Dr. Hannibal Lecter
Gold Member
- Joined
- Dec 2, 2004
- Messages
- 471
My Dear Friends,
I find it interesting that after discovering RAT Cutlery, this subforum is the one I have bookmarked to bring me into Bladeforums and is always the first forum I check upon my arrival here.
A quick story - we are currently prepping for a camping trip, and last night my daughter and I were discussing building fires (she has the honor of lighting the first campfire of the season, with a catch - she has to do it with a firesteel). We were playing around with a firesteel and jute twine and in short order had a small fire going in the fire ring in the backyard. She commented offhandedly that we could probably manage fairly well in the woods with minimal tools.
I was a bit surprised. Why, I don't know, but I somehow wasn't expecting it. Don't get me wrong - she isn't a typical kid. Amazingly intelligent (straight-A's and enrolled in the Gifted Program), but also very athletic. She is also very wise for such a young age.
At age three she began helping out in the kitchen under close supervision, and at age five she received her first Swiss Army Knife. Later that year she received a Spyderco Ladybug (pink, of course). Since then her knife collection has grown exponentially, and it is not unusual for me to see the pocket clip of a Spyderco Harpy or Lava protruding from her jeans pocket during the summer. She even has a custom fixed blade gifted her by a favorite "uncle", BigKahunaSix.
She has never cut herself, BTW, which is more than I can say for myself.
I mentioned to her the RAT Cutlery "survival challenge" - you, the forest, an Izula, and an Altoids tin full of whatever you can carry. Three days and two nights.
She is apparently quite convinced that she and I can do it. My wife, of course, thinks we're crazy, not that I blame her.
Before summer is out I will have to pick up a pink Izula (hey, she's still very much a girl) and see if she is still inclined to try it out. The rules will be simple - she builds her own shelter, starts her own fire, and forages for her own food. Of course Dad will still be close by should she freak out or encounter something she can't handle, but I have the feeling that having me close by as a safety net will likely encourage her to push herself harder. I know that our not being alone individually isn't adhering strictly to the formal rules, but I am more worried about developing her skill sets in a controlled environment than following the exact letter of the rules - the spirit will suffice for me.
When this happens I'll get pics and write a full report of the week-end!
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Hannibal
I find it interesting that after discovering RAT Cutlery, this subforum is the one I have bookmarked to bring me into Bladeforums and is always the first forum I check upon my arrival here.
A quick story - we are currently prepping for a camping trip, and last night my daughter and I were discussing building fires (she has the honor of lighting the first campfire of the season, with a catch - she has to do it with a firesteel). We were playing around with a firesteel and jute twine and in short order had a small fire going in the fire ring in the backyard. She commented offhandedly that we could probably manage fairly well in the woods with minimal tools.
I was a bit surprised. Why, I don't know, but I somehow wasn't expecting it. Don't get me wrong - she isn't a typical kid. Amazingly intelligent (straight-A's and enrolled in the Gifted Program), but also very athletic. She is also very wise for such a young age.
At age three she began helping out in the kitchen under close supervision, and at age five she received her first Swiss Army Knife. Later that year she received a Spyderco Ladybug (pink, of course). Since then her knife collection has grown exponentially, and it is not unusual for me to see the pocket clip of a Spyderco Harpy or Lava protruding from her jeans pocket during the summer. She even has a custom fixed blade gifted her by a favorite "uncle", BigKahunaSix.
She has never cut herself, BTW, which is more than I can say for myself.
I mentioned to her the RAT Cutlery "survival challenge" - you, the forest, an Izula, and an Altoids tin full of whatever you can carry. Three days and two nights.
She is apparently quite convinced that she and I can do it. My wife, of course, thinks we're crazy, not that I blame her.
Before summer is out I will have to pick up a pink Izula (hey, she's still very much a girl) and see if she is still inclined to try it out. The rules will be simple - she builds her own shelter, starts her own fire, and forages for her own food. Of course Dad will still be close by should she freak out or encounter something she can't handle, but I have the feeling that having me close by as a safety net will likely encourage her to push herself harder. I know that our not being alone individually isn't adhering strictly to the formal rules, but I am more worried about developing her skill sets in a controlled environment than following the exact letter of the rules - the spirit will suffice for me.
When this happens I'll get pics and write a full report of the week-end!
--------
Hannibal
(I blame mom and dad for this... since the dad plays with them, and doesn't like the woods at all)