Beavers and Cubs: Tie a tasty reef knot

Learn how to tie a classic reef knot with a tasty twist. If at first you don’t succeed, tie, tie again.

You will need

  • Pens or pencils
  • Scrap paper
  • Paper plates
  • Scissors
  • Sticky tack
  • String
  • Strawberry laces
  • Liquorice laces

The Scout emblem

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DownloadThe Scout emblem

 

The story behind the Scout emblem

Head over to the Scout Heritage website to learn more about this famous icon.

Get knotting

1.      Reef knots open easily and lay flat, so you’re perfect for tying bandages, securing belts, tying bundles together, and securing parcels. 

2.      Watch the video to learn how to tie a reef knot

You can also follow the four step diagram above or read the instructions below.

3.      Use one strawberry lace and one liquorice lace. Hold your red strawberry lace in your right hand, and your liquorice lace in your left hand.

You could also write ‘R’ and ‘L’ (or ‘right’ and ‘left’) on pieces of scrap paper and put them on the floor or table in front of them.

4.      Once you have finished your tasty reef knot, you should tuck in!

How to tie a reef knot:

1.      Cross the liquorice lace behind the strawberry lace, then loop it over and under the strawberry lace, so the two are intertwined. 

2.      Take the ends that face upwards and pass the left (red) end over and through the black (right) end. 

3.      Hold all four ends and gently pull, then tighten the knot in place.

Alternatively:

1.      Pass the liquorice lace over the strawberry lace and tuck it under, as you say ‘left over right and under’.

2.      Pass the strawberry lace over the liquorice lace and tuck it under, as you say ‘right over left and under’.

3.      Pull the four ends showing the reef knot shape. 

Make a World Membership Badge

1.      Look at the World Membership Badge on your uniform. Try to spot the reef knot on it. 

2.      Look at 'The Scout emblem' sheet to learn about what the different parts of the badge represent. 

3.      Try your best to draw the fleur-de-lis from the World Membership Bade in the middle of a paper plate. Don’t draw the rope that goes around it.

Remember you should be drawing the traditional fleur-de-lis, not the UK Scout logo.

4.      Make a reef knot using two pieces of string or cord. You should twist the loose ends into a circle, just like on the World Membership Badge. 

5.        use sticky tack to attach your reef knot circle around the outside of the fleur-de-lis, to complete your World Membership Badge.


Reflection

This activity needed everyone to try, try again to develop a useful skill. Can you remember some of the ways to use a reef knot?  Look around the room and see if you can spot some of the places a reef knot could be used. It could be used to tie back curtains, secure bags of equipment, tie up tents, tie together a bundle of wood, or tie a blindfold for a game. How did everyone feel while you were learning this skill? Some people may have felt frustrated, or excited. How do people feel now?

This activity also reminded everyone that Scouts is worldwide. Compare the World Membership Badges you made with the badges on people’s uniforms. Can you remember what the different parts of the World Membership Badge mean? If people were going to design a badge for Scouts all over the world, what would it look like, and why?


This activity counts towards:
Beavers Camp Craft Activity Badge – requirement 4
Beavers My Outdoors Challenge Award – requirement 2
Cubs International Activity Badge – requirement 1





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