MN Pathfinder Camporee

ACTIVITY ROTATION – FRIDAY

Activity 1

CANOEING:

Leaders: North Star Camp Staff 

Support: Matthew Nyamagwa (Ramsey) & Alfred Momanyi (KCC)

Location: Canoe shed at the Pond

Description

5 Canoes will race to the island (get a baton), then to the Point (get a 2nd Baton), and then back to the bridge.  1st Canoe back wins that round.

• Requirements:

• Team of 3 in each Canoe (if you don’t have enough for 3 in a canoe, they need to recruit a 3rd person for their team)

• Each participant must have passed their advanced swimming honor and preferably canoeing honor.

• Each participant must wear a life jacket (provided).

• Staff: NSC will provide Lifeguards.  

• Volunteer:  Matthew Nyamagwa (Ramsey) – Will keep track of names of club & participants in each canoe and which team was the winner of each round.

Activity 2

SWIMMING:

Leaders: North Star Camp Staff 

Support: Japheth Nyaata (Southview), Gloria Bosire (Southview)

Location: Beach

Description

3 Participants per relay team.  5 Relay teams.  1st swimmer in each team line up across from each (5 across).  1st swimmer swims to a point to be designated and then back to the beginning.  Tags the 2nd swimmer who does the same thing.  Tags the 3rd swimmer who does the same thing.  The 1st team to get all 3 swimmers back to the beginning first wins that round.

• Requirements: Freestyle swimming

• Staff: NSC will provide Lifeguards

• Volunteer: __________________ – Will keep track of names of club & participants in each team and which team was the winner of each round.

Activity 3

KNOT TYING:   

Leaders: Scott Thayer (Southview)

Support: Chocho (LOC), Hulda Velazquez

Location: Porch at the Lodge

Description

5 Teams of 5 Participants each.  1st Participant pulls the name of a knot out of a “Hat”, runs down to the table (or point designated), ties the knot (leaving their knot name card with the knot), runs back and tags the 2nd Participant who does the same thing.  Once all 5 participants have finished their knots, a Judge will look at the knots to make sure they correctly tied their knots.  

PS: Choose from the list of 8 below in a hat. Kids pick get to pick only 1 knot for demonstration.

All knot name cards are put back in the “Hat” and the 2nd round can begin

• Judges: Scott (Southview) & ____________

• Volunteer: Someone to keep track of the winners of each round

Types of knots: English (Spanish Translation)

1. Sheet bend Knot (Vuelta de escota)

2. Square knot (Nudo llamo (nudo cuadrado))

3. Sheep shank (Margarita)

4. Bowline (As de guía)

5. Double Bow (As de guía doble o As de guía por seno)

6. Carrick Bend (Calabrote)

7. Clove Hitch (Ballestrinque)

8. Fisherman’s Knot (Pescador)
   

Activity 4

Spoon Carry – Ping Pong Balls

Leader(s): Susan C.(LOC) & Nelly T.(MOB))

Support: Need 1 more

Location: Inside the Cafeteria (Lodge)

Description

A balance-based relay where five Pathfinder groups rotate through the station. Pathfinders carry ping pong balls on spoons without dropping them. If dropped: team must stop, pick it up, wait 30 seconds before continuing. Fastest group wins.

• 5 per team

• Mark a 25-foot course.

Instructions

1. Place ping pong ball on spoon. 

2. Walk quickly around cone. 

3. Return. 

4. Pass spoon to teammate. 

If ball drops:

• Stop 

• Pick it up and wait 30 seconds

• Continue from that spot 

Safety

• No running. 

• Spoon held by hand only. 

• No using second hand.

Winning Criteria

• Fastest team with fewest drops.

Volunteer Roles

• Judge drops, completion, and time.

• Reset balls and record winners.

Activity 5

GET-A-BOARD:

Leader(s): Ana Grande (Mpls Hispanic)

Support: George Omboga (Southview)

Location: On the Grass by Basketball Hoop

Description

5 Teams of 5 Participants each.  Each Team will have a set of two Get-A-Boards (one board for the right foot and one board for the left foot).

If you choose to make your own board prior to the Camporee so your club can practice, here is the information you will need:

• Materials:

• Cut or have your lumber yard cut 2 of the 8’ Boards into 7 pieces (6=13’6” & 1=15”)

• Glue and screw the 13’6” “Shoes” to the bottom of the 2” x 4” x 8’ board leaving approx. 

3” Openings between to allow the ropes to go through.

• A 100’ Clothesline rope cut into ten 10’ pieces (5 for the left Get-A-Board and 5 for the right one).

Tie a square knot in each 10’ piece making a big circle and attach each 10’ circle to the bottom of the Get-A-Board with:

• two ¼” Wood 6.35mm Coaxial Staples (PSW-1650T) (1 on each side of the square knot) so the ropes don’t move.  

• Activity: Five Participants stand on top of the Get-A Board with their left feet on one and their right feet on the 2nd Get-A-Board.

• There should be 5 sets of 5 participants lined up next to each other (far enough apart so that if one falls they don’t all end up in a pile).

• As a Team, the leader for each team should call out the cadence.  

• LEFT (and all Participants should hold onto the rope attached to the left Get-A-Board and pull the rope up so that their left feet are against the top of the Board and they should move their left feet forward together).  Then the Team Leader should call out 

• RIGHT (and all Participants should hold onto the rope attached to the right Get-A-Board and pull the rope up so that their right feet are against the top of the Board and they should move together to move their right feet forward, and so forth until they can move forward faster and see who can get their Get-A-Board to the finish line first.

Activity 6

TWO PERSON (4-HANDED) SEAT CARRY:

Leader(s): Robert Nyandega

Support: 1 more person needed

Location: On the Grass near Get-a-boards.

