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Beckerhead Chat
- Thread starter DerekH
- Start date
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- Joined
- Nov 18, 2010
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- 6,118
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2010
- Messages
- 6,118
Well this weekend saw a lot of firsts for me. Unfortunately no pics, I forgot the camera in my haste to get there and get setup. Anyways, I helped teach the Wilderness Survival merit badge at our districts Spring Camporee. We taught the entirety of the merit badge, and had a lot of fun. The boys had one prerequisite, and that was to put together a survival kit. This was very important, as there was very little in the way of natural materials we had available for the shelter building portion of the badge. Everyone had one together, and was able to use it with the natural materials to build a shelter that kept them warm all night, and then dry during a brief but powerful downpour this morning.
Per the merit badge requirements, they had to each show 3 different ways to start a fire, which they all loved. A ferro blank and the "super scraper" from firesteel dot com I had purchased for the kid ended up being a big favorite due to ease of use. I was very pleased with how well they learned the different methods.
Next up they had to partake in 3 different ways to purify water, which went very well. We had a nice creek that was full of clear, moving water that we were able to use. Boiling was the big hit there, which isn't a surprise because it gave them another chance to play with fire.
Ground to air signals were covered, as well as some basic theory behind surviving in the wilderness and how to keep your cool.
Finally they got to build their shelters, all of whom did very well for what they had available. Almost all were a lean-to style of shelter, with a few exceptions being a four-walled building and a very low and flat shelter in the middle of a thicket. Thought we had lost that one he had it so well hidden. Because there was a lack of enough materials, the boys were allowed to use the contents of their survival kits, which really helped them out.
It was also the first time I had hung and slept in my hammock, and I was very surprised at how well it turned out, especially given that the trees I used were well over twenty feet apart. I stayed a bit too warm though, probably due to paranoia on my part and wearing a waffle top and bottom, as well as using my self inflating sleeping pad and a sleeping bag with fleece liner. Still though, the exposed parts of me stayed a good temp, even when it reached 52°.
Also, in a fit of bushcraftiness, I decided to take a stab at a bow and drill setup, using some old dead locust (or so I was told). It worked, I had an ember in about, oh, maybe two minutes, but unfortunately the piece of bark I used to catch it was curved, caught on a piece of grass, and flung the thing over my shoulder. At this point, having proven the concept (and impressing one of our older scouts) I took it down to our fire area to show the boys, where I handed it over to a primitive skills expert (or so I was told), and then he proceeded to destroy it, telling me he used a different method. I wasn't too happy about that, but at least I knew it worked, and worked fairly well, and had a witness. For those curious, I went step by step exactly like Jason (Moosez45) showed in his bow drill thread. For a first time, I was very pleased.
We were lucky, right as we broke camp for the day and proceeded to clean, it started to drizzle, and then after we were done and heading out is when it started to pour. Good times were had by all, and I really enjoyed the enthusiasm we got on the part of the boys. We had older scouts that were incredibly busy this weekend with prom and state competitions that showed up for as long as they possibly could to take part, and I was very proud of how well they taught the younger boys the skills they needed for this merit badge.
Per the merit badge requirements, they had to each show 3 different ways to start a fire, which they all loved. A ferro blank and the "super scraper" from firesteel dot com I had purchased for the kid ended up being a big favorite due to ease of use. I was very pleased with how well they learned the different methods.
Next up they had to partake in 3 different ways to purify water, which went very well. We had a nice creek that was full of clear, moving water that we were able to use. Boiling was the big hit there, which isn't a surprise because it gave them another chance to play with fire.
Ground to air signals were covered, as well as some basic theory behind surviving in the wilderness and how to keep your cool.
Finally they got to build their shelters, all of whom did very well for what they had available. Almost all were a lean-to style of shelter, with a few exceptions being a four-walled building and a very low and flat shelter in the middle of a thicket. Thought we had lost that one he had it so well hidden. Because there was a lack of enough materials, the boys were allowed to use the contents of their survival kits, which really helped them out.
It was also the first time I had hung and slept in my hammock, and I was very surprised at how well it turned out, especially given that the trees I used were well over twenty feet apart. I stayed a bit too warm though, probably due to paranoia on my part and wearing a waffle top and bottom, as well as using my self inflating sleeping pad and a sleeping bag with fleece liner. Still though, the exposed parts of me stayed a good temp, even when it reached 52°.
Also, in a fit of bushcraftiness, I decided to take a stab at a bow and drill setup, using some old dead locust (or so I was told). It worked, I had an ember in about, oh, maybe two minutes, but unfortunately the piece of bark I used to catch it was curved, caught on a piece of grass, and flung the thing over my shoulder. At this point, having proven the concept (and impressing one of our older scouts) I took it down to our fire area to show the boys, where I handed it over to a primitive skills expert (or so I was told), and then he proceeded to destroy it, telling me he used a different method. I wasn't too happy about that, but at least I knew it worked, and worked fairly well, and had a witness. For those curious, I went step by step exactly like Jason (Moosez45) showed in his bow drill thread. For a first time, I was very pleased.
We were lucky, right as we broke camp for the day and proceeded to clean, it started to drizzle, and then after we were done and heading out is when it started to pour. Good times were had by all, and I really enjoyed the enthusiasm we got on the part of the boys. We had older scouts that were incredibly busy this weekend with prom and state competitions that showed up for as long as they possibly could to take part, and I was very proud of how well they taught the younger boys the skills they needed for this merit badge.
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2010
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- 5,513
Been dead for years, but this'll get people waving the flag around and create more support for the invasion of lybia and egypt. Gotta have war, our economy depends on it.
Sad but true.
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2011
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- 1,118
We have always been at war with Eastasia.
- Joined
- Jun 8, 2010
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- 3,723
Granted Obama and politicians in general will lie to you about the time of day but if SEALs say they killed the filthy little pig humper then they did.
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Beckerhead #42
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Beckerhead #42
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2011
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- 25,992
Extremely suspicious. How many times has this guy died now? I think they said he was dead like 8 years ago. I can't believe they didn't put photos of his dead body everywhere, like they did Suddam's sons. And they give him a quick burial at sea? Because it's the Muslim way? Have you seen the fake photos of his "dead" body the media is flashing around? Unreal.
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- Mar 31, 2010
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We have always been at war with Oceana
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- Mar 11, 2011
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Dude, don't believe what the mainstream mass media are trying to tell you!
That's the point, I don't.
I was actually mocking those annoying conspiracy theory hippies who convert a discussion about music into a huge recital on how 9/11 was fake and that the government is controlled by little green aliens. But yes, a little bit of skepticism can't do any bad. I say don't get you knowledge or your opinion from just one spot. Read the papers, watch TV, browse the web, make your own opinion on things. Don't trust anyone blindly. Check and double check. Recheck and Repeat.
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- Mar 11, 2011
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- 25,992
Damn, May 3rd, and we have a frost warning out for tonight. Crazy freakin' weather.
- Joined
- Jan 2, 2011
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- 1,118
Heh, it's supposed to be around 90+ degrees over here today.
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