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Volunteering at Scouts is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing to help us reach more young people

Volunteering is changing at Scouts. Read more

Discover what this means

Under lock and key

Play the thief and evade the guard in this group game.
Plan a session with this activity

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You’ll need

  • Scarves (such as neckers)
  • Torch or phone
  • Bike lock with keys

The aim of the game

To unlock the padlock located underneath the blindfolded guard’s chair, without being caught by the searchlight.

How to play

  1. Set a chair in the middle of the meeting space, and underneath it, place a locked padlock or bike lock, and its key.
  2. Dim the lights.
  3. Ask one player to sit on the chair. Blindfold them and place a torch in their hand. They’ll act as the guard. If a torch is unavailable, the guard can also point at the rest of the players/thieves.
  4. Get the thieves to surround the guard and from a distance approach in silence, working hard not to make any noise. Their aim is to unlock the padlock without being noticed.
  5. If a guard shines his light on any of the players, that player has to go back to the start. Make sure the guard keeps moving the torch around and shines it towards wherever they hear noise.
  6. If a player reaches the lock and unlocks it, they become the guard. This game can continue for a while, so a time limit could be useful.
  7. When the time is up, the person leading the game can gather everyone together and talk about the importance of padlocks, to keep your bicycle safe if you leave it unattended.

Reflection

A bicycle lock can offer peace of mind when leaving your bike somewhere, so no one steals your bike or rides it away. What parts of the bike should you attach the lock to and why? (The wheels and frame are important to link together. Ensure they’re locked to something extremely stable like a dedicated bike stand.)

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.

To make this more difficult, players can crawl.

A young person with mobility issues might just be required to reach the guard.

Seek parent/guardian advice if any young people have mobility issues.

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Cubs Cyclist Activity Badge

This badge can be linked towards the Physical Recreation Activity Badge where a young person takes part in a physical activity or sport for at least three months.

The discussion part of this activity allows young people to talk about their own bike use.