I think I created some monsters!

J

John K

Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
175
This last winter, I became the Scoutmaster of a local Troop, my son crossed over to Boy Scouts with me-and we are rebuilding the Troop.

It's really something of a sad story. This Troop has a 70 year history in the community and 30 acres of wooded land along the Wisconsin River that they bought in WWII with money the boys raised with paper drives to support the war effort. Leadership in the past few years had done nothing to recruit new boys to the Troop-when we were in the Cub Scouts we never heard a word from this Troop and they never answered any of our invitations to Pack activities. They had dwindled down to only two or three boys and were in serious danger of not being able to recharter. If this were to happen, the land would go to the local council who would probably sell it off.

It was at this point I was approached by the Troop committee who had finally seen the need for a change-I took up the challenge and brought three new Boy Scouts with me. The first thing I did was lock up the stoves and all other new fangled outdoor equipment. I told these guys that we were now going to focus on a less is more philosophy-a cast iron skillet and dutch oven at best, if you think you really need it, try and make it!

At this point I am sure most of you are asking yourselves what has this got to do with khukuris? I'm getting there, really. I told the boys on our campout last month that I would be demonstrating a few outdoor skills with a new type of tool at our next campout. You should have seen their eyes bug out when I drew my M43-holy cow that was fun to watch. I did my demos and gave them a talk about the khukuri's history and cultural significance and then let them each have a go at chopping some 1 inch pine for the fire. Their eyes popped out even more than I thought possible at this one, but they also sobered up pretty quick when they understood with one stroke instead of a pine branch it could be finger. Needless to say, they all want one for themselves-but they will have to earn the privalage.

Anyone know some good campfire recipes and outdoor tasks for khukuris and these new khuk monsters?

John
 
Double kudos:
imparting proper values and skills :cool:
creating HI customers: The Next Generation :p
 
John,

Thank you for giving your time to allow boys to experience Scouting. Lack of adult time is the primary reason why Scouting has not grown to keep pace wityh population increases since 1970. I am lucky enough to work with a Troop that has lots of adult help (seven adults on the last outing to Canada and fourteen at Summer Camp last Summer).

I presume these Scouts have earned their Tot'N'Chip allowing them to handle a bladed tool. If so, I suggest that they learn to use a smaller knife and demonstrate proficiency with that tool before moving on to a tool that can remove limbs. Earning the privilege of using "adult" tools is a useful motivator AND keeps parts attached.

If you have not taken the basic training course for Troop leaders, including the outdoor skills session, you might enjoy that experience.

Yours in Scouting,

Tom
 
Tom

They've got their cards, and I am inbetween Leader classes-I take 'em when I can. You know as well as I how the Safe Scouting Guide gets thicker every year.

John
 
Passing knowledge and values along to the "new people" is a good thing.

Thank you, John.

For use of the khukuri you could consider:

making some primitive shelters on the land.

Making camp furniture. It could be lashed together.

Making devices to hang pots over the fire. Tripods, or long sticks that support a pot over the fire.

Making walking staves. I think every scout probably needs one. They can carve in their names, trails they've hiked, events they've participated in, etc.
 
Glad to see somebody is trying to educate the youngsters in the true spirit of the Scout movement.

I was in the scouts as a young lad and we had way more fun and were allowed way more responsibility than the new generation. We had a great scoutmaster who taught us how to use and maintain knives, build shelters, open coconuts, etc. These days the scout leadership seems more concerned with the possibility of lawsuits hence the banning of large knives, axes, and other tools from most campsites.
 
I'm with Redvenom on this one.

You can go to ebay and take a look at the braces and bits for boring.

I found lashing and pioneering to be the most fun I had as a scout.

If We did a trip where we used our (what we call now our Bug Out Bags) and camp in the spring using those. Good learning experience.
 
