Activities for Winter Fun for Units

Winter has begun and new outdoor adventures wait.  In addition to the Klondike Derby and winter camping, cross country and downhill skiing as well as tobogganing and even sledding are all activities that Troop members may want to try.
 
Both Camp Berry and Camp Lakota have cross country skis available that can be used to get Scouts out and about on the camp properties.  Check with the Ranger at each camp for more details.  And, although there are several ski resorts in Ohio and southern Michigan, Mad River Mountain near Bellefontaine offers a Scout Day for members and families of the Black Swamp Area Council on Sunday, January 22.  Rates for skiing, snowboarding and tubing are all discounted for Scouts on that day.  More information is available at www.skimadriver.com.

Pokagon State Park in northeast Indiana has a refrigerated toboggan run that is open through the end of February on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays as well as on Martin Luther King Day (January 16) and Presidents Day (February 20). Many communities have sledding hills that can be easily utilized.  An afternoon of tobogganing and sledding followed by hot chocolate is always a hit.

Winter is also a great time for various games.  Try the following:

Broom Hockey:  Use a broom for a hockey stick and a tennis ball for a puck.  Great on ice or even a grassy field.

Find the Abominable Snow Man:  Cut two large footprints from plywood, strap them on and make tracks in the snow.  Send Scouts out tracking.  Offer hot chocolate at trail’s end – maybe even build a huge snowman.

Tug-of-War:  Build a wall of soft snow.  Put equal Scout teams on either side.  Ready, set, snow!

Wildlife Watching:  Winter is a great time to observe animals.  Identify and follow their tracks.

Stargaze:  Winter nights – crisp and clear – are perfect for picking out stars.

Winter is no time to stay indoors.  Get outside and enjoy the unique opportunities that winter presents!!