A Scout’s Campfire

National Trails Day - Report

Add comment June 4th, 2007 09:40am spryken 280 views

June 2nd was National Trails Day and I used it to kick off work on the Hiking and Backpacking Merit Badges for our Troop.  We have approximately 65 scouts registered in the troop.  Of those 21 have signed up to work on the merit badges and 7 actually showed up on Saturday.  Some may feel disappointed in such numbers, but it was what I expected.  Due to the number of hikes required by these merit badges, I have planned on having to break the boys up into groups anyway.  Most of the boys have full schedules with sports, school, music and scouts.  No one will be able to make every scheduled activity.

The Hike

We met at the NC Museum of Art in Raleigh, NC at 9:30.  The Museum staff and volunteers were extremely receptive to our coming and offer to tailor the presentation to our needs.  They had 2 hike scheduled for the day at 10:00 and 2:00.  We were joined by several other patrons and started out on the trek.  Jerrod, our guide, pointed out that the entire Museum Park was considered Art, not just the exhibits in it.  Different structures have been placed so that from above you see the words “PICTURE THIS”.  The boys had fun trying to figure out what structures made which letters.  The biggest hit was probably the Cloud Chamber, a camera obsura.  The entire hut is a pinhole camera, it brings the sky down to your feet.

After the guided tour of the art in the park, we left our guide and continued our hike.  We crossed the Greenway bridge over I-440 and then returned to the park’s picnic area.  After the boys had lunch, we went over most of the bookwork for the Hiking Merit Badge, first-aid, leave no trace, hiking safety, hiking courtesy, hike plans and reports.  A very good start to the merit badge.

The boys learned that a hike does not necessarily mean putting on a heavy backpack and camping.  The short hike gave them a taste of what is involved and that extended walking is exercise.  I think they realize that the longer hikes required by the merit badge will take some training.  I informed the boys that our next hike will be 5 or 6 miles.  I am not going to jump to the required 10 mile hikes until I see that they are ready.  I have some 10-11 year olds along with  the 14-15 year olds.  I will probably have to split the boys by skill levels and since I have so many signed up, that should not be a problem.

If anyone has any ideas about types of hikes or how to work the younger boys up to the longer hikes,  please comment.  I have a lot of adult participation and assistance so doing multiple trips or hike should not be a problem.  I said I had 7 boys but our group totaled 14.  That’s 1 adult per boy.  I know I won’t always have that ratio but it is good to know I have that type of support!!

Hike On!

Entry Filed under: Boy Scouts, Hiking

Turkey Bag Cooking

Add comment May 31st, 2007 06:16pm spryken 633 views

You can use the oven roasting bags, also known as turkey bags, to cook on camping trips. I don’t mean to bake or roast anything, although you can do that too. No, you can use a turkey bag to cook your dehydrated trail meals.

When our troop goes on extended backpacking trips, such as Philmont or our upcoming AT Trip, we share the load of crew gear. We carry 2 stoves and 2 large pots. We do not have to carry 1 stove per person and a pot per person, so we save on total weight.

Here is how we use the turkey bags. We all eat the same dehydrated meal. Measure the required water and bring to a boil. Pour all of the dehydrated meals into a turkey bag. Place the bag in an empty pot and carefully pour in the boiling water. Stir thoroughly, this will take some work. Then close the bag as tightly as possible and let sit. It will need to sit a few minutes longer than the recommended cooking time. Open the bag and again stir thoroughly. Serve. Clean-up is easy, store the used turkey bag in your trash container.

You can do other bag cooking too. Using a zipper bag you can make omelettes. Place 2-3 eggs in a quart size bag. Squish the bag around to “beat” the eggs. Add any omelette fillings you like and cheese. Close the bag and place in a pot of just boiling water. One word of caution, use freezer grade bags. Any others will melt against the side of the pot.

Again, easy clean-up. The boys have fun with the omelettes too.

Entry Filed under: Backpacking, Boy Scouts, Camping, Cooking, Gear

Backpacking - A Team Building Exercise

Add comment May 31st, 2007 07:57am spryken 302 views

Looking at Backpacking related websites you might get the idea that Backpacking is a solo activity. Lone Hikers are not uncommon, but I think that groups of solo hikers may be more common.

