Scout or Youth Ages 11-14
Make sure you look at the next days adventure to make sure you have the right materials! Remember you do not have to finish every days adventure that day, some might take a few days to complete, or you can just mix and match each day up...NO RULES, Just Have FUN!
Every Morning
Wash Your Hands Challenge - Fun way to make sure you are washing your hands enough throughout the day! What you will need; a stamp and ink pad or a washable marker (you may have to re-apply at Lunch), Stamp or Mark the back side of each hand, the challenge is to have the stamp or mark completely gone by the end of the day, depending on the ink or marker you many have mini-challenges throughout the day. Care Givers can have special rewards for the youth who complete the challenge daily.
Week 5
Day 21
Suet Bird Feeder - Birds are in greatest need of the energy and calories provided by suet during the fall and winter, when their other natural food sources have dwindled. Making suet laden with seeds and nuts can be a good holiday activity to begin about Halloween. Molded suet cakes will keep almost indefinitely in the refrigerators, and they can be a good gift for the bird-lovers in your extended family.
Equipment:
Ingredients:
Additional Ingredients:
Safety Tip:
Be cautious when using sharp knifes and hot surfaces such as a stove . Have a first aid kit handy and a parent of guardian supervising. Suet-making Tips:
There are several ways to acquire different types of animal fat for making your own cakes, and many birders have one method that is easiest or preferred for them. You can try different methods to find the type of fat that is most popular with your backyard birds as well as best for your budget.
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Instructions:
1. Preparing the Fat - Chop the fat into small pieces or run it through a meat grinder. If you are getting the fat from a butcher, they may be willing to do this for you. Make sure all traces of meat, bone, or other tissues are removed. 2. Heat the Fat - Heat the chopped fat on low heat until it is fully liquefied. Do not use higher temperatures to melt the suet more quickly, as this could lead to fires or scorching. Stir the fat constantly to help it melt evenly without burning.
3. Strain the Suet - Strain the liquid fat through cheesecloth or a fine-mesh strainer to remove any particles or contaminants. The liquified should be strained several times so it is as pure as possible. It may need to be reheated between each straining to stay fully liquid and strain more easily.
4. Blend in Treats - Once the suet is rendered, it can be fed to the birds as-is or you can add simple ingredients to make it more appetizing to a wider range of birds. Melt the suet and peanut butter together until they are smoothly blended and liquid. Add the cornmeal and flour, mixing well. These additional ingredients will make the suet more crumbly and easier for birds to eat, as well as less messy in the yard.
Allow the pure suet or mixture to cool slightly to thicken, then pour it into molds or containers to use. Allow it to cool completely until it forms solid blocks. Refrigerate or freeze suet until it is firm and you are ready to use it. Extra suet may be kept frozen for several months until needed. The cakes can be chopped or cut to be fed to the birds, or you may use containers that are the appropriate size to fit your suet feeders. |
The Early Bird Gets The Worm - Keep a journal of bird observations over a number of outings. This is a great way to learn about birds (and the broader ecosystem) in your area. Backyard observations, make or set out bird feeds, research what kinds of birds eat what, and different species of birds during different Seasons of the year.
