Topic
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 151–200 of 242 posts
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Building this bridge is quite simple because there are very few lashings needed for the center A-frame.
Bridge Project built in Brazilian Boy Scout Camp Before we relate this interesting, real-life account, here’s a little about building bridges and Pioneering: To open up the frontier, pioneers built BRIDGES. To this day, the most familiar and most functional of all “larger” pioneering projects are bridges.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: When you have to tie the ends of two large ropes (1/2″-diameter or larger) together, there is no better knot to use than the carrick bend.
Sure APPEARS to be manila! There was a volunteer who procured ten 50′ x 1/4″ packages of what was presented as 100% manila rope. He wanted to prepare the rope to be used for Scout pioneering projects and set about diligently pre-stretching each 50′ length, cutting each into various lengths for lashing, painstakingly applying a…
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: A trestle is the basic component for building a bridge in a pioneering project. It is used to support the walkways.
Using the 14′ Double Ladder Signal Tower as a point of reference, here are plans for a very tall campsite gateway that should stand out (and up) and serve as an impressive feat of Scout engineering. Since this 14′ structure won’t be climbed on, the spars can be considerably thinner in diameter.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Once you learn to tie and use the constrictor knot, you will wonder where it has been hiding in all those knot books and why it isn’t in wider use today.
It’s a race, but, you got to tie ‘em tight! The square lashing is the basic type of lashing for most pioneering projects. The more a Scout ties them, the more they become like second nature. That means, when the tying of an efficient and tight square lashing is “no sweat,” building a pioneering structure…
The challenge built into this activity comes into play after the lashing is finished. The patrol is simply building a very well-lashed A-frame. As with all pioneering endeavors, team work is essential. With this challenge, it’s absolutely necessary! Alligator Pit Materials for each patrol: 2 4″ x 8′ spars to serve as A-frame shear legs…
The following text and some of the drawings are by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: We could imagine the first lashing made by man was wrapping a few strips of bark around a stone to hold it to a tree branch…
Larry Green (no relation) has an excellent website and blog on the subject of Scout Pioneering : My name is Larry Green and for over twenty years, I've been a student of the late, greatly-loved and widely admired Adolph Peschke, author of the (previous) Pioneering Merit Badge pamphlet, and the acknowledged designer of thirty original "boy-sized…
This is a simple and quick way to tie a tripod lashing. The wraps are not woven in and out between the spars. The running end is just simply wrapped around all three, rather tightly. Gerald Findley refers to this lashing as a Tripod Lashing with Plain Turns.
Everybody is on! Some years ago a newly-formed and very young troop, barely a year old, attended a Council-wide Camporee. One of the patrol competitions was an Everyone on the Tripod race. They entered three patrols. When the smoke cleared, and the judging was completed, out of over fifty patrols present at the camporee, they…
Richard Francis "John" Thurman (4 April 1911 – April 1985) was Camp Chief of Gilwell Park from 1943 to 1969. In 1943, he introduced the Gilwell woggle awarded on the completion of basic training, and the Gilwell scarf and the Wood Badge beads were awarded on the completion of Advanced Training.
Roundturn with Two Half Hitches The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: This is one of the basic knots that is very reliable for a number of uses in pioneering work.
I've watched Scouts who struggle with the traditional square lashing (especially getting it tight enough) learn the Japanese square lashing quickly and go on to actually building stuff rather than fiddling with lashings. The Japanese Square Lashing is a vast improvement over the traditional square lashing Scouts normally use that involves tying clove hitches.
The classic chariot race has been run in a variety of ways. This one uses an H-Frame Trestle , which is the basic component of many pioneering projects. For that matter, in pioneering circles when we refer to a trestle, we mean the H-Frame, so there should be no confusion.
Put most simply, the sheet bend a very useful knot. It’s a very basic joining knot for tying two ropes together, and when a lot of pull is applied, it’s easier to undo than a square knot (reef knot). It is most always referred to as one of the most essential knots to learn, and…
YOU’LL USE IT AGAIN AND AGAIN The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: A butterfly knot is a fixed loop tied in the middle of a rope.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Pioneering is the knowledge and skill of using simple materials to build structures that are used in a wide range of Scouting activities.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Building pioneering projects often requires some type of strong point for attaching a guy line for a tower or derrick.
From certain perspectives, the following pioneering kit presented in the informative older Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet is undoubtedly very extensive for a single unit, and better suited for a kit stored in a large shed or storage facility earmarked for multi-unit use in a District or Council.
James Keller, Director of the Pioneering Action Center for the 2013 National Jamboree, related a story about the Japanese Mark II Square Lashing. He described how back in 1993, Adolph Peschke had mandated that his staff should just use the Japanese Mark II square lashing for the Jamboree’s pioneering projects.
Steps in Tying the Timber Hitch The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet in the Lashing Section describing the traditional diagonal lashing… When putting crossed braces on a structure to keep it from racking (as used when making…
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: Before you begin learning new knots, you need to know some of the basic terms used in knot tying.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: KEY FACTORS TO CONSIDER There are several important factors to consider when selecting the kind and size of rope to use in pioneering and camping activities.
