Weekend Wide Game North II – November 2002
The Game of Life
2-3rd November 2002, Cataract Scout Park
On the first weekend in November, around 60 scouts got in touch with their primal (or feral) sides and went bush to enact Figtree Rover Crew’s version of a Food Chain and the natural order of things – or as natural as you can get with Rovers in charge.
In a game designed to test bushcraft, survival and orienteering skills, 11 Patrols were assigned an animal (either herbivore, omnivore or carnivore) and were required to find food and water, build shelter, avoid predators, and dodge the unfriendly attentions of over 20 other Venturers, Rovers and Leaders playing the roles of Humans and Natural Forces.
Herbivores were required to visit food and water stations (Orienteering markers) on the course – whilst being hunted by the other animals. Omnivores could hunt the Herbivores and/or visit food and water stations, but fell prey to the Carnivores. The Carnivores had the job of hunting anyone else they could find, but still had to visit the water stations.
Humans and Forces of Nature were designed to keep thing interesting for those on top of the food chain. Humans were wild cards – they could shoot animals, study them, or even feed them. No animal knew what was going to happen until they actually confronted one. Forces of Nature were disasters (ranging from earthquake to storm), and were designed solely to make things difficult for the Patrols. Some Venturers and Leaders, learning from the last Wide Game, showed armed with mountain bikes. The Scouts quickly discovered that running from the resulting “Flying Squad†was not a good idea!
Animals could visit an Animal Sanctuary where they could gain assistance from friendly humans, or they could approach a caravan park – maybe having the chance of scavenging some extra food points.
The Scouts approached the game with various strategies – which met with varying degrees of success. Carnivores alternated between staking out promising areas or actively ‘hunting’ other patrols. Omnivores tried similar tactics, although some were so intent on ambushing another patrol they didn’t notice a Carnivore in the process of hunting THEM. Herbivores had to decide between the fast and noisy or slow and stealth approaches. Some took the risk of travelling well-marked trails, others decided to go bush, hoping to avoid Scouts, Venturers and Rovers alike. Some even attempted camouflage!
Patrols were also judged on how well they could construct a concealed campsite. Some made no effort at all – deciding the best space for their shelter was the middle of a trail. Others hid so well that they couldn’t be found.
At the end of the weekend, the Scouts were scored on how well they had done. A ‘winner’ was chosen from each animal category, with the overall winner chosen from the patrol who had completed the greatest percentage of tasks:
- Best Herbivore:
- 1st Korrahill Platypus
- Best Omnivore:
- 1st Korrahill Frill-necked Lizards
- Best Carnivore:
- 1st Balgownie Scorpions/Falcons
- Overall Winner:
- 1st Korrahill Frill-necked Lizards
‘Honourable Mentions’ must go to our guests from the 1st Wagga Wagga who managed to avoid all Venturers entirely for the first day, and missed out on being overall winners by a very narrow margin.
Awards (sponsored by the Great Outdoors) were also given to the first time campers with the heaviest packs, the best Venturer and, the perhaps unfortunate, “Mosquito Bait” award for the Scout who failed to appreciate the value of a good insect repellent.
Figtree Rovers were very thankful to the Venturers and Rovers from Korrahill, Figtree and Thirroul who did a great job in keeping the game running. Extra thanks go to the Great Outdoors store in Warrawong who donated prizes for our event.
We hope to see all participants again next year for WWGIV!
Andrew Clark
SC&T WWG Committee