Something the local unit is fond of using is a tuck chart. During a week-long camp (or longer!)
there are many challenges offered to the girls. All sorts of camp
challenges are listed and a chart drawn up. Girls are great at creating
this chart using markers, crayons, stamps, stickers and other visual
tidbits. Basically, the chart has the girls (and Guiders!) names written
down the left side of the chart, and a grid is drawn across the chart so
when a challenge is completed, a stamp or sticker goes into a square to
mark the challenge as being done. Now this is where the "tuck" comes in.
We do not encourage the girls to bring candies and chocolates to camp. We
have a lot of critters around that are quite fond of these items, and care
little about who is carrying them! What we offer is a daily tuck, where
the girls can choose between a small bag of candy, a chocolate bar, can of
pop or a bag of chips. By completing challenges, the girls earn "fun
bucks" which they can spend during tuck time. The girls mostly earn the
challenges during STA's (Spare Time Activities) and they can earn as many
as they choose. However, there is a limit as to how many fun bucks can be
spent during the day. Most challenges are usually worth one fun buck, but
more difficult challenges are worth two fun bucks. Only 3 fun bucks can be
spent during each tuck time (daily). The chocolate bars are worth two fun
bucks and all the rest are worth one fun buck. Therefore, during tuck
time, a girl can perhaps purchase a chocolate bar and small bag of candy,
or maybe a jumbo freezie/bag of candy/and a small bag of chips. A double
selection is not allowed; eg. two bags of candy at one time. The girls
decide before camp what will be available as to selection. The girls are
not allowed to stock pile, and all leftover food items are kept in the main
lodge. Tuck does not have to contain treats. Crests, swaps, small games,
toys, craft materials, etc. can be used also. The idea is to get the girls
interested in trying out different skills and offering an incentive to make
it a challenge. We often include program work in the challenges and these
are marked with an asterisk. These are compulsory and everyone must do
them. Other challenges may contain "tasters" of Interest Badges and these
are marked, so if a Guide is interested, she may continue with the badge
requirements to earn it. One of the challenges is to make up a new
challenge. The girls usually make these very difficult!
We use monopoly money as fun bucks and one year we designed our own fun
buck, and at the end of camp, each girl laminated their favourite challenge
to hang on their camp hat as a memento. Once a girl completes a challenge,
she goes to a Guider to get her fun buck. This is an excellent camp job
for an older Guide, Senior Branch member, or a parent. The "tester" will
decide if the challenge was met, and issue a fun buck with the challenge
number written on the back of it. A corresponding mark is made on the Tuck
Chart. This comes in handy when the Guide has lost her fun buck - the Tuck
Chart shows how many each girl has earned. We don't have tuck the first
day out. We start the second day in order to give the girls a chance to
complete some challenges. There usually is one or two girls who want to do
them all, and a couple who aren't really into it. Guaranteed, by the
second tuck time, there is heavy borrowing and promises being swapped, and
everyone enjoys at least one treat a day. Our menu reflects the tuck
items. Be assured that the menu follows the Canada Food Guide and
individuals are respected for their medical and religious needs.
As you can see, this idea can be used for any type of camp theme, and it
will suit any type of group dynamic easily. A chart can also be used
during regular meetings - a challenge for the girls and it makes the
meetings so much more fun when games and activities are involved. Don't
forget to include yourselves!
For a list of challenges see
Camp Challenges