1.   The Lawnmower Sale

Here is a good one to ‘get' your favorite Scout Leader with.

Need: 3 or 4 boys as lawnmowers, 1 salesman, and 5 or 6 customers.

Lawnmowers on hands and knees in a row. Salesman standing around talking about lawnmower sales:

Salesman: "Lawnmowers, good condition, sale today only. Come and try them."

Customer 1: (walks in) "Hey I'd like to buy a lawnmower. Can I try one?"

Salesman: "Sure give this one a pull." Takes customer to a lawnmower.

Customer 1: Pulls imaginary cord on mower, Lawnmower starts up (Scout makes noise and moves off stage with Customer 1 pushing...

Repeat the above for all but one lawnmower.

On the last mower, the mower won't start, it spits and sputters... This happens for all remaining customers that try it. The salesman may even give it a try.

Disgusted and concerned about the sale of his last mower, the salesman asks for a volunteer from the audience... Many hands will go up, but the salesman will select someone special like Council Executive, Scoutmaster, Commissioner, or Camp Director... This person will come up and mimic what the others tried to do... Of course the mower starts up immediately and moves off stage..

Salesman turns to audience: "I guess all it needed was a big jerk!"

All exit  

2.   Is it Time Yet?

Need: 5-8 Scouts standing (or laying) with left foot crossed over right and right arm crossed over left.

First Scout in line asks: "IS IT TIME YET?" - second Scout asks, then third, etc. down the line.

Last Scout says: "NO." Word is passed back to the first Scout, one Scout at a time.

After a looooooonng pause,

First Scout asks: "IS IT TIME YET?" It goes down the line as before.

Last Scout says: "NO," and again and the word is passed back.

Another long pause...............

First Scout asks again: "IS IT TIME YET?" etc. and,

Last Scout says: "YES" and the answer is passed back.

Just after the first Scout gets the word that it’s time, they all change to right foot over left and left arm over right.

Exit groaning

3.  The Magic Doctor's Chair

Need: 5 Scouts (1 as doctor, 4 as patients), two chairs.

Scene begins with doctor sitting on one of the chairs.

First patient enters twitching their left arm.

DOCTOR: "And what's wrong with you sir?"

Patient 1: "As you can see doctor I have this terrible twitch."

DOCTOR: "Just sit on my magic chair and you'll get better."

The patient sits on the chair and stops twitching, but the doctor's left arm starts twitching.

Patient 1: "Oh thank you doctor. You cured me."

The patient leaves, the doctor still twitching calls for the next patient.

DOCTOR: "Next "...... "And what's wrong with you sir?"

This patient has the hiccups. The process of sitting in the chair is repeated. The doctor now has a twitch and the hiccups.

The third patient is called in, both his legs keep flicking in the air. The process is again repeated so that the doctor now has a twitching arm the hiccups and both legs flicking in the air.

The doctor now calls patient four. This patient looks quite normal, enters and sits in the magic chair.

DOCTOR: "And what may I ask is wrong with you sir?"

Patient 4: "I've got a terrible case of the runs doctor."

The doctor runs off the stage holding his stomach.

4.  Dirty Socks

Need: 4 Scouts, one large can (Billy can or gallon can) with water placed in the center of the stage.

1st Scout walks to can carrying his mug. He dips his mug in and brings it up to his lips for a drink.

"THIS CAMP COFFEE IS GETTING WORSE!"

2nd Scout walks to can carrying his mug. He dips his mug in and brings it up to his lips for a drink.

"THIS CAMP TEA IS GETTING WORSE!"

3rd Scout walks to can carrying his mug. He dips his mug in and brings it up to his lips for a drink.

"THIS CAMP HOT CHOCOLATE IS GETTING WORSE!"

4th Scout walks to can, dips his hands in and takes out a pair of wet socks. As he wrings them out he says:

"I THOUGHT THAT WOULD GET THEM CLEAN!"

