CRUSADER CAMPCRAFT
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CRUSADER CAMPCRAFT
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The Crusader Campcraft Workbook is designed to be used with the Brotherhood Campcraft book. This fact is often overlooked and adds a complicating factor in trying to teach campcraft to boys. You as a leader must be knowledgeable about what is in the Brotherhood Campcraft book. The boys workbook is primarily as its title states, a Workbook. The major sources of information for the boys to be using to fill in their workbooks is going to be you the leader and the Brotherhood Campcraft book as a reference or "library" book. 
The Crusader Campcraft program is broken into 3 basic levels and allows the boys to earn a patch for each of those levels. They are "Hiker", "Camper" and "Woodsman". 
Within each of those 3 levels are 12 topics. Those 12 topics are repeated in each of three levels but at increased difficulty to allow the Crusader to stretch and grow his knowledge and abilities. The 12 topics are: Trip Planning, Equipment and Shelter, Ropecraft, Toolcraft, Firecraft, Cooking, First Aid, Safety and Sanitation, Map and Compass, Nature Study, Conservation and last but not least Fun and Worship. The Brotherhood Campcraft books is divided into the same 12 topics and provides the leader with the information necessary to help the Crusaders complete their tasks. The 'Hiker' level will involve Crusader age boys in single day activities such as a hike and learning how to handle the tools equipment and skills needed for multi-day events. The 'Camper' level will take the Hiker skills and expand upon them and then challenge the boys for multi-day events such as an overnight campout. The 'Woodsman' level should prepare the boys for some "heavy duty" camping experiences. Utilizing the skills learned, the boys should then be prepared for multi-night primitive campouts. Up to this point in time their camping may have been close to facilities with transportation to the camp site. By the time they get to the Woodsman level they should be ready to backpack their gear to a remote campsight for an awesome experience in God's creation. All of this requires "Planning" as the first of the 12 topics talks about. We as leaders must "plan ahead" as well. You must be prepared and ready to teach these skills to your Crusaders. For the success of your program but more importantly, the safety of your boys, you must know what you are doing. You cannot come out and learn this at the same time you are teaching these skills to your Crusaders. That is a recipe for disaster. With a little preparation and knowledge, both you and your boys can have a safe and meaningful time learning about God's creation, outdoors. |
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| Return to R.A. Leader Corner |
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Trip Planning is relatively easy and is as its title implies, planning for your trip. It has been said that "Failing to Plan is a Plan to Fail". Most of us do this instinctively whenever we do something. Our biggest problem is that we don't plan or think our way all the way through the activity we are setting out on and then trouble comes along for the ride. Trip Planning for the Crusader is not only getting them to think about where they are going, what they need and what they will do, but more importantly it should be used to teach the Crusader that he needs to have a plan for everything he does in life. Sin enters in when we don't have a plan and we just act or react. Our daily lives, even as adults, need to have "Trip Planning" engaged for everything we do from the time we get up in the morning to when we go to sleep at night. Trip Planning for the Crusader will hopefully teach them to plan ahead, what to do if they get lost and then have a time of reflection after the trip. |
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Equipment and Shelter teaches us what we need to for the task at hand. When on an outing, certain things are necessary such as proper clothing and shoes. Other items make the outing much more pleasant such as a map or compass, bandages, pocket knife or a rain coat. If your spending the night then a place to stay is necessary. A tent, sleeping bag, matches for a fire, flashlight and others can be both necessary as well as make the trip much more enjoyable. Be sensible about what equipment you take with you. You need to plan to take what you need but not more than you can carry all day long. You don't want your equipment to become a trail of bread crumbs leading back to where you started. We need to teach the boys not only what equipment to take and where to take shelter on a camping trip, we need to teach these skills for our daily lives. What equipment do we need ? God's word is a good start. Where do we take shelter when the storms of life come? In Jesus. 
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Ropecraft teaches us about knots. Knots are about tying or holding things together. They keep things from getting away. Crusaders will learn to tie a square knot, clove hitch, overhand knot, joiner knot, taut line hitch, stopper knot, loop knot, end-securing knot and how to lash things together with rope. Teach your boys to respect the ropes and what they are and are not used for. This is one of those skill teaching activities where boys minds can wander from the task at hand and get them into trouble or hurt if the leader does not stay on top of things. They will also learn about different materials used in making ropes and how best to use the rope and knots. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken." This truth can be used for a number of applications in our life and the Crusaders life. Using the rope as an illustration, a single strand of the ropes fabric is easily broken. Two strands become stronger and by the time your have three, it is not easily broken or pulled apart. The same is true in our lives. By ourselves we are easily defeated or broken. Jesus sent the disciples out at minimum two by two to provide both strength and encouragement. We see in Acts when the disciples got together in number thousands were saved. |
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Toolcraft is an area that you can have a lot of fun with and the boys will generally be very eager to learn about. I become increasingly amazed at how few boys know how to handle tools these days. I suppose I have taken for granted the skills my dad took the time to teach me growing up and forget not all dad's are willing or available to do likewise. As you take the time to teach your Crusaders how to properly and safely use tools for outdoor use, you will gain great satisfaction upon seeing the joy and smiles in the boys faces when they begin to master these skills. Remind yourself this is perhaps just a little glimpse of the joy our heavenly Father experiences when we are obedient to Him and do His will. This topic will teach your Crusaders the proper use of and how to safely handle a knife, a bow saw, as an additional option at your discretion an axe or hatchet. In addition you will also teach them how to make some cooking tools that can be used during your outings. |
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Firecraft is a topic that you need to spend much more time on than what the Crusader Campcraft book devotes to. There are many different aspects to fires that everyone needs to know about. Starting with the Crusaders Campcraft book, you need to teach the boys the basics of how to build a fire, how to use it and how to put it out and cleanup after you are done. In looking at how to start a fire, time needs to be spent on how to prepare for your trip, i.e.; what type of matches (yes matches) do I need and how to weather proof them to be usable in all situations. In today's "micro-wave" world, most would say 'just grab a disposable lighter and let's go'. That may be OK for some applications, but did you ever try to light a gas lantern with a Bic-lighter…it don't work!!!! Believe it or not, I have yet to see good old fashioned matches fail for any application yet, so learn how to use them and keep them handy. Know and teach what fuels you need to start a fire. I have never seen a more frustrated bunch of people than in the middle of a forest with trees all around and they can't get anything to burn to save their lives. When starting a fire, think small and start small. Gather dry tinder, then kindling and finally your main fuel source. Light most of the tinder (keeping a little in reserve) and slowly add the kindling until its get started. Add the rest of your tinder and continue adding more kindling until you get a small but solid fire going. Begin adding the smallest of your fuel and continue slowly until the fuel gets going good. If you live in the south a good backup plan is to pack what we call lighter knot or lighter stump wood with you. You don't need much just a few pieces about the size of a wood pencil. This wood comes from the stumps of southern slash pine trees and is full of sap. This stuff will burn in a driving rain storm. As part of starting the fire, extreme care must be taken about containing the fire while in use and then putting it out. We have all read and many have seen the devastating results of fires that got out of control. Teach the boys about fire containment and then the proper way to put a fire out and how to clean up the area after use. 
