 | Tugs-of-War. |
| To Select Your Camp Acrobat. |
| Blind Folded Boxing. |
| Barrel Boxing. |
| Pole Boxing. |
| Bear Fight. |
| Cock Fighting. |
| Hog Tying. |
| Hand Wrestle. |
| Indian Leg Wrestle. |
| Pillow Fights. |
| Dog Collar Tug-of-War. |
| Strong Arm. |
| Forearm Test. |
| Lifting the Stool. |
TUG OF WAR
There are many forms of tug-of-war that may be played in camp; One is with handkerchiefs around necks. Others are:
| The simple rope tug-of-war. |
| Divide the camp into two equal parties, and line each party up behind a leader, the two leaders facing each other. Give the leaders a stout green pole upon which to pull. As fast as any player's hold breaks, he is out of the game, and so it goes on until one side has pulled the other over the line. |
| Divide as above, but have each team spread out in single file facing each other. Give each pair a green stick and let them pull in pairs. As fast as there is a winner on one side, let him pull against a winner on the other side until the whole party is eliminated, save the last two, who pull for championship. |
| Form a circle about a long rope that has been tied together at the ends. Draw a diameter to be used as a dead line--all on one side of the line representing one team, and all on the other the other team. The game is to see which side can first pull all the other side over. |
| Rattlesnake tug-of-war: Sides are chosen with an even number on each side. The boys then lie flat on their stomachs, facing each other, with hands extended, crossing arms with the boy on each side of them, and grasping the hand of the opponent opposite. At a signal each side endeavors to pull the other side by simply squirming backward. |
| Sometimes called push-o'-war. Select a stout young tree that will not be injured in the game, then cut a stout pole six to eight feet long and an inch and a half in diameter; tie a handkerchief midway from either end. Choose two contestants, one for either end of the pole, and at a given signal, with the handkerchief at the tree, let both boys push. The game is to see which boy can push the handkerchief two feet away from the tree and keep it there while the umpire counts ten. Avoid pushing with the pole against the body; take a stride position and push with arms only. |
| Divide the group into two equal sides. Each group forms a chain, by each boy's grasping the boy in front of him around the waist. The leaders of each side grasp a stout stick, and at a given signal the two teams try to pull the other over a line on the ground. |
TO SELECT YOUR CAMP ACROBAT
Ask for volunteers to very quickly go through the following four stunts and have a group of judges to judge from.
| Reach one hand over shoulder and grasp with other from behind. |
| Fold arms across breast, lie down on back and then get up without using either elbows or hands. |
| Hold book, bean bag or indoor baseball between ankles. With sudden jump kick feet backwards, throw object over head and catch it coming down. |
| Arrange three chairs in a row and place heels on one and head on another so that third chair is under the back. Sustaining the weight of the body on heels and head, take middle chair from under you without falling. |
| The player is required to cross the arm and grasp the left ear with the right hand and the nose with the left hand. He is then suddenly to release the grasp and reverse the position of the hands, grasping the right ear with the left hand and the nose with the right hand. Repeat in quick succession. |
BLINDFOLDED BOXING
BLINDFOLD BOXING is a great game, especially for the camp fire. Let the other campers make a circle so as to protect the combatants from the fire. Thoroughly blindfold both after placing on the gloves. Then quietly and without the boxers knowing it, smear both boys' gloves with soot from the fire and let them go to it. After the bout, take off the blindfolds and everybody laugh at the boys uproariously. They will promptly demand an explanation. Then allow them to see themselves in a looking-glass. If space is limited, tie the two boxers together with a twelve-foot rope, foot to foot.
BARREL BOXING
TAKE two sugar barrels, knock the bottom out of each and nail the hoops securely all around with small nails. Be very certain there are no sharp nails or splinters, and, if convenient, pad the top of the barrels. The game should be played on sand or sod, so as to avoid hard bumps.
Each boxer is placed in a barrel and the referee calls the game. The contestants each pick up their barrel and move toward the approaching player. When they get near enough to box, the game is to see who can knock the other over first. Each down is a round. Avoid overdoing it. If barrels are carefully prepared there is no danger of accident. Be sure the barrels are large enough so as to allow the contestants free movement on the inside
POLE BOXING
CHOOSE a spot near the camp fire where the grass is soft. Then lash a stout green sapling, about four inches in diameter, which has previously been padded with an old blanket, to a larger tree just high enough from the ground so the contestants cannot touch the ground when straddling the sapling. The other end of the sapling may be held up with a crotch, or may be suspended by means of a rope from a nearby limb. At any rate, be certain it is solid.
Give each contestant one boxing glove and allow both to mount the sapling, holding on with the ungloved hand. Each time a contestant loses his balance so that he must use his gloved hand to keep him from falling, is counted a round.
Each contestant might represent some Patrol or tent.
BEAR FIGHT
A CIRCLE about ten feet in diameter is drawn upon the ground. The two bears, or contestants, step into the ring, fold their arms, and at a given signal hop toward each other on one leg. The object is for one to push the other out of the circle. The butting is done with the shoulders and upper arms.
