Text File

Newsgroups: rec.scouting,news.answers From: macman@bernina.ethz.ch (Danny Schwendener) Subject: rec.scouting FAQ #1: Skits, Yells & Creative Campfires Message-ID: <scouts-skits_726117273@bernina.ethz.ch> Organization: Pfadi Glockenhof, 8001 Zurich, Switzerland Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 03:14:44 GMT Lines: 1429

Archive-name: scouting/1_skits-yells-and-campfires Last-Modified: 1992/12/24

This file contains a number of skits and yells collected on rec.scouting and scouts-l, for your own Pack meetings and campfires. While the yells are rarely useable outside of the english-speaking countries, I have found that most skits are very easy to translate, and my cubs love them!

I have also appended a compilation of creative ways to light a campfire. If you use them, be careful not to incite the kids to start playing with liquid fuels. The results can be devastating.

If you know a good skit or yell that hasn't been included in this FAQ, please do all of us the favour. Write it up and post it on rec.scouting. Drop me a copy too to make sure that I include it in this file.

There are a few books I know on skits, yells and campfires:

The "BSA Cub Scout Leader How-To Book". It is built to help the cub scout pack and den leaders running programs that kids enjoy. A section of 15 pages is dedicated to skits, yells and applauses. ISBN 0-8395-3831-6.

"Creative Campfires" is another fine publication. Half of the book contains songs, and the rest is crammed with skits, stories, yells and tips to set up an entertaining campfire. (Sorry - no ISBN, but it can be ordered worldwide from the BSA Supply Division - Fax +1-704-588-5822).

This file is in digested format, like all FAQ files on this newsgroup. If you're using nn as newsreader, type 'G %" to split the digest into individual postings. In bn or rn, typing control-G should cause the reader to skip to the next posting within this file.

-- Danny Schwendener macman@bernina.ethz.ch Wolfsmeute Nidau/Glockenhof, Sihlstr. 33, CH-8001 Zurich, Switzerland m.h.c. Troop 14, San Francisco

-------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1992 12:47:53 -0400 From: bk233@CLEVELAND.FREENET.edu (Jack W. Weinmann) Subject: Skit - Rowing

Four or more people sneak up behind the speaker and set chairs down so that "the speaker can't see them." They then begin to go through the motions of casting a line and reeling it in. After a while the audience is watching what the group is doing and then the "speaker" looks over and asks, "What are you doing?"

"We're fishing!" is the reply of the fishermen, after which they go back to their motions and the speaker resumes talking. After a short time the speaker looks over and says - "But you can't fish here!"

"Why not?" asks another fisherman.

"Because there's no water here!" (speaker)

"Oh, well, they weren't biting anyway!" (fisherman)

The fishermen then turn their chairs so that they are lined up in a single line, facing in the same direction. They go through the motions of putting their gear away, and then, acting as if they are rowing a boat, slide their chairs backwards across the stage."

It worked well in a gymnasium and at the hall where we showed it to the leaders at roundtable. Perhaps the fishermen could sit on plastic garbage bags, or pieces of plastic sheet such as that which is used for ground cloths and simply scoot across the ground when it is time to "row" away.

Also, the speaker could be starting what looks like the introduction to another skit when the fishermen interrupt his narration.

-------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1992 16:04:12 -0400 From: GARBUTT@WVNVM.bitnet (Garbutt, Keith) Subject: Skit - Ging gang gooly

****Warning long posting of interest to campfire junkies only******

At WEBELOS camp last week I was teaching the "Skits, songs and cheers" activity. We had each den produce a skit a song and a cheer. In addition I was teaching other songs so we could have decent volume on the communal songs. I was teaching Ging Gang Gooli (which I discoverd had never been heard before in this council!!!!!!) when a Scouter from a Pittsburg pack (who appears to be as big a nut about campfires as I am) asked if I knew the Great Grey Elephat story which went with it. I didn't, he told it to me, I shamlessly stole it!!!! (with his permision). Apparently this story came to him from Canada - so Thanks to our brothers and sisters in the Great Frozen North for this one.

THE GREAT GREY GHOST ELEPHANT

In deepest darkest Africa there is a legend concerning the Great Grey Ghost Elephant. Every year after the rains the great grey ghost elephant arose from the mists and wandered throught the land at dawn. When he came to a village he would stop and sniff the air, then he would either go around the village or through it. If he went around the village the village would have a prosporous year, if he went through it there would be hunger and drought.

The village of Wat-cha had been visited three years in a row by the elephant and things were very bad indeed, and the village leader Ging-ganga, was very worried, as was the village medicine man Hay-la-shay. Together they decided to do somthing about the problem.

Now Ging-ganga and his worriors whe huge men with big shields and Spears and they decided to stand in the path of the elephant and shake their shields and swords at it to frightenit off.

Hay-la-shay and his followers were going to cast magic spells to deter the elephant by shaking their medicine bags as the elephant approached which made the sound shalawally shallawlly shallawally.

Very early in the morning of the day the Great Grey Elephant came the villagers gatherd at the edge of the village on one side were Ging-gana and his warriors (indicate right side of camp fire circle) on the other was Hay-la-shay and his followers (indicate left side of camp fire)

As they waited the warriors sang softly about their leader

Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo

As they waited the medicine men sang of their leader

Hayla, Hayla Shayla Heyla Shayla Halya Ho-o-o! Hayla, Hayla Shayla Heyla Shayla Halya Ho-o-o!

And shook their medicine bags

shallawally shallawlly shallawally shallawally.

And from the river came the mighty great grey elephants reply (Have all the adults do this)

Oompha Oompah Ompah Oompah!

