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Developed by Dianne Hegarty
The following was developed as a wide game for a SU outdoor skills event. It was attended by about 60 girls. Teams were comprised of both Brownies and Juniors. We found that this worked best as a wide game rather than a true Pony Express race for this number of people. See "Pony Express Race" below for a description of how to run this as a true Pony Express Race. Staff required for this event is at least one knowledgeable adult and/or Program Aide(s) at each station.
Contents:
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The following will be read everyone before they go to their first station:
The year is 1860. You wish to be employed by Russell, Majors, and Waddell to be a Pony Express rider but they are not hiring females. (How Rude!) To prove to the firm that you can do it, you propose a contest to locate the fastest riders. They agree that the fastest riders will be given the positions (regardless of their sex) and charge you with delivering this important document from Saint Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California. In order to accomplish this task, Station Masters will be at each way station to help with any questions you may have. All way stations must be visited. To prove this, have the Station Master initial your important document.
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Hand out Important Documents (1 to each team). This should be a paper with places for Station Masters to sign off each station.
Have Station Master read the following to each group of each team before they begin that station (do not read items in parentheses as these are directions for Station Master, not the participants) Instructions for each station are listed below:
You find a distressed pioneer woman at this way station. She is in tears. Her goat chewed her clothesline into pieces and now the ropes are not long enough to make her clothesline work and so she asks your help. You notice that she has many short ropes so you tie them together using square knots (each Brownie must tie one, then Juniors can help with the remaining ones)
Then use a clove hitch to make her clothesline (Juniors).
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Instructions for Knots
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Tracking & Trail Signs Station:
You arrive at this way station & cannot remember which way to proceed. You see a trail laid and decide to follow it. (Brownies must follow with Juniors accompanying them - you must also accompany them)
You arrive at a dead end and see animal tracks. You must determine if danger lurks here so use the identification booklet to find out which animals made the tracks. (Juniors Identify 3 tracks).
You decide it is better that you backtrack to the way station to find an easier route to your next destination.
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Instructions for Tracking & Trail Signs
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This way station is out in the middle of nowhere! The outpost is well equipped; however, with a flagpole, outhouse (bathroom), watering hole (drinking fountain), first aid station, and headquarters (This may be adjusted as the site dictates). The firm of Russell, Majors, & Waddell needs a map of this way station as a sample of others to build. Please make a sketch map of the area to include each of these items. (Brownies)
Next, indicate the compass bearing from the flagpole to each of the above items as well as a North arrow. (Juniors). This way, the firm can have a way station map made by professional cartographers.
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Instructions for Map & Compass
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You arrive weary at this way station and need to rest; however, the buildings appear to have been burnt down. Since it looks like there is rain due, you need to figure out how to make a makeshift shelter for yourself and team mates using the available materials (one tarp & 2 ropes per group). This needs to keep all of you dry and warm.
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No shelter is provided for you at this way station. There is; however, a tent. You decide that it would be the perfect place to spend the night so you put up the tent. After using it, you strike it and put it back where you found it. (All girls work together to put up tent and then strike it. Make sure tent is back in bag before signing this station off).
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Instructions for Tents
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Upon arrival at this way station, you all have a nice meal. The oldest in your group chokes on her Prairie Dog Burger and the youngest members of your group (Brownies) must help her.
When you go to leave, the youngest in the group breaks her forearm and the oldest member(s) (Juniors) must apply a splint and sling before you can go on.
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Instructions for First Aid
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Instructions for Knots Station
Criteria: Each Brownie on each team must tie a Square Knot. Each Junior on each team must put up a "dry line" using clove hitch
Equipment Required:
Set-Up required: Lay out supplies at station, post station sign
Set Up time required: 10 minutes
When team arrives at station, ask Brownies if they can tie a square knot. If not, teach it and have each girl demonstrate that she can tie it correctly. When all Brownies on team have tied it, mark off Brownie part of Knot Station on their Sheet.
