Rainy Day Ideas

Having a "rainy day plan" is part of the BSA National Standards.  This plan allows your camp to continue to run smoothly when unexpected events happen.  Here are some suggestions of activities you could include in your rainy day plan.  You  also need to decide what will happen if you have to evacuate your camp due to a severe weather event like thunderstorms.  Is there a nearby structure you can move to and continue camp at? Will everyone need to sit in cars until the event is over?  What will they do if they're stuck in cars?  Where I live, rainy days are a part of life.  Most of my camp activities can continue on as planned because we borrow enough portable canopies for each station class.  The few activities that might need modification are identified ahead of time and I'm ready with supplies for an alternate activity.

My biggest suggestion for rainy day activities is encouragement to keep your enthusiasm and spirits up.  You might be stressed, unhappy that things aren't going the way you wanted, but I truly believe that the participants at your camp are unable to have a better attitude and energy than you.  As you go around your camp, sign "Singing in the Rain" at the top of your lungs.  Buy a fun umbrella hat and stash it in your things in case you need it.  (umbrella hat)  Be silly and show the boys and adults that a bit of bad weather can't ruin camp.


*Gumdrop Structures: You will need gumdrops and/or marshmallows (15 to 25 per child), toothpicks, 8"X11" pieces of cardboard or heavy card stock (1 per child), glue, and 2 bowls.

Place gumdrops and toothpicks into bowls. Demonstrate to younger scouts how to poke toothpicks through gumdrops. Allow time for children to create house-like structures out of their construction materials. Glue each structure to a piece of cardboard for display.

*Nuts and Bolts: Tie one end of the string to a stick or dowel and tie the other end to a horseshoe magnet - this will be a "crane". Fill a large box with nuts and bolts, and place it on the ground outside. Put a sawhorse a few feet away from the box. Put a pan or bucket on the other side of the sawhorse.

Have each child, in turn, go up to the sawhorse and swing the "crane" into the nuts and bolts box, picking up as many as the magnet will hold. The child then swings the nuts and bolts over to the pan. A helper counts and records the number of items picked up and then returns them to the box. Award a prize to the child who collects the most items.

*Bingo: Make bingo cards ahead of time. Have a bag of skittles for bingo markers. Try some fun bingos like: 4 corners, letters (X, T, C, U)

*Tell a fun story with sound effects the boys can make

*Hand out skit bags filled with props that must be used in a skit.

*Genius Kits

What is a Genius Kit?

Well it’s a group of 20 or more odds and ends thrown together into a container and given to a boy to turn into something. (Variations include letting the boys pick their own items from a large open container, but again, the items are odds and ends.) What is the purpose of the Genius Kit activity? The object is to let the kids use their imaginations to come up with some of the most unbelievable creations from the junk they have. You will be amazed at the results!

How do you run a Genius Kit activity?

I have seen them run two different ways. First, as said above, is to give the kids a chance to pick their own items from a general junk bin and then let them work on making their creations. The other way is to give each boy an identical Genius Kit and have each on come up with his own creation.