Some of the topics will be harder than others to learn, but don't forget, after you've mastered that area, that might be the area that will be your "Favorite" to teach. Some of the state office and associations do have planned during the year "Campcraft Clinics" or conferences that is especially planned for campcraft. Check with your local association or your state office for details.

• Nylon - It is man-made synthetic material, it is known for it's superior strength, and durability over a long period of time and if it gets wet it will not break down.
• Jute - It is a natural made material. It is made out of fiber. It is hard to work until it is broken in. Unfortunately, after it is broken-in and it is managable to work with, the rope starts to breakdown.
• Hemp - It is made out of the plant that is a herb that makes "Hashish". The rope is very fiberous, stiff, and strong. It is very durable over a period of time. But, it starts rotting shortly after it gets wet.
• Cotton - It comes from the "Cotton Bowl" of the plant. It has the similar appearence of silk and is very fiberous. It is very strong and doesn't need to be broken in when it is new. It is easy to work with and is advised to use to teach knots since it soft in texture and limp. It does get coarse, stiff, and sours after it gets wet. It is very durable and last a long time even after it gets wet
• Manila - It is made out of grass and is very durable and coarse. It does take a little time for it to break in before it is easy to use. The durability is superior and is also effected if it is wet.
• Sisal - It is made out of a grass and is soft in texture and it is limp. It isn't very durable and It frays easily.

• Loop Knot (The loop within an a series of loops that is used to lift.) Bowline, Double Bowline, Man Harness, Taut-Line, Lariat
• Joiner Knot (It is used to join two ropes of similar or different sizes.) Square Knot, Surgeon's Knot, Fisherman's Knot, Sheet Bend, Carrick Bend, Tiller's Hitch
• End-Secure Knot (Used to tie down and take up slack at the end of the rope.) Half-hitch, Clove Hitch, Timber Hitch, Mid-Shipman's Knot, Sheep-Shank, Two half-hitch
• Stopper Knot (Knot that is not adjutable (fixed) on a rope and can't move.) Overhand, Figure Eight, Double Overhand

• Square Lashing is securing two sticks together that are at a right angle.
• Round (Shear) Lashing is securing two sticks together that are parallel with one another
• Continuous Lashing is securing pairs of sticks together that are at a right angle and are parallel to each other by going over and then crossing underneath.

• When you sharpen a Knife , there are several stones that can be used. Arkansas Stone, Whet Stone, Soap Stone, and Diamond Stone. Other materials that can be used is 500 grit [ and finer] sandpaper, leather [belt, strap], the back side of the blade of another knife (not a stainless steel knife), ceramic rods, or a sharpening rod. Never use a grinding wheel, a rasp, or a file of any kind to sharpen with.
  When you sharpen, you will need a lubricant to sharpen with. Never use a penetrating oil, plain water, W-D 40, or spit to use as a lubricant. The best thing to use is honing oil---It has a high grade oil and graphite. Other lubricants that can be used is graphite, motor oil, transmission fluid, grease, and other heavy viscosity petroleums and some synthetics with graphite.
• When sharpening an Axe or a Hatchet , a grinding wheel bathed in oil (at low speed), sharpening block bathed in oil, or a fine to medium grit file is best choices. (Using a grinding wheel at high speed will cause " Blueing" , excessive heat, and you will loose the temper in your axe or hatchet) Never use a rasp on an axe or a hatchet !!!
• It is recommended when any kind of Saw needing to be set and/or sharpened, take it to a hardware store or a tool and die shop that has a lathe to do it. If you do it yourself, you've got to know what you are doing if you attempt to sharpen any kind of saw or you can ruin a saw. The symptom of a improperly sharpened saw is it binds up when you go to use it.

