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Lashings, spars and the knots that hold everything together. Scouters built towers, bridges and camp gadgets, then shared the plans.
242 posts · 2007–2020
Showing 1–50 of 118 posts
An Opportunity Identified: Last spring, on April 12-14, a Scout Expo was held on the extensive grounds of the Myrtle Beach Speedway in Myrtle Beach, SC. for the purpose of increasing public awareness and celebrating Scouting throughout the eleven counties of the Pee Dee Area Council .
Getting those Hand and Foot Ropes Nice and Tight! This is the seventh post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. VII. The rope tackle is a major player when there’s a need to add guy lines to stabilize a pioneering structure, or to increase the torque on a…
3-2-1 Anchor This is the eighth post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. VIII. For a wide range of pioneering structures, anchors are crucial to their stability and safety. When nature doesn’t furnish natural anchors as in trees or boulders in just the right location, it becomes necessary…
Interpatrol FUN! New Market Ballista (top) Everyone on the Tripod (bottom) What makes a really good interpatrol competition? Depending on what’s involved, an interpatrol competition or challenge can be the highlight of the Scout meeting. Does it incorporate the use of relevant Scout skills?
credits (clockwise from top left) Amazon , Scoutwiki , Scouts-Europe , Carton, Bricolage, Decoration Discussions around the setting out posts led me to something new: the French practice of building pioneered projects with carpentry joints instead of ropes. The construction is inspired by traditional rural furniture and farm equipment, built without nails.
Copyright Scouter Mom - A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting Boy Scouts can practice their knot skills and build amazing projects when they work on the Pioneering merit badge . This is another one our Scouts often earn at summer camp.
Tripod Lashing With Plain Turns This is the sixth post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. VI. The tripod is the most simple and most easy to erect self-standing pioneering structure. It frequently comes into play in the construction of simple camp gadgets as in providing a stand…
South African Scouter Peter Le Roux maintains the excellent Ropes and Pole s blog. Here's a recent post on expanding the use of pioneering projects: Pioneering projects are great fun to build, and there is a good sense of accomplishment that can be achieved, but I'm always looking for a pioneering project to be a…
Pioneering projects are great fun to build, and there is a good sense of accomplishment that can be achieved, but I'm always looking for a pioneering project to be a bit more useful in the long term. When I was a Troop Scouter, if a Scout proposed a project, I always looked for another angle…
This is the fifth post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. V. With the square lashing under their belts, Scouts can start to actually build pioneering projects. Though the basic and oft-used A-frame can be readily completed using three square lashings, the Two-Spar Shear Lashing is most frequently…
Scouts Lash the Tops of Their Shear Legs with a SHEAR LASHING to Begin Their Single A-Frame Bridges DEFINITION: ambiguous |amˈbigyoōəs|adjective(of language) open to more than one interpretation; having a double meaning; unclear or inexact From the 1981 Printing of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet One Thing is NOT Ambiguous!
A Smaller Double Tripod Chippewa Kitchen for a Single Patrol Basically, this is a mini version of the full-sized Double Tripod Chippewa Kitchen . Same procedure, just scaled down, and a perfect fit for one patrol. The only things different here are the dimensions: 2 6′ x 2-1/2 to 3″ platform support spars 6 6′ x…
Scouts from Santee Lodge wave from a Single A-Frame Bridge built during OA Week at Camp Coker. A member of Santee Lodge, 116, Order of the Arrow, helps Webelos Scouts cross the monkey bridge his chapter built during a District “Webeloree.”
Pioneering tower challenge; build this tower using this sketch. Send me a picture of the result! It won't be easy, certainly, but is it possible? You may want to refer to this book for a little help. Pioneering Tower Challenge
photographs by Liesl de Weerd click to see full-sized image This pioneering sculpture was created by a Scout named Ruan from 1st Horison , a Scout group on the West Rand near Johannesburg in South Africa (map below). Ruan is working towards Springbok Scout – the highest rank in Scouts South Africa, like our Eagle Scout.
The 'incident hike' is a pioneering exercise for the whole patrol. The general idea is that a patrol of Scouts will hike along a predetermined route, in the wilderness, in camp or in town, and solve a series of 'incidents' or 'obstacles' along the way,using pioneering equipment carried with them, or provided at the scene.