Plan:
• Is there a local birder or birding group who can share best birding practices, especially for journaling? • What gear will you need? How will you get to the location? • What kind of journal do you want to keep? Why not have your style of journal complement some of your other passions: photography, writing, sketching, painting, blogging, videography, etc. • When camping, why not take advantage of free time to get out your binoculars, and try to take notes while observing or at the end of each day? • Consider setting a goal, and work towards it. You may want to refine your journal into a product for others to enjoy: a presentation to the Company, a photo album, a series of poems, etc. |
Do:
• Get out and observe some birds. If possible, dedicate several outings with this as the focus. • Journal your bird sightings. |
Day 22
Scouts Winter Fitness
Objective: I will participate in healthy and active winter fitness
When planning your adventure, consider including:
Adventure Idea 1: Personal Bests in Outdoor Activities 1. Ever find yourself out of breath after sledding down a hill (or climbing up after the ride) or in the midst of building a snowman? We can get good exercise from many fun winter activities. Build a snowman, sled a hill, skate a river or lake (if the ice is thick enough), play “fox & goose” in the snow, throw snowballs at a target -- what do you love doing outside in the winter? 2. Set yourself a goal for each of your favourite activities. How tall a snowman might you build? How far could you skate in one go? What is the longest sled ride you could make? How many snowballs could hit the bull’s eye on the target? Check out the Guinness Book of World Records. What records are there for some or all of these activities? 3. What do you need to consider for each of these activities in terms of temperature, safety, clothing, equipment? Do you need a team or will these be solo challenges? Note: even if you choose to do these alone, have a friend or family member observing and supporting. 4. It’s time to challenge yourself to meet each of your goals. Have your friend or family member record your adventures with video or photographs. 5. Create a presentation demonstrating your personal records in these fun activities. What are the advantages of making these fun activities into winter fitness? How have they helped your mental, emotional and physical health?
Adventure Idea 2: Go for a Polar Bear Dip 1. Have you gone swimming outdoors in the spring, summer and fall? Quite likely! Have you gone swimming outdoors in winter? Take part in an event organized by a group that knows how to prepare for the risks associated with a polar bear dip. 2. Often, polar bear dips are organized as charity events. If you are taking part in a charity polar bear dip, collect pledges to help the charity and to motivate you when it’s time to head into the cold water. 3. The organizers of your polar bear dip should have a good safety plan in place. However, it’s good for you to think about how you would react if you accidentally fell into cold water. Present an emergency scenario to your Patrol, and practise responding correctly. 4. How will you warm up after your dip? Organize an event for other participants (like members of your Patrol) to enjoy after the dip. You might host people at your home for hot chocolate, or head to a local café. 5. Find a fun way to share your experience, what you learned, how it felt, whether you’d ever do it again and why it is a challenge that people take on.
Other Ideas! Start with these and develop the five parts to your adventure.
Objective: I will participate in healthy and active winter fitness
When planning your adventure, consider including:
- physical fitness
- mental health and fitness
- food as it relates to health and fitness
Adventure Idea 1: Personal Bests in Outdoor Activities 1. Ever find yourself out of breath after sledding down a hill (or climbing up after the ride) or in the midst of building a snowman? We can get good exercise from many fun winter activities. Build a snowman, sled a hill, skate a river or lake (if the ice is thick enough), play “fox & goose” in the snow, throw snowballs at a target -- what do you love doing outside in the winter? 2. Set yourself a goal for each of your favourite activities. How tall a snowman might you build? How far could you skate in one go? What is the longest sled ride you could make? How many snowballs could hit the bull’s eye on the target? Check out the Guinness Book of World Records. What records are there for some or all of these activities? 3. What do you need to consider for each of these activities in terms of temperature, safety, clothing, equipment? Do you need a team or will these be solo challenges? Note: even if you choose to do these alone, have a friend or family member observing and supporting. 4. It’s time to challenge yourself to meet each of your goals. Have your friend or family member record your adventures with video or photographs. 5. Create a presentation demonstrating your personal records in these fun activities. What are the advantages of making these fun activities into winter fitness? How have they helped your mental, emotional and physical health?
Adventure Idea 2: Go for a Polar Bear Dip 1. Have you gone swimming outdoors in the spring, summer and fall? Quite likely! Have you gone swimming outdoors in winter? Take part in an event organized by a group that knows how to prepare for the risks associated with a polar bear dip. 2. Often, polar bear dips are organized as charity events. If you are taking part in a charity polar bear dip, collect pledges to help the charity and to motivate you when it’s time to head into the cold water. 3. The organizers of your polar bear dip should have a good safety plan in place. However, it’s good for you to think about how you would react if you accidentally fell into cold water. Present an emergency scenario to your Patrol, and practise responding correctly. 4. How will you warm up after your dip? Organize an event for other participants (like members of your Patrol) to enjoy after the dip. You might host people at your home for hot chocolate, or head to a local café. 5. Find a fun way to share your experience, what you learned, how it felt, whether you’d ever do it again and why it is a challenge that people take on.