The elephat was coming closer so the warriors beat their shields and sang louder (signal warriors to stand and beat thighs in time)

Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Gooli, Gooli, Gooli, Gooli Watcha Ging Gang Goo Ging Gang Goo

then the medicine men rose and sang loudly

Hayla, Hayla Shayla Heyla Shayla Halya Ho-o-o! Hayla, Hayla Shayla Heyla Shayla Halya Ho-o-o!

And shook their medicine bags

shallawally shallawlly shallawally shallawally.

And mighty great grey elephant turn aside and went around the village saying

Oompha Oompah Ompah Oompah!

There was great rejoicing in the village and all the villagers joind to gether to sing

Ging Gang Gooli ........

-------------------------------- Date: Thu, 16 Jul 1992 16:04:12 -0400 From: GARBUTT@WVNVM.bitnet (Garbutt, Keith) Subject: Yells

My boys love to yell so we do a competitive Yell Split the camp fire into two halfs have one side say

There ain't no flys on us There ain't no flys on us There may be flys on some of you guys But there ain't no flys on us

The other side responds with

Give 'em straw Give 'em hay give 'em somthing to stop that neigh

Get both sides going at once and wear ear plugs!!!!!

An old old favourite of mine from my days playing rugby in Wales

(Leader) Oggy Oggy Oggy (Scouts) Oy Oy OY (L) Oggy (S)Oy (L) Oggy (S)Oy (Leader) Oggy Oggy Oggy (Scouts) Oy Oy OY

This next one was made up by a bunch of first year WEBELOS They thought it was GREAT we were not so sure but we let them do it any way - must encourage creativity!!!! (Use with CAUTION!!!)

Rah Rah Ree Kick 'em in the knee Rah Rah Ras Kick ,em in the (pause for parents to go OH!) Other knee.

-------------------------------- From: wayne@eng.umd.edu (Wayne C. McCullough) Subject: Skit - the Medicrin

The Medicrin

as recorded by Wayne McCullough (original Author unknown)

There once was a medieval village named Trinsic. This village was being terrorized by a vile monster, the Medicrin. Each night, the Medicrin would stalk down from the hills, and devour one of the villagers.

The terrified villagers called a meeting, and decided to pool their money together to hire the great hero Erik. <fanfare>

Erik came and listened to the complaints of the villagers. He consulted his Great Hero's Book of Vile Monsters, and learned that Medicrins love to eat Loons.

So Erik hunted high and low to find a loon. He found one, captured it, tied it up, and brought it back to the village. He then had the villagers dig a deep pit.

Erik threw the loon into the pit, hoping to capture the Medicrin, and slay it.

That night, the Medicrin came . . .

It smelled the loon . . .

But it also smelled DANGER, and it ran off, devouring one of the villagers on the way out.

After calming the villagers, the next day, Erik again consulted his Great Hero's Book of Vile Monsters, and learned that Medicrins also love sugar.

So Erik gathered up all of the sugar in the village, and threw it into the pit. The loon, not having eaten in days, devoured all of the sugar in a single gulp. Erik was struck with panic, and ran to and fro trying to figure out what to do next, but night had fallen, and the Medicrin would be there soon, so Erik crossed his fingers, and hoped for the best.

That night, the Medicrin came . . .

It smelled the loon . . .

It smelled danger . . .

But it also smelled the sugar, and the Medicrin dived into the pit, and devoured the loon. The villagers swarmed over the Medicrin, and slew it.

The moral of the story:

"A loon full of sugar helps the Medicrin go down."

Presentation: The story calls for a narrator, a Hero, a Medicrin, a Loon, and assorted villagers. The narrator should have a loud, clear voice. There should be at least three villagers, but the more, the merrier (up to ten).

The narrator should read the story, and the characters should act out the parts. I personally feel no props should be used, and only the narrator should speak.

The narrator should read the story slowly and dramatically. Purely from the spoken point of view, the only humor in the entire story is the final punch-line. However, minor slapstick should be employed by the actors.

This is amusing mostly because of the punch-line. This story should not be evoked in excess.

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - The little green ball

Hi Folks. The following stunts and sketches were collected from the Xerox scouting distribution list and contains items from leaders in America and in England. Have fun!

THE LITTLE GREEN BALL

This one is so old, but it appeals to the lads in my troop. First scout comes on and says 'Oh no I've lost it' He then starts to search around on the floor. Second scout comes in and asks what he is looking for. First scout replies that he has lost his little green ball. Both scouts continue searching the floor. Several more scouts come on and are told about the lost little green ball. even members of the audience can be persuaded to join in the search. After enough time has been dragged out, the first scout, sticks a finger up his nose and says "Don't worry I will have to make another one" YUK!!!!!

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - THE MAGIC DOCTOR'S CHAIR

Characters required, 1 doctor and four patients. Props required, two chairs. Scene begins with doctor sitting on one of the chairs.

First patient enters twitching their left arm.

DOCTOR: 'And what's wrong with you sir?'

Patient 1: 'As you can see doctor I have this terrible twitch'

DOCTOR: 'Just sit on my magic chair and you'll get better'

The patient sits on the chair and stops twitching, but the doctor's left arm starts twitching.

Patient 1: 'Oh thank you doctor. you cured me'

The patient leaves, the doctor still twitching calls for the next patient. DOCTOR: ' Next '...... 'And what's wrong with you sir?'

This patient has the hiccups. The process of sitting in the chair is repeated. The doctor now has a twitch and the hiccups.

The third patient is called in, both his legs keep flicking in the air. The process is again repeated so that the doctor now has a twitching arm the hiccups and both legs flicking in the air.

The doctor now calls patient four. This patient looks quite normal, enters and sits in the magic chair.

