Webelos Race Time Adventure
Adventure Type: Elective
Number of Requirements: 5
Typical Time to Complete: 2–3 meetings, plus a race event
Parent Involvement: Adult supervision for building, help with tools
Preparation Needed: Gather kits and tools, review race rules, arrange race participation
Activity Level: Low to high, depending on activity
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor for building and car races, outdoor for boat races
Special Requirements: Adult supervision, access to a Pinewood Derby or Raingutter Regatta
Supplies Snapshot: Vehicle kits, tools, sandpaper, decorating supplies, track or water-filled raceway
The Webelos Race Time Adventure gives Scouts a chance to build a vehicle and see it race. With adult supervision, they create a Pinewood Derby car or a Raingutter Regatta boat. Scouts can try their own designs and take pride in what they make.
As they prepare for race day, Webelos learn the rules and explore how friction affects their vehicles. Testing a car or boat helps them see what slows it down. They can make adjustments, try again, and learn from the results.
Before the race, Scouts discuss how to show good sportsmanship. They practice encouraging others, following the rules, and handling wins and losses with respect. Race day brings everything together as Webelos put their vehicles to the test and enjoy the event with fellow Scouts.
Requirements for the Webelos Race Time Adventure
Webelos Race Time Adventure Requirements
- With adult supervision, build either a Pinewood Derby car or a Raingutter Regatta boat.
- Learn the rules of the race for the vehicle chosen in requirement 1.
- Explore the properties of friction and how it impacts your chosen vehicle.
- Before the race, discuss with your den how you will demonstrate good sportsmanship during the race.
- Participate in a Pinewood Derby or a Raingutter Regatta.
Printable requirements for the Webelos Race Time Adventure
Check off sheet to keep track of your den's progress on the Webelos Race Time Adventure
Resources for the Webelos Race Time Adventure
Requirement 1: Build a Car or Boat
With an adult, build either a Pinewood Derby car or a Raingutter Regatta boat.
Give Scouts time to choose a design and do the work they can safely handle. Have adults manage tools that need closer supervision, while Scouts help with sanding, assembly, and decorating. Check the race rules before building so vehicles will be eligible to race.
Easy Option: Hold a den build session using standard kits. Keep designs simple and have adults available to help with tools.
Resources:
Requirement 2: Know the Rules
Learn the rules of the race for the vehicle chosen in requirement 1.
Review the rules for the event your den will attend, since local race rules can vary. Show Scouts how to check their vehicles against size, weight, and material limits. Use a sample car or boat to make the discussion easier to follow.
Easy Option: Make a short checklist from your event’s rules. Have each Scout check their vehicle with an adult before race day. Complete rules are included in the kits.
Some ideas:
Requirement 3: Explore Friction
Explore the properties of friction and how it impacts your chosen vehicle.
Use a simple test to help Scouts notice where rubbing or resistance slows their vehicles. Change one thing at a time so they can compare results and explain what they observed. Keep any adjustments within the race rules.
Easy Option: For cars, compare how a wheel spins when it rubs against the car body and when it turns freely. For boats, compare a run with the boat touching the gutter’s side to one where it travels without touching.
Resources:
Requirement 4: Practice Good Sportsmanship
Before the race, discuss with your den how you will demonstrate good sportsmanship during the race.
Talk through situations Scouts might face, such as losing a close race or seeing another Scout’s vehicle break. Ask them to suggest helpful words and actions for each situation. Remind them that their behavior helps everyone enjoy the event.
Easy Option: Have Scouts practice congratulating a winner and encouraging someone who loses. Agree that everyone will cheer respectfully and follow the race officials’ directions.
More ideas:
Requirement 5: Participate in a Race
Participate in a Pinewood Derby or a Raingutter Regatta.
Check vehicles before the event and allow time for small repairs or adjustments. Give Scouts responsibility for their own vehicles and encourage them to notice how their designs perform. Afterward, briefly discuss what they learned and what they might try next time.
Easy Option: Join your pack’s scheduled Pinewood Derby or Raingutter Regatta. Use the existing event to complete the adventure without planning a separate race.
Resources:
Frequently Asked Questions for the Webelos Race Time Adventure
What do we need to build for the Webelos Race Time Adventure?
You need to build either a Pinewood Derby car or a Raingutter Regatta boat.
Where can we get the materials for the Webelos Race Time vehicles?
You can buy kits for both the Pinewood Derby car and the Raingutter Regatta boat from your local Scout shop or online.
What are the main rules for the Webelos Race Time events?
The main rules are to use only the materials provided in the kits, make sure your vehicle fits the size and weight limits, and follow the specific racing guidelines like using gravity for the Derby car and wind for the Regatta boat.
How can we learn about friction for the Webelos Race Time Adventure?
You can learn about friction by seeing how it affects your vehicle’s speed and stability. Try different adjustments and see what works best.
What should we discuss about good sportsmanship in the Webelos Race Time Adventure?
Discuss respecting all participants, following the rules, cheering for everyone, accepting wins and losses gracefully, and helping others.
What’s the best way to prepare for the Webelos Race Time race day?
Test your vehicle multiple times, make any necessary adjustments, and practice good sportsmanship with your den.
Ready, Set, Go!
The Webelos Race Time Adventure is all about learning, building, and racing. In this adventure, Webelos Scouts get the chance to create their own vehicles—either a Pinewood Derby car or a Raingutter Regatta boat. This project starts with Scouts working alongside adults to design, carve, assemble, or decorate their chosen vehicle. It’s a great way for them to learn basic building skills and understand the basics of vehicle design.
Once their vehicles are ready, Scouts dive into the rules of the races. Knowing the rules helps them play fair and understand what it takes to compete. This part of the adventure also includes learning about friction. Scouts explore how this force affects the speed and movement of their cars or boats. Adjusting their designs based on what they learn can make their vehicles faster and more efficient.
Sportsmanship is another critical lesson in this adventure. Before the race, Scouts discuss how to act during the competition. They talk about respecting others, playing by the rules, and handling wins or losses with grace. These discussions are essential for building character and learning how to be good sports.
Race day is the highlight of the Webelos Race Time Adventure. Scouts get to see their hard work in action as they race their vehicles against those of their fellow Scouts. It’s a fun and exciting day that tests their designs, their understanding of physics, and their sportsmanship. This adventure is about learning, having fun, and doing your best.
Leave a Reply