This makes use of two semaphores - flags - but sticks, or just one's arms work quite well. The signaller stands with feet slightly apart and sends the message [read to him one letter at a time by an assistant] The reader looks in the direction of the signaller, and reads the signals one letter at a time, while an assistant writes them down.

And here is a message for you

On a piece of paper draw two grids and then write the alphabet, two letters at a time in the spaces, as follows:

A very old code used by Scouts, probably devised by B-P himself is a simple code that is very hard to crack unless one knows the pattern. On a 5 x 5 grid, write a five letter word in the top spaces, e.g. SCOUT. (You may also use any size word simply write the letters in the spaces.) Then Write the rest of the alphabet, omitting the ones already used, to fill the rest of the grid, with I and J written in the same square. To send a message first write it out and divide into two letter groups. If a group ends up in two similar letters, insert another letter such as X. Now to code the message, examine where each set of two letters is in the grid and write the two letters that form the opposite corners .. if the letters are in the same row, take the letters below .. if they are in the same columns, take the letters next to them .. It is easier to do than to explain .. So, you and your buddy decide upon a Key word to start the code and you can change it every time around. When the message is received the recipient just follows the opposite pattern, if the two letters are on the corners of a rectangle, they use the opposite ones, etc.

Write your message in a block, say four or five letters wide, and as long as it takes. Then send the message by writing the letters column by column. Agree with your recipient on the size of the grid and it should be fun.

H E R E I S A S I M P L E M E S S A G E T O B E S E N T

The message is written, column by column and sent as follows: HIIESTSESMMAOERAPEGBNESLSEET

This is the old time substitution of a letter with another. One can use a reverse alphabet, or half of the alphabet reversed, or select which letters substitute for which. Have fun.

This excites the younger ones most. All that is needed is lemon juice, or milk. Writing on a white paper one can see the writing while it is still wet. Then it disappears. To decipher it, simple warm the paper and voila the writing appears!!