Outdoor Challenge

Night 1: Wide Game Prep

Plan and prepare for a wide game (capture the flag variant). Map the playing field. Assign patrol roles and practise strategy.

OAS requirements this night: bushcraft.s1.do-6

1. Opening Ceremony Ceremony 5 min

   Grand Howl. Flag break. Introduce the Outdoor Challenge trail: "This trail takes us outside — we plan, play, observe, and protect nature."

   Character
   Equipment (2 items)

   • flag
   • flag pole
2. Wide Game Briefing Instruction 15 min

   Explain the rules of the wide game: a Capture the Flag variant with patrol territories, jail zones, and flag positions. Show a map of the park where Night 2 will be played.

   Intellectual
   Equipment (3 items)

   • park map (printed A3)
   • whiteboard
   • markers
3. Compass Direction Game Game 10 min

   Leader calls out a cardinal direction (N/S/E/W) and Cubs run to the correct wall of the hall. Progress to intercardinal points (NE/SW etc). Link to reading the park map for Night 2.

   Physical Intellectual
   Equipment (1 item)

   • N/S/E/W signs on walls

   OAS: bushcraft.s1.do-6

4. Strategy Session discussion 20 min

   Each patrol plans their strategy for the wide game: who guards the flag, who attacks, signals to use, fallback plans. Draw the strategy on a map copy. Patrols then present their plan to the pack — other patrols can ask questions.

   Intellectual Social
   Equipment (2 items)

   • map copies (one per patrol)
   • coloured pencils
5. Stealth Training Games Game 15 min

   Two quick games: (1) "Sleeping Lion" — one Cub is blindfolded; others creep up silently. (2) "Signal Relay" — pass a silent hand signal down a patrol line. Fastest correct relay wins.

   Physical Social
   Equipment (1 item)

   • blindfold
6. Equipment Check Instruction 10 min

   Review what to bring for Night 2: closed shoes, dark clothing, water bottle, torch. Cubs check off a personal list.

   Intellectual
   Equipment (1 item)

   • checklist handout
7. Closing Ceremony Ceremony 5 min

   Remind families: Night 2 is at the park, not the hall. Grand Howl. Dismiss.

   Character

Total night duration: 1 hr 20 min

Night 2: Wide Game Night

Run the planned wide game (Capture the Flag) in a local park. Outdoor, off-site adventure with patrol competition.

1. Arrival & Safety Brief Ceremony 5 min

   Meet at the park. Head count. Buddy up. Safety brief: boundaries (show physical landmarks), what to do if lost (stop, blow whistle, stay visible), adult positions.

   Character
   Equipment (3 items)

   • whistles (one per Cub)
   • hi-vis vest for leaders
   • first aid kit
2. Warm-Up: Sharks and Minnows Game 10 min

   Quick warm-up game in the open area. One Cub is the "shark" and tries to tag "minnows" running across the field. Tagged Cubs become sharks.

   Physical Social
3. Wide Game — Round 1 Game 20 min

   Set up patrol territories with flags. Play Round 1 of Capture the Flag (15 minutes). Leaders referee and enforce boundaries.

   Physical Social Intellectual
   Equipment (3 items)

   • patrol flags or bandanas (2 per game)
   • cones for jail zones
   • glow sticks (if dusk)
4. Regroup & Adjust discussion 5 min

   Water break. Patrols discuss: "What worked? What do we change?" Adjust strategy for Round 2. Swap territories if needed.

   Intellectual Social
   Equipment (1 item)

   • water bottles
5. Wide Game — Round 2 Game 25 min

   Play Round 2 with adjusted strategies. Longer round for a decisive finish.

   Physical Social Intellectual
   Equipment (2 items)

   • patrol flags
   • cones
6. Debrief & Reflection Reflection 10 min

   Circle up. Each patrol shares: "Our best moment was..." and "Next time we would..." Announce results. Celebrate all teams.

   Social Emotional Character
7. Closing Ceremony 5 min

   Head count. Pack up equipment. Grand Howl. Parents collect from park.

   Character

Total night duration: 1 hr 20 min

Night 3: Weather Watchers

Build a simple weather station (rain gauge, wind vane). Learn cloud types and observe the sky. Discuss how weather affects outdoor activities.

1. Opening Ceremony Ceremony 5 min

   Grand Howl. Flag break. Tonight's theme: "Weather changes everything outdoors — let's learn to read it."

