PACK AND DEN ACTIVITIES

Tall Ships, Naval Museums, and other interesting places
Commissioner Dave

Perhaps you live close enough to one that your den could visit a naval themed museum.  There are a lot of them out there.

Tall Ships

There are a lot of Tall Ships around these days. 

• In Wilmington, DE, there is the :Kalmar  Nyckel, a replica of the ship that brought the first Swedish settlers to the New World.  Check it out at http://www.kalmarnyckel.org/
• In Cumberland County, NJ, there is the A.J. Meerwald,a traditional Delaware Bay oyster schooner.  In fact, our Cumberland District will be holding their RT for this theme on a cruise on the .J. Meerwald!!  How is that for a unique idea!!! Check it out at http://www.ajmeerwald.org/
• The American Sail Training Association has a listing of over 250 vessels and members.  The list gives you names, locations and websites.  Check it out there may be one near you!!
• Sail Baltimore will have three tall ships on display this fall in Inner Harbor.  http://www.sailbaltimore.org/

Or maybe you live near Mystic Seaport in Connecticut, a living history museum set up as an old New England sailing town. You can see five historic vessels and parts and pieces of many more.  Your Cubs could see how the old sailing ships were put together.  I don’t know but maybe there are others like it elsewhere in our country. http://www.mysticseaport.org/ 

Battleships

From The Battleship Page, www.battleship.org of the Iowa Class Preservation association

There are currently six US battleships preserved as museums.  Two other battleships, the USS Iowa and USS Wisconsin, are being retained by the United States Navy as Reserve Assets, for possible reactivation or future disposition.

• BB35 - USS Texas The USS Texas is preserved as a museum ship at San Jacinto, Texas.  Large areas are open to the public.  She is the only first-generation dreadnaught (WWI era) battleship to survive to this day  www.battleshiptexas.org
• BB55 - USS North Carolina The USS North Carolina is preserved as a museum ship at Wilmington, North Carolina. www.battleshipnc.com
• BB59 - USS Massachusetts The USS Massachusetts is preserved as a museum ship at Fall River, Massachusetts. www.battleshipcove.org
• BB60 - USS Alabama The USS Alabama is preserved as a museum ship at Mobile, Alabama. www.ussalabama.com
• BB62 - USS New Jersey The USS New Jersey is the most decorated ship in the United States Navy.  She served in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. The USS New Jersey is preserved as a museum ship at Camden, New Jersey  www.battleshipnewjersey.org
• BB63 - USS Missouri The USS Missouri is perhaps the most famous United States battleship, serving as the site for the Japanese surrender ceremony at the close of World War II.  The US Navy has awarded the USS Missouri to a group which has placed her on display in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. www.ussmissouri.com

Naval Museums

And here is a list from Historic Naval Ships Association, http://www.hnsa.org 

Be sure to go and check out their website, too.

Advancement Opportunities
Sam Houston Area Council

Tiger Activities

Elective 17 – Make a model boat…perhaps a rain gutter regatta boat

Wolf Achievements and Electives

Elective 5g – Spare-time fun.  Build a model boat.

Elective 20b – Know boating safety rules.

Bear Achievements and Electives

Achievement 11b – Tell what to do in case of a water accident

Achievement 12d – Attend a fishing derby

Achievement 21a - Build a model boat

Elective 5 – Boats

Pack Meeting Ideas
Sam Houston Area Council

• Set-up the Pack meeting area as if you are on a ship.  Put the US flag stand at the “bow” of the  “ship” and have a clear space near the flag for skits and awards presentations.  If possible, put a railing around the chairs that are on the “ship”, to make the illusion look more like a ship.  Make sure there is a gang plank to enter and exit the ship.
• For Displays, arrange tables that are not on the “ship” to show the fun things that each den has done the past month.  Show the rain gutter regatta boats for tonight’s races.

Raingutter Regatta Hints
Sam Houston Area Council

Boat Building and Race Organization Hints:

• The best "sailing" boat may be a raw un-finished boat with the mast and sail stuck on!  It does not look pretty, but encourage them to add their special touches.
• For the reason above, try to incorporate a design category or weighting into the judging categories.
• Try to keep the bottom as flat as possible; as close to the original flat bottom as possible.
• It is not how hard you blow but how straight you blow that makes the biggest difference.
• More keel(s) or a more heavily weighted single keel is needed for a top heavy boat; such as if you were to put some form of cabin on the deck!
• The bottom edge of the sail needs to be about ½” above the deck of the boat.  If the sail is too low, the corners rub against the gutter or dip in the water.  If the sail is too high, the boat is top heavy and tips.
• The boats sail best if they are balanced with more weight to the rear.  This elevates the bow of the boat.
• The keels should be placed about ¾” behind the mast.  Don't follow all instructions in the kit.
• The rudder should be placed touching the keel.
• Blow evenly with the straw at a point about 1 inch from the bottom of the sail.  Blow the boat down one edge of the gutter rather than letting it "tack" back and forth.
• Use "Krylon" spray paint -- it dries very quickly on the balsa wood hulls.
• Try to learn how to make double elimination brackets for odd numbers of boats before the race.

