GAMES

Ultimate Insect Game
Southern NJ Council

We all know how frogs catch insects with their tongues, right?  Here is a game that your den can play where they catch insects the same way

Needed

• Velcro tape – both sides
• Pictures of insects cut out and mounted on light cardboard (paper plates, card stock, …)
• Blow out party favors – one per boy / contestant.  You know the kind that make a noise and unwind when you blow into them

Set Up

• Cut out the insect pictures and mount on the cardboard
• Trim edges to make it look neat
• Put one side of Velcro on the insect pictures
• Unroll each of the Party Blow Outs and put the other side of the Velcro on the end of the blow out. 

Be careful when placing the Velcro to make sure it will be on the bottom when blow out is unfurled.

Game

• Spread all the insect pictures on a table
• Give each boy a party blow out
• Remind them how frogs catch insects with their tongues
• Explain that they are frogs and the party blow outs are their tongues. 
• And they are to catch as many insects as they can in the next _____ seconds
• Or they are to catch all the insects and whoever has the most is the winner

NOTE – There is a sheet of insect pictures for you to use at the end of Baloo’s Bugle

Predator Prey Game:
Alice, CS RT Commissioner
Pioneer District, Golden Empire Council

This is a great game for a big space – and the more people the better.  Start by explaining what predators and prey are.  You must explain the game before anyone starts – it will get far too crazy to control after you start! You will need to identify three animals – the first one will be prey, the second one predator and then prey, and the third one will be predator. If you use all insects, a good choice would be aphids, ladybugs and Praying Mantis.

Inside, poker chips would be good “aphids.” Outside, you could use popcorn for the aphids – scatter all around the playing field. Divide the boys into two groups- ladybugs (or beetles if the boys object to being a ladybug) are the first group – when you blow the whistle, they have a limited time to run and gather poker chips (or popcorn in snack re-sealable bags.)  They need three full bags or 3 chips to survive. Blow the whistle again, and the second group of boys (praying mantis’) run out and tries to capture (tag) the ladybugs.  The trick is, they must have 3 ladybugs (with 3 full bags each) to survive, and if they capture a ladybug without three bags, they will still have to capture another, so that they have a total of 9 bags of popcorn.  Only when they have at least 3 ladybugs and 9 full bags (or 9 poker chips) can the Praying Mantis return to the safety of his nest.  Blow the whistle again, and aphids without 3 full bags or Praying Mantis without 3 beetles and 9 full bags of  “aphids” are out of the game. Now that everyone is worn out, talk about predators and prey.  Can an animal be both?  What could be the predator for the Praying Mantis? If a ladybug escapes being caught, but doesn’t have enough “food”, what would happen?  What would happen to the Praying Mantis who didn’t capture enough beetles – or who captured beetles without enough “aphids?”  You can make this game more involved for older boys, by adding the safety of hula hoop “nests” and making a rule that they can only get one bag or poker chip at a time – always having to sneak out of the nest for their next meal!  Boys could also look for other examples of insects that are predators and prey – and draw pictures or make models of them to display at the Pack Meeting.

Hands-On Science: An Insect's Senses
Alice, CS RT Commissioner
Pioneer District, Golden Empire Council

Many insects use their antennae to feel their surroundings. Pair up the boys. One partner blindfolds the other and hands that person two straws. Then the partner without the blindfold places an object on a table (for example, a book, a box of tissue, or a thermos). The blindfolded partner must try to use the straw "feelers" to determine what the object is.

• Go to your local pet store and get a box of bugs just before pack meeting.
• Lay a tarp out on the grass or in the parking lot etc.
• Draw a large enough circle so all boys or teams can sit in middle with backs against each other.
• Pass out bugs and
• Have the boys race the bugs.
• First bug to get out of the circle wins.

A lot fun with crickets.

Fear Factor Cub Style
Trapper Trails Council

Using gummy worms, skin less grapes (eye balls), green elbow noodles (brains), and whatever fun things you can come up with. Have a fear factor competition.

6-Legged Insect Race
Southern NJ Council

Have the Cubs pair off

Tie the adjacent legs of two boys to each other as in a three-legged race.

Now tie their arms that are next to each other together too.

Have them get down on their hands and knees and crawl in a 6 legged race to the finish line.

Mr. Muffet & the Spider
Southern NJ Council

One cub is Mr. Muffet & sits on a low bench in the center. The other cubs form a circle around Mr. Muffet. Mr. Muffet covers his eyes and one cub is chosen to be a spider. He must come up and touch Mr. Muffet and return to his seat without being caught. If Mr. Muffet hears the spider he tries to tag him before the spider returns to his spot in the circle. If the spider gets tagged he becomes Mr. Muffet and a new spider is chosen.

Grasshopper Relay
Southern NJ Council

Relay teams line up single file. The first player in each team holds a bean bag or ball firmly between his knees. At a signal, he hops to goal line and back to the starting line where he hands the bag to the next grasshopper in line, if a player drops the bean bag, he goes back to the starting line. Team to finish first wins.

Centipede
Southern NJ Council

Equipment: Broom stick

Line up teams of 8, 12, or 16.  Have the first four Cub Scouts on each team straddle a broomstick with their left hands grasping the stick.  On signal, they run to a designated line, return, and give the stick to the next four players in their line.  If any player releases his hold on the stick, he must regain it before his team may progress further.  The first team through wins.

Spider Race
Southern NJ Council

Equipment: Rope

Divide group into set of two boys each.  Tie each set of boys together at belt loops or belts.  With four arms and legs, they are now spiders.  Have the boys compete in a race across the playing area.  They must travel with just their hand and feet touching the ground.

Critter Catching Contest
Southern NJ Council

Divide the den into two teams.  Give each boy in one  team a balloon (not over-filled) to tie around his ankle.  On the command "GO" the other team tries to stomp on the critters (pop the balloons) in a set amount of time.  After that, the teams reverse.

Centipede Rope Race
Southern NJ Council

Divide the den into two equal teams.  Give each team a long rope.  On "GO" each boy, in turn, ties the rope around his waist and then sits down.  The first team to be completely seated wins.

Centipede Run
Southern NJ Council

Divide the den into two teams.  Again using a long rope, each boy ties it around his waist.  Have the two teams race a distance.  The first across the finish line wins.

Bug Races
Southern NJ Council

Draw a large circle on the driveway with sidewalk chalk.  Let the boy catch a bug.  Each boy places his bug close to the center of the circle.  When the leader says go, all the boys release their bug.  First but to crawl or jump out of the circle is the winner.

Caterpillar Race
Southern NJ Council

Line up groups in single file.  The first Cub Scout in each line places his hands on the ground.  Each teammate behind him bends forward and grasps the ankles of the player in front of him.  On signal, the columns move forward in this position.  When the last player in the column crosses the finish line the team has completed the race, provided that their line is still intact.  The first team to complete the race wins.

Inchworm
Southern NJ Council

Boys assume prone position, with body extended, face down, arms fully extended, with hands on floor and fingers spread.  Holding the hands stationary, walk the feet up as close to hands as possible.  Then, with feet stationary, walk hands forward to starting position.  Repeat.  Have a race for the fastest inchworm or see who can go farthest in six actions.