5.  J.C. Penney

Need: 5 Scouts (or more) and one article of clothing for each.

First Scout enters, walking slowly. Second Scout enters, wearing a hat and walking in the opposite direction. First Scout stops second Scout.

First Scout: "Hey, where did you get that cool hat?"

Second Scout: "J.C. Penney."

Second Scout leaves and third Scout enters carrying pants.

First Scout: "Hey, where did you get those pants?"

Third Scout: "J.C. Penney."

Others enter carrying new articles of clothing and offer similar explanations. Finally the last Scout enters wearing just shorts. First Scout stops him.

First Scout: "Who do you think you are dressed like that?"

Last Scout: "I'm J.C. Penney!"

6.  The Lost Quarter

Need: 5 or more Scouts.

Scene: One person acts as a lamppost, shining a flashlight on the ground. Another is groping around in the pool of light (he's Scout One).

A third person enters, sees Scout One, and asks: "What are you looking for?"

Scout One: "A quarter that I lost.”

He joins Scout One and helps him search. A fourth and fifth enter and repeat the above scene.

Finally one of them asks Scout One: "Where did you loose the quarter?"

Scout One: (Pointing away) "Over there."

Other Scout: "Then why are you looking here?"

Scout One: "Because the light is better over here!"

7.   The Lost Lollipop

Need: 2 Scouts.

Small boy is sitting, crying.

Passer-by #1: (Enters) “What's wrong, little boy? Why are you crying?”

Boy: (Sobbing) “I lost my lollipop!”

Passer-by #1: “Have you looked for it?”

Boy: (Continues to sob) “Oh, yes, I've looked under my bed, in my sock drawer, and in my pocket.”

Passer-by #1: “I've heard that chanting often works. You think very hard about the lollipop until you can see it in your mind, and chant 'lollipop' over and over again.”

Boy: (Closing eyes tightly) “Big red yummy lollipop, big red yummy lollipop, big red yummy lollipop.”

Passer-by #1: (Nods approval and strolls out.)

Boy: (Continues chanting for a while, then starts crying again.)

Passer-by #2: (Enters) “What's wrong, little boy?”

Boy: (Sobbing) “I lost my lollipop, and I hunted and hunted, then this man told me to chant, and I did, and it didn't work!”

Passer-by #2: “Chanted?”

Boy: “Yeah, like this.” (Demonstrates, then starts to cry.)

Passer-by #2: “Don't cry little boy. Maybe we need more help.”

Boy: (Turns to audience) “You're my only help to get my lollipop back. Everybody, very softly now, chant with me, ‘Big red yummy lollipop, big red yummy lollipop, big red yummy lollipop.’ (Gets everyone doing
it in unison.) “Great! I think it's working, keep going now.”

Passer-by #1: (Re-enters) “Hi, little boy. Did it work?”

Boy: (Loudly) “No, it didn't, but I did find a whole lot of suckers!”  

8.   Puppy in the Box

Need: 5 Scouts (1 as Announcer).

Props: A cardboard box, and a stuffed dog (or rabbit, etc.).

Announcer: “This scene takes place on the street outside a grocery store.”

(Several participants are gathered around outside the store, chatting.)

Scout 1: (Enters holding the box) “Hi guys, would you please hold this box for me while I go into the store?” (Exits)

Scout 2: “I wonder what's in the box?”

Scout 3: “I don't know, but something is leaking out!”

Scout 4: (Rubs finger against the bottom of box, then licks finger) “Hmmm, it tastes like lemon soda.”

Scout 3: (Also rubs box and tastes finger) “No. I think it's more like chicken soup.”

Scout 1: (Returns, looks in box and pulls out stuffed dog) “Oh, you naughty puppy!”

9.   New Saw

Need: 3 Scouts (1 as Announcer).

Announcer: “This scene takes place in a hardware store in a small north woods lumber town.”

Lumberjack: (Enters) “My old crosscut saw is worn out, and I need something that will let me cut more wood, or I'm going to go broke!”