DOCTOR: 'And what may I ask is wrong with you sir?'

Patient 4: 'I've got a terrible case of the trots doctor' The doctor runs off the stage holding his stomach.

Note: TROTS is English slang for can't stop going to the toilet

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - THREE SCOUT LEADERS

The scene is that three scout leaders are sitting around the campfire swapping yarns, after having had a little too much of the amber nectar to drink.

[Note: this skit is adapted from the "We were poor" sketch from "Monty Python live at City Center" -- Danny]

1st leader: These scouts today don't know they're born. I can remember the scout hut that we had. There was a hole in the roof, which let the water in when it were raining.

2nd leader: A roof with a hole in it, that were luxury. We had an old tarpaulin sheet slung over the rafters. Us older lads had to hang onto it during the meetings, case it blew away in the wind.

3rd leader: Rafters, now theres a luxury. When I was a scout our hut had no roof at all, and we kept out the rain with some old bits of sack, held up with twigs.

1st leader: We couldn't get twigs. We had to hold the roof up with our bare hands. Those were the days.

2nd leader: I remember when us lads used to go to camp. We loaded all our gear onto an old army truck and drove to the campsite singing songs.

3rd leader: We had no time for singing. We used to pull all our gear along on an old cart with wooden wheels. And the wheels used to get bogged down in the mud.

1st leader: A cart with wheels, now thats what I call a luxury. We just had an old cardboard box to put all our camping gear in, and when it rained all our gear would get soaking wet, and fall into the mud, but we were happy.

2nd leader: Yes, those were the days.

3rd leader: We had some nice tents though, big green six manners.

1st leader: Six manners , luxury, our tents were so small, you had to sleep sitting up.

2nd leader: We didn't have any tents at all in my troop. We used to curl up in a hole that we'd dug in the ground, but we were happy.

3rd leader: We couldn't afford a hole in the ground, we used to sleep in a puddle.

1st leader: Yes these youngsters today don't know they're born, but if you told them all these things they would never believed you.

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - THE SUBMARINE CAPTAIN

A line of submarine officers on a japanese sub during WWII . Captain sights a ship in the parascope

CAPTAIN; 'Tanker bearing 259, Range 1 mile' He yells this to the first mate, who in turn tells second mate, down the line until finally the torpedo opperator is told. The torpedo operator just shrugs his shoulders.

CAPTAIN: 'Load main tube # 1 and stand by to fire.' He yells this to the first mate, who in turn tells second mate, down the line until finally the torpedo opperator is told.

TORPEDO OPERATOR: 'I don't know How. ' Next the captain gives the order to fire down the line, but the TORPEDO OPERATOR. says "I dont know How..."

This message is returned up the line to the Captain who SCREAMS.

CAPTAIN : "Press the red button."

When this message finally gets down to the TORPEDO OPERATOR. he follows it, but it took too long so they miss the ship. (More message passing if you want.) Finally after about three ships (each time the TORPEDO OPERATOR doesnt remember how to fire.) The Captain feels disgraced and pulls out a knife and commits Sepuku (or incorrectly, Hari Keri) Each officer in turn picks up the knife and follows the Captains example until at last the knife comes to the Torpedo Officer Who looks at the knife and says;

TORPEDO OPPERATOR: 'I dont Know How..."

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - IS IT TIME YET? Line of 5-8 Scouts standing with left foot crossed over right, right arm crossed over left.

First Scout in line asks: "IS IT TIME YET?" - Second Scout asks third, etc down the line.

Last Scout says: "NO" Word is passed back to the first Scout, one Scout at a time.

After a lonnnnnnnng pause,

First Scout asks: "IS IT TIME YET?" It goes down the line as before.

Last Scout says: "NO" Again and the word is passed back.

Another long pause...............

First Scout asks again: "IS IT TIME YET?" etc and,

Last Scout says: "YES" the answer is passed back. Just after the first Scout gets the word, they all change to right foot over left and left arm over right.

Exit groaning

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - RAISIN SKIT

1st Scout comes out: Gets down on all fours, pretenting to be a table. 2nd Scout comes out, looks at the table and declares;

2nd SCOUT: "Ahh, a fly, I think I'll pull it's wings off" Proceeds to pick it up, pluck the wings, put it back on the table, and walks off.

3nd Scout comes out, looks at the fly on the table and says;

3rd SCOUT: "Oh, a fly with no wings, I think I'll pull it's legs off", With great precision and animation, picks up the fly, removes it's legs, and puts it back and walks off.

4rd Scout comes out, looks at the fly and announces;

4th SCOUT: "Say, a fly with no wings and no legs, I think I'll pull it's head off." Then proceeds as the other Scout before him.

Last Scout comes out looks at the table, then carefully inspects the object with out picking it up and says very quickly

LAST SCOUT: "A raisin !" and quickly picks it up and puts it in his mouth

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - THE NUTTY FISHERMAN Centre stage is a lad fishing from a billy can or bucket, he keeps pulling the rod as though he has something on the line. A passer by looks at him as he walks by and then walks on, after a few steps the passer by comes back to the lad.

Passer by: "What are you doing there then?"

Fisher: "I'm fishing, what does it look as though I'm doing?" Passer by: "Fishing eh!, what are you fishing for."

Fisher: "I'm fishing for suckers."

Passer by: "Have you caught any?"

Fisher: "Yes you're the third today"

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - BEE STING 1st scout "OOOOOUCH , OOOOOH , OOOUCH."

2nd scout "What's the matter with you?"

1st scout "A bee's stung my thumb."

2nd scout "Try putting some cream on it then."

1st scout "But the bee will be miles away by this time."

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - "PATIENCE, JACKASS, PATIENCE!"