   Character
   Equipment (2 items)

   • flag
   • flag pole
2. Cloud Spotter Challenge Instruction 10 min

   Go outside briefly. Look up. Using a cloud identification chart, Cubs try to name the clouds they see (cumulus, stratus, cirrus). Discuss what each type means for weather.

   Intellectual
   Equipment (2 items)

   • cloud identification charts (one per patrol)
   • clipboards
3. Build a Rain Gauge practice 20 min

   Each patrol builds a simple rain gauge from a plastic bottle: cut the top, invert it as a funnel, mark measurement lines with a ruler and permanent marker. Discuss how to read it. Test with a measured cup of water to verify the markings are accurate.

   Intellectual Physical
   Equipment (5 items)

   • empty 1.25L plastic bottles (one per patrol)
   • scissors
   • ruler
   • permanent marker
   • masking tape
4. Build a Wind Vane practice 15 min

   Each patrol builds a wind vane from a straw, pin, pencil with eraser, and card. Cut an arrow pointer and tail from card, attach to straw, balance on pencil point. Test outdoors.

   Intellectual Physical
   Equipment (6 items)

   • straws
   • straight pins
   • pencils with erasers
   • card stock
   • scissors
   • tape
5. Weather Bingo Game 10 min

   Energiser: bingo cards with weather symbols (sun, rain, cloud, wind, storm, snow, hail, fog). Leader describes a weather scenario; Cubs find the matching symbol.

   Intellectual
   Equipment (3 items)

   • bingo cards
   • counters
   • weather description cards
6. Planning for Weather discussion 15 min

   Discussion: "If we were planning a hike and the forecast said rain, what would we change?" Cubs list three things they would do differently for wet weather, hot weather, and cold weather.

   Intellectual Social
   Equipment (2 items)

   • whiteboard
   • markers
7. Closing Ceremony Ceremony 5 min

   Cubs take their rain gauges and wind vanes home to use. Challenge: record the weather every day this week. Grand Howl. Dismiss.

   Character

Total night duration: 1 hr 20 min

Night 4: Leave No Trace

Teach the 7 Leave No Trace principles through relay stations. Nature walk with clean-up. Final reflection on outdoor responsibility.

OAS requirements this night: bushwalking.s1.plan-4, bushcraft.s1.plan-1

1. Opening Ceremony Ceremony 5 min

   Grand Howl outdoors. Buddy up. Introduce Leave No Trace: "We want the bush to look the same — or better — after we visit."

   Character Spiritual
   Equipment (1 item)

   • flag
2. LNT Relay Stations practice 25 min

   Seven stations, one per LNT principle: (1) Plan Ahead, (2) Travel on Durable Surfaces, (3) Dispose of Waste Properly, (4) Leave What You Find, (5) Minimise Campfire Impacts, (6) Respect Wildlife, (7) Be Considerate of Others. At each station, Cubs read the principle, do a quick challenge (e.g. sort rubbish, identify a trail, answer a question), and get stamped.

   Intellectual Physical Character
   Equipment (3 items)

   • station signs with LNT principles
   • activity materials per station (rubbish samples, trail photos, quiz cards)
   • stamp cards

   OAS: bushwalking.s1.plan-4, bushcraft.s1.plan-1

3. Nature Walk & Cleanup practice 25 min

   Walk a short nature trail as a pack. Each Cub carries a bag to collect any rubbish. Leaders point out examples of good and poor LNT practice along the way (e.g. erosion from shortcutting trails, rubbish left behind). Pause at points of interest to discuss native plants and wildlife.

   Physical Character Spiritual
   Equipment (3 items)

   • rubbish bags
   • gloves
   • litter pickers (optional)

   OAS: bushwalking.s1.plan-4

4. Campfire Impact Demo Instruction 10 min

   Show Cubs the difference between a well-managed campfire and a poorly managed one (use photos or a prepared demo spot). Discuss: "How do we minimise campfire impact?"

   Intellectual
   Equipment (2 items)

   • comparison photos
   • or small demo fire ring area
5. LNT Promise Cards Reflection 10 min

   Each Cub writes a personal LNT promise on a card: "When I am outdoors, I promise to..." Display on the pack notice board.

   Character Emotional Spiritual
   Equipment (3 items)

   • card stock
   • pens
   • markers
6. Trail Celebration & Closing Ceremony 5 min

   Celebrate completing the Outdoor Challenge trail. Each Cub shares their best outdoor memory from the four nights. Grand Howl. Dismiss.

   Character Emotional

Total night duration: 1 hr 20 min