Tips for Good Campfire Skits

We’ve all seen this before - A group of boys around the campfire are putting on a skit. Most of them can’t be heard. Those you can hear forget their lines. The punch line is smothered in the actors' giggles. Then there is an embarrassing silence before it dawns on the audience that the thing is over, and a patter of polite applause begins.

These suggestions should make your future skits more successful.

1. make sure everyone knows their part. It only needs to be an outline not a full script as scouts can use their own words BUT they need to know what they have to get over to the audience. Provide only an outline, not written lines.

2. Project your voices so everyone can hear you, especially if outdoors. Rehearse to get this right.

3. Deliver the punch line with feeling and volume. Often you can hear the boys right through the skit except at the end which is often the most important bit. Face the audience and deliver the punchline clearly.

4. Keep props to a minimum, they get in the way.

5. Use a dramatic punctuation mark to end the skit. If nothing else, line up the patrol for a bow or make sure your leader knows what the end is.

6. Face the audience right the way through so they can see and hear you.

7. Relax and have a good time. It’s supposed to be fun, skits are intended to make the audience groan out loud and then laugh like mad things.   

By the way – a skit is any sketch or some other funny item performed at a campfire which is not a song.

The Ugliest Man in the World

It requires 5 people ( one with a towel over head, 2 customers, one announcer, and a leader)

ANNOUNCER:

"come one come all see the ugliest man in the world!"

CUSTOMER 1:

(walks by)

ANNOUNCER:

"you sir would you like to see the ugliest man in the world it only costs one dollar!"

CUSTOMER 1:

"sure" ( hands announcer a dollar, lifts up the towel, screams, and runs away)

CUSTOMER 2:

does the same thing

CUSTOMER 3:

( a scoutmaster or something) does basically the same thing but instead the ugly man screams and runs away

This can also be run using the theme Smelliest, worst breath, etc

Three Scout Leaders

The scene is that three scout leaders are sitting around the campfire swapping yarns, after having had a little too much of the amber nectar to drink.

1st leader:

These scouts today don't know they're born. I can remember the scout hut that we had. There was a hole in the roof, which let the water in when it were raining.

2nd leader:

A roof with a hole in it, that were luxury. We had an old tarpaulin sheet slung over the rafters. Us older lads had to hang onto it during the meetings, case it blew away in the wind.

3rd leader:

Rafters, now theres a luxury. When I was a scout our hut had no roof at all, and we kept out the rain with some old bits of sack, held up with twigs.

1st leader:

Twigs, TWIGS, we couldn't get twigs. We had to get the smallest scouts to  hold the roof up with their bare hands. Those were the days.

2nd leader:

I remember when us lads used to go to camp. We loaded all our gear onto an old army truck and drove to the campsite singing songs.

3rd leader:

We had no time for singing. We used to pull all our gear along on an old cart with wooden wheels. And the wheels used to get bogged down in the mud.

1st leader:

A cart with wheels, now that’s what I call a luxury. All we had were an old second hand torn cardboard box to put all our camping gear in, and when it rained all our gear would get soaking wet, fall into the mud and then we’d get hypothermia cos our clothes were all soaking. But we were happy.

2nd leader:

Yes, those were the days.

3rd leader:

We had some nice tents though, big green six man patrol tents.

1st leader:

Six man patrol tents , luxury, our tents were so small, you had to sleep sitting up.

2nd leader:

We didn't have any tents at all in my troop. All we had was an old Tesco carrier bag, used of course. We used to curl up in a hole that we'd dug in the ground, and cover ourselves with. But we were happy.

3rd leader:

We couldn't afford a hole in the ground, we used to sleep in a puddle.

1st leader:

Yes these Scouts today don't know they're born, but if you told them all these things they would never believe you!

Glass of Water

There is a glass of water in the middle of the stage. First scout crawls across the floor crying for water. He dies dramatically shortly after beginning his crawl. The second person dies just short of the glass of water. The third person on his last bit of strength really hams up his desperation as much as he can. He reaches the water, takes out a comb, grooms his hair with the water, sighs with relief and goes off stage.

The Lawnmower

(One participant is on his hands and knees as the mower.)

Owner :

(Yanking imaginary rope, while mower sputters) This darned old mower, I can't get it going. I need some help. (Gets help from another participant.)

Helper #1:

So you just want me to yank on this rope, and get it started ? That's easy ! (Yanking rope)

Mower :

(Splutters, bobs up and down)

Helper #1:

I'm sorry. I can't seem to do it. Have you checked the gas ?