You can ham this up a bit, but here's the jist of it.

Two scouts enter (one on all fours if conditions allow) and move across stage as the skit procedes. One is the mule and the other is the driver. A narrator stands just offstage.

Narrator: "In the heat of the Mojave Desert, the mule driver pushes his beast toward town. The first day. . ."

Mule: "Water, master, water!"

Driver: "Patience, Jackass, Patience!"

Narrator: "Still they drive on relentlessly. The second day. . ."

Mule: "Water, master, water!"

Driver: "Patience, Jackass, Patience!"

Narrator: "Without mercy, they push to their goal. The third day. . ." Mule: "Water, master, water!"

Driver: "Patience, Jackass, Patience!"

Narrator: "Still far from town, they go on. The fifth day. . ."

Voice offstage: "What happened to the fourth day?"

Driver: "Patience, Jackass, Patience!"

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - CAMP COFFEE SKETCH

You need a large dixie or billy in the centre of the stage and four scouts. In England we have nesting sets of aluminium cooking pots with a steel wire handle. They look like a small straight sided bucket or paint pot. These are called Billys or Billycans. We also have larger cast iron or steel cooking pots usually oval in shape. Most of these are army surplus and are known as Dixies.

1st scout (Walks to billy carrying his mug. He dips his mug in and brings it up to his lips for a drink. )

" THIS CAMP COFFEE IS GETTING WORSE! "

2nd scout (Walks to billy carrying his mug. He dips his mug in and brings it up to his lips for a drink. )

" THIS CAMP TEA IS GETTING WORSE! "

3rd scout (Walks to billy carrying his mug. He dips his mug in and brings it up to his lips for a drink. )

" THIS CAMP CHOCOLATE IS GETTING WORSE! " 4th scout (Walks to billy, dips his hands in and takes out a pair of wet socks. As he wrings them out he says. )

"I THOUGHT THAT WOULD GET THEM CLEAN!"

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - THE SLEEP WALKER

You will need three scouts or male scout leaders and one girl scout or lady leader. You can do this with adults or youngsters, but do not mix adults and youngsters.

The scene is that three boys are chatting in a group when from the side of the stage, a young lady walks on, hands in front of her, sleep walking. She walks up to the first boy, takes off his tie and walks off taking his his tie with her.

1st boy " Hey she's pinched my tie." (another word for Pinched is stole or took)

2nd boy " It's dangerous to wake sleep walkers, don't worry she'll bring it back when she wakes up."

The girl walks back and takes the second boys jacket, she walks off carrying it with her.

2nd boy "Hey she's pinched my jacket."

3rd boy "It's dangerous to wake sleep walkers, don't worry she'll bring it back, when she wakes up."

The girl walks back still sleep walking, grabs the 3rd boy by the arm and walks off with him.

3rd boy "It's dangerous to wake sleep walkers, but don't worry she'll bring me back when she wakes up."

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - WE'RE GOING ON SAFARI This is an action chant, which can be performed by as many scouts as you wish. It can be made into something really good, by dressing up in safari gear and carrying rifles.

1st scout:We're going on safari. ALL:We're going on safari. 1st scout:We're gonna catch a big one. ALL:We're gonna catch a big one. 1st scout: Ooh look a snake. ALL:Ooh look a snake. 1st scout: Hiss, hiss. ALL:Hiss, hiss.

2nd scout: We're going on safari. ALL: We're going on safari. 2nd scout: We're gonna catch a big one. ALL: We're gonna catch a big one. 2nd scout : Ooh look a crocodile. ALL: Ooh look a crocodile. 2nd scout: Snap, snap. ALL: Snap, snap. 1st scout: Hiss, hiss. ALL: Hiss, hiss.

3rd scout: We're going on safari. ALL: We're going on safari. 3rd scout: We're gonna catch a big one. ALL: We're gonna catch a big one. 3rd scout: Ooh look a panther. ALL: Ooh look a panther. 3rd scout: Poof, poof. ALL: POOF, POOF.......Why on Earth poof poof? 3rd scout: Well, he was pink! 2nd scout: Snap, snap. ALL: Snap, snap. 1st scout: Hiss, hiss. ALL: Hiss, hiss.

AND SO ON. To finish you can have someone dressed in a gorilla suit. The last scout starts to sing ooh look a gorilla, then all the others see the gorilla as he comes on stage and chases them all off screaming.

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - CRAZY NEWS FLASHES Today, Lady Blenkinsop Smythe, laid a foundation stone. Both are said to be doing well.

A lorry load of artificial hair has just overturned on the motorway. The police are combing the countryside.

This afternoon, two girl scouts, went for a tramp in the woods. The tramp got away.

A hundred dollar bill has just been found on the campsite. Will the owner, please form an orderly queue outside the mess tent to claim it. Doctors have just discovered, that people with hairs starting to grow on the palms of their hands are going mad. PAUSE. They also tell us that people looking for hairs on the palms of their hands are already mad.

Today thieves broke into the local police station and stole fifty pairs of trousers. The police are looking, pretty silly.

Yesterday a chicken swallowed a YoYo. It laid the same egg seventy five times.

Here is a late railway annoncement. The train now arriving at platforms 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 is coming in sideways.

Will the man who has just left the train standing on platform 5. Please come and collect it as we have enough of our own.

