Packing Light: Divide dens into teams. For each team have a suitcase with a hat, coat, gloves, and an umbrella inside.
To play: On Signal the first player on the team runs up to the suitcase, opens it, and puts on the clothes. Then he opens the umbrella (with gloves on) and runs back to the line. He removes the clothes and the next player puts them on. This boy now opens the umbrella (with gloves on!) and runs forward to the suitcase. There, he removes the clothes, puts them back into the case, and closes it.
Players continue in this pattern until each member has dressed for the trip. The members of the team that finishes first all are awarded a state map.
Suitcase Race: Make a pile of clothes, shoes, and accessories in the middle of the floor. Have at least two suitcases at one end of the room. Line the boys up on the opposite end. Explain that they are going on a trip and need to pack their suitcase. They will need to decide what to take, fold it properly, and pack it in the suitcase. They can only get one item at a time. The first to correctly pack his suitcase wins. This can be timed or done as a relay race. The first time, you may want to let them pack what they think they need then have them discuss what really needs to betaken. Make a list and have them pack again. Be sure to mix the pile up and include things that really shouldn't be taken on the trip. Maybe leave out some necessary items like a toothbrush to see if anybody notices.
Packing A Suitcase: Provide a medium size suitcase and bring plenty of items to pack into it. Included in the items should be the necessities of any trip (extra clothes, toiletries, etc.). Be sure that you deliberately bring too much to fit into the suitcase so that the Webelos are forced to select only what they cannot do without for the trip. Have the Webelos select items and practice packing the suitcase.
Ways to Go: Divide den into two teams. In this relay the players are to travel from one end of the room to the other. Each team member must travel in a different way; however, the opposite team may use the same ideas.
Suggestions are: front rollovers, cartwheels, skipping rolling.
Map Study: Divide den into small groups. Give each group a different state map. Ask them to complete the following questions in the next 15 minutes.
When time is up, post a United States map on the wall. Ask the groups to come forward and point to their state. Let them tell the answers to a few of the questions depending how much time you have.
Air Route: Players are seated in a circle. Each one is given the name of some city or airport. One player has no chair. He stands inside the circle and calls “All aboard for the plane from Oklahoma City to Boston.” The two players representing the two cities must change seats. The caller tries to get a seat during the scramble. The player left without a seat becomes the caller. This is fun when the caller names a city that has not been assigned to anyone, thus causing confusion and excitement. Have each boy in turn name something that is found in a gas station. If a boy can’t think of anything else or repeats something that has already been said, he is “out of gas” and out of the game until only one person is left and you can play it again.
Concentration: Make up a set of index cards showing map signs and symbols. On another set of cards, write the correct answers. Show the cards and lay them face down on a table. To play concentration, the first boy turns over two cards. If they match he removes them and tries again. If they don’t match, he turns them back over and the next person takes a turn. Continue until all cards are matched.
Ways to Go: Unscramble the following modes of transportation. Count up how many you have used.
Do You Know Your Cars?: Each definition below describes a type of car. Can you identify them?
My Ship Goes Sailing: This game tests your memory. The first player starts by saying, "My ship goes sailing with elephants, or any favorite thing. The second player must say, "My ship goes sailing with elephants and oranges," or any other favorite addition. Each player must repeat all the things that the ship goes sailing with. It gets more difficult when there are a lot.
Pretend Hide and Seek: Our player thinks of a place to pretend to hide in the car, such as "under the spare tire in the trunk" or "on top of the rearview mirror", an others try to guess the hiding place. The player who's "it" will tell them if they're getting warmer (guessing somewhere near the hiding place), or getting colder (guessing far away.)
My Name Is Alberta: The first player says, "My name is Alberta, and I came from Alabama with a load of artichokes." (Any names would be all right as long as they begin with A.) The second player must repeat the sentence using B words, such as "My name is Bruce, and I came from Belgium with a load of bats." Go all the way through to Z.