Owner :

Yes, I have. Thanks anyway. Well, let's see who else has a strong arm. (Selects another participant) What I need you to do is to give a real good yank on the starting rope and make it run.

Helper #2 :

Sure thing. (Yanks rope a couple of times.)

Mower :

(Bobs up and down, sputters, coughs)

Helper #2 :

Sorry, I can't do it either.

Owner :

What I need is someone big and strong (Selects a Leader) (Leader will probably make some comments, but let him talk and get him to pull the rope)

Mower :

(Splutters, coughs, starts to vibrate and run)

Owner :

There. All it needed was a real jerk.

St. Peter

Announcer :

Here we see St. Peter at the Pearly Gates.

Ian :

(Walks up to St. Peter) Hello, St. Peter. I see I've come to Heaven.

St. Peter :

Well, you're not in yet ! First you've got to tell me how you suffered on Earth.

Ian :

Well, I spent a week eating camp food.

St. Peter :

I'm sorry, you haven't suffered enough. (Ian exits dejectedly.)

Doug :

(Enters) Hi, I'm here to get into Heaven.

St. Peter :

Fine, fine. And how have you suffered ?

Doug :

I went on a long hike and got blisters all over my feet.

St. Peter :

Sorry. That's not enough suffering to get into Heaven. (Doug exits)

Brad :

(Enters) Can I get into Heaven ?

St. Peter :

How did you suffer ?

Brad :

I'm in (Pick a PL who can take a joke)’s patrol

St. Peter :

Well, come on in !!

Reggie and the Colonel

Characters:

Reggie, big, dumb, Bermudas, high socks, safari hat, glasses, down on nose, moustache, carries gun in front of him.

Colonel:

short, limp, monocle, no gun, just small knapsack, has cane.

Scene:

Walking in place through darkest Africa, speaking pronounced English accent.

Colonel:

(excited, jumping and pointing with cane) Reggie, look... Did you see it, Reggie ??????

Reggie:

See what??! No, no, where, where ??

Colonel:

Oh, Reggie, It was a beautiful condor, 8 foot wing span, beautiful colors.

Reggie:

No. I didn't see it.

Colonel:

Wish You'd pay closer attention. (They continue walking).

Colonel:

Did you see it, Reggie?

Reggie:

No, what?

Colonel:

A spotted Zebra...Wish you'd pay closer attention.

Colonel:

(later) Did you see it, Reggie?? Did you see it?

Reggie:

No I missed it ... what was it?

Colonel:

An ooh-aah bird.

Reggie:

Ooh-aah bird. What's a ooh aah bird??

Colonel:

An ooh-aah bird is a 2 pound bird that lays a 3 pound egg, like this: Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhh-aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh (face lights up). (continue walking).

Reggie:

Whispers to audience: Next time I'll say yes - pretend like I saw it. I'll fool him.

Colonel:

Reggie, Reggie did you see it! (excited)

Reggie:

I saw it, I saw it!

Colonel:

Then why in heaven's name did you step in it? !!!

Court

Guy brought in - "I'm innocent! I was just picking up pebbles on the beach!" Two or more come in with similar stories. last person comes on stage either a guy dressed like a girl or a girl, saying, "Hi, i'm Pebbles", in an alluring manner.

My School's on Fire

Scout wanders through area several times holding a glass of water: When asked what he is doing, he replies that the school is on fire. Leader: How do you expect to put the fire out with a tiny glass of water? "Boy answers, "this ain't water, it's petrol.

Lunch Break

Props:

Lunch bags

Announcer:

We see here a construction site. It is now lunch time, and two friends are about to eat.

Worker 1:

(Opens lunch bag and looks very disgusted) Yechhhh !! Egg salad sandwiches again !

Worker 2:

Look, if you hate them that bad, I'll swap with you. (Both pretend to eat, then exit.)

Announcer:

The next day.

Worker 1:

(Enters with Worker 2, opens lunch bag and looks very disgusted) Yechhhh !!! Egg salad sandwiches again !

Worker 2:

O.K... I'll trade with you again. (Both pretend to eat, then exit.)

Announcer:

The next day.

Worker 1:

(Enters with Worker 2, opens lunch bag and looks very disgusted) Yechhh !! Egg salad sandwiches again !

