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Promise & Law Resources

Developing these Promise and Law resources was a part of my Olave Baden Powell Award, and the key reason for developing this website. I'm very thankful to all the units and leaders who helped out by testing the activities or lending me their Guides to test things on - these lovely people are acknowledged at the bottom of the page.

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Activities are listed separately and have 3 types of tags to help you find what you are looking for.  Recuit/Guide tags indicate if the activity is suited to members who have recently joined or Guides who have already made their promise.  Age tags indicate the developmental stages I had in mind as suitable for the activity (including OP standing for lave Program).  And finally Individual/Patrol/Unit tags indicate the size group that the activity can work with.  Click on the tags to filter activities.

Impossibly Optimistic

Time: 5-20 minutes

Equipment:

  • Bucket with holes Hint: This is epic on a large scale - think 44 gallon drum!

  • Cups or spoons (depending on the size of your bucket)

  • Water source (such as the ocean, lake, tap or a big water buckets)

Instructions:

  1. Set the Guides the Challenge: Using only small cups/spoons, fill the bucket with holes so it overflows, which is 20 meters (or more) away from the water source. It should be phrased and presented as a teamwork, initiative, & problem solving task.

  2. Give a time limit, and set the Guides to work, watching their progress and planning, without offering assistance.

  3. At an appropriate point, or at the end of the time limit, stop the activity and bring the Guides in for a debriefing session:

  • Who enjoyed the activity?

  • How did you feel about the task before you got started?

  • Did you have a team strategy before getting started?

  • Did anyone show clear leadership?

  • Did everyone get their ideas heard?

  • Did any conflicts develop? Was there disagreements?

  • How did you feel about the task after a few minutes of progress?

  • Was anyone particularly frustrated or annoyed? Why?

  • How about towards the end? How did you feel?

  • Was your determination or enjoyment effected by your mood/what you thought about the task?

  • How does this relate to the law, “As a Guide I will strive to… Be thoughtful and optimistic”



Hint: You could use any challenge which is nearly impossible for the Guides' developmental level. Get creative!

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