Raingutter Regatta
The Raingutter Regatta is another meeting based on races just like the Pinewood Derby. This is a great time to have another over the top “Big Feel” Pack meeting. Plan this meeting out and have a great time with the Cubs!
Rules:
Each Scout must use the official Raingutter Regatta kit for their racing.
The boats can only be moved by air power, no touching the boat. Creative Scouts like to find ways to “accidentally” touch the boat by nudging it with their hat or other things.
If a boat gets tipped over the Scout may set the boat back up, but they may not move the boat forward as they set it back up.
Many Packs do this as a double elimination style brackets.
One year our Pack had a Pirate theme. When a Scout was eliminated they would “walk the plank” (a wooden plank on the ground with a blue paper body of water at one end). When they hit the water they got a piece of candy. This also stopped sore losers from getting upset because walking the plank was fun.
Costumes:
Embrace the silly! The Cubs love to see the adults getting in on the good times, and it can really set the tone of fun for the meeting. Consider having the adults dress up as sailors or pirates to go with the nautical theme!
Cheers:
Cubs enjoy doing a good cheer. It adds to the fun of the evening as well as serves as a great way to get the Pack’s attention without slowing the momentum of the evening. Here is one that the Scouts have fun with.
Cubmaster: A’hoy mateys
Cubs: There be land!
Awards:
There are a variety of awards for sale at your local Scout Shop or at Scoutshop.org. However, the Cubs also enjoy a good certificate or some silly homemade trophy. Consider going to a craft shop of the craft section of a big box store and buying wooden letter “C”s. paint those special colors and present them to the winners telling them they are the King or Queen of the “C”!
Possible Activities:
Much like the Pinewood Derby using a variety of stations can be a great way to keep Scouts engaged when it isn’t their turn to race.
Knot Tying: Knots and sailing are a natural connection. Consider inviting an older Scout from a Scouts BSA Troop or an adult leader to lead a knot tying station. You can use Square Knots, Two Half Hitches, Taughtline Hitch, and Bowline to end up hitting some requirements from several ranks.
Grocery Bag Life Vests: Many elementary school use brown paper bags to make Pilgrim vests around Thanksgiving time. Consider taking this idea and making Life Vests out of them. Most Grocery stores are happy to donate bags. Consider taking a group picture and giving the store a small framed photo of the group picture as a thank you for what they did.
Photo Booth: Use a inexpensive disposable plastic table cloth as a back drop and have some water and sailing themed props.
Don’t Rock the Boat: This is a fun multiplayer game that is easy enough for all ages, but engaging enough to be fun for all ages. This can be found online and at many big box stores.
Water Safety Coloring Sheets: Scouts love to color. It is easy to find free coloring pages online that feature safety tips for; swimming, boating, and other water activities.
Rope Rescues: Several required and elective adventures ask the Cubs to demonstrate how to throw a line to complete a water rescue. Consider a station that allows them to practice this skill.
Foil Boat Float: Have some tubs with a few inches of water in them. Scouts are given a sheet of foil and make a boat with it. Then they slowly add dice to the boat. How many dice can the boat hold before sinking? Have the Scouts redesign and see if they can hold more a second time.
Paper Boats and Paper Hats: Boats and hats are simple to make. Print off a few How-to pages and set out a stack of printer paper and some crayons or markers to decorate them.
Casting for Distance: Get a hold of a few inexpensive kids fishing poles. Many come with a rubber toy that can be tied onto the line to add some weight. If the ones you have don’t hat this plastic piece just tie a small stick to the end of the line. Have the Scouts make casts and see who can go the farthest.
Create your own Burgee: Burgees are small, typically triangular flags on sailing boats. They show things like club affiliations and where the boat sails from. Have the Cubs create their own Burgee that has things that signify them.
Under the Sea Yoga: Show the Cubs several traditional Yoga poses and have practice holding them for 5-10 seconds. Then discuss why the poses have the names that they do. EX. The Chair Pose looks like you are sitting in a chair, and Downward Dog looks like a dog stretching. Then show them pictures of under water things and have the Cubs talk about what that pose would look like and then hold that pose for 5-10 seconds.
Nautical Names: There is a Nautical Alphabet that has a special flag for each letter in the alphabet. Print out the Nautical Alphabet as a reference and let the Cubs “write” their names in the flags.
If your Pack hasn’t discovered the inflatable Regatta tracks, look into them. They are fantastic and easy to transport, although it does take several minutes of serious lung power to inflate. These tracks can be found at scoutshop.org.