Always pack rope and twine. There may not be a planned use for it when the trip begins, but inevitably, there is a need for rope. Instructions with excellent diagrams on tying knots can be found in Outdoor Education in Girl Scouting and on multiple websites. Some of the uses of rope and twine are:
Clothesline for damp clothing and hanging of girl dunk bags;
Jump roping;
Boundaries for games;
Equipment for games such as electric fence or tug-of war;
Storm lashing tents;
Suspending tarps for shelters; and
Suspending a sheet for shadow plays.
The basic knots everyone should be able to tie are an overhand, square, taut line, and clove hitch.
The following are a few activities that can be used when learning and practicing knots:
Make a Knot Board - make each knot using light weight rope or twine. Glue the knots to an 8½” by 11” piece of poster board and label each knot.
School - this is a great practice game. Mark off a starting and ending line approximately 20 feet apart. All players, with ropes line up along the starting line and tie the first knot. When the knot is tied correctly, players take two steps forward and tie the next knot announced. Players who did not tie the knot correctly stay where they are and tie the next knot announced. Recycle knots to be tied until everyone has crossed the finish line.
Elimination - form two circles. Announce a knot to be tied. The first girl in each circle to tie the knot drops her rope to the ground and steps out of the circle. The game continues until only one player is left in each circle. The girls who stepped out of the circles can practice other knots until the next round of play begins. The next round begins when the leader changes the knot to be tied.
Square Knot Circle – form one large circle. Each girl is seated and receives an 18” length of rope. Each girl ties a square knot to the end of the rope of the girl on her right. After everyone has tied a knot, everyone leans back to test their square knot. If one knot slips and comes untied, it is a granny knot and the girls work together to tie a square knot until the whole circle works. This is a good team building, collaborative activity, followed by teaching how to untie a knot easily.