Racing over to the log! If the site where you hold your meetings can feature a “permanent” crossbar about 10′ high, then your Scouts can frequently practice and enjoy this activity whenever the opportunity is presented. Otherwise, erecting the crossbar is itself a mini-pioneering challenge, and if you have the grounds, can be regularly put…
Simple Self-Standing Trash Bag Holder Getting that garbage bag off the ground has all kinds of advantages, but sometimes, you can’t hammer sticks into the ground to make the easy three stake holder . There might be any number of reasons.
Single Lock Bridge Photo Scanned from 1967 Field Book The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: The single lock bridge shown here is a well-established and basic design.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: This simple crossing bridge uses only a single trestle and two walkways . The legs of the trestle are extended up above the walkway to provide a way to attach a handrail.
The following text is by Adolph E. Peschke as presented in the 1998 printing of the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet: PIONEERING PROJECTS The craft of building with ropes and spars continues in remote areas throughout the world today.
Those of us who have experience providing a program of Scout Pioneering, and who are familiar with the edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet written by the legendary Adolph Peschke , will have no difficulty relating to why there are repeated references and allusions to the 1993, 1998 edition in this website.
Soon after the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet was published, I ventured to contact its author with some questions. Happily, I was able to reach him at his home, and was treated to enthusiastic explanations regarding the projects our troop wanted to build.
This signal tower went up on a camping trip in March of 2000 in a large grassy field. The operation took a little over two hours. PHASE 1: Before we started, a well-muscled sledge hammer crew, made up of Jason Hardee, Theodore Fontana, Cory Keibler, Kurt Lester, and Will Hall, took turns pounding in 24…
The following text is by Pioneering Legend, Adolph Peschke, author of the renowned 1993 edition of the Boy Scouts of America’s Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet, from his treatise entitled “Pioneering With Laminated Spars.” Some additions have been included in this post, for the purpose of practical elaboration.
A Very Useful Hitch! John Thurman lists the rolling hitch as one of the essential pioneering knots. It’s similar to a clove hitch, but it’s a lot less likely to slip under a sideways pull. When securing a guy line to a horizontal spar, the rolling hitch can be used in lieu of a roundturn…
This design idea was retrieved from John Thurman’s Pioneering for the Patrol . Interpatrol Pioneering Challenge When the patrols have learned their round lashing and square lashing, they’ll be ready for this indoor challenge which gives them an opportunity to use what they’ve learned in a new way.
Tool Rack 2 Please refer to the “sales pitch” provided in the Tool Rack post spelling out all the advantages inherent in building one of these simple camp gadgets. It is a good-looking campsite improvement project, but mainly, it’s got major functionality.
Other Places on the site, I've talked about John Thurman, an influential British Scouter. He was the head of the famous Gilwell Scout Park in England for some time. In addition, he wrote many good books on various topics of Scouting.
Click on the image for a larger view, and scroll down for a revealing pictorial illustration! First of all, with this improved, or double, floor lashing, the floor spars (floor slats, decking poles) are attached (looped) in two places, on either side to each platform support (stringer pole, rafter).
Schematic for Double Platform Monkey Bridge Design Here are the materials needed to construct this project: 8 8′ x 4″ spars for platform legs 4 8′ x 3 -1/2″ spars for X-braces 4 6′ x 2 -1/2″ diagonal side braces 8 4′ x 3″ spars for side base spreaders (4) and platform supports (4) 16…
Simple 1-1 Anchor with rope tackle We apply a rope tackle where the guy lines meet the anchors for pretty much all our pioneering projects. For safety reasons, taut-line hitches should never be used in any pioneering work, because if the tension is eased the knot can slip.
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.
NEWSLETTERS: Vol. 2, No. 11, pg2: Whitewater Rafting, Nantahala River Vol. 2, No. 11, pg1: Whitewater Rafting, Nantahala River Vol. 2, No. 10, pg4: Camp Barstow Vol. 2, No. 10, pg3: Camp Barstow Vol. 2, No. 10, pg2: Troop Bus catches fire Vol.
Small Clothes Rack Designed very closely along the lines of the Simple Camp Table , this is an easy solution to how to dry wet clothing and towels at a long-term camp. It takes up less space while drying more wet things.
The following description is adapted from Adolph Peschke’s narrative on the “boy-sized” 14′ Double Ladder Signal Tower , from the 1993 edition of the Pioneering Merit Badge Pamphlet . MATERIALS: Pioneering Tower Design Diagram 4 3 1/2″ x 14′ tower legs 6 2″ x 4′ side spreaders 2 3″ x 4′ bottom spreaders 4 2″ x 6′…
Washing up before lunch. This wash station is the ideal First Class Camp Gadget! It’s sturdy, portable, and very useful when camping away from washroom facilities. Inherent in its design is a sound approach to a variety of pioneering concepts and skills.
The following explanation and diagram is from the pioneering resources on the Scouts of South Africa website . “The Filipino diagonal lashing serves the same purpose as the ordinary diagonal lashing. It is particularly useful when lashing thin spars or bamboo spars together when they spring apart or need to be pulled together to close a…
Tools are Organized, Accessible and Looking Good Fundamentally speaking, as long as a campsite is safe and clean, all’s well. However, especially for longer term camps (or when displaying demonstrations of Scoutcraft skills), there’s definitely something to say for the added convenience of a campsite tool rack.
This small camp table is completely functional and provides a convenient raised surface for personal, patrol, or general use. It’s simple design provides for quick and easy set up, and it is surprisingly stable. Make the table legs . Start by lashing four 6′ staves with shear lashings, to make the table’s legs.