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - THE LIGHTHOUSE.

cast: 1 narrator 3-6 Scouts for the lighthouse walls 3-6 leaders, counselors, kitchen staff, etc., number to equal the Scouts and will be 'recruited' during the skit 1 flashlight, or 2 if using 5-6 Scouts

Scouts stand in a circle, facing out, feet spread 2' - 3' apart but touching feet of Scouts on each side. The flashlight is held at eye level and is passed around the circle. Scouts stand tall and hold the beacon's beam steady. Narrator: "Many years ago the people of a seaside village built a lighthouse to warn approaching ships of a dangerous shoal near their harbor. It's beacon could be seen for miles, even in fog and storms. For many decades, the lighthouse stood firm and give safe passage to all who sailed by the village. But as the years went by, the villagers grew old and so did the lighthouse. The villagers could no longer make repairs, the ocean's waves wore away the foundation, the lighthouse started to sag and failed at its duty." The Scouts now stoop, heads lean to the side and bend their knees slightly; the light 'travels' a zig-zag path around.

Narrator: "When the schooners and square riggers started to go aground on the shoals, the old villagers knew they had to call in experienced people to help with their problem. People who were pillars in their own communities and who were solid as a rock."

Recruit your favorite 'I'm gonna get you now' people and instruct them to go down on their hands an knees and into the walls. Leaders are facing in with their derrieres out, and are straddled by the Scouts who again stand tall and give a steady light.

Narrator: "Now with these new rocks placed into the foundation, the lighthouse once again shines a bright beacon and stands firm in the stormy surf to withstand the pounding of the waves."

Scouts drop the flashlight and then hand paddle the leaders.

-------------------------------- From: Unknown Subject: Skit - SARGE AND THE PRIVATE

Sarge and private walking.

Private: "I want to rest!"

Sarge: "No! we have to finish this hike keep going!"

Private: "But my feet hurt" etc. (Whining.) Here you can be creative, add a few more excuses...

Sarge: "Absolutely NOT!!!"

Private: "Ill cry..."

Sarge: "Go ahead!"

Private: "WaaaaaaHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!" Here Sarge gives in and they rest. Next the private wants to stop and ' take a wee' (you can always use the "Weeee!" when the Sarge finally gives in after the same Rigamarole. and next a drink, and finally food. But this is only a day hike so there is no food. After more tears, the sarge finds a worm and the private will only eat it (on the threat of more tears) if the sarge eats half. Of course when he finally does, the private starts bawling again and screams

Private: "You ate my half."

-------------------------------- From: stolz@fnusgd.fnal.gov (Mike Stolz) Subject: Creative Campfires Compilation Date: 19 Jun 92 20:18:47 GMT

I have attempted to collect all the Creative Campfire suggestions into a single extract. I have ordered and edited them in an effort to make them as succinct and readable as possible. I left in the Internet addresses of the posters (I hope I got them all straight). If anyone has additions, corrections, etc. regarding these accumulated suggestions, my address is: stolz@fnusgd.fnal.gov ============================ cut here +================================

In article <1992Jun7.213045.1992@desire.wright.edu>, bschroeder@desire.wright.edu says:

I am looking for an impressive way to start a campfire. In the past, we had been burying a wire to the campfire and using a rocket igniter to light it, but that has lost it's thrill as we have been using it for too long... Does anyone have any ideas as to how to start a fire in a way that will attract some "oohs and ahhhs" ? Any help would be greatly appreciated... ==================== ~From: ALLAN H. YAMAKAWA <U43367@uicvm.uic.edu> ~Date: Monday, 8 Jun 1992 00:41:51 CDT

If you have enough distance between the fire and the nearest Scout so that you don't asphyxiate anyone, finely ground potassium permanganate heaped into a pyramid with an indented top into which glycerine is poured produces a spectacular violet flame which does a nice job of starting a fire.

Also on the slightly risky side is using a "flaming arrow" which is guided on a piano wire into the fire.

We used both of those at Scout camps at which I served on staff, with lots of oohs and aahs.

====================

~From: mwilson@orl.mmc.com (Mark Wilson) ~Date: 8 Jun 92 17:48:26 GMT Mark Wilson, Eagle Class of 1973, SM, Troop 565, Deltona, FL

Not all impressive openings require pyrotechnic special effects.

Near a lake? Have some boys in indian clothing (OA members?) bring a lighted torch by canoe from some unseen place to the council ring. After a solemn ceremony, or a BRIEF speach, the torch bearer lights the fire. Be sure those in the ceremony stay in character.

(these two messages inserted as safety follow-ups) ====================

~From: hellmann@cs.scarolina.edu (Douglas R Hellmann) ~Date: 11 Jun 92 03:27:28 GMT

We used to do this for OA ceremonies. The principles would come across the lake in canoes which had highway signal flares burning from inside the bottom of the canoe. This cast an erie red light on them which made a great effect until the camp ranger started making them wear life jackets. I can see the reasoning, but the ceremony was never the same. ====================

~From: jjohnson@utkvx3.utk.edu (Jay Johnson, UTKVX) ~Date: 14 Jun 92 06:43:00 GMT Jay Johnson, Aquatics Instructor, BSA, Great Smoky Mountain Council, TN

The lifejackets (PFDs) can be deleted from the ceremony if the protection of the "Indians" can be assured in another fashion such as having an emergency boat manned and ready to go with trained lifeguards. Also a must is to have the PFDs for the "Indians" in the canoe (for this is the law). Another way to provide protection for the "Indians" is to keep the boat running near the shore instead of coming across the lake with lifeguards posted along the the route. If the right measures can be taken, the "Indians" can canoe without wearing PFDs, but every possible means available must be used to protect the canoeists. In short, BSA policy makes the exception for "Special Ceremonies" ie OA and camp lighting when special precautions are made. This is the ONLY time scouts can be allowed in boats without PFDs.

==================== (initial message continued)

Not near a lake? Same as above, but they walk in.

Prelight the fire (prevents embarassment), then have someone in period dress carry in an historic US Flag, talk about it BRIEFLY then lead the Pledge to the Flag.

