Programme ideas

Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts & Explorers

Learn sign language

Learn how to say your name in sign language! Each letter has a specific sign using your hands. Make sure you use the British Sign Language code.

• Squirrels - Learn how to say hello and goodbye

• Beavers - Learn the Squirrels' vocabulary plus please and thank you

• Cubs - Learn the Beavers' vocabulary plus your name in British Sign Language

• Scouts - Learn the Cubs' vocabulary plus Where is the...? (eg toilet, restaurant, bus stop, police station)

• Explorers - Learn the Scouts' vocabulary plus things like help, excuse me, can you lipread?

How to train your guide dog

Arrange a visitor, visit or video about how guide dogs are trained. Guide Dogs UK have a Youtube channel with lots of great videos about training dogs.

• The Journey of a Guide Dog - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNa_MYYZvyQ

• A day in the life of Forest (a trainee guide dog) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP54Juhr6FI

Squirrels

Blindfold food-taste

Squirrels take turns to try and identify different foods whilst blindfolded. This might be crisps, biscuits, fruit or veg. Give points for correct, nearly or nowhere near! The Squirrel with the most points wins. Always include allergies and food disorders in your risk assessment for this activity. If you have a Squirrel who will struggle to participate in this activity then maybe they could help collate the scores or serve the food.

Feely Bag/What's in the box?

Put a number of boxes or bags around the room with different everyday objects inside. Squirrels move around each 'station' and try and guess what's in the box/bag! Once everyone has had a go - sit together and share what ideas they had, then open the bag/box and reveal the objects. Once done - discuss with the squirrels why it was difficult when you can't see or hear. Encourage them to realise how important our sight and hearing senses are. Don't forget to do a risk assessment for this activity and ensure the young people will not have an allergic reaction to the objects you put in the bags/boxes.

Squirrels, Beavers & Cubs

Feel the view

Create a tactile landscape, to experience art in a new way that's also more accessible.

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/feel-the-view/

Beavers, Cubs & Scouts

Blindfold string trail

Wherever you are, decide on a starting point. Tie a long piece of string or rope on different secure objects to create a trail. Once done, each young person travels along the trail blindfolded. Along the trail, they might have to duck down, step over or change directions. The aim is to build confidence and trust in their other senses to navigate around the trail. You can also add mystery objects attached to the trail for the young people to identify as they trail along. You will need to complete your own risk assessment based on the environment, obstacles and young people taking part.

Scouts & Explorers

Blindfold tent pitching

In teams, one Scout is the director and gives instructions to their team to put up the hike team. The rest of the team is blindfolded. The first team to put up their tent wins. Don't forget to do a thorough risk assessment relating to the type of tent you use, the location and any particular needs each Scout or Explorer presents.

What happens next?

Select a number of short video extracts where the meaning is challenged when there is no sound:

• the mute button is on

• only subtitles

• only sign language

After each video extract, give each team a chance to discuss what was going on in the extract and what happens next. Award points to the teams that are the most accurate.

Discuss afterwards the challenges of not being about to hear what is happening and trying to decode sign language or read subtitles makes a difference to watching a video.

Make sure you do a risk assessment for this activity.

Fun & Games

Squirrels, Beavers & Cubs

Don’t Wake the Dragon

Your young people have to quickly line up arranged in a given order (such as height, age, shoe size etc) without talking to each other or making any sounds within a short period of time. When the time runs out, the dragon (you or another leader) wakes up, the kids should be ready to shout “Boo!”

Try the Lumpy Bumpy Name Game

Learn and practise braille. Can you spell your name and read someone else’s?

https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/lumpy-bumpy-name-game/

Beavers, Cubs & Scouts

Scouting Charades

Either as a whole section or in large groups, one young person at a time chooses a word or phrase. They have to act it out without making a sound or mouthing out words. The rest of the young people try and guess the word or phrase. The full set of instructions can be found at https://www.wikihow.com/Play-Charades

Categories for words and phrases could include:

• Something that happens at Scout Camp

• Things you take on a night hike

• Scouting adventurous activities

• Scouting skills

• Something you find in a Scout's tent

• Animals you might see when doing scout activities

Scouts & Explorers

Blindfold Minefield

Prior to the start of the activity, make a start and finish line, approximately 12 feet apart, with the masking tape. Scatter the random objects around the room, between the start and finish lines. *Note: While you can use any object for this, make sure they are small enough to step over to ensure a safe environment.

In pairs, one partner is blindfolded and is not allowed to speak, the other gives verbal instructions only to guide them through the 'minefield' to the finish line.

If someone touches an item, they have to start over. Or loses a life (it is up to you to decide this rule).

Make sure everyone has a go at guiding and being guided. You can change the course each time to make it more challenging.