Little Cabers?

[piperdbh]

I did this very thing for my family reunion back in July. I took a 6-foot 2X2, sanded smooth, and painted one end (to keep track of whether it had flipped when thrown). It's light, long enough, and durable enough for kids to abuse.
For the hammer throw, I bought 6" styrofoam balls and stuck 18-inch long 3/4dowels into them to resemble an oversized lollipop. The kids threw these for distance, and there were no worries about hammer claws or mashing toes. If you use this idea, make sure you glue the dowels into the balls. Otherwise they'll come apart when the kids throw them. I learned that the hard way.
If the weather is warm enough, the kids will enjoy a Wellie Toss. Take a rubber boot and fill it halfway with water (or more if they can handle it), then have the kids throw it for distance. At my reunion, the adults threw them. The men's winner was 50 feet even, and the women's was 49 feet and a few inches.
Something I didn't think of in time was how to score the caber toss. Alan H. or some of the other athletes here can tell you how the points work. I went with whoever was closest to 12:00, then next closest and so on. We gave 1st, 2nd and 3rd place prizes, and each kid got a participation medal.

I hope this helps.

[Smayniac]

At the Monterey games last month they used several lengths of 4x4 for cabers, ranging from 4-6 feet in length. They used an actual stone, we took a two and a half pounder to Alan H's throw party on Sunday and the kids had a great time with it.
Bob

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

a small 4 inch (100mm) round fence post from any diy store or sawmill should work for you and you could have a few at various lengths and weights for kids at different sizes ,

you may have to sand and tape up the end to avoid splinters but would look authentic enough for the kids and shouldn't be too heavy

probably the best suggestion so far-- in the USA/Canada these are sometimes referred to as "peeler poles/posts" and you can pick 'em up for a couple of bucks at your local Lowes, garden center, or Home Depot.

[GMan]

probably the best suggestion so far-- in the USA/Canada these are sometimes referred to as "peeler poles/posts" and you can pick 'em up for a couple of bucks at your local Lowes, garden center, or Home Depot.

I too like that idea.

[Alan H]

a 6-7 foot long 4 x 4 (no pressure treated) which you have sanded carefully (no splinters) will do nicely.

Seriously, go to town on the bottom of the thing REALLY round it off, I mean so the bottom is half a sphere, like if you cut a softball in half and glu'ed it on there. Don't just sort of round off the corners.

Stones? Get some 4-5 pound river stones.

Weight for distance and weight over the bar..

Get one long galvanized eye bolt, like this:


Welded ones are stronger but if you get a 3/8th inch one, with a couple of washers and nuts, it'll be strong enough.

thread a couple of washers onto the eye bolt, at different levels. Secure them in place with some nuts.

Now mix up some concrete, like quickcrete and pour it in a coffee can. If you use a big coffee can you'll get about a 10-11 pound weight. If you use a small can you'll get about 8 pounds. I'd use the smaller can, or you can make two weights..one for smaller kids one for bigger kids.. You can leave the can on the outside but it'll get beat up as the kits throw the weight. Better is to line the coffee can with wax paper and cast the weight inside that. You'll be able to get the can off.

Shove the eye bolt into the wet concrete so that just the eye sticks up above the level of the concrete. Let it set overnight.

Go down to Orchard Supply or Lowes or Home Depot hardware and buy a 4-inch galvanized ring from the hardware department. Most hardware stores sell them. Get a really big quick-link, too. You'll need a BIG one so that it opens up big enough to let the galvanized ring in..



Now, assemble. Use the quick link to connect the eye bolt/concrete to the round handle. VOILA! You now have a weight to throw for distance, or to throw over the bar.

How to make a bar that the kids can throw over?

A one long pole...wood? PVC plastic plumbing pipe?

two 8 foot or 10 foot ladders. That was easy, huh?

[CDNSushi]

On the surface it looks like a really great idea and I applaud you for having the creativity and desire to see this through.

On the other hand, I see big, huge, red, flashing, neon warning lights going off in my head, thinking: danger! I would be super-careful in choosing a "caber" especially for the 6-10 set. I agree that either a cardboard tube or broomstick would be most appropriate (as opposed to a 4x4 or similar). If a child lost control of that 6-foot 4x4, he could hit himself with it trying to toss it or injure another child. It could be a lawsuit waiting to happen (worst case scenario) or at the very least, an unpleasant ride to the emergency to get some stitches.

Again, I don't want to rain on what seems to be a really good idea, but in today's litigious society, I'd make sure that everything were SAFE, and even then it might not be a bad idea to get a signed waiver from the parents.

[EagleJCS]

I'm surprised no one's suggested landscaping timbers. Cut to various lengths from 4' for the younger (Tiger) Cubs to 6' for the Webelos (and maybe have one or two full-length for the parents to try out).

[Alan H]

a REAL caber is usually tapered. Dimensional lumber is not, it's straight. While it's harder to pick a tapered stick (you pick them up with the little end in your hands and the big end, up) if you do succeed in picking it and pulling it, a tapered stick is much easier to turn.

So these ersatz cabers for the kids are nothing like the real ones....they won't know, of course.

[Stratherrick]

Kids tossing cabers, try 3.38 on this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw6Db-rqcDE

Slainte

Bruce

[SteveB]

In a small persons event locally the Caber was 4" plastic plumbing pipe with an end cap for the "wide" end and the whole 6' length wrapped in 1/2 inch insulating foam wrap firmly glued to the pipe. One young lad lost control of the Caber and went down with the Caber landing on him with zero injury. During the event all others than the one competitor are kept a considerable distance from the activity. The Hammer Toss was styrofoam balls glued to the ends of wrapping paper tubes. The sheaf toss was a small bundle of rags. A piece of closet pole and two 12' step ladders took care of the height events. We had obtained youth size pitchforks from the local hardware store. Dumbell weights were used for the weights for distance throw. (Large eye bolt through the centre, a short chain and a snow shovel D-handle.)

All were supervised by a core of adult safety people, with student leaders running and scoring the events. Everyone had fun and the event will recur.