Dynamite - I Can Stop Anytime Minute

This Minute is meant for Scouts BSA.

7 red road flares
1 foot of fireworks fuse
duct tape or electicians tape

sand off the labels from the flares.
tape the end of the fuse to one flare about 3 inches down the side.
put that flare in the center of the flares and wrap in a bundle with tape so it looks like a bundle of dynamite and where the fuse ends is not visible.

[The idea of this scenario is to startle the scouts by doing something really stupid so you'd better have a super trust relationship in place before doing this.]
Always wear a heavy glove and keep the hot end pointed away.
When the fuse reaches the end, it burns out.

I wouldn't do this inside any building.

Pass the 'dynamite' around carefully for each scout to hold. Offer to cut a little piece of the fuse off and light it so that they can see it. Let the discussion run its course - the scouts should be full of comments.

After a few minutes, make some comment about thinking that you can pinch out the fuse if it's lit, and then light the fuse.
As the fuse moves closer to the 'dynamite', say things like 'no, its ok! I can stop it anytime!'

After the fuse burns out, call them back and tell them about the flares. Then explain how the dynamite is like a lot of things in life: exciting, but unpredictable. Discuss how it could be compared to drugs, alcohol, gangs, ...