WESTWARD
HO!
The following is by Becky V. of Ontario.
This game was introduced to me at Camp Woolsey, the
Ottawa Area Girl Guide Camp. As far as I know it
was created by Pat Barker, a Guider in the Ottawa
Area. So the credit really should go to her. At any rate,
this is a fabulous wide game which the girls love,
even though it does take a while to set up.
The girls are settlers heading to a new land. They
travel in wagons of 4-6 girls (tent groups or patrols work
well!) Each wagon is given a bag with:
1 Axel Repair Kit - a long (30 inch) piece of
string.
1 Flag Kit - a square of cloth and 2 crayons.
1 First Aid Kit - 2 strips of cloth or gauze
1 Magic Charm Kit - 3 20-inch pieces of coloured
wool.
They follow a trail of different-colored wool (i.e.
Blue Lake Trail - blue wool, Golden Road - gold wool, etc.)
and go from point to point until they have visited
the 6 points and followed the instructions on each card (i.e.
Nameless Hollow has a scout which captures one girl
from the wagon, Dry Gulch Water Hole has Sal with
candy or cookies). Note, you will always know where
Beaver Swamp is, from the screams!
One tent (usually the first finished with a duty)
sets out the game and the girls then are at the stations (they pick
up the game after, too). Then the rest of the tents
are all the wagons, sent off at about 5-minute intervals. The
game takes about an hour but it can be longer, if
the girls really get into it. Guiders and Pathfinders like it and Sr. Branch girls
love to set it up and be the stations. Have fun!
Materials Needed:
Supply bags for each tent filled with the items listed
above
Trails: pieces of wool in each of the following
colours: blue, gold, red, rust and green
Cookies, candy or trail mix for Sal
Old lipstick or washable marker for the Swamp Bug
Small garbage bag for Sue
Rope for Scout
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The Stations
Entrance to the Game
You are one in a wagon train of settlers headed for
a new home. Your supply bag should contain:
1 Axel Repair Kit - a long piece of string
1 Flag Kit - a square of cloth and 2 crayons
1 First Aid Kit - 2 strips of gauze or cloth
1 Magic Charm Kit - 3 pieces of coloured wool
Follow the trail of different colored wool. There
are instructions along the way to help you overcome the
various hardships. We want all wagons to arrive
safely so do not disturb any trail markers, and please keep
everything you are carrying, or pick up along the
way, and put everything into your supply bag. Collect dead
leaves and/or grass and think of a name for your
wagon as you follow the "Blue Lake Trail". Have a
safe journey...
------------------------------
Disaster Ditch
The rough road has broken your axle, so get out your
repair kit and find 2 sticks (don't damage any trees), and
lash them together.
Follow the "Golden Road".
-----------------------------
Nameless Hollow
You cannot pass this point without a flag and a name
for your wagon! Use your kit to make one and fasten it to
your stick. Yell out the name of your wagon. Someone
must carry your flag at all times on the trail.
Follow the "Red River Trail".
(On the back of the card: The Nameless Hollow Scout
lies in wait and captures one girl from the wagon and
holds her hostage until the name of the wagon and
the flag is clearly flown.)
---------------------------------
Look-Out Tree
The youngest girl has fallen out of the tree. Her ankle
is hurt. Bandage it with your First-Aid Kit and carry her
on a "hand-seat" to get help at Dry Gulch
Water Hole, which is 20 paces in the direction of the arrow.
(Lay an arrow on the ground, pointing in the
direction of the next station.)
-----------------------------------
Dry Gulch Water Hole
Use the leaves and grass you have collected to get
help and supplies from Dry Gulch Sal.
Follow the "Rusty Nail Road".
(On the back of the card: Dry Gulch Sal has wrapped
candy or cookies and a water jug for exchange for
leaves or grass the girls have gathered along the
way.)
-------------------------------------
Beaver Swamp
Beware of the Swamp Fever Bug! The only way to fend
her off is with a magic charm. Use your Magic Charm
Kit and sticks to make a "god's eye" and
fasten it to your flag. Stay away from the Swamp Fever Bug as you
follow the "Green Forest Trail"!
(On the back of the card: the Bug has a lipstick or
a washable marker to mark spots on those she can catch.)
--------------------------------------
Snake Bite Sands
You have all been bitten by a snake. To cure your
snake bite, you must take all of the things left in your supply
bag to Snake Bite Sue in exchange for the serum.
(On the back of the card: Sue checks the bag for
candy wrappers; if none, the girls return and pick them up.
Check bag for all pieces - 2 pieces of gauze or
fabric, square of cloth, 2 crayons, string and wool (dismantled
from lashing and "god's eye").
If bags are in order the girls are cured and can
return to site.