Paper Boat
Alapaha Area Council

Follow the instructions below to make a paper boat. 

Try sailing these boats in a puddle, by blowing on them.

Begin with a square sheet of paper.

Compass Neckerchief Slide
Alapaha Area Council

Materials

• Toy Compass    
• 10" Suede Cord
• 3 Pony Beads    
• 4" Pipe Cleaner
• Low Temp Glue Gun

Instructions

• Hot glue suede cord all around compass.
• Leave both ends hanging from the compass.
• Cut ends into a point to make stringing pony beads easier.
• Slide both ends into one pony bead and push it all the way to the compass.
• String one pony bead onto each end.
• Tie knot to secure.
• Trim. 
• Hot glue a 4" piece of pipe cleaner on to back of compass to twist into a neckerchief slide.

“Leather” and Button Puzzle
Alapaha Area Council

Materials

• Vinyl
• Heavy string
• Two buttons
• Scissors

Instructions

• Trace the ship pattern on vinyl. 
• Make two parallel cuts (as in picture) in the center of the vinyl. 
• At the end cut a hole, slightly larger than the width of the slits, but smaller than the buttons. 
• Pass a heavy string under the slits, though the hole, and fasten buttons to the loose ends of the string. 
• Buttons need to be larger than the hole.
• The object is to remove the string and buttons without untying the buttons. 

To solve the puzzle,

• Fold the vinyl, pulling the slit away from the body of the ship. 
• Fold the slit material in half, and pass it through the hole with the string pinched at the end of the folded slit. 
• Once the slit and string are through the hole, the button on the end of the string can be pulled through the loop of vinyl and removed. 
• Reassemble by reversing the process.

Cork Boats
Alapaha Area Council

Materials

• Large corks
• Washers
• Toothpick
• Pieces of paper

Instructions

Cut a slit in the cork; push the washer part-way into the slit.  On the opposite side, push the toothpick into the cork.  Thread a small piece of paper onto the toothpick for a sail.  Cork boats can be sailed in a dishpan of water, bathtubs, small swimming pools, or deep puddles.

Nautical Coasters
Baltimore Area Council

Materials:

• rope                    
• tape                      
• string
• sandpaper           
• tin can                      
• glue

Instructions:

• To fit a standard size glass, use a tin can about 2½” across for a mold.
• Invert can and coil a small circle of rope on top.
• Tie with string to hold.
• Continue to coil rope to cover top.
• Wrap rope around sides of can for about 2 inches, taping to hold.
• Cover with glue.
• When glue is dry, remove can and tape, sand well.

Beaded Neckerchief Slides
Alapaha Area Council

Choose blue and yellow for Cubs or khaki and red for Webelos and weave a neckerchief slide to match your uniform.

Materials

• 30 Pony Beads
• 24" 1mm Black Round Elastic
• White Glue

Instructions

• Cut elastic cord into 24" lengths.
• Stiffen ends with white glue.
• String the first row of three beads onto cord and push to the center of the cord. 
• Lace the 2nd row of beads onto one cord.
• Lace the other cord through the same beads in reverse order.
• Pull both cords snugly.
• Continue with the next row of beads until you have laced rows. 
• Loop beads around and string one cord through first row of beads.
• Tie cords together pulling tight.
• Put a dab of white glue on knot.
• Let dry, then trim the lace

Display Of Knots Slide
Long Beach Area, Verdugo Hills, San Gabriel Valley Councils

This slide is as easy as tying a square knot! Simply cut yourself a piece of 1/8" bass wood, about 2 1/2" x 3 1/2".  Sand and round the edges. Stain with shoe polish or wood stain.

Now the tricky part. Using thin hemp rope or thin strand rope, tie each of the basic scout knots in miniature. Use a 1/8" dowel cut into short 1/2" pieces for tying the Clove Hitch, Timber Hitch, Two Half-hitch, and Tautline.  The Bowline, Sheet Bend, and the Square Knot can all be tied without dowels.  Trim ends for more presentable looking knots.

Using wood glue, dab each knot with glue and hold in position until it sets up, then set aside and let dry.  Whittle a wood loop, attach a leather strip, or glue a piece of PVC pipe or wooden slide ring to the back of your board. You can also drill two small holes on each side and use the same knot material to form a loop in the back.  After all the knots are affixed to the board varnish the entire slide.

Walnut Ships:
Sam Houston Area Council

Materials:

• Play clay (any non-hardening clay)
• Walnut-shells halves,
• Scissors
• Toothpicks,
• Liquid white glue
• Colored construction paper
• Colored felt-tipped markers or crayons

Directions:

• Press small balls of clay into walnut-shell halves. 
• Continue by following the directions for one or more of the ships described below.