Once upon a time there was a Patrol Leader. He was smart, he was a good Scout, his Patrol admired and trusted him, and he could do no wrong. One day that changed, though. It was a camping trip that was not unlike any other, and the Patrol Leader wanted to build a Pioneering structure…
Wooden poles are the main ingredient in building a pioneering structure. Everyone knows what a pole is. Depending on the project at hand, we use them in all different lengths and diameters. But, what are all these references to spars?
This is the fourth post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. IV. Simply speaking, Pioneering can be seen as building structures by lashing together spars. In most cases, the lashing that is used is the square lashing.
Getting Ready to Race Chariot races are fun and here’s about the easiest version around. Once Scouts are familiar with the two-spar shear lashing and square lashing , they can make an A-Frame to serve as a simple carrying structure (chariot).
Here are two videos that will reveal something of what went on in the Pioneering Area up on Garden Ground Mountain at the Summit. MUCH better when viewed in Full screen!
This is the third post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. III. In the BSA, the square knot is commonly referred to as a joining knot and tying it is a requirement to earn the new member Scout Badge.
Engineering for Scouts 1 covered tension,compression,bending and torsion - the different types of force that a structure can experience. This post looks at how structures can be braced to make them stable. So, if we start with the simplest possible project, a flagpole, we will see there are three things we can do to brace it…
This is the second post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. Two Half Hitches Over the Top of a Pole Forming a Clove Hitch II. In Pioneering, half hitches are everywhere! Two of them next to each other is a clove hitch , and that’s something we use time…
This is the first post in a series that will eventually comprise an activity-based, unit pioneering program curriculum. I. There are numerous terms pertaining to knots and working with rope, but the four presented here, along with some simple “moves” requiring a minimum amount of dexterity, will be useful when learning and applying some of…
The log is steadied on top of a corner block. The Atomic Pile as featured on Garden Ground Mountain in the pioneering area at the 2013 national jamboree inspired this smaller scale version which can be set up outdoors on a lawn for a troop meeting.
Getting Ready For the Toss Tying that Sheep Shank Those visiting the Pioneering Area on Garden Ground Mountain had an opportunity to find out how well and how fast they could lift a log off the ground by coiling a rope and tossing it over a crossbar, tying a Timber Hitch around a log on…
This Area Saw Plenty of Action During the building process , an area adjacent to the Hourglass Tower saw a lot of action for whipping rope and sharpening pioneering stakes. During the jamboree, it was set up for rope making, for hitching and lashing instruction, and as a display of camp gadgets.
Peschke Field featured a wide range of interactive pioneering structures and projects. In addition to bridges, towers, catapults and the camp gadget/skills area, Scouts and Venturers could experience the following Pioneering Games and Activity Stations: CHALLENGING FUN Atomic Pile Like all good team building challenges, the “Atomic Pile” requires concentration, cooperation, and strict attention to…
3 Display Towers Small Towers, Large FUN! Three signal towers (14′ Double Ladder, Hourglass, and Stilt Tower) were presented in what was referred to as “Tower Town” in the pioneering area up on Garden Ground Mountain during the 2013 national jamboree.
From left to right: 14′ Double Ladder Signal Tower, Hourglass Tower, Stilt Tower, AT&T “Signal” Tower, 4′ x 4′ x 5-1/2′ Climbing Tower, 5-1/2′ x 5-1/2′ x 4-1/2′ Climbing Tower Six towers were featured in Peschke Field . Four were for display and two were for climbing.
After a supply of bamboo was used for the gateway to Peschke Field up on Garden Ground Mountain, a team of Pioneering staff received the inspiration to use most of what was left over to comically copy one of AT&T’s nearby cell towers.
Stilt Tower Display in the Pioneering Area on Garden Ground Mountain Pioneering Staff Member Surveys the Progress around Peschke Field Of the four display towers featured in Peschke Field at the 2013 National Jamboree, the Stilt Tower was the second to be constructed, hoisted, and anchored.
Hourglass a.k.a. Pyramid Tower, erected next to the Camp Gadget / Skills Instruction area. Hourglass Tower Display: Rope Ladder Side The Hourglass Tower in the 2013 National Jamboree Pioneering Area was set up as one of four tower displays. “The Hourglass Tower is something of a classic for Scout pioneering.