COCK FIGHTING
Squatting
THE group form a circle and two boys enter the ring. They take a squatting position with their hands clasped around their knees, and a broomstick is placed over the wrists, passing under the knees. The cocks bop around in this fashion, trying to upset each other, while the boys in the circle cheer for their favorite cock.
Seated
Although only two boys can play at one time, they will keep the rest of the company in roars of laughter. The two who are to represent the cocks having been chosen, both are seated upon the floor. Each boy has his wrists tied together with a handkerchief, his legs being secured just above the ankles in like manner; his arms, are then passed over his knees, and a broomstick is pushed over one arm, under both knees, and out on the other side over the other arm. They are carried into the center of the room and placed opposite each other with their toes just touching. Each cock tries with the aid of his toes to turn his opponent over on his back or side. The one who can succeed in doing this first wins the game. It often happens that both cocks turn over at the same time, when the fight begins over again.
Hopping
The combatants are arranged facing each other in two lines. The first two opposite players at either or both ends--or if the floor is large enough, all the opposing pairs may combat at the same time. The boys should fold their arms forward and hop toward each other on one leg. The butting is done with the shoulder and upper arm, never with the elbow; and the arm must remain folded throughout the combat. When two adversaries meet, each attempts to push the other over, make him touch the floor with the foot that is raised. When all have fought, the winners arrange themselves in two opposing ranks, and renew the combat. This is done until but one remains, and he is declared victor.
HOG TYING
A STRENUOUS camp game, but one that Scouts enter into with great zest. Choose five hogs to represent each side. Equip each one with one yard of stout manila rope. At a given signal turn all ten players loose, the game being to see which side can tie the feet of the other side first. The game will need an umpire who will impose fair play and properly deal with ill temper. There are no rules except fight hard, play fair, and be a man. Soft earth or a good grass plot and old clothes are most desirable.
HAND WRESTLE
NUMBER one from the two opposing squares will I take their positions in the center of the floor. Each boy advances his right foot, placing it against the outside of his opponent's foot. The feet to be parallel. The left arms are placed behind the back. The right hands clasp in a firm grip. At a given signal the contest commences. Each boy tries to cause his opponent to move either his front or rear foot by losing his balance. This constitutes a fall. The best two out of three declares a winner.
The winners then challenge the next player in line on the opposing team and so on down until all the players on each team have been thrown. The team having players still unthrown wins.
INDIAN LEG WRESTLE
HAVE two teams of even number of players. First players of each team take their position lying flat on the back, side by side, facing in opposite directions. Then they lock arms and as the judge counts, one, two, three, they raise the leg next to the opponent so as to be ready when the official says three to lock legs. Each tries to turn the other over backwards. The one who succeeds in doing this wins. The best two out of three declares the winner. Then the next opponent in line takes his position against the winner and so on through the team, the team having one or more competitors not thrown winning.
PILLOW FIGHTS
THIS is a splendid substitute for the old and more common blanket toss, and has all of its fun and none of its dangers.
Suspend a smooth, peeled pole six inches in diameter between two stout log trestles so that the pole will be four feet off the ground. The ground under the pole should be spaded soft or else should be of sand or heavy sod, so that in case of falling the boy will not hurt himself.
The contestants should be evenly matched and each one, upon mounting the pole should be given a small soft pillow. The pillows will be held in the right hand while the boys will make their positions secure by winding their legs together and gripping the pole with the left hand.
At the given signal they proceed to strike each other with the pillows, endeavoring to knock each other from the pole, as soon as either boy is compelled to "grab leather," that is, use his right hand to keep from falling, that is "out." Three "outs" make a winner. This is a vigorous and splendid game if well supervised.
DOG COLLAR TUG-OF-WAR
TWO players face each other about three feet apart on hands and knees. A knotted towel or rope is placed between rope and neck to prevent chafing. The heads should be held high to prevent rope from slipping off. At a given signal, the players pull against each other trying to pull their opponent from the mat or to pull the collar from around his neck. (The rope or towel is put over the head of each player and resting on the back of the neck. Each player holds his head bent well back to prevent the rope from slipping over his head. The rope must be long enough to encircle heads of both players.)
STRONG ARM
PLACE the contestant with the weight of the body supported on the feet and one straight arm, right or left, while other arm is kept behind the back.
Spread the thumb or forefinger of the supporting arm and in the space put a match or some sort of small object that could be caught with the teeth.
The object of the test is to bend forward with the head, grasp the match in the teeth and return the starting position without losing the balance or removing other arm from behind the back. It requires considerable strength to accomplish this feat.
FOREARM TEST
TWO contestants face each other across a small table or at one corner of a large one. They place the elbows of their right arms on the table and lock the right hands. The hands and arms must be parallel and also perpendicular at the start. No other part of the body must touch the table. The left arms must be behind the back and at a given signal both contestants push, trying to put the opponent's arm on the table. jerking or pulling is not allowed.
LIFTING THE STOOL
PLACE a low stool on the floor, close against the wall; face the wall, with feet distant from it just double the width of the stool. Stoop down and grasp the stool with one hand on either side, resting the head against the wall. Now lift the stool from the floor, and slowly rise to the erect position--or, rather, endeavor to do so. It is better to try the experiment for the first time on a well-carpeted floor.
