This Activity is meant for Boy Scouts.
Decide for yourself if it is appropriate for your younger scouts or not.

6 foot rope for each scout

Scouts assemble at starting line in patrols.
On 'GO' signal, each scout ties a bowline around his waist.
The patrol leader ties another bowline in the other end of his rope.
All scouts in his patrol tie their ropes to his bowline loop using two half hitches.
When connected, they then run around a marker and back.
All knots should be judged and time added for incorrect knots and more time for knots that have come undone.
Patrol with fastest time wins.

---

Alternate:
Scouts line up single file at start line with patrol leader at the end of the line.
On 'GO', all scouts tie a bowline around the waist of the scout in front of them.
When their knot is done, they hold the end of the rope with one hand and raise the other.
When the patrol leader sees all the hands up, he tells his patrol to GO.
They run around the marker and back.
First patrol back with correct knots and without dropping a rope, wins.
(You may give a time penalty for dropping a rope instead of elimination.)