Thanks for the ideas, I will carry them forward to the next time we do a Star Wars themed campout.

We held ours (Camp Hook Jedi Academy 2011) last weekend and it was a huge success! On Friday evening we had scavenger hunts in the individual campsite areas where the boys had clues to get them to different places around the campsite (campsite entrance marker, picnic tables, firewood pile, kybo, etc.). Each clue also had information on how to make their Jedi name (First Name = first 3 letters of first name + first two letters of last name, Last Name = Last two letters of First Name + Last 3 letters of Last Name backwards, then from system Middle Initial – Pack #). That went over very well.

Stations on Saturday:

Kamparas (Handicrafts) – They learned that Jedi live a life of poverty and will often need to be able to fashion items they need from the resources around them. They made vases (from the SW Craft Book) using 20oz plastic bottles, felt, sticks, glue & twine. They decorated them with craft foam ewoks, yodas or vaders. Then they also made R2-D2 neckerchief slides from craft foam and PVC.

Endor (Nature Skills) – They learned that Jedi are protectors of all things, not just peoples, and therefore had to remember to protect the environment of the systems they would be visiting. They learned the best way to do that was through practicing Leave No Trace. They discussed the principles, signed and gave the LNT pledge and made posters of the LNT principles in action.

Bogden 3 (Team Building) – They learned that as Jedi they will almost always be outnumbered and part of the Jedi's great success is the ability to work together to resolve conflict. They played a SW version of "Kim's Game" where a tray covered with SW items (my son's toys mostly) had a sheet covering it. We removed the sheet and they had 30 seconds to memorize the 18 different items, then the sheet went back on and they had to list everything. The first time it was a mess. It was suggested the think of a plan to work together on that, then they had to traverse a course on "Hoth multipersonnel snowshoes" (buddy board walkers). After finishing that, they replayed Kim's Game to see if they got better and got some cool SW temporary tattoos (last minute addition – I found 20+ sheets of them on clearance the night before camp).

Naboo (Wide Area Game) – They learned that Jedi must stay active to be in good shape to do their jobs correctly. And that part of the way they did this was to play a sporting games together, which also helped with teamwork and skills of throwing and accuracy. The game taught and played was Ultimate.

Jedi Temple (Diplomacy) – They learned that as ambassadors who are frequently sent to negotiate settlements and end conflict, they will be on different worlds with different customs and they will have to be able to adapt to those and also to be okay with being the center of attention and not appearing nervous. They learned two songs (Announcemnts and Scout Vespers) and each group picked a skit to learn and perform at the campfire program on Saturday night.

Yavin IV (Shooting Sports) – They learned that while peaceful negotiation is always the most ideal solution, sometimes you have to be able to defend against the bad guys. They practiced accuracy at bullseyeing womprats with water balloon launchers, and on hitting the Death Star exhaust port by playing cornhole. (Originally we wanted to do archery but couldnt' talk our DD into signing off on it being a district/council event because he couldn't be there.)

Saturday evening we had a campfire program where we had a fully costumed Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi on hand to battle it out to start the campfire with a force powered fireball, all the kids got to perform their skits, the camp staff put on what I think has been our best to date version of "If I weren't on Camp Staff," and we ended with a flag retirement ceremony.

After that the boys were led in a night hike, then back to their campsites for cracker barrell and lights out.

Sunday after breakfast we had an interfaith service where my Pack Chaplain gave a Star Wars related message on faith (Luke turning off the targeting computer and using the force to guide him, etc.). Then we packed up, closed the camp and went home.

I was overall extremely happy with how well it went. District wants to discuss this becoming an official district event next year (instead of a pack event where we invite all other packs to join us).