A valuable resource for staying prepared Scoutlists creates custom camping checklists based on season, activity and climate. The resulting list can be printed and/or emailed and is linked to a wealth of gear recommendations.
Kevin Callan is the author of several books and guides about canoeing and camping. The folks at paddling.net have a collection of his articles that will appeal to canoeist's and campers alike.
From "Storm Proofing Your Tent"
- First things first, you need a good tent. A three-season with minimum waterproof rating of 600 mm for the flysheet and 1000 mm for the floor.
- The more ventilation systems the tent has the better it will keep condensation out and your sleeping bag dry.
- Slab on generous amount of seam sealer on a new tent, prior to your trip.
- A tent's weakest link is the door's zipper. Position the tent door away from the prevailing winds to reduce the chance of water seepage.
- Place a plastic tarp inside on the tent floor, not outside. Having it outside will just help collect the water. When the water begins to soak through, and it eventually will, having the tarp inside guarantees a protective layer between your sleeping pad and the soggy tent floor.
- Nylon guy lines loosen when wet. Attach shock cord loops to each one. This will guarantee they keep taunt and absorb any stress placed on the tent fly when the gale force winds begin to howl.
- Sew on extra stake loops to the sides of the tent. Most tents only come with three of four; that's not enough to stop the fly from flapping in the wind.
- Tie two three foot lengths of parachute cord at the front and back of the tent, attached to the poles and not the fabric. Double stake each one.
- When packing up, stuff your tent into its storage bag rather then rolling it. Not only is it less harsh on the fabric, it also reduces the bulk in your pack.
- The moment you get home pitch the tent in your backyard to properly dry it out. The moment mold and mildew set in, your tent will never hold up against wind and rain again.
Kevin Callan's books at Amazon
I lead an annual high adventure trip to Algonquin Provincial Park. I maintain a CPR, safety afloat and safe swim certification. I note that this year(2008):
“Philmont requires that a least one person, preferably two, (either an advisor or a youth participant) in each crew be currently certified in American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid or the equivalent* and CPR from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross or the equivalent. The American Red Cross Wilderness First Aid is a sixteen-hour course designed to help in situations when help is not readily available. Several hours may be required for Philmont staff to reach a remote backcountry location after a message is delivered to the nearest staffed camp. First aid and CPR training will result in proper and prompt attention being given to injuries and/or illnesses. You must present current certification cards upon check in to verify this requirement.” (Link to PDF statement)
Some specifics of the course can be found at the Transylvania County Red Cross website.(In case, like me, you did a double take at this understand that Transylvania County is in North Carolina, not the abode of Vlad the Imapler.) The course includes assessment and urgent first aid techniques certification has an expiration of 3 years and serves as a Basic First Aid certification.
While I have seen no statements that require Troop-led trips to have a similar certification I plan to take the training myself and encourage others to do so.
I have always been cautious (my Scouts would say overly so) in planning and leading these outings. Knowing that help is at least several hours or more away the first defense is taking all reasonable precautions against injury or illness, the next is knowing what to do if they occur.
Associated posts at Scoutmaster
Bear Facts
Risk Management
Critical Judgment - Canoe Accidents
Safe Swim Defense and Safety Afloat
The most common cliché about scouting is a toss-up between helping old ladies across the street and rubbing two sticks together to make a fire. Making fire with a bow drill is an obtainable skill for those who are willing to devote themselves to a little study, finding the proper materials and patient practice.
You will find no better advice and direction than that featured at the Wildwood Survival website. The site features illustrated articles on a variety of survival techniques - a fine resource.
Start with the three detailed articles by Peter Moc covering the construction and use of the bow-drill:
Related posts on Scoutmaster
The Fire Within
"...they watched with great interest as some of the boys tried to light a fire by friction using the ancient bow and drill."
Fire by Friction
Advice from 'World Champion Fire Starter' Eagle Scout Dudley Winn Smith.
Making & Using a Fire-by-Friction Set
... the following tips should make it easier for you, especially if you believe you can build a fire by friction set.