Description

5 Teams of 3 Participants (2 to make the chair with their arms & 1 injured person)

Only a conscious casualty can be transported with the four-hand seat carry because he must help support himself by placing his arms around the bearers’ shoulders.  This carry is especially useful in transporting the casualty with a head or foot injury and is used when the distance to be traveled is moderate.  It is also useful for placing a casualty on a litter.

1. Each Bearer grasps one of HIS wrists and one of the other Bearers’ wrists, thus forming a pack saddle.

2. The two Bearers lower themselves sufficiently for the casualty to sit on the Packsaddle then they have the casualty place his arms around their shoulders for support before they rise to an upfront position.

1.                    B.

Activity 7

Broken Leg Stretcher Race

Leader: Jane W. (KCC)

Support: Patrick Sure (Southview)

Location: Lion’s Den (Brown Building)

Description

This First Aid relay teaches emergency rescue skills. Five Pathfinder groups rotate through this station. Each group constructs an improvised stretcher and safely transports an “injured” teammate across the finish line.

6 people per stretcher: 1 person for head, 4 people carrying the stretcher and one person on the stretcher.

Requirements

• Use two poles and one blanket to build the stretcher.

• Demonstrate proper First Aid technique:

• Correct stretcher assembly

• Safe lifting

• No dropping the casualty

• Casualty must remain fully supported

• The “injured” Pathfinder must remain conscious and able to hold on.

Activity Flow

1. Pathfinder groups arrive at the station.

2. Build the stretcher using correct lashings or wrapping technique.

3. Load the “injured” Pathfinder safely on to the stretcher.

4. Carry the “injured” Pathfinder across the finish line.

5. Volunteers/judges verify stretcher stability and safety compliance.

Volunteer Roles

• Judge stretcher construction and safe transport.

• Record club name, participants, and winners.

Activity 8

Obstacle Course Relay Race

Leaders: Linda & Brian O’Mirera (Southview) 

Support: 1 more for record keeping.

Location: Woodchip Hill, Low Ropes Area.

Description

A fast-paced relay where five Pathfinder groups rotate through a multi-element obstacle course using agility, balance, and teamwork.

Please Note: This allows for one team at a time only. We will need to time each team to get the winner. Fastest overall group wins.

Course Elements

• Hula Hoops: Step in/out through the hula hoops.

• Logs: Balance walk or step-over sequence.

• Ropes: Crawl under, step over, or weave through rope lines.

Activity Flow

1. One group arrives at the starting line.

2. Each Pathfinder completes the full obstacle course one at a time.

3. After finishing, they tag the next teammate.

4. All group members must complete the course.

5. Fastest group wins.

Volunteer Roles

• Judge completion, safety, and time.

Activity 9

Foot Relay Race – 3-Legged Format

Leader: George Simba (Southview)
Support: 1 more needed.    

Location: Field next to Lion’s Den (Brown Building)

Description

A teamwork-focused 3-legged relay race where five Pathfinder groups rotate through the station. Each group pairs teammates side-by-side, ties their inside legs together, and races to a turnaround point and back. Pairs pass a baton to the next duo until all pairs complete the course.

Setup & Equipment

• 3 leg base band for tying legs

• Relay baton for handoffs

• Clear starting line

• Turnaround cone placed 15–20 feet away

How to Play & Tie In

1. Form the Pairs

Each group consists of 5 Pathfinders.

• Create two pairs (four Pathfinders).

• The fifth Pathfinder assists with transitions or may join as a third pair depending on rotation needs.

2. Tie the Legs

Partners stand shoulder-to-shoulder facing the course.

• Tie their touching ankles together:

• Right leg of one Pathfinder

• Left leg of the other Pathfinder

• Tie snugly but safely.

• Partners wrap their inside arms around each other’s waist or shoulders for stability.

3. Relay Start

• The first pair begins at the starting line holding the baton.

• On “Go,” they walk, hop, or jog toward the turnaround cone and back.

• They must stay tied together the entire time.

4. Baton Handoff

• Once the first pair crosses the start line again, they hand the baton to the second pair.

• The second pair repeats the course.

5. Winning the Race

• The team whose two pair crosses the finish line first wins.

• Volunteers/judges verify proper leg-tying, safe movement, correct baton handoff, and full completion.

Volunteer Roles

• Ensure straps are tied safely and securely.

• Track team names, completion times, and winners.

• Reset the course between groups.

Activity 10

Building a Travois

Leader: Maciej M. (Southview) 

Support: 2 more needed

Location: Field next to the Flagpole on the grass.

Video link on how to build a Travois.

Description

A pioneering and rescue-skills relay where five Pathfinder groups rotate through the station. Each group constructs a functional travois using lashings, then drags it across a finish line.

Please Note: If each activity is not completed in time, they still need to move on to the next station. 

Judging: They need to make sure the knots are correct and the travois can hold someone securely. 

Judges to include: Name of team: correct knot, overall time spent

Required Equipment Per Group

• 2 long poles (8–10 ft)

• 2–3 cross-poles (3–4 ft)

• 4–5 lashing ropes (6–10 ft each)

• Blanket for the carrying the “injured” Pathfinder.

Activity Flow

1. Pathfinder groups arrive at the station.

2. They begin building the travois:

• Form the V-frame using a sheer lashing.

• Lash cross-poles using square lashings.

• Secure the blanket to form the patient bed.

3. One Pathfinder lies or sits on the travois.

4. Team pulls the travois across the designated course.

5. Lashings must remain tight and intact at the finish line.

Volunteer Roles

• Judge knot accuracy, lashing tightness, and structural integrity.

• Record club name, participants, and winners.