For something that "seems" like it should be simple, teaching knots often feels more like it's Rocket Science. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

There were lots of great ideas already posted here. One thing that I have learned in teaching Cubs, Webelos, and Boy Scouts is that you can't teach very many knots in one session. They need to repeat the same knot, many many times. They need to be able to tie it with their eyes closed. (They'll be setting up a tent in the dark sometime and realize why.)

Ok, so how do you do that? (Short attention spans, boredom, etc.) What I do is make sure that I have lots of "props" that can be used to illustrate the many different ways to use a particular knot. Think of all the ways you could use a bowline, and let the boys (or your adults in training) try to use the new knot they have "mastered" in different situations.

What we called it was "Knot of the Week". Each troop meeting for about 2 months had a new knot featured in a short session. You can make it competitive also, if you have a group that likes a little challenge. You can have a series of knot challenges, and score the patrol on time and accuracy.

In the end, try to make it fun. Please don't try to teach them ten knots in a single session, it usually ends in frustration, and they come away not able to tie any of them well.

Best of luck!

Craig, I'm sure that the one you recommend is a better book for teaching the cub couts from. The teacher needs to be able to show enough enthusiasm that there will be plenty to rub off on the students, and ``The Complete Rigger's Apprentice'' will be a big help there.


I agree, don't start the cubbies with TCRA. I guess I hadn't realised that he was looking for a text for the kids to use. TCRA for the teacher, and something appropriate for the little guys.

If you're thinking of something like Ashley's book, I agree with you. Those books are endless, tedious lists of minor variations on knots you'll never use, and you can't imagine why anyone ever would use them.

TCRA is a relentlessly practical book (except for the section on decorative knots, which is only slightly practical), and does a great job of explaining and motivating some really useful knots, and teaches you how to tie them in the real world.

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.

Just an idea, but have you thought about getting a cheap lipstick/bullet camera. They cost here about $70 Australian dollars. If you connect it to a TV, they see what you see. Some of the guys here have them clipped onto their helmets while they ride. (motocross, enduro etc) For this exercise you can zip tie it the the peak of a baseball cap, and as you are tie it shows up on the TV.
I'm sure with the scouts, you could find lots of other uses for the camera aswell.
Alternatively put a normal video camera connected to the TV on a tripod or something similar and stand behind the tripod with your hands in front of the camera.

Several folks have mentioned liking thicker rope for teaching knots. On the other end of the spectrum, what about paracord? It's not too pricey if you're handing it out to groups, and what I have found is that I EDC a length in my pocket, which is comfortable in the pocket, and I always have something to practice with. Plus it doesn't unravel and it holds up over time. That might encourage the scouts to keep it with them to practice. The only drawback I've found is that if I'm working on a knot over and over, it starts to rub my fingers raw...I don't know if that happens with other rope/cord.

I agree that practice (along with a practical use) is most important. I had a kid a couple of weeks ago in a martial arts class just learning how to fall. He did the fall a few times and then stopped. I told him to keep working and he said, "I did it five times, I know it." Like one of the SAS books says, you have to know how to tie the knot so well that you can do it in the dark, with numb, shaking hands, because your life just may depend on it.

With music, martial arts, knot tying, whatever...I feel that if I have to think about what I'm doing, then I don't know it well enough yet. That is a hard concept for kids to understand.

Five times == know how to do it, that way, here, on this mat, falling that way.

Five thousand times == Will do it without thinking about it, under all conditions, without notice, anywhere.

The brain can be programmed for automatic reaction, but it takes lots of repetition. I _still_ can't tie some knots unless I'm facing "the right way", but I'm working on it. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

In regards to falling, I tell them they need to do it five thousand times, and then maybe they will start to understand it, and then another five thousand times and they might begin to learn it, and another five thousand times...

I've tried tying knots the opposite way, and I've had a real challenge with it. I guess my spatial ability isn't as good as I thought it was <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

Is that a test you have to take at someNASA facility ?!? <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

That is the way you see things in your mind. for example one test is to see how a diagram on a piece of paper would look if folded along the lines. Draftsmen and architects should have good spatial aptitude.