A Scout vacation doesn’t fit most people’s definition of a ‘vacation’. We were out walking uptown at our hometown art stroll last night talking to our friends (most of them present or past Scouts and Scouters). We chatted about the usual things; how the kids are doing, vacations, the weather. One couple was headed off on a Mediterranean cruise, some of our friends follow the annual migration to Disney world as reliably as the Canadian geese....
It’s a little difficult to get ultralight backpacking explained in a simple, straightforward way. Thankfully there is no International Convention of Backpacking Standards and Terminology. We are left to our own devices to individually define “Lightweight” and “Ultralight” backpacking and argue endlessly over our definitions with other zealous backpackers (that’s half the fun of it all, right?) Philip Werner at Sectionhiker.com prepared the slideshow below as a concise introduction to the idea of lightening your pack....
‘Bannock” is a name for quick flat bread that originated in Scotland and was adopted by most Native Americans, voyagers, mountain men and pioneers. With a minimum of fuss and bit of practice anyone can bake a bannock loaf in a frying pan or wrapped around a stick. Bannock is simple, cheap and always welcomed after along day of paddling or hiking. Bannock Base (this recipe can be increased, just keep the proportions right....
If you are headed out into the wild and run into a real gully washing, frog-strangling rainstorm here’s ten more tips for camping in the rain that should help you get through the storm in style (the first ten tips are here.) 1. Poncho on a stick Umbrellas are under-rated camping accessories. When conditions are right I much prefer an umbrella to rain gear. A big, sturdy, golf umbrella for car camping and a lightweight collapsible model for hiking....
Any good outdoorsman knows how to make a fire in the rain. Once you’ve mastered the skill of building fires when the weather is dry you’ll want to hone your skills for starting a fire when the weather goes bad. The infographic explains a few strategies for getting a fire going when you have nothing but a match and no fire starters. I always carry fire starters but I won’t use them unless it’s absolutely necessary, I’ll save them for an emergency or when it’s otherwise impossible to light a fire without them....
Scout camp has a number of benefits that we sometimes miss! For Better or For Worse Comic Strip, July 06, 2013 on GoComics.com.
What are Scouting Skills? Can you throw some things in a pack, step off the road into the woods and live comfortably for a few days without getting lost? Can you build a fire, lash a tripod together, set up a shelter, cook your food, stay warm and dry and leave no trace of your presence when you leave? If the answer is yes then you possess what I would call some basic ‘Scouting Skills’....
I’ve spent some time reviewing the new Outdoor Ethics materials published by the BSA. Outdoor ethics have always been a part of Scouting. While the basic ethical imperatives have remained constant, our application and interpretation of them has changed and evolved over time. One constant is the outdoor code: As an American, I will do my best to— Be clean in my outdoor manners. Be careful with fire. Be considerate in the outdoors....
Here’s a Scouter’s summer camp schedule: Time Scouts Scouters [6:45] AM Awakened by the SPL and PL’s. Flag is raised and all Scouts go to polar bear swim as a group. I used to get up and go to Polar Bear swim years ago (like 15 or so) but I think it’s important for the Scouts to do this on their own. 7;15 AM Scouts return from polar bear swim, get changed and begin cleaning up the campsite....
Taking Scouts caving is a popular, adventurous and exciting activity, but it’s not something to approach casually. The National Speleological Society, A volunteer organization dedicated to the study, exploration, and conservation of caves has made it clear that untrained, unprepared cave explorers endanger themselves and cause irreversible damage to fragile cave environments. Access to wild caves is appropriately limited, but there are commercial caves that offer adventurous ‘wet’ tours in addition to their more tame walkthroughs....
Summer camp advice for Scouters from a former camp director. When I was a camp director the Scouts were never really a significant challenge. My biggest challenges often came from the ‘adult’ leaders who accompany the Scouts to camp. Don’t over-do it and make yourself into a time bomb. When hot tired, hungry, and thirsty get cool, rested, fed, and hydrated. I tend to be cranky if I don’t look after myself (years of observation prove that many of my fellow leaders may share the same problem)....
The folks at Paddling Light have published this decision tree for canoeists and kayakers faced with the eternal question; “is this the perfect campsite or should we look for another one?”. If you have no idea what this is all about you haven’t been in a canoe trying to decide if it’s time to find a campsite, if the one just ahead may be better, or if you should settle for the one you are looking at now, eh?...
Here’s Arlen Ward and I discussing Kandersteg International Scout Center on the most recent ScoutCircle. I’ll be returning there next Summer and I encourage you to look into the possibility of taking your Scouts. If you are interested in arranging a trip I’d be happy to help. Kandersteg is a picture postcard town in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland that is home to Kandersteg International Scout Center (KISC)....
Published by Scouts UK with a forward by Bear Grylls The Outdoor Adventure Manual is packed with practical Scout skill tutorials ; tents and camping, fire, food and cooking, tools and gadgets, knots and lashings, navigation, first aid and survival, and more. Skills are explained step-by-step with photos and illustrations that really bring them to life. I’ve read a number of ‘how-to’ books that I suspected were written by people who had not actually tried out what they were describing....
Mike Clelland is the author and illustrator of Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips, an excellent guide to changing the way you experience the outdoors. (Mike has a great blog too) In the video above Celland touches on the philosophical and practical aspects of ultra lightweight backpacking, and this ought to get you started thinking about camping in general. If I had to identify with a camping philosophy I’d say that my Scouts are hybrid campers, we backpack, car camp, canoe camp and cabin camp; it’s all good....
If you are headed off to camp this summer it’s likely you will be working with one or more homesick Scouts. Understanding, preventing and treating homesickness ought to be approached like administering first aid for any other illness or injury. Homesickness is not imaginary, it’s not an indication of weakness or lack of character, it’s not a symptom of bad parenting or bad leadership and, thankfully, it’s reasonably easy to prevent....
The constrictor knot is a way of making a secure, temporary or semi-permanent binding (it’s a good temporary whipping for a rope, closing a bag, or holding a punch of poles together.) A close cousin of the clove hitch the constrictor knot adds an additional crossing of the ends under the full wrap. It’s easy to learn with a little practice. Once drawn up tight the constrictor knot jams and may have to be cut to release it....
There are many ways to start a fire, and every experienced camper will have their own favorites, but here’s my list of top ten fire starters: Good strike-anywhere matches are increasingly difficult to find. I stock up on my favorite brand (Redbird from Eddy Match in Ontario) when we are in Canada for our canoe trips. Here’s another brand at Amazon with good reviews if you have trouble finding them elsewhere....
This composite of 70 exposures shows the trail of the ISS passing through the night sky in Germany. (Till Credner via NASA) Satellite spotting is great fun! With a little preparation you can hunt for satellites on your next camping trip. Whenever our Scouts are looking at constellations and finding the north star someone usually thinks they may have glimpsed a satellite passing overhead. On a dark, clear night satellites reflect sunlight back to us and become visible....
If you are travelling in bear country follow these ten ways to avoid bears: Keep your cooking areas and sleeping areas separate (100 yards or so is the rule of thumb). Hang food and items with strong odors (ie, toothpaste, bug repellent, soap, etc.) at least 10 ft above the ground or use airtight, bear-proof containers. Don’t wear clothing with cooking or food odors to bed. Be clean – wash dishes, and people in the cooking area well away from the sleeping area....