Other Ideas! Start with these and develop the five parts to your adventure.
- Challenge yourself with a new winter sport (indoors or outdoors) such as: hockey, curling, ringette, skiing, speed skating, figure skating, skiing or snowboarding.
- Have a snowshoeing adventure. Organize an outing for your Lair or Troop.
- Downhill skiing, cross-country (Nordic) skiing, snowboarding - all of these require specific types of wax and have best practices for waxing. Learn about these waxes, how best to use them and then give them a try on various kinds of snow in various temperatures. How can you track your findings? Discover other tips for properly maintaining these items and related gear.
- Introduce a new Canadian to a winter sport, especially someone who has come from a country that doesn’t experience winter or snow.
- Being cooped up when it's cold and dark can take a toll on people's mental wellbeing. Plan a board game night for your family to lift everyone's spirits!
Day 23
Survival in Cold Water - When adventuring out on or near the water in the colder conditions, there are a few extra precautions that you need to keep in mind. Do you know the different kinds of thermal protection to help prevent or delay the onset of hypothermia? In warm conditions, practise getting out of the water and into a boat, or onto a dock (imagine the dock is ice). How quickly and safely could you get out of dangerously cold water?
Plan:
• Who can help with this adventure? • Who can explain the 1-10-1 rule? • What techniques can you use to help re-board your boat? • What skills do you need to practise for this adventure? • What scenarios can you imagine for this adventure? • How can you preserve body heat if you cannot get out of cold water? What is the HELP position? • How can you increase thermal protection, to help prevent or delay the onset of hypothermia, even when you are not in the water? Do:
• Find out how to best get out of the water quickly, and be prepared for your next cold-water adventure! |
Review:
• What do you know now that you did not know before? • How did you feel before, during and after this activity? • How can you build on this experience? • What did you like about this adventure? • How did you retain body heat? |
Day 24
How Far Can We Go! - What is the farthest hike you have done in Scouts? What are some places near your home that you would like to see? Pick out some places you would like to visit on hikes, and then list your hikes so that each is longer than the one before. Plan to take the hikes over a few months. After you are done hiking to every place on your list, add up the total distance from your hikes to see how far you have gone!
Plan:
• What are some places you would like to visit on hikes? • When will you go on each hike? • What do you need to wear? What do you need to pack? • What snacks will you bring? Do:
• Have some fun and exciting hikes in and around your community! |
Review:
• What do you know now that you did not know before? • How far did you hike in total? • How do you feel about what you have done? • Did you and your friends have fun? • How can you challenge yourself on your next Adventure? Safety note:
• What will you do so that no one gets lost on the hike? • Have you heard about “hug a tree”? |
Day 25
Camp Fire: Do you know how to build a campfire? Setting things up for a campfire can be easy if you have everything you need close by. Even with all the right stuff, you have to build your fire the right way if it is going to burn well. In a fire ring, start by laying sticks out like a raft on the ground. This will keep your fire away from the cold, wet dirt. Crumple birch bark (gathered from dead trees) on the raft. Put sticks that are no thicker than a pencil on and around the birch bark. Then put sticks that are about as thick as your fingers around the first sticks. Put sticks as thick as a broom handle around all the sticks in the pile, setting them up like a teepee. If you have plenty more wood on hand, then you have a fire that’s ready for your Care Giver to light! Good job!
Plan:
• Where can you have a campfire in your community? • Have you helped built a fire before? What can you remember about building a fire? • What help do you need from your Care Giver for this Adventure? • How will you put out your campfire when you are done with it? Safety Note:
• Do not run with a whistle in your mouth. If you trip and fall or get hit in the mouth, you can damage your teeth. • How can the two referees work together to stay safe while keeping an eye on the game? |
Do:
• Gather plenty of good firewood of different sizes, and set up a campfire that is all set to be lit. • Have an Adult help you light the fire, then watch how it burns. • Enjoy your campfire! |