Spotlight the Flag as Red Skelton's "Pledge of Allegience" is played. Then everyone joins in the Pledge.

Prelight the fire, then, once everyone is present, everyone joins in an almost in control rendition of "We're All Together Again."

Most any Court of Honor opening can be adapted as a campfire opening.

Build your campfire program around a theme, then develop an opening that fits.

In the pyro arena - adding a small quantity of petro-chemical to chlorine (1-2 oz. break fluid and .5 bag powdered HTH are good) will generate a very hot, smokey flame. It takes about 15 to 20 seconds for the reaction. There is an audible hiss several seconds before ignition that can be used for cueing. Any number of devices can be used to deposit the brake fluid. CAUTION: This effect gives off a quantity of potentially harmful gas. It should only be used when the fire is some distance from the audience. (You should not store pool supplies and automotive supplies near each other, either, for the same reason.)

Anything used repeatedly loses it's power. The trick is to gather a bag full of ideas, use them, throw out the flops and add new ones as they come along.

There are a number of chemicals that will add color to a flame. For example, copper sulfate adds blue-green. I'm at a loss for the others. Any help from all you experts. You E-mail it and I'll post the results. ====================

~From: hellmann@hickory.cs.scarolina.edu (Douglas R Hellmann) ~Date: Mon, 8 Jun 92 12:28:02 GMT Doug Hellmann, Eagle Scout, Asst. SM, Troop 333, Indian Waters Council, Columbia, SC

We used to do something extremely cool at summer camp to start our OA fires, but the camp ranger won't let them do it any more (for reasons you will see).

Fill a styrofoam coffee cup about 2/3 full of heavy duty break fluid and put it down in the fire. (We also coated the fire with some diesel fuel from the camp tractor so it would start quickly.)

Then make up some sort of ceremony that ends with someone standing near the fire (prefereably in the back). This person then pours a handful of hth pool cleaner into the cup of break fluid, says something appropriate ("Let there be fire!"), and steps back (especially if you used diesel). The hth and the break fluid will make some popping noises and then burst into flames.

After we perfected the ceremony, it had a really great effect. Imagine someone walking up to the fire and commanding it to light, and then it bursts into flame! Great imagery, but of course it is terribly dangerous.

I understand that all of those chemicals were nothing for kids to be playing with (I wonder how anyone found out about them in the first place!?) and as I said, the camp ranger no longer allows this sort of stuff to go on. It might give you something to think about though.

Another idea that someone presented as a replacement was to have a wire strung from a tree or something else high, in such a way that it couldn't be seen. Then when the command comes for the fire to be lit, something somes shooting down the wire into the fire and lights it. Sort of like lightning or a big fire ball or something. ====================

~From: kell@lark.jsc.nasa.gov (TED KELL) ~Date: 9 Jun 92 13:05:46 GMT

Pine 'o Pine (a pine oil based soap) and pool shocking compound (Calcium Hypoclorite) - dust from the last campfile makes a hell of a bang. At my woodbadge course the staff did this. They had the scoutmaster put on the dust. The fire went off with a bang, blew off the scoutmasters campaign hat. First time I have ever seen anyone teleport himself. He refused to help start anymore campfires for the rest of the course. Be careful. Another approach would be to have someone start the fire with one of those fire by friction sets sold in _every_ trading post, and used by _no one_. Build the fire in front of the group, explaining what you are doing as you do it. Who knows, some of it might seep into their heads. ====================

~From: mcghee@hpscit.sc.hp.com (Glenn McGhee) ~Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1992 17:37:52 GMT Glenn Mcghee, Assistant Scoutmaster, Troop 80 Mt. View, CA

Years ago when I was a scout, the leaders let the scouts "take charge" of the campfire ceremony. One of the most successful campfire lightings was done by using a 6-volt lantern battery, an old Ford spark coil, some wire and charcoal lighter. On command like "let there be fire" an accomplice connects the battery to the spark coil and the spark starts the fire. The setup....

Place the spark coil as near the fire as possible to keep from having to un the high-voltage the wires any farther that necessary. The coil can be hidden, out of view, in rocks near the fire. The high-voltage wire and the return ground wire can be buried in the dirt. Run the wires for the lantern battery to the place where your accomplice will be and cover the wires deep enough that no will see them or trip on them.

Use a small jar lid to hold the liquid charcoal lighter. Fill the lid wi h paper towel and add the charcoal lighter. This lid is placed in the center of the fire. The ground wire is placed under the lid. There is no reason to make a good connection to the lid because the spark from the high-voltage wire will jump to the lid and then the ground wire. The high-voltage wire must be placed above the lid so the spark will jump into the paper towel and liquid charcoal lighter and thereby light the liquid. Build a tee-pee of kindling around and over this setup so the lid and wires are hidden. Build a log-cabin campfire around the tee-pee. Inside the log-cabin, add more kindling. Add about twice as much as you think you need. The more kindling you add the faster the fire will grow. The lighting.....

Upon command from the ceremony fire lighter, the accomplice connects the battery to the wires and the spark coil generates the high-voltage spark. This spark lights the liquid charcoal lighter and the liquid will burn long enough to start the kindling.

Problems and Failures...

Failure to use the proper wire for the high-voltage. Once use twisted "bell" wire to go from the spark coil to the fire. The insulation broke-down and there were sparks all along the twisted wire but none in the fire! You can use old automobile ignition wire -BUT- remember the wire will be distroied by the fire.

Between the time the fire was set and the time the ceremony was to start, the high-voltage wire was no longer over the lid and the spark jumped from the high-voltage wire to the OUTSIDE of the lid and didn't start the liquid charcoal lighter.

