plastic bags, reused plastic dishes, etc. anything you think would be fun.
• A ‘sailor’—have the youth bring something from home or supply each team with a ‘sailor’ like a stuffy or your Section’s mascot (Chuck the Beaver).

For the Section:

• Somewhere to test the boat—natural water is great (remember to Leave No Trace), but a bin filled with water would work just as well
•  Extra items to add more weight (coins, rocks, etc

Virtual Meetings

To keep your virtual meeting safe, skip the water during the meeting and simply focus on awesome boat building! You can use materials from around the house like egg cartons, sticks, paper, empty milk jugs and more. Alternatively, you can explore an origami boat-making tutorial together.

After the meeting, get the youth to take pictures or videos of their boats floating in a bin of water (tub, sink, bathtub). Can it hold coins or a handful of rocks without sinking? Share your boating stories, photos and videos at the next meeting!

 

Review

• How does Australia use boats to get around?
• What boats were traditionally used by the Indigenous People of Australia?
• What dangers would you have to look out for when sailing around Australia?
• Have you tried tying a bowline knot?
• What other safety items do sailors use?

 

Supplies List:

• Milk cartons
• Non-plastic straws
• Reused Plastic dishes
• Coins
• Cotton candy
• A ‘sailor’ (could be a stuffed toy, a hot wheel’s car etc.)

• Duct tape
• Reused Plastic bags
• Cardboard
• Rocks
• Rope
• Water to test the floatability (stream, river, even a bin or bath)