SAILBOAT –
Cut triangular sail from the colored construction paper. 
Don’t make the sail larger than toothpick size.
Using liquid white glue, glue the sail to a toothpick. 
Leave enough toothpick at the bottom to push into clay
Let the sail dry.

CLIPPER SHIP -
Cut three squares from colored construction paper. 
Make one a little smaller than the other two.
Draw a design—like the cross in the illustration—on the smaller square with colored felt-tipped marker or crayons.
Push toothpicks through the tops and bottoms of each sail, see illustration. 
Leave enough toothpick mast at the bottom to push into the clay. 
Cut an anchor from colored construction paper and glue it to the side of the shell.

PIRATE SHIP -
Cut two rectangles from the colored construction paper, one larger than the other. 
Decorate the larger rectangle with a pirate’s skull and crossbones, see illustration. 
Using liquid white glue, glue the sails, with the larger one on the bottom, to the toothpick, see illustration. 
Let the sail dry. 
Push toothpick into the shell.

Racing Boats
Baltimore Area Council

Here are some ideas on how to construct ships for your raingutter races.

Soap Fish
Sam Houston Area Council

For Cubs who have earned their whittling chip, this is good way to practice safely carving an object. A simple fish or whale shape is fairly easy to carve, and there is no such thing as a wrong shape. Various kinds of Fish come in many sizes and shapes. These make great gifts too.

Materials:

• pocket knife
• bars of colorful soap (glycerin soap is the easiest and looks nice)

Directions:

• First draw the desired outline on a piece of tracing paper. 
• Then place it over the bar of soap and trace hard with a pencil to transfer the pattern. 
• Then just carve around the outline. 
• Don’t waste the carvings either. 
• Press them together to mould additional shapes.

Ocean-In-A-Bottle:
Sam Houston Area Council

Have you ever seen a miniature ocean, a kinetic device which gives the effect of churning ocean waves?  The secret is two incompatible liquids which swirl around but never mix. 

Materials needed: water, liquid food coloring, mineral oil (turpentine may be used instead), and a long jar or other glass container which can be tightly capped.

Directions:

• Fill the container slightly less than halfway with water.  (Hint:  a bottle of drinking water in a clear plastic container is perfect.   If the bottle is full, have the boys drink the water until the bottle is at the right level.) 
• Add a drop each of blue and green food coloring. 
• Fill the top with mineral oil. 
• Seal tightly, trying to keep air bubbles out by overfilling bottle slightly. 
• Hold the container sideways, and tilt it up and down to see the effect. 
• Make a stand for Ocean-in-a-Bottle by fixing two wooden dowels in a piece of plywood. 
• You may also cut a curved shape in a small box or show box and rest the bottle for display. 

Ocean in a Shell:
Sam Houston Area Council

If the boys have never “heard the ocean” when they put a large shell up to their ear, then find a large conch shell or other kind of shell that has a large opening and curls inward.  Have the boys put it up to their ear, but not so close that they block off the air from getting into it. 

The best explanation as to why this works is that the shell captures the noise from around you and focuses it on your ear.  A similar effect can be heard with a glass or even by cupping your hand, but be sure that there is some background noise (not usually a problem at a den meeting).

Macramé Key Chain
Alapaha Area Council

Materials

• 6 yards hemp
• 3 beads
• 1 key ring
• Masking tape

• Cut hemp into two 3 yard lengths.
• Fold both pieces in half and half hitch them to a metal key ring by placing the folded end down through the key ring and drawing the cord ends down through the folded end loop. Diagram above shows how the key ring will look with one cord half hitched to it. Your key ring will have two cords half hitched so you will have 4 working cords.
• Now, tape the key ring to your table top.

Making the square knots:

Adding Beads:

• Make four square knots.
• String your first bead on the two middle cords.
• Make a square knot directly under the bead.
• Add another bead. 
• Make another square knot.
• Repeat.
• Make 3 more square knots.
• Tie all 4 cords into a large knot. Trim.

Scrimshaw
Baltimore Area Council

Need: two foam trays, permanent marker

• Cut a shark-fin shape from a foam tray.
• Decorate the shape with a permanent marker.
• Cut the base from the second foam tray.
• Make a slit in the top of the base and insert the fin.
• Can be used for racing in irrigation ditches or your raingutters for Raingutter Regatta.

Ocean Wall Hanging
Baltimore Area Council

• Cut fish and ocean creatures from the construction paper,
• Cut seaweed and plants from the green cellophane (or construction paper.)
• Arrange shapes and glue on the foam tray.
• Glue shells, marbles, rocks, etc. to the side (which will be the bottom.)
• Cover the foam tray with cling wrap and tape on back. Make sure that the cling wrap is pulled tight before taping.
• Add a piece of yarn or picture frame hanger to hang the ocean scene.