My 14 year-old had done the entire Cub Scout thing, loved it, and then crossed-over to Boy Scouts. He went to his first Troop meeting and found out that there are required weekly 2-3 hour meetings. He quickly realized that going to meetings wasn't his idea of scouting. He never went back. A shame really, but boys need activity, not frequent mandatory meetings.

I love the idea of you introducing the boys to the khukuri.

Jeff
 
As suggested by redvenom's comments, a good part of official policy is to ward off lawsuits -- because they get filed. Any adverse outcome is a good opportunity for a lawsuit.

Brace-and-bit sets are commonly found at estate, garage, and house sales for cheap. "Obsolute" don't you know. I have picked up four that way -- because I cannot justify twenty. :D

"Safety first" is a valid policy and practice, but careful training and supervised experience is the best path to safety. We are fairly fanatical in our Troop about safe practice. Some camps will not have us due to local option rules that supposedly bar fixed-blade knives. ("Supposedly, because when you press them, they irrationally do not bar "kitchen knives" as "fixed-blade knives.") We like to think we send our Scouts out into the world with good experience and safe habits as regards bladed tools.
 
devo55 said:
My 14 year-old had done the entire Cub Scout thing, loved it, and then crossed-over to Boy Scouts. He went to his first Troop meeting and found out that there are required weekly 2-3 hour meetings. He quickly realized that going to meetings wasn't his idea of scouting. He never went back. A shame really, but boys need activity, not frequent mandatory meetings.

I love the idea of you introducing the boys to the khukuri.

Jeff
Click to expand...

Jeff, boring is boring -- indoors or out. Trouble is, a Troop that has boring meetings probably has boring outings as well.

Parents should always shop around. Troops differ in the quality of program.

Our meetings are active. We constantly coach the Scouts (who of course plan and lead all activities) to replace talk, talk with learn by doing. There is a pre-meeting activity that is a game or interesting display (Khukuris anyone?) and a game or active contest at the end of the ninety-minute meeting.

If the boys plan the meetings and campouts -- as they do in the Boy Scout program -- they seldom fail to plan something of interest to boys. The adult job is to present ideas/options, teach, and coach - not lead directly.

If adults plan the meetings, they are not running a Boy Scout program and the meetings are less likely to be fun.

We have had two Eagles in the last ten years who joined at fourteen.
 
Thomas Linton said:
Jeff, boring is boring -- indoors or out. Trouble is, a Troop that has boring meetings probably has boring outings as well.

Parents should always shop around. Troops differ in the quality of program.

Our meetings are active. We constantly coach the Scouts (who of course plan and lead all activities) to replace talk, talk with learn by doing. There is a pre-meeting activity that is a game or interesting display (Khukuris anyone?) and a game or active contest at the end of the ninety-minute meeting.

If the boys plan the meetings and campouts -- as they do in the Boy Scout program -- they seldom fail to plan something of interest to boys. The adult job is to present ideas/options, teach, and coach - not lead directly.

If adults plan the meetings, they are not running a Boy Scout program and the meetings are less likely to be fun.

We have had two Eagles in the last ten years who joined at fourteen.
Click to expand...

You are right. I should have shopped the other area Troop to see what it was like. Might have been better. My son is now "lost" to athletics, girls and electronic entertainment. Well, lost isn't a very good description. He is an honor student and athletic "stud" and still humble. So things are OK. I can't help but feel that he would have learned much more about the outdoors via scouting. I just don't have enough time to teach him.

Jeff
 
So far as I've read, BSA doesn't officially prohibit fixed blades, but seems to be a popular misconception and/or local rule. Regardless, probably better to keep the khuks with the axes, and not for everyday belt wear.

Long axes are safer - only the young (and still smaller) guys should use the "official" BSA ax - otherwise get a full sized one. Graduate only to hatchets and shorter stuff when proficient.


Sounds like you're doing a great job so far. Remember to lead from the back - let the Scouts come up with stuff to do, then show them how to make it happen (so, you want to trek to the North Pole? How are we going to get in shape for that? .......) instead of telling them not to try.

:D
 
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