Pirate Energy Game

Feature
Pirate Energy Game
by Paul Young-Davies
Yo ho ho!
Gather up your Beavers to act out this action packed story/game. The Pirate captain
calling the commands must be animated and act like a devilish pirate captain. Tie it
into a Pirate theme meeting by making eye patches, wearing bandanas and drawing beards or mustaches with
face paint. We played this game during a parent evening, and even convinced some parents to become involved!
Standing in the centre of the meeting space, the Pirate Captain starts to tell a story, performing the actions to the words and leading
the Beavers through the game. Gather the Beavers in a circle around the Captain. Point out the four sides of the meeting space (Bow/
Stern/Starboard/Port) and explain that the Beavers are gong to act out a pirate story. The best part of the story is the speed at which they
run and the pirate yelling they do.
Action Story Line
Captain calls the Beavers together – the Beavers are the crew. They are pirates and hunting for treasure.
Row hard me mateys����������������������������������������� Beavers sit in lines and make rowing motions (all in same direction hopefully)
Set the sails/ Climb the rigging�������������������Beavers make upwards climbing motions
Swab the decks������������������������������������������������������Beavers start doing a mopping and broom sweeping action
Go to the bow���������������������������������������������������������Beavers run to front of ship
Find the boat�����������������������������������������������������������Beavers pretend to put telescope to their eyes and search for ships
Go to the stern ������������������������������������������������������Beavers run to rear of ship
Find the boat�����������������������������������������������������������Beavers search for a ship (repeat as many times as you wish)
Repeat for port/starboard�������������������������������Repeat as needed – do this fast to get the Beavers running
Swab the decks������������������������������������������������������Repeat as needed – do this fast
Thar she blows������������������������������������������������������� Beavers loudly yell “Aharrrrr”
More speed - Set the sails��������������������������������Beavers climb rigging
Shiver me timbers������������������������������������������������ Beavers shiver and shake about
Leader pretends the ship is near
Boarding party������������������������������������������������������� Beavers charge, with arms outstretched with pretend swords, to one side of the meeting room (usually where parents are sitting).
Leader calls Beavers back to the ship
The mast is loose/Hit the Deck��������������������Beavers dive to lay flat on the floor
Leader pretends ship is damaged
Ship’s sinking���������������������������������������������������������� Beavers fall to knees – pretend to bail out water with a bucket
Abandon ship��������������������������������������������������������� Beavers make a diving motion as if diving off the ship
Swim to shore��������������������������������������������������������Beavers lie on the floor and try to swim ashore (leader must point out where land is)
HUNGRY SHARKS!����������������������������������������������� All leaders and parents run around pretending they are sharks. (Makes Beavers swim faster.)
Leader calls Beavers to swim back to save the ship from sinking.
Ship’s sinking����������� Beavers bail out boat
Leader spies another ship attacking
Find the boat������������������������������������������������������������ Beavers search for a ship
here are several additional twists to this game. These added scenarios depend on the equipment at your meeting spot, and the
Leader says Beavers have to escape from being sunk
energy level of your leaders and Beavers alike.
Set the sails����������������������������������������������������������������Beavers climb rigging
1.Leaders peel the large blue gym mats from the walls and
Leader says to check whether the Beavers are escaping
wear them over their heads when they are called to be
sharks. The gym mats can be opened and closed like large
Go to the stern���������������������������������������������������������Beavers run to rear of ship
jaws – perfect for hunting down and eating little Beavers
Find the boat�������������������������������������������������������������Beavers search for a ship
when they are in the water.
2.Place mats on the floor – these become islands. Places
Leader says that the boat is closing fast and that we need more sails to go faster
for:
Shiver me timbers�������������������������������������������������Beavers shiver and shake about
(a) safety from the sharks
(b) islands where treasure is buried. If you want to
Main mast is loose������������������������������������������������Beavers climb rigging
extend
Leader says that the boat needs to be rowed back to safe harbor
the game, the Beaver pirates have to swim to each
Row hard me mateys������������������������������������������Beavers row hard to escape
Repeat for port/starboard��������������������������������� Repeat as needed – do this fast to get the Beavers running
Leader says that the boat is safe
Back to port����������������������������������������������������������������Beavers sit in a circle in the middle of the gym (breathing hard). m
Additional Scenarios
Illustration: Richard J. Petsche
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– Paul Young-Davies has been a Beaver leader, Cub leader and is now with the Scouts in the 1st Stittsville Scouting Group, ON.
ScoutingLife.ca | March/April 2010
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