Cyber Scouter

All Tied Up

2009-04-14T18:18:00.001-07:00

A few months ago we started reviewing knots with the boys. It became quickly evident that they had little interest in learning the knots that they needed for rank. Even some of our experienced scouts has forgotten the basics. However, there was no enthusiasm to learning or relearning these knots by any of the boys let alone mastering them.

Enter the Knot Man...

A friend of mine has a fascination with knots. Where some focus on First Aid, or Survival or even camp cooking, there are some people that have a fascination with knots. These individuals can be a Scoutmasters best friend at times like this.

He came over during our next camping trip to show the boys a few fancier knots. Namely the monkey's fist and the lanyard knot. While the intention was that he would only stay for an hour or so, he ended up working with the boys for 3 hours. (which was ok as the temperature outside the camp building was hovering around 10 degrees).

Next he came back a few weeks later to work with the boys on lashings. The end result?

The boys have found some new interest in knot tying both the ones they need for rank in addition to other more fancy knots. We are doing more with the knots in general by also adding some additional knot based projects into the upcoming year. One of the projects we are going to be starting is in support of the idea that a scout is reverent. Namely a rosary. http://www.rosaryarmy.com/?page_id=8
The first week in May brings us to a Catholic, Jewish, Protestant retreat with the Baltimore Area Council. This will be a good distraction during down time with the boys.

While you are looking for ideas check out these sites for some interesting projects that you can do with knots.
Stormdrane's Blog spot http://stormdrane.blogspot.com/
Knot Heads World Wide http://www.khww.net/photogallery.php?rowstart=12
Instructables http://www.instructables.com/

As to the supplies paracord seems to be the best to work with for some of these projects. You want to look for 550 paracord some places to get this cord include:
Supply Captain (http://www.supplycaptain.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=page.Store)
Rope Warehouse (http://www.rwrope.com) email Bob Dollar and request a catalog. Bob can be reached at bob@rwrope.com. RW also has a whole selection of rope working tools, small diameter cord, etc..
Additional vendors and ideas always welcome.

The Compass Rose

2009-04-11T15:32:00.000-07:00

Well in a week our spring Camporee will be upon us. The theme this year is orienteering and geology. That being said will the boys be ready? Only time will tell. what I have found is a large number of resources on orienteering that a scoutmaster can use for teaching this skill and keeping it fun.

First are the games. The BSA have two game available that teaches skill while having some fun. The first I tried last Wednesday with great success.
Compass Game
I can honestly say both scouts and scoutmasters have had fund with this particular game. I am not sure who had more fun that evening.

The other I am holding in reserve for a later time.
Beginner’s compass game

Next are some local resources including :
• The Quantico Orienteering Club (http://qoc.nova.org/). I would check to see if you have a club like this in your area.
• Also the National Park Services (http://www.nps.gov/cato/planyourvisit/orienteering.htm). Courses are being offered in our area in March and November.

These I wish I had known before this week as we might have used them and we may do so later this year. Many thanks to another local scoutmaster who provided me these local resources.

As to the gear I have a couple suggestions available via BSA.
Some styles that are recommended:

What I have already been told or discovered is to avoid the following traits in a compass:

Compasses with wide rims around the dial are hard to get bearings and it’s easy to be off by a degree or more using these devices.
The lensatic compasses while they a cool to the boys they are very hard to use and learn for boys just starting

Comments on this subject are more than welcome. Anyone else have some good ideas?

The Starting Line

2009-04-09T18:25:00.000-07:00

I am starting this blog to aid fellow new scout leaders in particular scoutmasters with the terrors of running a new troop and to hopefully shed some light into the goings on of my local area. I am the proud scoutmaster of 5 boys and a brand new 5 month old troop. I am hoping that you will find my notes helpful if you find yourself in the same or similar circumstances.