That was the challenge for WCNC reporter Tony Burbeck. Park Rangers and Gaston County’s Search and Rescue Team watched the test from afar. He was by himself, with only a daypack and a video camera to document the experience. It was as close to the real thing as we could possibly get.
GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- A day of hiking on Crowder’s Mountain. You forget how early it gets dark and you get lost. Rescue workers say they see that scenario all the time. Could you survive?
Darren Ledford with Gaston County’s Emergency Medical Services was just one of the crew members who helped WCNC orchestrate the shoot.
“We wanted to make it as realistic as a hike would be out on the mountain. We wanted him to build up and use his energy up and to sweat a little bit, just like a real hiker would do,” he said.
And just like a real hiker, he ran out of daylight.
“It was just like what would happen in real life,” said Ledford. “He was afraid to leave his base camp because he was afraid he couldn’t get back to it.”
Read and watch at WCNC.com
The HUG-A-TREE and SURVIVE Program was started in San Diego, California after a search for a nine-year old boy who died in the local mountains. A group of those searchers put together an assembly program for children on how not to get lost, how to stay comfortable if they do get lost, and how to be spotted and found.
The basic instructions are
1. Hug a tree once you know you are lost. One of the greatest fears a person of any age can have is of being alone. Hugging a tree or other stationary object and even talking to it calms the child down, and prevents panic. By staying in one place, the child is found far more quickly, and can't be injured in a fall.
2. Always carry a trash bag and whistle on a picnic, hike, or camping trip. By making a hole in the side of the bag for the face, and putting it on over the head, it will keep the child dry and warm. The whistle is louder than the childs voice and takes less energy to use.
3. My parents won't be angry at me. Time and again children have avoided searchers because they were ashamed of getting lost, and afraid of punishment.
Anyone can get lost, adult or child. If they know a happy reunion, filled with love is waiting, they will be less frightened, less prone to panic, and work hard to be found.
4. Make Yourself Big. From helicopters, people are hard to see when they are standing up, when they are in a group of trees, or wearing dark and drab clothing. Find your tree to hug near a small clearing if possible.
Wear bright colored clothes when you go near the woods or desert. Lie down when the helicopter flies over. If it is cool and you are rested, make crosses or SOS using broken shrubbery, rocks, or by dragging your foot in the dirt.
5. There are no animals out there that want to hurt you. If you hear a noise at night, yell at it or blow your whistle. If it is an animal it will run away to protect itself. If it is a searcher, you will be found. Fears of the dark and of lions and tigers and bears are a big factor in panicking children into running. They need strong reassurance to stay put and be safe.
6. You have hundreds of friends looking for you. We have children in the local area of a search tell us, "My parents would never spend the money to search for me with all these people". Search personnel are mainly volunteers who work with other professionals who charge nothing and do it because they care. Many children who are lost don't realize that if they sit down and stay put, one of the many searchers will find them. Some are afraid of strangers and people in uniform, and don't respond to yells. Many have actually hidden from searchers they knew were looking for them.
More information and a down-loadable coloring book at Hug-A-Tree
Not to be confused with the Pacific Crest Trail, the Pacific Northwest Trail runs for nearly 1,200 miles from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean. Two-Heel Drive reader and blogger Greg Seitz interviewed Sam Haraldson who hiked all those miles over two months this past summer.
Full post here
Autumn's crisp temperatures, fall colors and clear nights make for great camping. Every Scoutmaster should know the answer to the question "why do leaves change color?". Here's some information from the United States Department of Agriculture:
During the growing season, most tree leaves are green because they are full of chlorophyll. Plants use chlorophyll to capture sunlight for photosynthesis, the process that enables them to manufacture their own food. The amount of chlorophyll is so high during the summer that the green color masks all other pigments present in the leaf. As the days grow shorter in the fall, chlorophyll production slows down and eventually stops. The carotenoids and anthocyanins that are present in the leaf then become visible.
More information available at the USDA website
Here's an account of the latest Bear-Scout encounter in my part of the world-
From the Wilkes Barre Times Leader
By Tom Venesky
A Boy Scout from
the Lehigh Valley area suffered three puncture wounds Saturday by a
bear that entered his tent at Hickory Run State Park. It’s the second
time this summer a bear has harassed a human in a White Haven area
campground.
Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Conservation Officer Fred Merluzzi said the bear was attracted by candy bars that were left inside the tent. The 12-year-old scout was taken to the hospital after the attack and released, Merluzzi said.
The incident occurred at approximately 9:30 p.m. in the park’s organized tent camping area while the scout and two others slept in the tent. The bear tore the rear corner of the tent and grabbed the scout by the left front pocket of his jeans, according to Merluzzi. He said several smaller size Snickers bars were found at the scene.
A scoutmaster ran to the scene after he heard the three scouts screaming and saw the eyes of a bear in the woods, Merluzzi said, but couldn’t estimate its size. The Game Commission placed several live traps in the area and one bear – a 253-pound male, was trapped and relocated on Wednesday.
From Living and Hiking In Bear Country PDF fact sheet from the Pennsylvania Game Commission
Camping and hiking in bear country
Although black bears are generally shy and avoid contact with humans, it’s important to remember that bears must be respected for their size and strength. Do not deliberately approach a bear or try to become chummy with
one, especially one that appears unafraid of you.
Be smart: Keep your distance. If you camp or hike in bear country, do everything you can to prevent close encounters and conflicts with bears. Giving a bear food will encourage it to approach other, unsuspecting people, which could then lead to an unpleasant or possibly dangerous encounter, and could lead to the bear having to be destroyed. In essence, never reward a bear for associating with people. It’s what’s best for you, the next person and the bear.
When afield in Penn’s Woods:
1. Keep your camp clean and odor free. Wipe tables and clean eating utensils thoroughly after every meal. Burn all grease off grills and camp stoves.
2. Store your food in safe or bear-proof places, in your car trunk, for example, or suspended from a tree branch. Never have food in your tent.
3. Dispose of garbage properly. Use the camp receptacles if provided, or store trash in your vehicle. Pack out your garbage if you must, but never leave your garbage behind.
4. If you hike at dawn or dusk, or where hearing or visibility is impaired (roar of fast moving water, thick vegetation), reduce your chances of surprising a bear by talking or making noise.
Handling Bear Encounters
If you encounter a bear:
Stay calm.
If you see a bear and it hasn't seen you, leave the area calmly. Talk or make noise while moving away to help it discover your presence. Choose a route that will not intersect with the bear if it is moving.
Get back.
If you have surprised a bear, slowly back away while talking softly. Face the bear, but avoid direct eye contact. Do not turn and run; rapid movement may be perceived as danger to a bear that is already feeling threatened. Avoid blocking the bear's only escape route and try to move away from any cubs you see or hear.
Don't try to climb a tree.
A female bear may falsely interpret this as an attempt to get at her cubs, even though the cubs may be in a different tree.
Pay attention.
If
a bear is displaying signs of nervousness — pacing, swinging its head,
popping its jaws — about your presence, leave the area. Some bears may bluff charge to within a few feet. If this occurs, stand your ground, wave your arms wildly and shout at the bear. Turning and running could elicit a chase, and you can't outrun a bear.
Fight back.
If
a bear attacks, fight back as you leave the area. Black bears have been
driven away with rocks, sticks, binoculars, car keys and even bare
hands.
Related Posts on Scoutmaster:
From the USSSP:
Do you think that you can build a fire using a fire by friction set made by yourself? If you answered YES to the this question, you are already 50% done with the building of your fire by friction. It is a fun challenge to any scout and the following tips should make it easier for you, especially if you believe you can build a fire by friction set.
Looks like a great set of instructions. From experience it is a challenge, but great fun.
Associated Posts on Scoutmaster
The Fire Within
"...they watched with great interest as some of the boys tried to light a fire by friction using the ancient bow and drill."
Fire by Friction
Advice from 'World Champion Fire Starter' Eagle Scout Dudley Winn Smith.
Making fire with a Bow Drill at Wildwood Survival
Making fire with a bow drill is an obtainable skill for those who are
willing to devote themselves to a little study, finding the proper
materials and patient practice.
Recent Comments