Owner: “Yes, sir! For only one hundred bucks you can be the proud owner of this chain saw. I guarantee that it will cut twice as much wood in a day as your own crosscut.”

Lumberjack: (Handing over money) “O.K. great!” (Exits)

Announcer: “The next day.”

Lumberjack: (Enters tiredly) “There's something wrong with this saw. I worked very hard yesterday, and only cut half as much wood.”

Owner: “Well, sir, I have a lot of faith in this product. Here, I'll put a new chain on it and you give it another try.”

Lumberjack: “O.K., but if it doesn't do any better, I'll be back!” (Exits)

Announcer: “The next day.”

Lumberjack: (Enters exhausted) “This darned saw is no good. I worked even harder, and still it won't cut half the wood of my old saw! I want my money back!”

Owner: “Yes, sir! Just let me check it out here.” (Pulls starter rope)

Announcer: (Makes sound effects of saw running.)

Lumberjack: “Oh, my gosh! What on earth is all that noise?”

10.   Measurement Problem

Need: 3 Scouts (2 older Scouts and 1 Cub Scout).

(Two Scouts come on stage carrying a long pole. They prop it up, then stand back and look at it.)

Scout 1: “Now, there are several ways we can figure out the height of this pole. How do you want to start?”

(The Scouts unsuccessfully try various methods of estimation to calculate the height of the pole. The conversation goes something like....)

Scout 1: “According to my calculations, that pole is about 2 m high.”

Scout 2: “There's no way. It has got to be shorter than that. Just look at it.”

(This kind of exchange repeats several times as the Scouts obviously become more and more exasperated. A Cub strolls onto the stage.)

Cub: “Hi! (He watches a bit) What are you guys trying to do?”

Scout 2: “We're trying to measure the exact height of this pole.”

Scout 1: “We haven't had too much luck, yet, but we'll get it.”

Cub: “Why don't you just lay the pole on the ground and measure its length?”

Scout 1: (scornfully) “Cubs!”

Scout 2: “I'll say. (To the Cub) Didn't you hear right? We want to know how tall the pole is - not how long it is.”

11.   The Dead Body

Need: 2 Scouts, one will lie down as if dead.

Scene: One person is lying on the ground, dead.

Another enters, sees him, and runs for the telephone and dials 911.”

Panicking and gasping he says: "Hello 911, there's a dead person here...

Where? .... Uh,… (looking for a sign) I'm at Montgomery and

Westchester... Spell it!?... Uh… M-o-t-n... Uh, M-o-t-g,… (confused),

Just a minute, I'll drag him over to King and Elm!"

12.   The Invisible Bench

Need: 4 (or more) Scouts.

First boy is squatting as though sitting on an invisible bench. The second boy comes in.

Scout 2: “What are you doing?”

Scout 1: "I'm sitting on the invisible bench."

Scout 2: "Can I join you?"

Scout 1: "Sure, there's plenty of room."

Second boy pretends to sit.

A third boy comes along, and the scene repeats.

Go on for as many boys as you want.

When the last boy comes along, asks and is answered, he says "But I moved it over there this morning!"

AAAAHHHHHH!!!! All seated boys fall down.

13.   Go Cart

Need: 2 Scouts (1 participant is on hands and knees as the 'Go Cart').

Driver: “Oh, this fool Go Cart is always giving me trouble ! Now the front wheel has come off. (Selects member of audience) Would you come over and give me a hand. Thanks.” (Selected person may have some comments to respond to - then they are led to the cart)

Driver: “Here, if you would just be the wheel I need. That's right, get down on your hands and knees up there and be the front wheel. Now let me try it again.” (Driver gets on car, tries to start it up)

Go Cart: (Makes sputtering noises, starts, moves forward, then sags and sputters out)

Driver: “Now what is it?” (Driver moves to rear, lifts cart, lets go and cart sags again)

