BROWNIES
I can knot
What you’ll need
• String, rope, shoelaces, 2 per girl • Picture or video instructions for tying a reef knot (optional)
Aim of the activity
Can you save your leader from the other side of the river? You’ll need to use your knotting skills...
Note to leader: Give each girl a length of string, rope or something that can be tied together. Make sure it’s long enough to hold a knot. Based on the lengths of string or rope, adjust how far away the other side of your imaginary river is.
Step by step
1
Everyone grab two lengths of rope or string. Your leader is going to show you how to tie a reef knot.
How to tie a reef knot Step 1 – Hold the end of one piece of string in each hand. Bring them over each other to form a cross. Step 2 – Loop the top piece of string under the bottom and pull it a little. This is a half knot. Make sure you’ve left a few centimetres of string at the ends. Step 3 – Repeat step 1 and form another half knot on top of your first one. Tighten it up. Congratulations, you’ve just created a reef knot!
2
Stand on the other side of your meeting space to your leader. Imagine you’re hiking through the jungle. You’ve just tried crossing the river, but oh no! Your leader’s gotten themselves stuck on the opposite side to you! You’ll have to test your reef-knot tying skills to make a long rope between you all to throw across the river to your leader.
3
Work together to tie all your strings together using reef knots. Make sure everyone gets a go at knotting. When you have one long length, throw it across to your leader. They’ll make their way across to you, checking each knot is correct.
4
If a knot is wrong, your leader is stuck again! You must pull the rope back and correct the knot before throwing it to them again. They can then continue on their way to safety.