What I mean by a “group of solo hikers” is a group of people who join up for a hike. They each bring their own food and gear. So in essence they each are a loosely affiliated group of solo hikers. Some Scout Troops approach backpacking that way, at least at first. There are important skills to learn in the solo hiking method. How to fend for yourself, what gear is required, how to pack that gear, etc.

Another way is Team Backpacking. You have a crew that meets and decides what gear to share. The team decides what meals to eat which involves some compromises. The team shares the duties involved in camp and food preparation.

When we took a crew to Philmont in 2005, we used the Team Backpacking method. We didn’t have to plan meals, meals were provided. But we did have to setup duty rosters, split crew gear for carrying, etc. The adult leaders provide guidance and advice, but we allowed the boys to make the decisions and do the work.

It was amazing to see the maturity and confidence level rise over the 10 days we were on the trail. There was squawking about whose turn it was to do cleanup or cooking. That is part of the growing process. So are making poor decisions.

Five boys and two leaders, including myself, are about to undertake a Team Building Backpacking trip. We have already met to make some initial decisions on what to eat. We will be in the back country of the Great Smokey Mountains National Park on the Appalachian Trail. So far the team gear list includes:

• Water Treatment tablets
• bear bags/rope
• 2 backpacking stoves/fuel
• 1 large pot for cooking
• turkey roasting bags for cooking
• lighter/matches
• first aid kit
• toilet paper and poop scoop
• map/compass
• camp suds

You may notice an odd item in that list, turkey bags. That deserves its own post so more on that in my next post.

We will meet at least one more time before the trip to review our plans. I will probably try to nudge them to consider creating a duty roster. With just 2 1/2 days on the trail and 5 boys, I will try to get them to change Hike Master and Navigator duties every 1/2 day so that everyone gets a taste of being “in charge”. The leaders’ hardest job is keeping our noses out!!

Let the team build itself.

Entry Filed under: Backpacking, Boy Scouts, Gear

Must Control Jealousy

Add comment May 25th, 2007 10:58am spryken 160 views

Crow has checked in from the PCT.  Here I am, stuck in the office, shackled by responsibility.  Some day, I promise myself, some day I will be able to do an AT thru-hike.  Or at least annual long section hikes.

My hindrances? I’m the sole money earner for the family currently and I am a Scoutmaster.  Being a Scoutmaster means that a lot of my vacation time is consumed supervising scout events.  NOT that I am complaining.  I love my family and am fully supporting my partner in her magazine endeavor.  I am a Scout through and through.  And Scouting gets my outdoor fix.

I will be able to hold off my Jealousy.  I will!!  I have a small group of older scouts that is going to do between 30-35 miles on the AT starting June 15th.  I will be there.  Clingman’s Dome to Lake Fontana.  Only 21 more days to go.  More on that trip in another post.

I’ve just gotta keep my FOCUS on what I have.

Entry Filed under: Backpacking

National Trails Day

2 comments May 23rd, 2007 10:24pm spryken 541 views

June 2nd is National Trails Day.

The American Hiking Society is celebrating the 15th year of National Trails Day.  There are events all over the country from sponsored hikes to trail maintenance.

I am launching a series on the Hiking and Backpacking merit badges for our troop in conjunction with the National Trails Day event at the NC Museum of Art.  The Museum is holding guided hikes on the 1.5 mile Museum Park trail.  There will be explanations of some of the Park’s exhibits.

I feel this is a great way to introduce the boys to hiking.  And I mean hiking as opposed to backpacking.  So many of the boys seem to think that they have to strap on a backpack to earn the hiking merit badge.  Hiking can be any type of walk.  It can be backpacking, but it can also be a walk along a greenway or at the local park, even a learning hike at a local museum.

The 3 mile round trip hike will also allow me to see how our new boys can handle the more rigorous hikes required by the hiking merit badge.  I hope to slowly introduce the boys to longer and more strenuous hikes, maybe even hook them on the backpacking trips I love.

I hope to get the boys more involved with the trail maintenance activities next year.  But building interest in trails is the idea behind the National Trails Day.  I urge you to go out and find a trail activity near you.  Get involved.

Hike On!

Entry Filed under: Backpacking, Boy Scouts, Hiking