Re: Pinewood Derby Program (Stearn's)
Leslie D. Fife (ldfife@BACHMAN.CS.OU.EDU)
Thu, 30 Jan 1997 09:53:03 -0600
I would like to echo the comments about the Stearn's method. I
am Cubmaster for one Pack, and my son is in a different Pack.
(For the confused - I am Cubmaster of an LDS Pack, and my son
is not yet 8. Last year he was a Tiger and LDS Packs don't
do Tigers.)
His Pack used double elimination. After two rounds, he and several
other boys were done racing for the night. And when a young boy
is done racing, the Pack meeting is over for him. The argument was
that anything else takes too long on a school night.
Solution - DOn't use a school night.
My Pack used the Stearn's method, and we invited another Pack
to race with us. We did it on a school night. It doesn't take
significantly longer, because you run more races in the same time
frame (you don't have to figure out pairings as you go).
Parents were skeptical at first - but EVERY boy raced in EVERY round.
Because of the vagaries of track design and construction, EVERY boy
won at least one race. Every boy was interested until the end,
even though - as was pointed out by George - it is clear to the
adults early on whose cars are fastest. But then fast cars aren't
the point are they? A boy/partner project that culminates in an
evening of racing is what we are after.
This year I didn't mention how we were doing the racing. Did I mention
that they were skeptical last year? This year they asked if we could
do it the same way this year.
For small Packs, such as mine, there is the added advantage of a larger
pool. We put all cars against each other, and then pull the winners
of each group out of the data. And this year, every boy won at least
TWICE. They love it.
And a slightly different aspect: While I have no problem with
competition, and not always winning, that is not what I wanted to
emphasize at our Derby. There is plenty of competition at the
District one. I do this in two ways.
1. Age group winners get ribbons. Overall winner gets
a derby medal. No ENORMOUS trophies. They just raise
the stakes higher than some ADULTS can handle.
2. I have a stack of Special Award ribbons. While the
race is going on, I sit in the pit area and find something
noteworthy about each car. They get a ribbon for that.
Every boy gets a ribbon for something. After the racing,
each boy gets his car from the Pit Area, shows it to the
admiring audience, and receives a ribbon recognizing
the uniqueness of his car. I admit, it sometimes takes
most of the evening to figure out the uniqueness of a
5 oz. block of wood, but I haven't been stumped yet, and
every boy leaves happy with their achievement. Those
with a blue ribbon or medal leave just a little happier.
> If you haven't thought about the "Stearn's Method" pinewood derby it is
> certainly worth a look. It sure worked for us!
>
> >ftp://ftp1.scouter.com/usscouts
> >and then go to /Software/PC/Pinewood
>
> (It bears repeating.)
>
> YiS,
> George Hutcheson
> pack44@cedarnet.org
> Troop 42 Advancement Chair
> Wabuha District Cub Roundtable staff
> ...I used to be an Eagle
--
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
