Before the meeting:
- Print Paper Airplane Derby scoresheet, 4 scoresheets per page, enough for 1 scoresheet for each Cub Scout.
- Just before the meeting, set up each of the four rounds. Ask adults to help and assign one or two of them to each round.
- Depending on how many Cub Scouts you have, you might want to have them rotate through the rounds instead of everyone competing at one station before moving to the next one
- For the Bullseye Bonanza Target Round: Find a suitable target, such as a pole, tree, or marked spot on the ground. Find a throwing spot, ensuring it’s about 10 steps away from the target.
- For the Hang-Time Heroes Hang Time Round: Find an open area without obstructions where Cub Scouts can fly their planes. Mark the throwing spot.
- For the Pathfinder Precision Accuracy Round: Find a suitable straight path along which Cub Scouts can fly their planes such as a sidewalk, hallway, or marked area. Mark the throwing spot.
- For the Sky’s the Limit Distance Round: Find an open area without obstructions where Cub Scouts can fly their planes. Mark the throwing spot.
During the meeting:
- Explain to Cub Scouts that there are four rounds of the Paper Airplane Derby.
- Bullseye Bonanza – Land the airplane as close as possible to the target.
- Hang-Time Heroes – Keep the airplane in the air as long as possible.
- Pathfinder Precision – Fly the airplane in a straight path, landing it as close as possible to the middle.
- Sky’s the Limit – Fly the airplane as far as possible.
- Instruct Cub Scouts to make at least four airplanes, one for each round. They may also want to make some extra planes to practice with. Have them write their names on each of their planes. They may also decorate their planes by drawing pictures or designs on them.
- Give Cub Scouts time to practice flying their planes. When the practice time is up, have them choose which planes they’ll fly for each round.
- For the Bullseye Bonanza Target Round:
- Have Cub Scouts line up behind the throwing spot. Ask one or two parents to stand near the target with a measuring tape.
- Each Cub Scout will take a turn throwing their airplane at the target, aiming to land it as close to the target as possible. The parents will measure how far away from the target the plane is. Each Cub Scout will record how far away they are from the target.
- For the Hang-Time Heroes Hang Time Round:
- Have Cub Scouts line up behind the throwing spot. Ask one parent to watch the plane and another parent to work the stopwatch.
- Each Cub Scout will take a turn throwing their airplane, aiming to keep it in the air as long as possible. When the plane lands, the parent watching it will tell the other parent to stop the stopwatch. Each Cub Scout will record how long their plane stayed in the air.
- For the Pathfinder Precision Accuracy Round:
- Have Cub Scouts line up behind the throwing spot. Ask one or two parents to stand by the path with measuring tape.
- Each Cub Scout will take a turn throwing their airplane, aiming to land it as close to the middle of the path as possible. When the plane lands, the parents will measure how close to the middle of the path it is. Each Cub Scout will record how far away they are from the middle of the path.
- Tip: You might want to set an acceptable minimum distance for throws to count.
- For the Sky’s the Limit Distance Round:
- Have Cub Scouts line up behind the throwing spot. Ask one or two parents to stand near the throwing spot with a long measuring tape.
- Each Cub Scout will take a turn throwing their airplane, aiming to fly as far as possible. When the plane lands, the parents will measure how far the plane flew from the throwing spot. Each Cub Scout will record how far their plane flew.
- Have Cub Scouts compare their results. You can award small prizes to the winners of each round if you would like.
- Ask Cub Scouts what features the paper airplanes that did the best in each challenge have in common.
Tip: If you have a large den, you may not have time to do all four rounds. If you don’t, pick two to do.