Left to Right: Crossing Single A-Frame Bridge / Building Single A-Frame Bridge / Crossing Prestressed Triple Walkway Bridge / Crossing Double A-Frame Monkey Bridge The bridges featured in the pioneering area of the 2013 National Jamboree were a modified Double A-Frame Monkey Bridge , a specially designed pre-stressed triple walkway bridge, and two Single A-Frame Bridge s that Scouts…
The Crew on their Pre-stressed Triple Walkway Bridge After the spars were skinned and the initial supply of ropes were cut and whipped, there were about three days to build the pioneering area and batten down the hatches in readiness for the first troops to take the hike up to Garden Ground.
Modified Double A-Frame Monkey Bridge For those familiar with the traditional Double A-Frame Monkey Bridge design , a couple of noticeable modifications will be apparent from the outset. (Click on the photos for larger views.) Scout engineering is a fluid undertaking, and frequently variations are necessary.
Our Inimitable Quarter Master: Benny Poedjono waits on RIck Strong. Ropes . For thirty different pioneering projects and structures, plenty of rope had to be measured, cut, and whipped for lashings, anchors, and guy lines. We had plenty of manila and appropriate synthetic fiber rope in a variety of diameters on hand, and thanks to a…
The Pioneering Area was named Peschke Field after Adolph Peschke , who through the years had motivated and inspired so many with his high standards, creativity, and pioneering know-how. The following layout is a depiction of the pioneering projects and activities featured at the 2013 national jamboree up on Garden Ground Mountain at the Summit Bechtel…
A Triumphant Success—posing on their Single A-Frame Bridge In the Pioneering Area of the 2013 national jamboree, we put together a couple of Single A-Frame Bridge kits, so Scouts and Venturers could build this simple crossing bridge during their visit to Garden Ground Mountain.
Scouting has spread around the world (at last count, every country in the world except for 6 had active Scouts), and pioneering has spread with it, from forests to jungles to polar regions to open grasslands. This map summarises the timber Scouts use for pioneering around the world.
Camp Coker Pioneering Merit Badge Class: Single Trestle Bridge Over a Shallow Creek CLICK HERE FOR SINGLE TRESTLE BRIDGE PROCEDURE, MATERIALS, AND INFORMATION. Positioning the Trestle and Lashing both Walkway Underpars to the Trestle Transom Driving in the Pioneering Stakes / Lashing the Walkways to the Stakes Lashing the Handrails to the Trestle Legs Single Trestle…
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Bridges are very popular pioneering projects. Essentially, a bridge consists of one or more trestles that support some sort of walkway.
FIrst of all, the square knot (reef knot) is primarily a binding knot. That is, it’s used to secure a rope or line around an object. In pioneering, its most basic function is to commonly finish off a strop lashing , Japanese square lashing , Filipino diagonal lashing , West Country shear lashing , and both the West Country…
FULL CAMPCRAFT REVISIONS HERE Page 304 , Tarps, top right drawing — INCORRECT: Use a pair of actual photos illustrating a double half hitch at the grommet and a correctly illustrated double half hitch to secure the stone! (These photos are accurate): TOOLS Chapter 12, Page 378 , improve the illustrations — I’ve got excellent action photos that are…
Highwayman’s Hitch This is a neat quick-release knot that can hold a considerable strain. It’s also known as the fireman’s hitch and the highwayman’s hitch. Though there is no verifiable evidence that it was ever used by robbers on horseback to unhitch their horses for a quick getaway, it is ideal for reliably securing a…
Put it together, lift it up, and tie it down! Several Scoutcraft skills come into play in order to successfully complete this Simple Flagpole challenge. Each patrol flies their patrol flag from a 14′ flagpole they construct using the following materials: 4 Scout Staves (or 3 Scout Staves if their patrol flag is already tied…
Though there have been some changes and modifications through the years, in most respects, pioneering in the Boy Scouts remains constant. Why Pioneering! The following text has been extracted from the Introduction to the 1981 Printing of the 1974 Revision of the BSA Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet.
Patch from Schiff Back in the spring of 1976, while walking through the Mortimer L. Schiff Scout Reservation , then the BSA National Training Center, there was a memorable encounter with a tall man. Seeing the young Scouter, the tall man figuratively embraced him with a smile, warmly acknowledging the younger man like they were lifelong…
Scaffold Hitch rigged with a Bowline Bundles of 4′ Spars The scaffold hitch is a superb knot, and in pioneering easily serves a dual purpose. Primary Role : This is a seriously good knot to use in the construction of a pioneering project bosun’s chair ( boatswain’s chair ) for a small, straight aerial runway adaptation or a…
