Enthrall your Cub Scouts with tricks and puzzles from the updated Cub Scout Magic Book

Cub Scouts love magic, but sometimes finding a simple magic trick for your Cub Scout to try can be a little tricky (pun intended!).

With the updated Cub Scout Magic Book, you can teach your Cub Scouts many age-appropriate magic tricks in a fun, easy way. The book can quickly become your den or pack’s go-to guide for all things fun and magic. You can find it at the Scout Shop here for $12.99.

Magic in Cub Scouting

Scouts have always loved sleight of hand. Scouting magazine shared handkerchief tricks in its June 1935 issue; the BSA supply service debuted Cub Scout magic and puzzle kits in 1948, and the Cub Scout Magic Book by Francis J. Rigney was first published in 1960. Magic has also appeared in Cub Scout elective requirements for decades. Today, it’s a Tiger elective adventure: Curiosity, Intrigue and Magical Mysteries.

In the updated Cub Scout Magic Book, you can discover tricks — from coin tricks to mind-reading — that you or your Cub Scouts can perform at your next pack meeting, den meeting or outing. If you feel like your Cub Scouts might enjoy and be comfortable on stage, you can help them plan a magic show.

Inside the book

The Cub Scout Magic Book features dozens of tricks, each with easy-to-follow instructions. No need to worry about buying expensive props or not being able to find the items you need; most of the tricks and puzzles featured require inexpensive items, like paper clips, pencils and paper drinking cups. Here’s one example:

The Cup Moving Magic Trick

Place six paper cups in a row on the table. Every second cup is to be upside down as shown. Two cups that are side by side are to be moved at a time. Only three of these double moves are to be made, and when this has been done, the cups that are turned the same way are to be together in the row. Give each of your friends a chance to try to make the moves before you do the trick!

 

When you have learned the moves, make them quickly so that your friends will find it hard to follow what you are doing. If asked to do the trick a second time, do it in reverse. Move 2 and 3 to the left of 1, 5 and 6 between 1 and 4, and then 6 and 4 to the left of 2. Leave space at the left side of the row for these reverse moves.