Ask Juniors if they can put up a "dry line" using a clove hitch. If not, teach it and have each girl demonstrate that she can tie it correctly. When all Juniors on team have put up dry line using clove hitch, sign off the Junior part of the Knot Station.
Only when both the Brownie and the Junior sections have been signed may the team move on to the next station.
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Instructions for Tracking and Trail Signs Station:
Criteria: Group must follow sample trail signs from point A to Point B. Group must identify 3 animal tracks using a track identification book
Equipment:
Set-Up Required: Carefully make tracks (3-4) in sand/dirt by river to resemble actual animal tracks, lay a simple trail for Brownies to follow.,post station sign.
Set up time required: 1/2 hour - 1 hour
Have group follow trail signs using copy of trail signs. Have group identify animal tracks using animal track identification sheet. When trail is followed correctly & animals are identified correctly, sign off this station and team may go to the next station.
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Instructions for Map & Compass Station
Criteria: Brownies must draw a sketch map of camp to include such things as Bathrooms, Drinking Fountain, Headquarters, First Aid Station and Flagpole. Map needs legend.
Juniors must correctly indicate compass bearing from a given main point to each of the other items on map. North must also be indicated on map.
Equipment: 5 compasses, sketch paper, clipboards, pencils,
Set Up Required: Must write down compass bearings from flag main point to each required item on map, lay out supplies, post station sign
Set Up Time Required: 15 minutes - 1/2 hour
Have Brownies draw a map (Juniors may help) as described in criteria. Juniors then will take a compass bearing from the flag pole to each required object on the map and indicate that bearing on map. They will also indicate a north arrow. If they don't know how to take a bearing, teach them how. Bearings must be within 5 degrees in order to count.
Sign off team when map is completed with required elements and bearings are indicated correctly including north arrow.
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Instructions for Emergency Shelter Station
Criteria: Team must improvise an emergency shelter using tarps & ropes. All members of group must fit in shelter and it must provide protection from wind and rain.
Equipment: 3-4 tarps, 2-4 ropes
Set Up Required: Lay out supplies, post station sign
Set-Up Time Required: 10 minutes
Have team look at what they have and decide how they can build a shelter. Tell them that it must protect them from wind and rain and must fit all of them.
When this is complete, have them take down shelter and then you may sign them off for shelter and they may go to the next station.
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Criteria: Have group put up and then strike a dome tent.
Equipment:
Set Up Required: Set out equipment, post station sign
Set Up Time Required: 10 minutes
Ask group if they have ever put up tent before. If not, Tell them step by step what to do. Do not assist them physically. When tent has been put up, have the group strike it and stow it as it was before.
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Instructions for First Aid Station
Criteria: Brownies must demonstrate how to treat a conscious choking victim. Juniors must demonstrate how to apply a rigid splint on the forearm and a sling (no binder).
Equipment:
Set Up Required: Lay out supplies, post station sign
Set Up Time Required: 10 minutes
Ask Brownies if they know what to do if someone is choking. If so, have them demonstrate. Stress that they NOT actually perform thrusts. If not, teach them how to do it. When performed correctly, sign off Brownie portion of First Aid.
Teach Juniors how to apply a rigid splint and sling. Have Juniors demonstrate on Brownie victim. When demonstrated correctly, sign off Junior portion of First Aid.
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A true Pony Express race is run as follows:
Each girl of a "team" starts at a different first station (Six stations mean that there are 6 girls on a team or if buddies are used at each station, 12 girls on a team). Stations are numbered 1-6. The girl (or buddy) at Station #1 completes her task first then runs to Station #2. She hands off the important document to the girl(s) at Station #2. That station is completed and the important document is taken to Station #3 and handed off. The process completes until the document reaches the end. If you choose to have all girls complete all stations, the document can travel around the course 6 times before completion. An end goal line is also indicated somewhere on the course.
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