• The safety of the Knife is taken for granted most of the time. When using a knife, you want to cut away from you and not cut towards you for obvious reasons. To avoid cutting toward yourself, place what you are cutting in front of you, instead of in front of you, cutting from side-to-side. That goes for sharpening your knife. Sharpen your knife in front of you instead to the side of you, stroking your knife on the sharpening stone from side-to-side. Cutting or sharpening to the side of yourself, you have a tendency to return the stroke cutting towards yourself. (See diagram below )
  

  The correct way

  The wrong way

  
  Now, the safest way to pass a pocket knife to another person is have it closed . And the safest way to pass a sheath knife to another person to another person is in its sheath.
  The second way (but not the safest way) to pass a pocket knife is the person that is passing it with the sharpened edge pointed out and the flat part or the back of the blade pointed towards the hand clinched firm between the thumb and the first finger. The person you are passing the pocket knife to has to say "Thank you" before you release it and let the person have it. This is to let you know the person you are passing it to has it safely when they say, "Thank you" . The second way (but not the safest way) to pass a sheath knife is out of the sheath is the person that is passing it with the sharpened edge pointed out the flat part or the back of the blade pointed towards the hand clinched firm between the thumb and the first finger. The person you are passing the sheath knife to has to say "Thank you" before you release it and let the person have it. This is to let you know the person you are passing it to has it safely when they say, "Thank you" .

• Practicing safety with the Axe or Hatchet is mostly done while they are being used. There are more accidents that happen while an axe or a hatchet is used. The areas of safety practice are: (Pick and Click) Cutting wood ; Passing an axe or a hatchet ; Checking the condition of the axe or hatchet ; And being aware of your surroundings while using the axe or hatchet .

  When cutting wood , you have got to make sure the wood you are cutting is secure before you start cutting if you are cutting it on the ground. If the wood isn't secure there will be a chance the axe or hatchet, will ricoche' or glance of and cause injury. To secure wood on the ground you use with stakes to keep it from moving. (See Diagram below) Click here to return to make another choice on safety.
  

  

  If you are going to swing an axe to chopping wood, it is advisable to be sure you're manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination is at its best and your confidence is beyond doubt. This is where personal injuries occur the most---where the person isn't sure of themself swinging an axe.

  When you Pass an axe or a Hatchet , the safest way is to have the sheath on them. The second safe way is to pass the with the blade of the axe or hatchet pointing down. The person passing the axe or hatchet is the one holding the blade and the person receiving the handle of the axe or hatchet.
  The way for the person that is to pass the axe , grab the handle behind the axe blade and the person receiving the axe will grab the axe handle at the other end. (See diagram below) Click here to return to make another choice on safety.
  

  

  Before using an axee or a hatchet, always Check the condition of the axee or Hatchet. Check to see if the handle is cracked. If the handle is cracked, it needs to be replaced. Check to see if the handle is loose. If the handle is loose, use steel wedges in the axe or hatchet head to tighten the axe or hatchet handle. If the end of the handle is warn from normal use, it needs to be replaced. It is important when replacing the warn handle; to replace it with the correct handle that fits ! Click here to return to make another choice on safety.

  You have got to Be Aware of your surroundings while using an axe or a hatchet for the benefit of yourself and others. Using an axe or a hatchet, make sure if there are others with you, they are at a safe distance. This prevents on-lookers from getting hurt from a swinging axe or hatchet and getting hit from flying wood chips.
  To check to see if others are at a safe distance, the person holds the axe or hatchet out in front of them turning in a complete circle with the handle pointing out. This determines if anyone inside the circle or close to it, they should move back to keep safe. (See diagram below)
  

  

  When you are chopping down a tree, you must be aware of the the weather conditions, the condition of the tree, and determine the direction of the fall of the tree to prevent property damage and the safety for yourself and others.
  It is advisable if you are not experienced, let a professional cut the tree down.
  Click here to return to make another choice on safety.

• Practicing safety with the Saw is continual while using it. Half of practicing safety with the saw is knowing how to use it. The other half of using safety is watching out for the safety for yourself and others. Whether sawing a log in a cradle or using the side of a level surface, make sure shoulders are paralell to the log and and your body is to one side or another of your cutting area. (See Diagram Below.)
  

  When your bow saw isn't in use and/or stowed away, make sure the gaurd is on the blade of the bow saw or the saw is folded closed.
  
  

There will be seven things that will be discussed in this section. Pick and click the subject that you want to find out about.

• Getting your area ready for a camp fire.
• Three fuels used to start a fire.
• Starting your camp fire.
• 5 types of camp fires.
• Putting Putting Camp Fires Out.
• Building a Buddy Burner.
• Advantages and Disadvantages on Camp Stoves.

When you are ready to build your camp fire there are Three Things You Need to collect : Tender; Kindling; and Fuel.