Worker 2:

(Angrily) Look, if you don't like egg salad sandwiches, why don't you ask your (wife/mom/significant other) to make something else ?

Worker 1:

My (wife/mom/significant other)?? She's got nothing to do with it. I make my own sandwiches !

A Walk in the Woods

Requires two kids (that's about it)

the two kids start walking from one side of the of the stage

first kid:

"wait, i have to go to the bathroom" stops at a bush or, if done inside, stops at a pretend bush, turning his back to the audience, after a few seconds he yells out, "ah!"

second kid:

"what is it?"

first kid:

"a snake bit me"

second kid:

"where did it bite you?"

first kid:

"uh, lets say....where the sun don't shine"

second kid:

"uh, ok, i'll call the hospital on my cell phone", pretends to dial "uh, yeah, my friend was bitten by a snake, what should i do? (waits a if listening to reply) just suck the blood form where it bit him? ok, i'll do that" hangs up the phone and walk toward the first kid

first kid:

"what'd they say!?!"

second kid:

"they said......your gonna die"

Balloon Orchestra

The players in the orchestra each hold a balloon. They blow up their balloons in unison, then let out the air in a squeak at a time to the rhythm of some easily recognized rhythm such as "Blue Danube" or "Jingle Bells". To end the skit all fill their balloons with air and let go at the directors signal.

Camp Coffee

You need a large dixie or billy in the centre of the stage and four scouts.

1st scout

(Walks to billy 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 billy 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 billy carrying his mug. He dips his mug in and brings it up to his lips for a drink. )

" THIS CAMP CHOCOLATE IS GETTING WORSE! "

4th scout

(Walks to billy, 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!"

Listen at the Wall

One person goes along a wall listening and listening. Others come along and ask him what he is doing. He says dramatically, "Listen," and the others do. One of them says, "I don't hear anything", in a disgusted voice. "LISTEN", he says more dramatically and they listen some more. Again someone says, "I don't hear anything." The original listener says, "You know," with a faraway look, "its been like that all day."

Raisins

1st Scout comes out:

Gets down on all fours, pretending to be a table.

2nd Scout comes out:

looks at the table and declares;

"Ahh, a fly, I think I'll pull it's wings off" Proceeds to pick it up, pluck the wings, put it back on the table, and walks off.

3nd Scout comes out:

looks at the fly on the table and says; "Oh, a fly with no wings, I think I'll pull it's legs off", With great precision and animation, picks up the fly, removes it's legs, and puts it back and walks off.

4rd Scout comes out:

looks at the fly and announces; "Say, a fly with no wings and no legs, I think I'll pull it's head off." Then proceeds as the other Scout before him.

Last Scout comes out:

looks at the table, then carefully inspects the object with out picking it up and says very quickly

"A raisin !" and quickly picks it up and puts it in his mouth

The Bell Ringer

Props: Coat with football or wadded clothing under it for the Hunchback, hat or nightstick for Gendarme.

Announcer:

The Hunchback of Notre Dame has decided to retire, and has place an ad in the Paris Times for someone to come and learn how to ring the bells.

Effects:

(Knock, knock, knock)

Hunchback:

(Gravely voice) Oh, somebody must be here about my job. I'll go down and see. (Goes 'round and 'round the campfire, as if going down the bell tower, bent over due to hunch.)

Effects:

(Knock, knock, knock)

Hunchback:

(Angrily) I'm coming, I'm coming. There's a lot of stairs here. (Arrives at and opens the door.)

Hunchback:

Yeah ! What do you want ?

Applicant:

I'm here about the bell ringer's job.

Hunchback:

All right ! Come on up and I'll see if you can do the job. (Begins to go up (the other way around) followed by the applicant.)

Applicant:

Boy, the ceiling is not very high here, is it ?

Hunchback:

Listen, you go up and down these stairs 20 times a day for 45 years and you just learn to stay bent over. Hey, did you close that door, didn't you ?

Applicant:

I don't know. I don't remember.

Hunchback:

Well, we gotta go down and keep it locked, can't run up the church's fuel bill. (Both turn around and go back.)

Hunchback:

That's the first thing you gotta learn. Keep the door closed. Up and down these stairs, that's the hard part. (Arriving at door) O.K., so now you're here, close the door.

Applicant:

(Closes door) How are the benefits in this job ?

Hunchback:

(Both going back up) Well, it has it's ups and downs. The Church board will buy you ear plugs every six months and a new bottle of bell