R.O.G.A.I.N.E. Game

This Game is meant for Scouts BSA.

In addition to standard day hike gear, each group must have:
* a tarp
* sleeping bag
* foam pad
* Pot or billy
* fire makings
* hot beverage.

Every person needs a whistle.
Every group needs a compass, pencil and paper.

See web link.

See link. This takes practice. You want to do a few games with only 3-4 patrols. Setup for your first season takes 100 to 300 hours.

If your area has a service group : either a venturer/explorer post, or an active chapter of the Order of the Arrow, then orienteering contests can be a big hit. Some years ago when I was working at a boarding school, I developed a program, (and found that I had mostly duplicated an Aussie program.) The Aussies called it ROGAINE Rugged Outdoor Group Activity Involving Navigation and Endurance. NOthing to do with hair. The program is complex, time consuming to set up, but it's a lot of fun.

In a nutshell: Each game has 20-35 "controls" A control has an ID and a codeword. The ID tells you you found the right one. Codeword proves you've been there. Groups are given a clue list a few days before. They have to figure out which controls they are going after, and figiure out their search strategies. No team finds all the controls. Because it's team oriented, it is safe to run in winter.

This not a program for new scouts as created unless they are exceptionally fit. It's ideal if you have a senior patrol, an explorer post. We had the program open to all one year, but found that grade 8 and below lacked the stamina required. Of course a shorter version could be created.

Training to be ready for this program can easily be a one month program and a campout.

A full description is: HERE.

You need a good map. You need about 6 square miles per game. You need terrain that has a mix of woods, fields, hills and swamps.