Tender is can be anything that is natural to the area that lights quickly. Dried palm frons, bark, dead Spanish Moss (sometimes called "Witch's Hair"), dried pine needles, dried pine cones, small dried twigs up to a half-inch in diameter or the thickness of a pencil. Kindling is wood with the diameter from one to three inches. Fuel is wood having the diameter of three inches or more. ( Note: The biggest mistakes collecting the tender, kindling and fuel are: Not getting enough of the three fuels; Breaking up the tender into small pieces; And not having air space for the fire to breath.)

To start a camp fire, there are many ways. The two most common ways to start a camp fire are building an "A" frame or building a "Tepee" fire.

Like anything else, using an "A" Frame or a Tepee Fire to start a camp fire, it takes practice. These two types are the means to start a camp fire.

The way to build this "A" Frame fire is:

• Place two pieces (three inches in diameter) of kindling on the ground with one end of a kindling on top of the other;
• Take a third piece (three inches in diameter) of kindling on top of the other two pieces of kindling to form an "A" (Make sure this kindling is at least three off the ground for air to go underneath to feed the fire when it is started);
• Place tender on the top third piece of kindling (preferably "Witch's Hair).
  
  "A" Frame Fire

Tepee Fire
Click here to go back to the topics on Firecraft.

• You will need plenty of water to wet the wood and drown the hot coals and a stick to stir the stir the water and/or mud help put out the hot coals in the dirt.
• When pouring water on hot coals, you do not pour a large amount of water to put them out. It is dangerous---it produces what is known as "Live-hot Steam" . That "Live-hot Steam" can cause skin to burn. Also, the "Live-hot Steam" causes hot embers to shoot out from hot coals and cause bodily injury. (The most common bodily injury that occurs is injury to the eye.) Pour small amounts of water on hot coals while stirring with a stick.
• When putting a camp fire that has used a trench or a hole , make sure all of the hot coals are out before you fill in the hole or trench. After all the hot coals are out, fill the hole or trench up with water and let the water soak in. Then, slowly move your hand over the bottom of the trench feeling for hot spots. If a hot spot is detected, pour water and stir with a stick. Check again for the hot spot. Then, start filling in the trench or hole. Manicure the area where the camp fire was to put it back in better shape than it was before it was used. (This is known as " No-Trace Camping".

  It has known to happen where there has been few coals to be laying against a root of a dead tree [buried] causing the root to catch fire. That root acting as a wick, will lead that fire to the dead tree causing that dead tree to burn from the inside, out. Or, that same hot coal catching dried Peat Moss Bed or Muck to catch on fire underground. This known as a "Muck Fire". The "Muck Fires" can last for weeks or months. A forest ranger will tell you those are the hardest fires to put out.

• When putting a fire out on top of the ground , you pour pour the water in a circular fashion, pouring a reasonable amount of water at a time to put out the flame. When the flame is out, stir the hot coals with a stick while pouring water on them. This will put out the hot coals safely and expeditiously.
• After the camp fire and coals are out check the ground in like manner mentioned above. then dig a hole and bury the burned wood in it. After this is done, check for hot spots, again. Then manicure the area for "No Trace Camping".

• Tin Snips
• Pliers
• Number 10 Can
• Bottle Opener

Buddy Burner

Click here to go back to the topics on Firecraft.

• Reconstituted Foods----Look for the box called "Sucess Rice". It is in the dry food section of your supermarket. It takes from 5 to 10 minutes to fully cook the rice in boiling water. The rice comes in perferated bags so you can drop the bags of rice in boiling water and let cook. Your Freeze Dried Meals (Example: Mountain House Products) are much better than they were 10 years ago. There is a greater variety of meals to pick from. Just open the envolpe and pour in some water and drop the envolpe in boiling water to heat up your meal for about 5 minutes.
• Dry Mixes like Hot Cocoa, soups, pancake mix, and cornbread mix are a few are a few good examples. If it requires eggs, you really don't need them since you are cooking in the woods. You can have jello in the woods. Boil water according to the directions, pour the hot jello into a zip-lock bag and pour half the amount of your cool water the directions ask for into it, also. Mix the jello in the zip-lock bag until it is dissolved and close the bag and let it sit in the cool night and it will be ready by morning to eat. Or, you can put that zip-lock in a cold stream and let chill until it is ready to eat.

