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LEADERSHIP TRAILS

The Badenite Bargain
Scouting

As you continue on your journey, you receive an urgent message from Scouts BSA HQ informing you that your mission is in danger. To continue, you must meet with a representative of the Gilwellians, an ancient race of extraterrestrials, who are the sole holders of Badenite, a material you must obtain in order to continue your mission.

When you arrive at the base camp of the Gilwellians, you see that your rival patrol is also there and is looking to bargain with the Gilwellians for possession of the Badenite. Even though you hate to do it, you walk over to your rival patrol leader to try to convince them of the importance of your mission.

Table of Contents

  1. Goal
  2. Purpose
  3. Materials
  4. Setup
  5. Running the Game
  6. Debrief

Goal

Negotiate for Badenite, getting the resources you need to succeed.

Goal

Negotiate for Badenite, getting the resources you need to succeed.

Purpose

Practice skills of negotiation, compromise, and listening.

Materials

Instruction Cards for negotiation partners

Setup

Divide the group into pairs, giving each side of the pair a set of negotiation instructions.

Purpose

Practice skills of negotiation, compromise, and listening.

Materials

Instruction Cards for negotiation partners

Setup

Divide the group into pairs, giving each side of the pair a set of negotiation instructions.

Table of Contents

  1. Goal
  2. Purpose
  3. Materials
  4. Setup
  5. Running the Game
  6. Debrief

Running the game

The objective of this game is to negotiate for Badenite, a precious material that you must have to continue your journey. This game requires a facilitator, so the group should choose one to conduct the activity. We suggest the most senior scout, a scout in a leadership role, or an adult if possible.

  • Scouts should be given an instructional card informing them of their negotiation role and important information for them to know as they conduct the negotiation. 
  • The facilitator says: I am the owner of all the Badenite in the world, which is a precious energy source found only on my home planet of Gilwell. After you read about your roles, spend about 6 to 10 minutes meeting with the other representative and decide on a course of action. I am strictly interested in making a profit and will sell my Badenite to the highest bidder. Because my planet is alien to yours, there is no way that any outside governments or organizations can assist you in obtaining the Badenite from me. Each pair of negotiators can assume that there are no other interested parties in the Badenite.

After you have reached a decision, pick a spokesperson who will tell me:

  • What do you plan to do?
  • If you want to buy the Badenite, what price will you offer?
  • To whom and how will the Badenite be delivered?
  • The facilitator should stop the exercise when approximately half the groups have come to a decision.

Debrief

The following debrief questions are meant to give you an opportunity to discuss with your patrol mates and reflect on the game. You can have one leader ask the discussion questions or you could take turns asking the questions, making sure everyone’s voice is heard.

This exercise asks scouts to consider how listening, honesty, collaboration, and negotiation work together.

  • If your group did not come to a decision, why not? What information did you share with the other party? What information did you not share?
  • Did you trust each other?
  • Would you work with your negotiation partner again? Why?
  • How creative/complex was your solution? Why?
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Other Scouting Trail Activities
Powellonium Passage
Zen Counting
Everybody Up
The Badenite Bargin
Diminishing Load
Think About It