LAD CAMPCRAFT
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LAD CAMPCRAFT
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The Lad Campcraft Workbook is designed to be used as an introduction to campcraft. An important reference guide that you will want to have is the Brotherhood Campcraft book. The boys workbook is primarily as its title states, a Workbook. The activities and requirements in the workbook will help Lad's learn beginning campcraft, outdoor safety, and awareness of his home and community environment. 
The Lad Campcraft program is broken into 3 basic levels and allows the boys to earn a patch for each of those levels. They are "Discoverer 1", "Discoverer 2" and "Discoverer 3".
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 Lad 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 book is divided into the same 12 topics and provides the leader with the information necessary to help the Lads complete their tasks. |
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Trip Planning for the Lads is relatively easy as much of it can be accomplished through normal everyday type activities. It will start with planning for a Picnic and what not to take and can progress to a fishing trip, or a museum or park all the way to a parent's workplace. Most of the Trip Planning for the Lad will be thinking about where and when they are going but will also encourage them to be observant when they get there. By thinking ahead and then being observant about where we are and what we do, the Lad can be shown that having a plan can keep us out of trouble. Sin enters in our lives when we don't have a plan and we just act or react. Trip Planning for the Lad will hopefully teach them some basic building blocks on how to live their daily lives in a manner that honors God and fulfilling to them as well. |
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Equipment and Shelter continues on with basic skills like making your bed, building and learning about different kinds of shelters and making a travel supply kit. We need to get the boys not only to think about what equipment to take and where to take shelter on an outing, 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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Tying things together and the knots that result from tying things together are something most of us do everyday of our lives. Ropecraft teaches us about ropes and knots. Lads will learn some basic knots, a brief history about rope and some basic skills for using it. 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. 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 Lads 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. |
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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 Lads 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 Lads the proper use of and how to use and care for a flashlight, how to safely use a hammer, can opener and shovel. The flashlight will create a great opportunity to teach the spiritual application of letting our lights shine, the light of Jesus. |
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This is a topic that if nothing else, safety needs to be taught. Fire has always fascinated boys, young and old. I can't count the number of campouts where I have had to fuss at boys for playing with and around the campfire. Lads are at perhaps the best age of all to teach fire safety to both protect themselves as well as the environment around them. Aside from the safety aspect, firecraft is also a very effect means to teach many spiritual applications to the boys. Fire or more precisely, the heat from it purifies. Just as fire / heat purifies as in smelting metals, our lives need to be purified. Many times we go through the fires of life and even though unpleasant, we come out better having learned through the experiences. 
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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One thing Lads love to do is eat. Well here is your chance to teach them some basic skills about meal planning, preparation and cooking in a way that is both fun and educational. Cooking will allow you exercise some of the skills that you have already learned, planning, toolcraft and firecraft skills. If done right, parents will thank you for getting their boys to help out in the kitchen. 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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Lads, by nature of their age are bound to get cuts and bruises. This skill will teach them what to do and also how to identify and deal with emergencies. Use this topic to teach the boys how to build their own First Aid Kit. Remind your boys that God is the Great Physician and He can heal both our physical and spiritual bumps and bruises if we let Him. |
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This topic is a great way to teach the last part of the RA Pledge, "To keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body". Part of that is teaching them to avoid drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Teaching them about safety in their interest activities is essential also, and we all remember to old saying "Cleanliness is next to Godliness". We do need to teach boys about basic sanitation habits. That goes for more than just washing your hands. This is a great opportunity to teach boys about not sharing food and drinks with other people. 
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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. Perhaps the single focus of following directions will be the most useful at this age. Just about everything we do requires us to follow directions, even as adults. We have rules that must be followed. Teach the boys that part of finding our way through life is following the directions given to us whether at church, school, play or at home. God has given us a set of directions to follow as well, the Bible. If we use the Bible as our map and directions, the blessings will be uncountable. |
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Nature Study is a great way to learn about the wonder and awesomeness of God's creation. This study will teach the boys about plants, animals and the weather. As a leader be prepared to be able to identify common plants, animals and trees for the boys. |
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Conservation is protecting and saving our environment. A big part of this is not wasting. Teaching conservation such as turning off the water and lights along with recycling as much as we can will lead the boys to take care of what God has given us. Cleaning us after ourselves is also good conservation. As RA's we should always leave a place cleaner than we found it. |
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Last but not least, be sure to include a time of fun and worship in your activities. Whether you are just going out to look at bugs, birds and trees or going on one of the trips that were planned, spend some time praising God for His creation and what he has done for each of us. Teach your Lads that worship can be fun and remind them that the God who created the trees, allowed His Son to be nailed to one to save us from the penalty of sin. |
