Codemakers
You’ll need
- Code documents
Chat about safety code
- The person leading the game should introduce one (or more) safety code/s. They could choose the water safety code, bathing code, or the firework code.
- Everyone should get into pairs. The person leading the game should give each pair a safety code, and the pair should talk about how they’d behave around water, when bathing, or around fireworks. They should think about what sorts of things the code includes – how does it help people to keep safe?
Design your own code
- Each pair should join with another pair, so everyone’s in a group of four.
- Each group should work together to make a new code for another place or scenario. They could choose playgroups, camps, meeting places, car passengers, or train passengers – or any other (sensible!) option.
- Once each group has thought about their ideas, they should create a colourful poster to help everyone stay safe.
- Once everyone has finished, groups should take it in turns to show everyone their poster and explain their new code.
Reflection
This activity helped you to think about what it’s like to be independent. Did you choose what went in your code? Who’s responsible for keeping you safe, and making sure you follow codes? Is it always easy to make decisions on your own, for example, choosing to follow codes?
This activity also helped you to value the outdoors. Why do we need to have codes to help us enjoy the outdoors? Was your code about a place (or scenario) that’s always outdoors? What general things can we do to stay safe outdoors?
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
You could give everyone examples of existing rules from schools, pools, or activity centres, so they have some ideas to reuse in their codes.
People don’t have to present to the others if they don’t want to – other group members (or even the person leading the game) can show everyone their poster instead.
People can communicate however works best for them – some people might want to write or label, while others might want to draw.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Young people can choose the location for their new code.