Driver: “Now that old suspension has gone, I need more help. (Selects someone else) Please come over here and be the suspension. That's right, just hold the back end up there. Now I'll try it again.” (Gets on car, starts engine)

Go Cart: (Sputters to life, moves forward, wobbles, and stops)

Driver: (Getting off) “Oh, no. Now the rear wheel is loose. I'll go and get more help.” (Selects more help) (New help is positioned at rear wheel)

Driver: “This wheel is loose. If you will just hold the wheel (indicates leg) tightly so it doesn't fall off, you'll be a big help. Thanks.” (Driver gets on cart, starts engine)

Go Cart: (Starts up, runs fine, moves forward)

Driver: (Braking to halt) “Oh, that's perfect now ! All I needed was a few NUTS to get it going!”

14.   Peanuts

Need: At least 6 Scouts to play Judge, Bailiff, 3 (or more) Scruffy Guys, Peanuts (person).

Setting: Courthouse

Judge: “Order in the court! Order in the court! Bring in the first case!”

(Bailiff brings in a scruffy guy)

Judge: “What's your problem?”

#1: “Duh, I like to throw Peanuts against walls!”

Judge: “30 days psychiatric treatment! Next!”

Judge: “What's your problem?”

#2: “Duh, I like to throw Peanuts out the window!”

Judge: “30 days psychiatric treatment! Next!”

(Judge becomes increasingly bored)

Judge: “Oh, not another, What's your problem?”

#3: “Duh, I like to throw Peanuts into a lake!”

Judge: “30 days psychiatric treatment! Why do they send me all the loonies? Next!”

(Finally the bailiff brings in the last, really scruffy, bloodied, shirt torn, no shoes, so on.)

Judge: “What's your problem?” (Sigh....)

Peanuts: “I'm Peanuts!” (Passes out.)

15.   The Statue Warehouse

Need: At least 7 Scouts to play Tour Guide, Group of Tourists (optional), and 6 Statues (including an Aquaman Statue with mouthful of water). You’ll also need one person to be the “Victim.”

Setting: Statue Museum (or Warehouse of Old, Unused Statues)

Guide: “Welcome to the Museum of Superheroes. We have a unique collection of statues in that you can press a button and the statues come alive to imitate their real life counterparts. See here, for instance.
This is Superman. Watch as I push the button on his chest.”

(Superman comes out of stiff standing position and takes a flying position, then resumes a stiff standing position.)

(The Guide continues through the tour, occasionally letting someone try the statues of Spiderman, the Flash, Batman and Wonder Woman, each with a different action and way of activating them (pull arm,
press nose, and so on.))

(Finally they get to Aquaman.)

Guide: “Now this is our last statue; Aquaman is our pride and joy. However, it seems that sometimes it just won't activate. Better let me try first.”

(Pulls arm. Nothing.) "Aquaman," he whispers. (He tries the arm again. Nothing.)

(To victim) You, Sir? Would you like to try? He's rather finicky. Maybe he'll work if you try.”

(Victim tries and Aquaman spits out a mouthful of water at him.)

16.   Sounds of the Lost Scoutmaster

Need: 6 Scouts to play the Storyteller, Bird, Frog, Tree, Breeze, Lost Scoutmaster.

(Storyteller is telling the story to the campfire crowd, while the other actors, with the exception of the Lost Scoutmaster, have the option to hide in the woods, sit in the crowd, or stand beside the storyteller. I
suggest the first, for effect. The Lost Scoutmaster, however, must hide in the woods.)

Storyteller: “You know, I love camping. It's not like being in the city at all. You hear sounds that you can only hear out in the country. For instance, lots of birds.”

(Bird chirps a lot, sings a bird song.)

“Storyteller: “Ah, isn't that lovely? And the frogs. They have one of those great sounds.”

(Frog calls out “ribbit” sounds.)

Storyteller: “And though there's breeze in the city, it's just not the same as the breeze in the country.”

(Breeze makes light blowing sound.)

