Can You Find It?
Translation details
Model:mistral-medium-2604.Translated text
Section titled “Translated text”Game marked with an asterisk in the book: more suitable for older scouts.
A scout patrol, and each scout individually, must locate a specific terrain feature within a pre-designated area of several square kilometers. This could be a hut, a cellar, a copse, a stack of beams, etc. To force the scout to orient themselves by cardinal directions, add that the object lies in the NW direction from a roadside cross, another in the S-SW direction from a solitary tree, etc. These instructions should be precise, based either on direct observation or a map.
Each scout must find their object, examine it thoroughly, memorize its distinctive features, and sketch its position relative to the cardinal directions and the nearest surrounding features. At the assembly point, the sketches are compared, and errors are pointed out. A time limit for the search may be set in advance.
Now, imagine that the order includes a small addition: “the area is occupied by enemy patrols”—and send the red patrol earlier with the order that, if they spot a white scout reconnoitering the area, they must prevent it by driving him from his position and, if possible, taking him prisoner. The entire exercise will not only take a different shape but, by presenting great difficulties to the whites, will force them to change their approach.
Each white scout will now have to search for their object unnoticed, approach it cautiously, and constantly scan the surroundings with a watchful eye to avoid falling into a trap, and return just as cautiously after completing the task.
A rule can be added that the reds must act together and are not allowed to scatter to act individually. The method of taking prisoners should also be defined in advance—whether by calling out from a distance of 10–15 steps, by touching with a hand, or by tearing off a ribbon from the arm.
Here is an example of how a seemingly small addition can fundamentally change the nature of the exercise. This can be applied to a whole range of other exercises, thereby vastly expanding their scope.
Scan source: Polona / National Library of Poland, marked “Public Domain”. View scan — PDF pages 75–76.
Metadata
Section titled “Metadata”- Type: game
- Traits: Not stated in the source
- Source: Zygmunt Wyrobek, Harcerz w polu: zabawy i gry terenowe (1946)
- Printed pages: 69–70 / PDF 75–76
- Digital edition: Digital edition · Source record
- Open the edition at the relevant page: p. 69
- Read the source text: hwp-015