The Rope Pyramid

Here’s a competition that can help your Pathfinders learn knots all year long, and depending on the size of your club could be done by unit or the entire club. Make a pyramid shaped board with a tag for each Pathfinder. Any Pathfinder can challenge another Pathfinder on the line above him. The competition is timed and if the challenger tied all required knots correctly fastest then the tags are switched. Each Pathfinder can only challenge once a week. The top three could be challenged by anyone.

It’s suggested that you start with the basic eight knots (overhand, square, clove hitch, two-half hitch, bowline, taut-line hitch, sheet bend, and timber hitch). Then add additional knots as the Pathfinders become more proficient. Possibly even having a different list of knots required to be tied for different boards.

Make it easy for the Pathfinders to have access to learning to tie knots by having appropriate lengths of rope available (with adult supervision at all times) and the directions for tying each of the basic knots. Then add the instructions for new knots as the Pathfinders get better. You know it successful if they ever ask what the new knots are going to be.

Webmaster: Karen Reed
Copyright © 2000-2010, Karen Reed. All rights reserved.