Baking biscuits or fish is another thing to consider. You may want to use a dutch oven to bake "Peach Cobbler".
To make "Peach Cobbler", you will want to open a #10 can of peaches, and do not Drain the syrup. Smear a half stick of butter around the inside of the dutch oven. Take a box of Betty Crocker Cake Mix and pour 1/3 ^rd of the mix in the bottom of the dutch oven. Pour 1/3 ^rd of the peaches and syrup on top of the cake mix. Pour another 1/3 ^rd of the cake mix over the top of the peaches and syrup. Then, pour the last 1/3 ^rd of the cake mix and the peaches and syrup and put on top. Take a stick of butter and put it on top of the whole pile of cake mix and peaches and syrup in the dutch oven and sprinkle some cinnamon on top of the butter. Put the lid on the dutch oven and put it on the top of charcoal and make sure the dutch oven is level. Then put hot coals on the lid of the dutch oven let it cook for about 11/2 hours. Let cool and serve. You can also use the dutch oven to make stews.

Spit Cooking is used to make Shis-kabobs. You can make twisted bread from biscuit dough.

Aluminum foil cooking is a favorite way to cook. You can make baked apples, corn-on-the-cob, biscuits, baked fish, or orange cake in the orange peel--and the list goes on.
You can make "Camper's Stew" by laying a hamburger flat on the tin foil and putting unions, green peppers, carrots, and a little salt and pepper on top. After you are finished, foil the Campers and put it on a bed of coals for 30 minutes and let it cook for another 15 minutes. Let cook and then eat.
Baked potatoes foiled is another thing you can cook in a bed of hot coals.
These are some things for starters that you and your boys can do. But, keep close watch because safety is first !

• How to make a First-Aid Kit
• Poisionous Plants
• Internal Poisioning
• Hyperthermia
• Hypothermia
• Getting additional First-Aid training .

• A medium size tool or takle box
• A pair of scissors, matches, tweezers, cotton balls, safety pins, straight pins,
• Adhesive tape
• 2 inch and 4 inch gause bandages
• An assortment of different size bandages
• Anitseptic, amonia, rubbing alcohol
• Ant-acid tablets, asprin, calamine lotion, and baking soda
• How-to book on First-Aid

• Tomato Plant---Most parts except for the fruit
• Oleander---All parts even when burning it, the dangerous are dangerous
• Poinsetta---All parts
• Caster Bean---All parts
• Poision Oak----All parts
• Sumac---All parts
• Poision Ivy---All parts
• Milk Weed---All parts
• Dumb Cane Diffenbachi---All parts
• Angel Trumpet---All parts especially the flower parts
• Elephant Ears---All parts
• Prayer Plant---All parts
• Oak Tree---Acorn(before it is cooked), leaves
• Pine Tree---Needles and Pine Cone
• Phitonia--All parts
• Day Lilly---Bulb

• When walking on an open road walk in single file facing oncoming traffic.
• When day hiking or backpacking, carry around 20% of your body weight in your backpack to prevent injury and fatigue.
• Carry some kind of insect repellent
• Be aware of the wilderness and the potential of danger wildlife can impose.
• Know the state laws while hiking.
• Make sure someone in your hiking group has a well-equipped First-Aid kit.
• Before you hike, make sure your walking shoes are broken in. Keep toe nails clipped, feet dry, wear two pairs of "Tube Socks" for comfort and protection.
• Take your first break and check for hot spots on your feet to prevent blisters and loosen up clothing to get comfortable for the rest of the hike. Take breaks when needed, but not to many.

• Whittle away from body
• Keep knives, saws, and axes sharp
• Use a chopping block with an axe and a sawbuck with a saw
• Never lay tools on the ground
• Keeps knives, axe, hatchets, and saws in their sheaths
• Clear away area where you are going an axe.

