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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.

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You’ll need

  • Pens or pencils
  • Scrap paper
  • Paper plates
  • Scissors
  • Sticky tack
  • String
  • Strawberry laces
  • Liquorice laces
The Scout emblem
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The story behind the Scout emblem

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

A step by step illustration of how to tie a reef knot.

Before you begin

  • Untangle the laces. Make sure you have at least one of each for everyone, with plenty of spares for mistakes or sticky fingers.
  • Many supermarket own brand strawberry laces are suitable for vegetarians (and anyone else who avoids gelatin) – make sure you check the packet. If you have any doubts, check with the young person and their parents or carers.
  • If anyone follows a gluten free, coeliac or vegan diet that means they avoid beeswax and/or wheat and gluten, they may need to use string to tie their knot. If you have any doubts, check with the young person and their parents or carers. However, so they don't miss out, they could then be given a gluten free or vegan sweet as a ‘well done’ at the end of the activity.

Get knotting

  1. The person leading the game should show everyone a reef knot, and explain why it’s such a useful knot. Reef knots open easily and lay flat, so they’re perfect for tying bandages, securing belts, tying bundles together, and securing parcels. 
  2. The person leading the activity should show everyone how to tie a reef knot with a red strawberry lace in their right hand a and a liquorice lace in their left hand.

We’ve included some instructions below, and you can follow the four-step diagram above.

  1. The person leading the activity should give everyone one strawberry lace and one liquorice lace. Everyone should hold their red strawberry lace in their right hand, and their liquorice lace in their left hand.

People 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.

  1. Once everyone has finished their tasty reef knot, they 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. Everyone should look at the World Membership Badge on each other’s (and the grown ups’) uniforms. Everyone should try to spot the reef knot on it. 
  2. The person leading the activity should use 'The Scout emblem' sheet to talk about what the different parts of the badge represent. 
  3. The person leading the activity should give everyone a paper plate. Everyone should try their best to draw the fleur-de-lis from the World Membership Bade in the middle. No one should draw the rope that goes around it.

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

  1. Everyone should make a reef knot using two pieces of string or cord. They should twist the loose ends into a circle, just like on the World Membership Badge. 
  2. Everyone should use sticky tack to attach their reef knot circle around the outside of the fleur-de-lis, to complete their World Membership Badge.

Reflection

This activity needed everyone to try, try again to develop a useful skill. Can anyone remember some of the ways to use a reef knot? Everyone should look around the room and see if they 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 they 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. Everyone should compare the World Membership Badges they made with the badges on people’s uniforms. Can anyone 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?

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.

Food

Remember to check for allergies, eating problems, fasting or dietary requirements and adjust the recipe as needed. Make sure you’ve suitable areas for storing and preparing food and avoid cross contamination of different foods. Take a look at our guidance on food safety and hygiene.

Scissors

Supervise young people appropriately when they’re using scissors. Store all sharp objects securely, out of the reach of young people.

  • People could trace the fleur-de-lis from the World Membership Badge, or cut a printed version out and stick it on.
  • Break each step down slowly, and help anyone who’s stuck before you move on. Anyone who learns to tie the knot quickly and easily could help others, or show them what to do.

Anyone who struggles with spacial awareness or fine motor skills may need an extra helping hand. It doesn’t matter if they don’t complete the whole knot – for some people, achieving one step is a massive achievement.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

If everyone masters the reef knot, move on to other common knots including the clove hitch, sheet bend, and bowline. Learning to tie three simple knots is the second requirement of the My Outdoors Challenge Award.