How Much Per Mile?: Webelos Woody’s dad had offered to take him to the Nature Center to work on his Naturalist Activity Badge. Woody’s father tells him that they could go by bus, taxicab, or he will drive the family car. The bus would cost $1.50 each for Woody and his father. The taxicab would cost $22.00 for both Woody and his father. The family car cost $0.25 per mile to operate and the trip would require 2 gallons of gas at $1.00 per gallon. Woody’s father says that they can leave as soon as Woody figures out what it would cost per mile to travel to the Nature Center by bus, by taxicab, and by car. The Nature Center is 20 miles away. Answers: Bus $0.l5 per mile, Taxi cabs $1.10 per mile, and car, $0.35 per mile.
Find The Mystery City: Divide the den into two teams. Give each team captain a state highway map. Call out the names of various cities in the state and have the team locate them on the map. The first team to locate the city wins the round (win or lose, make sure both teams locate the town before moving on to the next). The team that locates the most towns first wins.
20 Questions: One person thinks of a person, place or thing for everyone else to identify. The rest of the family members may asked questions that can be answered “yes’ or “no”. If no one guesses after 20 questions have been ask, the person who thought of it has stumped the others and is declared the winner. Take turns presenting the mystery to be solved.
Find The Most: The point is to see who can count the most of something by the time you reach your destination or within a specified time limit. People choose different objects to count: green cars versus red cars, cows versus horses, pickup trucks versus trailer trucks, Chevrolets versus Fords, or the license plates of two nearby states.
Great Map Games: At first, a map may look hard to use. (By the way you'll need a good road map for the following activities.) "I'll never figure out how to get from one place to another," you may think. The games below will help you find your way around the United States. As you explore, you'll discover a lot of interesting places. To get started, find the state and town where you live. Once you've found that familiar place, try the games, later invent some map games of your own.
Name That State: Two or more people can play this game. Take turns holding the map. The player with the map calls out the name of any capital - say "Austin!" The other player must call out the state "Texas!" The first person to miss is out. Continue playing until one player - the winner - remains. Once you're good at matching the capitals with their states, try the game in reverse. Call out the name of the state. The correct answer would be the capital.
Map Game: Supply each boy or team of boys with a map, a piece of string, a ruler, dice, and paper and pencil. Depending on how far you can actually travel, have them roll the dice and multiply by 10 (or larger) to determine how many miles your trip will be. With the ruler, measure the distance needed on the mileage chart. Cut a piece of string to that length. place one end of the string at your home town and draw a circle around your town. Now have the boys decide where within that circle they want to go. Next, have them chart a route to the location, make plans for an activity when they arrive there, and decide if snacks or a meal are needed. Take the trip using their instructions. Even if they get you "lost", follow their instructions so they can see how important it is to read a map accurately.
I Spy: Divide boys into teams and take them on a hike. The first person to spot any thing made with wood or wood product scores for his team. Keep a tally by teams and the team with the most points at the end of hike wins.
Detective Fool: Seat the boys in a circle (pick someone to be the “detective fool” and leave the room. Have the remaining boys change places in the circle. Ask them to be very quiet. Blindfold the “detective fool” and lead him back into the room. Position “detective fool” in the center of the circle. Tell him to point to someone around the circle. The person indicated must say, I am a Imposter,” using either his real voice or disguised voice. The “detective fool” must try to guess whose voice he hears. If he guess correctly, the “detective fool” will point to another person and try to guess his identity. If he guess incorrectly, he will take a seat in the circle, and the person who successfully fooled him will become the “detective fool” and leave the room.
What ‘cha looking at?: Arrange objects on a large tray. You may prefer to use objects from a specific category. For example, musical instruments or science objects.) Ask someone to carry the tray around so that everyone has a chance to observe the objects on the tray closely. Then have the tray carrier leave the room. Give paper and pencils to the boys. The boys will think that you are going to ask them
To write down the items on the tray. Instead, fool them by asking them to describe what the person carrying the tray was wearing. This game can provide a vehicle for a discussion on the importance of careful observation.
Looking through the Window: