Just finally got to sit down to share some of what I learned this weekend. Our Pack here in Summers County had its first (as far as I am aware of anyways) Field Day. We had a jammed pack schedule of events planned and ended up having to cut several due to time and due to the heat though. The rain stayed away until well after we were done, but unfortunately not enough cloud cover to keep some of the heat away.

We began at 1PM with a pledge to the flag (Thanks to some lashing work to our dining fly frame) the cubs and the tiger moms came with us as we went on a nature hike. It was about 2.5 to 3.5 miles and along the way we looked at various nature items paying specific mind to a few items on a scavenger hunt sheet to try and find. The boys seemed to enjoy that. IN addition, we had the boys wear plastic gloves, and bring a grocery bag to pick up any litter we found along the way, with the explanation that there would be a prize for those who had the most. It was a very good hike, and there was a lot of fauna that my old Scout Handbook did not help in identifying, (Looks like I'll be hitting amazon soon for some field guidebooks for next time ;). It was in shade most of the walk so the sun was not an issue.

After that it was onward to our first 'athletic challenge' of the day, and I'd chosen Volleyball. In hindsight I wish I had time to erect net ahead of time, as it was the first time I put this particular set together. The boys were eager to play, but serving was difficult especially for some of the younger cubs. We tried subbing in a different softer store bouncy ball, but the heat eventually became too much and we took a water break. (The thought is that next time if we try Volley ball we'll use an inflatable beach b all that will be a lot easier to deliver. The reason Volleyball was chosen because we had hoped we could work on a belt loop, and it was one of the few sports that a number of boys could play simultaneously and without need for special protective equipment (For example Soccer had been suggested since I coach it in the falls too, but the boys would not all have shin guards and I was concerned about injuries. So one lesson learned there.)

Before I could get back to bring the boys to a possible second activity (badminton, which admittedly I was a bit worried about being to complex), I saw the boys had already picked up the bouncy ball and were playing what looked like keep away. Well that's no fun if people get left out, so drawing on my youth, I recalled a game from I believe it was one of John Knowles's Novel's "A Separate Peace". In the book at one point the boys invent a game called Blitzball. Well I was never into the 'tackling and gang piling' when I was a youth, but tagging, that we could do. So the rules were as follows, boy A running with the ball gets tagged by boy B. Boy A had to then place the ball at his feat run and tag the nearest tree before he could get back into the game. Meanwhile boy B is off and running with boys C D and E chasing. there are no bases in this tag game. But if a boy is tired, or thinks he's about to be tag he can call the name of another boy and toss him the ball. The boys seemed to enjoy that a lot. (A couple of the boys tried horseshoes, bean bag toss, or rope ring toss during this time, but the heat I think wore everyone out more than anticipated, thankfully we had plenty of drinks, and cold water.)

Then it was time for food! The soon to be new Den Moms were helping to bring plates of food for the boys. This proved problematic cause she would ask who all wanted Lemonade, and half the boys were saying yes and the other half saying no at the same time. After about a minute of that I broke in raised my sign and said okay let's try this another day. Raise your hands if you want lemondade, etc. Took a few more times to get that process ironed out but we got all the boys sitting and eating and the adults could dig in.

After that we had our Sack Race, which again was a learning experience. When setting the rules I was going to be judging the finish, and I thought I had understood that they were running past this one tree, that was the line. I suggested having the line before the tree, because otherwise you will have boys falling into the tree. Nope the tree. Well Sure enough a couple of boys fell into the tree, and then they threw me for a loop and turned and raced back to the start line. So another lesson learned, make sure boundaries are marked with cones or something and clear before the race, because noone was really watching the other end of the track.

By the time that was over the Cubmaster and one of the Committee members retreated for a bit to prepare the list of ribbons that we were handing out. We had awards for sportsmanship, Sack Race, Trash Picker Upper, and there were a couple of others, plus we announced some recent advancements for the boys. We did this during our virtual campfire. (Yeah you heard me right I said Virtual.) While the cubmaster was off I was examining what we had available for the fire and a few realiziations hit me.

#1 most of us had already been there for five and a half hours in the heat and were starting to be tired.
#2 We were having the event at the CMs property, but given she looked just as worse for the wear as the rest of us, and two she had a dog who had taken ill (and was waiting on a vet call back)
#3 It was 90 Some degrees or above with the heat index for humidity, the fire would have likely added more heat, and would have taken time to put out properly.

so given those factors and knowing a few adults were going to have to leave very soon, we forstalled one surprise we had planned, and went with a virtual Campfire. Then we Started with the Lumberjack Tree, which a few of the adults loved as much as the boys. However, I livened it up a bit. It was a bit calm on one side so I did an echo system check. Had the boys each grab a log and i had a couple and we started making like a train going out from the stage circled around and had the boys follow. Then stopping at the back point of the "stage area" I began stacking the wood I had carried made a cross and had each boy add their's but one. Then to really get the crowd into it i told them we had a 'torch bearer' (the last scout would enter the stage as if he had a torch) I told the crowd a story about the trek this torch bearer had, setting a stage and picture in their mind and had them begin to cheer before he came in. I had him hamm it up a little, act like he had fallen before he could do it and had the crowd cheer for him to get up, and then upon picking himself up lit the virtual fire. The boys seemed to like it (though next time I hope to start later so it will be cool enough for a fire). Then we had our boys do their skit (invisible bench) the kids loved it and so did their parents! A few more run ons, and we did awards, then concluded with a couple of run ons, the Star Spangled Banner, and Scout Vespters. Didn't have a watch and won't list all the run on's we had fun with, but so I'm not sure how long the campfire itself ran, but one child had to leave right then, so the event was done. I made sure we had the boys that were left pick up trash and get their things into their sit-upons, and took down the flag etc.

All in all it was fun, the boys enjoyed it (my son told me so before bed time last night, which made all the stress and planning worth it). We learned a number of things, and hope to try this again later in the Fall when its a bit cooler.

So to throw this out, what kinds of out door games and events do you find are good for all ages, cubs, tigers, weblos and tag alongs?

Yeah I pretty much anticipated the same would happen with badminton if I had tried it. Especially one boy that is a bit more out of control at times. So I tried to find a way to channel that energy for good. I'm not sure if Frisbee would have been any better. Thanks for the rply :)

This is sort of how our twilight day camp went there were like five stations. Fishing: Shooting (archery/BB), hiking, crafts, demonstrations, and particular activities. I don't recall how how other things were done, but I remember a webloree with us pushing a radio flyer I think it was sled with rails and a milk crate bungeed to it with stations for knots, lashings, first aid, stretcher, etc.