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Special Project

For 2025.........         
   Rube Goldberg Machine

This year’s special project we are challenging participants to build a Rube Goldberg Machine. A Rube Goldberg Machine is a chain reaction type machine, intentionally designed to complete a simple task in an indirect and overly complex manner.

 

There is video explains Rube Goldberg machines here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga4MZyzqyeM, or there is a famous advert version here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ve4M4UsJQo.

We would like you to include some elements of scouting skills in yours, explicitly by including aspects constructed using poles and rope. These can be pioneering poles, gadget wood, gutter pipe or broomsticks (or are anything else that is appropriate). It can be big or small, simple or complex, traditional or novel the choice is yours!  You will achieve more points for being more adventurous, including more knots and lashings, including more aspects and being more creative.

The Rube Goldberg machine will need to be built on your sites activity space and the task it will need to perform will be shared with you upon arrival.  A short list of possible tasks will be published on this page before the summer holidays.

We will judge all the Rube Goldberg machines on Sunday morning.

Experimenting with Rube Goldberg machines during troop nights or on a camp could be a great way to work towards you scientist or pioneering badge. 

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Participation

The Special Project is optional, but marks gained also count towards the main competition, so Patrols competing for the Emlyn Trophy are strongly encouraged to participate.

Timing

We will judge your special project on Sunday morning.

Scoring Criteria

100 points will be available for the Special Project, weighted equally across the following areas:​​

  • Execution: how effectively has your plan been realised? 

  • Technical Skills: knots, lashings etc.

  • Ambition: Challenge, ingenuity, creativity

  • Useable: Used and enjoyed

  • Camping Environment: positive visual impact on the camp environment.

Additional marks may also be awarded via Judges Discretion​ for those brilliant yet unexpected moments of Scouting ingenuity!

Trophy

The Special Project Trophy is awarded to the Patrol with the highest combined score.

Next Year's Special Project

Patrol Leaders who take part this year will be asked for idea's for next year's challenges during the PL's Forum on the Saturday Evening.

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