Lantern battery was nearly dead. It did work but there were some time of helplessness before the fire started.

The spark coil was not well hidden and someone spotted it. When the spark coil operates there is a vibrating reed that makes noise and gives off sparks that are easily seen at night.

I STRONGLY suggest that you experment with lighting a lid of charcoal lighting fluid before you make this setup for the ceremony. This could save you from the embarrassment of turning to the crowd and saying "Anyone got a match?". I know.....I have been there. ====================

~From: bschroeder@desire.wright.edu ~Date: 9 Jun 92 14:00:45 EST

What we have been doing was a bit safer than that. We bury an outdoor extension cord just a couple inches underground. We plug an old, thin extension cord into the end of the outdoor one and make sure the junction is secure and buried. We then ran the loose end of the cheap cord into the fire and attached a rocked igniter on the end. We put that in a bundle of matches, being sure the igniter touched at least one match. Then we built the fire around that (and used a bit of kerosene to be sure it lit). Then all we had to do was use a 6V battery and touch the two prongs on the outdoor extension cord to the battery terminals (the person who did this was well hidden behind trees or whatever). Then, on command, the fire would light. It was VERY impressive the first few times we used it, but now it is getting a bit old. I am thinking about just lighting it with a torch for a while, and then in a couple years, using the wir /igniter method again... ==================== ~From: wjh0265@tamsun.tamu.edu (William Hobson) ~Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1992 17:35:02 GMT

How about mixing salt peter and sugar in a 2 to 1 ratio. You can put a big pile of it in the middle of the campfire and string a trail of it away from the campfire and then light the trail. It burns hot and smokey, so use caution - it beats the heck out of gasoline. I used to use this mixture for low cost smoke bombs as a kid. The salt peter I used came from the drug store and was used as an animal duiretic.

====================

~From: wayne@eng.umd.edu (Wayne C. McCullough) ~Date: Wed, 10 Jun 92 18:57:38 GMT

One thing our OA group did once was use matches. No kerosene, nothing like that. Only matches to start the fire. It went up very quickly. Let me explain:

We bought about 20-30 boxes of matchbooks. We then built an ignitor by taking 2 bricks, and puting a bunch of ignitors on one of the faces of each brick. Then we stapeled a bunch of the books together so that it formed a long row, sort of like:

+--------------------+ | Brick! | +--------------------+ //////////////////// <----ignitors ooooooooooooooooooo Match heads -<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Matchbooks ooooooooooooooooooo More Match heads \\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ More ignitors +--------------------+ ( ^up) | Other Brick! | +--------------------+

A string is tied to the matchbooks, and so when it is pulled, a flame is started. This ignitor contraption should take about 1-2 boxes of matches. all the others spread them out loosly around the contraption. This is a lot of matches, and should go up quickly.

The big advantage of this is that it is safe, and can be used at sites that prohibit kerosene and other GS water. Practice it first tho, so you know how hard to pull the ignitor. You only get one shot.

One important thing with all of this is to have a decent accompanying open cerimony. Having a guy walk up and throw a lit match into the fire can be just as impressive if it is accompanied by the right words. ====================

~From: kdc5072@cs.rit.edu (Kevin D Colagio) ~Date: 10 Jun 92 20:37:36 GMT

An idea that I had when I worked at a camp was the following (it was for the OA campfire...)

Put a small pile (about 2 or 3 inches around) of blackpowder in the center of the fire wood to be. Run a small line of blackpowder to the pile and out to a small (1 inch in diameter) pile located on a flat rock. Put a fireing cap (used in a muzzleloader) on the edge of the (1 inch) pile....have another "fuse" running to the fire wood to be (we had 2 fires). At some point in the ceremony, have someone stike the ground (the firing cap, actually) with a "tomahawk" or other hammer like item. This would cause 2 strips of fire to ignite the wood....(of course, the wood would have kero or other ignitable liquid on it....) The only problem would be if someone steps on (and breaks) a "fuse"...

====================

~From: stu@voodoo.boeing.com (Stuart Liddle) ~Date: 12 Jun 92 18:25:15 GMT

When I worked on camp staff we regularly came up with innovative ways to start the campfire. At one camp we used to use a car battery, flash bulb filaments and some kind of quickly combustible material (dryer lint soaked in lighter fluid, dry tinder, etc). There was a couple of wires buried in the ground leading from the campfire to a point out of sight (behind some bushes) where a staffer would touch the wires to the battery terminals causing the filaments to flash and ignite the combustible material, thus starting the fire as if by "magic". Now, this was coupled with a pseudo-native American "ritual" to light the fire by calling on the "spirits." At another camp we started the fire with an Indian ceremony where the "Indian" shot an arrow out into the water (our campfire area was on a point jutting out into Puget Sound). Then the fire was lit (I forget exactly how, doesn't really matter). Then the first song=leader came clambering up over the rocks leading up from the water wearing a wet-suit with the arrow in the back! Of course he led everyone in "What do you do with a Drunken Sailor?" ;^) This was one of the best campfire openings I've ever been involved with.

------------------------------ From: anet@penumbra.West.Sun.COM (Annette Thomas) Subject: Words to "ANNOUNCEMENTS" Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:33:54 EST

Does anyone out there know the words to the song "Announcements"?

~From: alee3@mach1.wlu.ca (allan lee 9207 U)

The words I remember are:

ANOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS.

A HORRIBLE DEATH TO DIE, A HORRIBLE DEATH TO DIE A HORRIBLE DEATH TO BE BORED TO DEATH A HORRIBLE DEATH TO DIE

ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS, ANNOUNCEMENTS

I'M FALLING ASLEEP ON MY FEET, I'M FALLING ASLEEP ON MY FEET I AM FALLING ASLEEP AS HE BORES ALONG I'M FALLING ASLEEP ON MY FEET

--------------- ~From: Paul_Parry@brown.edu (Paul Parry)

Here's the version I was harassed :-) with as a camp program director..

