I did my knot program Saturday. Two sessions with about a dozen cub scout leaders in each class. Thanks to all for your input and suggestion.

I was able to locate a local place that sells second/ surplus rope and told them I needed some short peices for teaching knots to scouts. I was able to get a whole big box full of short (4 - 20 ft.) ends and peices of 1/4 - 3/8 inch soft braided poly rope for $15 that worked great. (I have enough rope to keep the cubs and the scouts supplied for years.)

One participant said he had attended a class the year before and especially like that I did not try to teach every knot in the world, but rather that I spent time on each knot and went over when to use it and what it's strenghts and weaknesses were. On every knot I tried to give examples of where they would want to use that knot (and where you would not want to use it). For example Tautline hitch: When you are camping and putting up a tarp or tent, this is the knot you tie around the tent stake. This is how you use the knot.

Most of these were new scout leaders and they really did seem to be as much or more interested in the why as the how.


I told them that many of the terms used in knots come from sailing days, so the first thing we have to learn is how to talk like a sailor.
I started out the knots with the overhand knot. This is the knot you have tied all of your life. It is so easy to tie that it will even tie itself in your rope when you least expect it. (this got a good laugh, and I thought it best to start easy with something everyone knows)

Using the overhand knot, I started on rope terms. This is a type of stopper knot. This is the working end and that is the standing part. Now if I tie the same knot, but I loop the end over like this, this is called a bight. If I stick the bight through the loop I have a slipped overhand or slip knot. Anyway, I went though a half dozen different variations on the overhand knot and used that to teach basic terms and to illustrate that if you learn a few basic knots, you can move on to more complex knots just by adding another twist or turn.

After we got through playing around with the overhand, I told them we will now learn some better knots. The figure 8 as a stopper knot is better than the over hand. Why? Tie one in each end of your rope. Pull as hard as you can. Now untie them! Figure 8 loop is better than overhand loop .....

Anyway, had great fun on Saturday. Thanks again for all of your suggestions. It really did help getting your feedback. I passed on some of your games and suggestions also.

One thing I do need to work on a bit more is how to tie a knot backwards. When you tie a knot you are holding it in front of you. When you try to show someone else, you need to turn it around so that they see the view you normally see and you are looking at the back of the knot. If you don't do a few of those in advance, it will throw you off. On many knots it doesn't matter, but something like a Bowline is tricky if you rotate the way you are used to doing it.