Washing Line of Thoughts

Instructions
  • Set up three washing lines by stringing rope between two chairs – take care to ensure that it is within reaching distance of the section you are doing it with.
  • Label each washing line as follows:
    • What do you like about (insert section here)?
    • What do you not like about (insert section here)?
    • And then one of:
      • What is a new skill you would like to learn?
      • What is an activity you would love to do?
      • What badge would you like to earn?
      • Make up a question
  • Allow the young people to have pen and paper to come up with as many ideas for each as possible, making sure to not make them put names on if they don’t want to.
  • Once a young person has an idea, they go and put it on the corresponding line, either with a peg or by folding it over the rope.
  • Repeat as many times required. You can either run this as a structured activity facilitated by leaders, or allow free conversation within the scouts and give a set amount of time.
  • To finish, get the young people to go around and pick out some of their favourite ideas and share with the group.
Prompting questions
  • Remind them what you have done previously that term
  • What games do you play outside of scouts?
  • What do you do in your free time?
  • What badges don’t you have?

Section: All

Duration: 10 – 30 minutes

No. of Young People: Any

Beavers teamwork

Cubs teamwork

Cubs team leader

Scouts teamwork

Scouts team leader

  • Rope
  • Chairs
  • Paper
  • Pens
  • Pegs (optional, can fold paper over rope)
What next?
  • As a leader, make a note of the key themes and put them into play.
  • As a young person, take accountability for making them happen, ensure that the leaders don’t forget what you have said!
  • Challenge: Ask the young people if they want to plan or run one of the ideas next term.