Recreation stations

Before you begin

• These games will help everyone think of ideas for new hobbies. You don’t need to play them all, so choose the ones you think will work best for your group.
• Everyone should finish by doing 'Patrols’ goals', especially if they want to go on and complete their Scouts Hobbies Activity Badge.

Pair and share

1. Everyone should get into pairs.
2. Each pair should chat and find at least three things they have in common. They should try and be specific so it’s interesting – things like ‘we’re both Scouts’ or ‘we both have brown hair’ aren’t very helpful. Do they enjoy any of the same activities? What would they like to do in the future?
3. Everyone should share their ideas. Did any pairs find a similarity no other pair thought of? The person leading the game may note them down.
4. Each pair should join another pair to make a group of four. The new groups should try to find three things they all have in common – it might be a bit trickier now there are four people, but they should still try to keep it interesting.
5. After a few minutes, everyone should share their ideas again.
6. Everyone should use their shared interests to think of as many ideas for hobbies as they can. They should write their ideas down on some scrap paper.

7. Everyone should share their ideas with the group. How many ideas has the group come up with? Are there any interests the whole group shares?

Pastime mime

1. Everyone should split into small groups.
2. Each group should line up. The first person in each line should face the person leading the game; everyone else should turn around so their back is facing the person leading the game.
3. The person leading the game should choose a hobby. They should whisper it to the first person in each line (or show them it written down on a piece of paper).

4. The person at the front of each line should tap the person behind them on the shoulder. When they’re tapped on the shoulder, the person should turn around (to face the person leading the game).
5. The first person in each line should mime the hobby to the person behind them. They shouldn’t make any noise.

6. Once they’ve seen the mime, the second person in each line should turn around and tap the person behind them on the shoulder. When they’re tapped on the shoulder, the next person in the line should turn around (to face the person leading the game).
7. The second person in each line should copy the mime for the third person. Everyone should continue watching the mime, tapping the person behind them on the shoulder, and passing the mime along.
8. Once the last person in each line’s seen the mime, they should try to guess the hobby. The first team to guess the hobby wins a point.
9. The person at the back of each line should move to the front of the line, and everyone should shuffle backwards to make some space.
10. Everyone should play again.

Majority priority

1. Everyone should split into small groups. The person leading the activity should give each group some scrap paper and pens or pencils.
2. Each group should think about what makes a good hobby. They should write their ideas on pieces of paper.

3. Once a group has about nine or ten ideas, they should sort them by importance.

4. Groups should take it in turns to share their ideas. What was their most important idea? What ended up at the bottom of their list (or pyramid)?

Patrols’ goals

1. Everyone should choose a hobby – the other games they’ve played should give them plenty of ideas.

2. Everyone should think of some goals for the hobby they chose. It’s best to think about SMART goals, if possible.

3. Everyone should share their ideas with their group.
4. Everyone should decide how they’ll record their hobby, goals, and reflection over the next four months. It’s entirely up to them – they could use a journal, video diary, or photos. They could even link their recording to other badges (for example, the Photographer or Artist Activity Badges).
5. Before they go home, everyone who wants to complete their Scouts Hobbies Activity Badge should write down their ideas for their new hobby, the goals they’re setting, and how they’ll record their progress.