• Clear the ground and over-hang of a tree to prevent a camp fire from getting out of control. And do not start a camp fire under a tree if at all possible
• Build a fire big enough that is adiquite for you and your group
• Keep plenty of water and other means of putting a camp fire if the fire gets dangerous
• Never leave a camp fire unattended

• Have a whistle
• Do not panic. Remember where you were befor you got lost
• Try to back-track where you've been
• Pray to God for protection, being found, and to help you to keep your wits

• Cover with a poncho anbd suspend your backpack from a high branch and tie it off at the trunk of the tree to protect it from the elements and wildlife
• Never put food or your backpack in the tent with you. Wildlife like something to eat and will come through a tent flap/screen for something to eat. A tent is for sleeping only!
• Never feed the wildlife
• Take out more than what you take in and leave nothing behind. (This is a part of taking care of God's creation and taking care of the eco-system in the woods.

• Sock and underwear should be changed daily
• Bathing daily is needed when possible
• Hands should be washed before handling food
• Know your physical limitations. Rest as often as needed to prevent physical exhaustion
• Do a body check for ticks, lice, rashes, burns, ect. on a daily basis

• Strain water with through a cloth and boil water at a "Rolling Boil" for 15 minutes. Shake water after boiling to re-oxygeninate for about 5 minute and let cool before drinking.
• When using "Halazone" tablets, pay strict attention to the directions
• Use one drop of chlorine bleach to a gallon to sanitize the water for drinking

Parts of a Compass The Direction of Travel shows which to walk after the compass is set. The Degree's shows you the angle of travel in relation to the compass---North (Not true North). The Magnetic Needle shows the [Magnetic] Direction ( North, South, East, West) of travel. It may seem the Magnetic Direction moves, but it doesn't--- You do! The Orienting Arrow is the arrow under the magnetic needle. This is to align the rest of the compass up with the magnetic needle so the heading is correct.

THE STARS is another way to find your direction. Look for the "Big Dipper" in the sky. Start from the handle and follow it down that forms the edge of the dipper. Locate the two stars that are in line with each other. Those two stars will point you to the "North Star". Now, knowing where the North Star is, you know what direction you are going.

The weather tells us what is going to happen. For example:

• Red in the morning, sailor take warning. Red before night, sailor's delight.
• Cotton floating in the air, moderate wind and weather fair.
• Mackeral in the sky, a storm is nigh.
• A circle around the moon, a storm is very soon.
• Rain before seven, clear before eleven.

Your poisionous snakes (Viper) has a "V" shaped head. They are Rattle Snake, Coral Snake, Cotton Mouth, and Water Moccasin. The most aggressive of the four poisionous snakes is the Water Moccasin. The Coral Snake is dosal when it isn't aggrivated. Also, it has yellow, red and black strips on its body. The Cotton Mouth has a white mouth. The Rattle Snake has a warning sign. It has a rattle that makes a noise much like a baby's rattle. Most of the time, if the Rattle Snake doesn't feel threatenend and it has a distance of 20 feet between you and him, more than likely, it will avoid you and leave. Remember, there are exceptions to every rule---keep that in mind when you come across the Rattle Snake.

In the Sports, Recreation, and Activities section of this web site, there are great ideas that will show you what can be done and how to do games and events. Here are some other suggestions that will help you.

• Misssion Games and Activities for Grades 1-6 (Periodical)
• Mission Activities for Men and Boys (Periodical)
• "Mission Games and Activities"Section in the Easy Royal Ambassador Planbook
• "Games and Activities for Lads" and "Games and Activities for Crusaders" Booklets

1. Devotions that are the theme of the camping experience is an effective way of presenting what God's word has to say in daily living.
2. Discussion or Group Time with the boys is a great way to show the possibilities of how God can work in other people's lives and having boys to be ready for God to work in their lives when they get older.
3. Assign a pastor, leaders, or others certain portions of camp fire time to speak in the area God has given abilities to minister in.
4. Sealed Orders is an old but effective way for counselors to have a small group time on topics of discussion that is very important to the boys. Also, it is for a "Quiet Time" for for scripture reading and reflecting on the Lord.
5. Spontaneous Worship while hiking or backpacking on a trail happens frequently and is very positive and is instrumental when a leader is sensitive to the leading of the Lord. The leader has got to have a trusting and open relation with his group for this to happen.
6. Morning Watch is a brief time before day break, breakfast, and activities begin and is exellent when it is you and God's Nature to reflect on God, himself.
7. Formal Worship or Camp Fire worshipping God is great when you are away from the church with your group.
8. Bon Fire Cermonies is another that decisions are made for the Lord and lives are changed.