An area well worth covering that is not covered in the campcraft books is the use of camp stoves and lanterns. In spite of their convenience and ease of use, miss-use of camp stoves and lanterns can lead to serious and even fatal injuries. Bottle gas equipment is likewise dangerous if not handled properly. Portable campstoves and lights are becoming more and more light weight and being used more so teach your boys how to safely use them. The Brotherhood Campcraft book is an invaluable resource in this regard describing the use of several different type of camp cook stoves. 
Learn how and teach your boys how to make their own camp stove, the 'buddy burner'. If it will cook on a griddle or fry pan, you can cook it on a buddy burner. One word of caution with buddy burners, they are single use stoves. Do not re-use a buddy burner once it has cooled down. Cook all you want while it is hot. Some #10 cans use solder to seal the cans with and re-heating might cause the solder to leach out. |
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Well, now that we've talked about camp stoves and cooking with fire in Firecraft, its time to satisfy our hunger with some food cooked the old fashion way. This is another area that never ceases to amaze me. Some of world's pickiest eaters will literally eat anything cooked over a campfire, go figure that one out. Cooking will require planning, your toolcraft skills and firecraft skills. While the Crusader Campcraft book focuses more on the planning and evaluation aspects of cooking, the Brotherhood Campcraft book gives some great ideas on not only menu items but different ways to cook them. Just as we spend time cooking and eating to feed our physical bodies, don't forget to teach the boys about spiritual food and the feast God has available to us. 
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If there is ever a skill in Campcraft that we hope
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How many times while traveling have you heard "I've got to go to the bathroom" not 30 seconds after passing the last exit for 30 miles ? Well when you're in the woods there generally aren't any bathrooms around so you need to know how to take care of business. When camping in a particular spot it is even more important to designate a latrine area that does not interfere with the other needs and functions of the camping area and then when leaving, it must be covered over and the area cleaned up. This topic should also be used to teach some general safety issues like staying in groups, where not to go or climb etc. You must have some basic rules for your outings to keep things in control and safe. This is a time to address them. 
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You can have a lot of fun with this topic. Take this opportunity to teach map and compass in a game or challenge type setting. Teach the basics as outlined in the Campcraft books but then go out and chart a course by map points or coordinates and let your Crusaders find a prize at the end of the course. Take the boys out on a trail and teach them how to read a trail. Not only do many hiking trails have blaze markers as road signs but nature and animals have a way of leaving road signs. You can explore those both here and in the next section dealing with Nature Study. Remind the boys that we use maps, compass and now even GPS's to find our way in the world. God has given us a map to follow as well, the Bible. If we use the Bible as our map the blessings will be uncountable. |
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Nature Study is not only a fun thing to do but a very necessary one in order to stay safe while out in God's creation. Despite the beauty and wonder of God's creation, there are plants and animals that can be harmful to us if not left alone. You and your Crusaders need to know how to recognize them and what to do when they are encountered. On the flip side of that, there are a host of plants and animals that are very beneficial to us. It's a neat experience to watch boys faces the first time they get to pick and eat some wild berries. This section would be a good opportunity to build some bug boxes with your boys and go on a bug hunt. Use that as spiritual application to point out that they had to go and get the bugs, the bugs didn't just wander into the box. The same is true in witnessing and leading others to Christ. We have to go out and catch them and bring them into church. Seldom do the lost wander into church on their own. |
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Conservation is nothing more than taking care of God's creation. Be a good steward or caretaker of what God has given us. While doing the activities in the Campcraft book, make the point that God has made us all caretakers of not only his outdoor creation but of our time, talents and treasures. God expects us to use them wisely and for His purpose. This is where you can teach tithing and giving offerings above and beyond the tithe. |
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Last but not least, be sure to include a time of fun and worship in your outdoor activities. Whether you are just going out to look at bugs, birds and trees or you are going on a multi-day hike and campout, spend some time praising God for His creation and what he has done for each of us. Remind your Crusaders that the God who created the trees, allowed His Son to be nailed to one to save us from the penalty of sin. By the time you are ready to take your boys into the outdoors, you should have at least read up on all twelve of the topics in the Campcraft book. You can then include as many of them as you have allowed time for in your particular outing. As you plan your outings, review the twelve topics and "Plan ahead" as to which one you will teach on and then reward the boys for a job well done both in their campcraft books and in their personal lives. |