Storyteller: “Let's face it; there are trees in the city, but how many? The breeze through a forest is so nice.

(Tree makes swishing sound of breeze through leaves.)

“But the sound I love to hear the most when I go camping is the sound of… the Lost Scoutmaster.”

(Heavy thumping of the feet) Lost Scoutmaster calls out, "Where in the world am I?"

17.   The Highest Tree Climber in the World

Need: 3 Scouts to play 2 Friends and the Highest Tree Climber in the World, a bush/tree, book.     

Setting: Campfire

(Tree climber is hidden in the woods and must be able to ruffle a bush or tree.)

Scout 1: “You know, they say there's this really good tree climber trying out for the Olympics. I wonder if he's practicing around here?”

Scout 2: “Call out and see!”

Scout 1: “Hey! Tree Climber! You around here?”

Climber: “Yep!”

Scout 1: “You practicing?”

Climber: “Yep!”

Scout 1: “How high are you?”

Climber: “Oh, not high. About 100 feet.”

Scout 1: “Wow! Can you go higher?”

Climber: “Yep! (Ruffles tree.) Now I'm at about 200 feet.”

Scout 1: “Fantastic! Can you go higher?”

Climber: “Yep! (Ruffles tree.) Now I'm at about 275 feet.”

Scout 1: “Neato! Can you go higher?”

Climber: “Yep! (Ruffles tree.) Now I'm at about 325 feet.”

Scout 1: “Great! Can you go higher?”

Climber: “Yep! (Ruffles tree.) Now I'm at about 400 feet.”

Scout 1: “Gee! I'm amazed!”

Scout 2: “Excuse me, Sir, but I have a book here that says that the highest tree in the world is only 360 feet high!”

Climber: “Ahhhhhh!!!!!!” (Thump!)

18.   You Don't Say!

Need: 2 Scouts to play Person on the phone, Friend.

Setting: Living Room

Person: (Phone rings, picks it up.) “Hello? Yes? You don't say ... You don't say ... You don't say ... You don't say? ... You don't say! ... You don't say. Bye!”

Friend: “Say, who was on the phone?”

Person: He didn't say!

19. Waiter!

Need: 7 Scouts to play Waiter and Customers.

Setting: Restaurant

Customer 1: “Waiter! There's a fly in my soup!”

Waiter: “Shhh! Everyone else will want one!”

(Same line continues on with other customers about:

-A fly being in alphabet soup (“He's learning to read!”)
-What's this fly doing in my soup? (“The backstroke, Sir!”)
-There's a fly in my soup! (“Pass him a life preserver!”)
-I just took a fly out of my soup. What do you think you should do? (“Give First Aid!”)

Finally…

Last Customer: “Waiter, did you know that there's a fly in my ice cream, too?”

Waiter: “No! I didn't know they were into winter sports!”

20.   Why Are You Late?

Need: 5 Scouts to play the Boss and 4 Workers.

Setting: Office

Boss: “Why are you late?”

Worker 1: (Rushing into work, breathless.) “Sorry I'm late, Boss. My car broke down, so I took the bus. But the driver hit a tree, so I had to take a cab. And it broke down, too. Fortunately, I was near a stable so I borrowed a horse. But it ran so fast that it had a heart attack and collapsed. I had to jog the rest of the way!

(#’s 2 & 3 come in late with exactly the same excuse. The boss becomes a little bit more exasperated each time, until #4 finally comes in, late of course.)

Boss: “Why are you late? No, wait. Let me guess. Your car broke down, so you took the bus. But the bus driver hit a tree, so you took a cab. And it broke down too. Fortunately, you were near a stable and so you borrowed a horse. But it ran so fast that it had a heart attack and collapsed, so you had to jog the rest of the way, right?”

Worker 4: “No boss, you got it all wrong! The streets were so crowded with broken down cars, buses and cabs, trees, dead horses, and worst of all some crazy joggers that I couldn't get through!”