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements [Paul] has got another one, another one, another one, [Paul] has got another one he has them all the time. Announcements, Announcements, Announcements...

We sold our cow, we sold our cow, We have no use for your bull now, For Your Bull Now. Announcements, Announcements, Announcements.

We love you [Paul], oh yes we do-oo. We love you [Paul], and we'll be true When your not with us, YA-HOOOOOO Oh, [Paul] we love you.

I'd then say something like "If anyone is interested in a staff position, there will be a number of openings after this meal."

--------------- ~From: anthropo@carina.unm.edu (Dominick V. Zurlo)

Another version that we used, and I don't remember all of the verses: (also, each verse uses it's own original tune):

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements When you're up you're up (all stand) When you're down you're down (all sit) But when you're only half-way up (half-stand) You're neither up (stand up) or down(sit).

Announcements Announcements, Announcements Row, row, row the boat gently down the stream, merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily we're a submarine....

Announcements Announcements, Announcements What a terrible way to die, a terrible way to die, a terrible way to be talked to death, a terrible way to die...

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements Swing low sweet Chariot (sing this line slow, and with all the feeling of the original) SCRAPE!! (slight pause)

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements Here comes Peter Cottontail, Hoppin' down the bunny trail... BANG!

Announcements, Announcements, Announcements.

There are many more verses along these lines, but I can't remember them all. Happy singing....

--------------- ~From: pnsf01dw@UMASSD.EDU (Dennis J. Wilkinson)

I was always assaulted with this version...

A terrible death to die, a terrible death to die A terrible death to be talked to death A terrible death to die Announcements, announcements, announcements, please

Row row row your boat gently down the stream Ha ha fooled ya' I'm a submarine Announcements, announcements, announcements, please

Mary had a little lamb little lamb little lamb Mary had a little lamb The doctors were surprised... Announce.... (oh, you get it...)

When Mary had a little lamb the doctors were surprised But when Old MacDonald had a farm they couldn't beleive their eyes...

(My staff eventually figured out that it was a bit more taunting to give just enough pause in between verses to make me or whoever think that they'd wrapped it up... luckily, I catch on quicker than they did most of the time.

To any fledgling Program-Directorish person or Scoutmasterish person out there... it helps to have some signal with your staff to let them know when it's *not* a good time for this song... either don't say you're up for announcements or have that Scout Sign at the ready...)

--------------- ~From: mdtanner@athena.mit.edu (Marc Tanner)

Announcements, Announcements, Annooouuncements.

[tune of "The Farmer in the Dell":] What a terrible way to die! What a terrible way to die! What a terrible way to be bored to death, What a terrible way to die!

Announcements, Announcements, Annooouuncements.

[At this point, someone would stand up and do a monologue, and then the whole group would repeat the chourus. We did as many monologues interspersed with choruses as we could get in before the program director made us shut up (which was in itself a hit with the campers) Here are a sampling. Some had a tune, others were just spoken.]

[...] Little Miss Muffett sat on her tuffett Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider and sat down beside her So she beat it over the head with a spoon.

Cow, cow, we have no cow; We have no need for your bull now.

Spider, spider, on the wall Haven't you got no sense at all? Can't you see this wall's been plastered? Can't you see, you little...spider.

--------------- ~From: wjturner@iastate.edu (William J Turner)

[...] Make announcements short and sweet, Short and sweet, short and sweet. Make announcements short and sweet. They're so BORING!!!

-------------- ~From: donm@hplsla.hp.com (Don Mathiesen)

Have you ever heard a windbag, a windbag a wingbag. Have you ever heard a windbag. You'll here one right now. They go this way and that way. This way and that way. Have you ever heard a windbag. You'll here one right now.

--------------- ~From: susan@noaapmel.gov (Susan Collicott)

We always sang:

Announcements, announcements, announcements. When you're up you're up, and when you're down you're down, and when you're only halfway up you're neither up nor down. Announcements, announcements, announcements.

We stood up on 'up', sat down on 'down', and stood half-way up on 'halfway up'.

------------------------------ From: stephen.a.mohr@cdc.com (Stephen Mohr 612-482-5634) Subject: Words to Song "Ain't Goina Rain no More"

I've been looking all over for the words to the song "Ain't Gona Rain no More" I have only two verses, the kids love this song. I know of another verse about a sailor, but not all the words. This is what I do have:

[Refrain] Oh, it ain't gona rain no more, no more It ain't gona rain no more How in heck can I wash my neck if it ain't gona rain no more [1st Verse] A bum sat by the sewer And by the sewer he died And at the corners inquist They call it sewer side [2nd Verse] A peanut sat on the railroad track It's heart was all a-flutter Along came the 415 Toot toot, peanut butter

--------------- ~From: pnsf01dw@UMASSD.EDU (Dennis J. Wilkinson)

How 'bout:

My father is a butcher My mother is a cook And I'm the little hot-dog That runs around the brook [Chorus] My father built a chimney HE built itup so high He had to take it down each night To let the moon go by [Chorus]

--------------- ~From: DRPORTER@SUVM.SYR.EDU (Brad Porter)

My dady is a doctor, my mommy is a nurse, and I'm the little needle that gets you where it hurts...

Mary had a little lamb, her father shot it dead and now she takes it to school between two slices of bread...

This is a great song to sing at the opening of a rainy campfire - which for some reason we had a lot of this year!!! Hope you find thiese useful - I've just know them from singing them, I can't tell you where they come from.