Best Camp Pranks

[starhawk]

It is a tradition of our Scouting troop to have camp pranks every summer camp. We have done some very good ones, (my favorite was the water-balloon-on-your-head-when-you-wake-up-prank), and the worst one was when two boys (just visitors who don't know the scout rules), tipped a porta-potty over when a boy was still inside . It pains me, and makes me laugh at all the good times. Also in this thread i suggest we talk of worst predicaments. My latest and worst is when we and another, green scout were canueing, we went sideways through the rapids, and got stuck in there, water pouring into our canoe before I had to drag it out of the rapids because the greenie didn't want to get more wet, even though he was soaked from top to bottom . Oh well. How about yours?

[FrankJ]

Since two of the three pranks you mention have a strong potential to get you DEAD. I do not recommend them. The porta pottie in addition to physical danger, the liquid in it is a major bio-hazard. Even mild white water can pin you or suck you under.

[wagionvigil]

These may also fall under hazing

[Chief J]

Don't find camp pranks amusing one bit. My Scouts know if they pull any pranks, they will be sent home immediately.

Chief J

[evmori]

No pranks! Why?

[MisterChris]

In the scout troop I grew up in, at the Bicentennial Jamboree (local event I guess, it was here in Memphis but seemed that thousands of troops were there) in 1976 (Yes folks, there was scouts back then too!) some of the scouts decided to 'get' one loudmouth little guy in our troop. (I wasn't involved in the planning. I found out about it midway through) - They waited until he entered a porta-potty and then tied it closed with binders twine so he couldn't get out. Then they waited (he didn't know he was locked in) until he tried to get out. Then they rocked it a bit and then left. I heard them laughing about it as they came back into camp. They were discussing how they'd let him stew in there until dinner was over, then they'd come tip it over.

I trucked around until I found one with binders twine tied around it (There were hundreds out there) and got out my trusty scout knife and spoiled their fun.

I pulled one once that could have ended up hurting my older brother pretty bad. We went camping and My bro Joe (JASM at the time) suggested we take a trail he'd seen that led around the park. It had been raining and the area was muddy. We grabbed our ponchos and headed out. Came to a great big hill. The trail went straight up it at about a 45deg angle. The mud was slippery and nobody wanted to climb up it but me.

Joe gave me the 100' rope and sent me up the steep hill. Slow going, when I got to the top I was mud head to toe. The guys in the troop laughed at me. Called me 'mudpuppy'. There was a big tree at the top of the hill and I secured the rope around it. A couple more guys came up. After about half the troop was up the hill, my bro said he was coming up. I untied the rope and several of us just stood on the trailing end until he was almost all the way up. Then we stepped off and he went sliding down and landed at the bottom in the gathering 'stream' there. Got mad and came charging back up the hill to get me, (no rope) lost his footing, fell on his face and slid down again. He looked just like me ande I laughed. Called him mudpuppy.

He gave me one of those I-know-where-you-live-slime looks, and I straightened up and told him to throw the rope up. We'd be good and tie it well this time. He just turned the rest of the troop around and they headed back. I had to finish the trail with the half of the troop that was with me, dreading every step of the way the mountain of dishes I'd be given to clean.

I was well known in our troop for my backfiring tricks and pranks and the dishes I always had to clean. Read my story about the 'fish heads' on the forums on our troop website.

I agree that hazing and pranks are not only against BSA policy but can be downright dangerous not only for those victims, but for the perpetrators. Dishpan hands are a definite hazard.

[616kayak]

Snipe hunts yes I know the policy but I don’t care because those who go for the first time have the most fun.

My ASPL and I went out to find a perfect area. When we hit a clearing with thick brush around it we knew it was right. On the other side of the brush we set up ropes. Some were tied to bushes some to sticks. When you pulled the rope the bush would shake or the stick would get dragged through to make it sound like it was a snipe. We gave the new scouts plastic grocery bags and a flashlight and told them the snipes like to run towards the light. After about 5 mins I went out to check the "bait" that we told them we had laid out earlier. I said it’s gone. While the troop was with the new scouts my ASPL crawled through the woods and started pulling the ropes. Eventually the troop was silent making sure snipes didn’t get scared away. Finally my ASPL came running through the woods flapping his arms like a birds wings and chirping. They thought it was the funniest thing ever and can’t wait till they get to do a snipe hunt with new scouts.

[RWSmith]

To those who may or may not care, be it youth or adult, please be advised the following are official Rules and Regulations of the BSA:

Hazing prohibited.
Physical hazing and initiations are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Scouting activity.

Member Responsibilities.
--All members of the Boy Scouts of America are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the principles set forth in the Scout Oath and Law. Physical violence, hazing, bullying, theft, verbal insults, and drugs and alcohol have no place in the Scouting program and may result in the revocation of a Scout's membership in the unit.

Unit Responsibilities.
--Adult leaders of Scouting units are responsible for monitoring the behavior of youth members and interceding when necessary. Parents of youth members who misbehave should be informed and asked for assistance in dealing with it.

--The BSA does not permit the use of corporal punishment by unit leaders when disciplining youth members.

--The unit committee should review repetitive or serious incidents of misbehavior in consultation with the parents of the child to determine a course of corrective action including possible revocation of the youth's membership in the unit.

--If problem behavior persists, units may revoke a Scout's membership in that unit. When a unit revokes a Scout's membership, it should promptly notify the council of the action.

--The unit should inform the Scout executive about all incidents that result in a physical injury or involve allegations of sexual misconduct by a youth member with another youth member.

Disobey them at your own peril... end of discussion.