Great Tricks That You Can Learn

April 15, 2019

Solutions to Mosquito & Pest Free Scouting Trips

Campfire Tripod Just because you love spending time in the outdoors, does not mean you have to love all parts of nature. You can choose to embrace the tent, or you can relax in a cabin. You can enjoy swimming in the lake, or you can opt to sit around a campfire. The beauty of the outdoors is that there is always something for every person to enjoy doing most. The downside is, when you are having fun, pests are there to spoil it. What if there was a viable solution to mosquito and pest control that could be used on scouting trips? Would you enjoy it a little more?

For the Love of Nature

Deet Everyone loves the idea of camping and spending the time outdoors. Yet, we often hate that we are in the great outdoors. It comes with certain annoyances. Kids are often not excited to get mosquito bites. We don’t want to apply a lot of bug repellent to help them out. Adults who love scouting trips and camps, also dread getting “bugged”. The growing concern over DEET, only makes it worse. How do you manage to get beyond the bugs and back to having a good time?

Stop Bugs from Bothering Troops

As a scout leader, you know that time in the woods is more than a camping trip. You teach kids about teamwork. You explore the world. You get in touch with nature. No one wants a good trip to be spoiled by pests. Luckily, you have pest control options that can be effective on a weekend outing.

If you know that a big trip is coming up and the grounds may be wet from recent showers, plan for it. You can use foggers. They spray a chemical which can chase bugs away for a short time. However, many scout leaders do not want to have such a major impact on the campground. Another option for scouting retreats can be propane mosquito traps. You simply deploy these traps and they will work to draw biting bugs away from the campsite. They do not damage the environment. Your entire troop will notice fewer mosquito bites. It is advised that you take a trip to put traps up at least a few days before the troops will arrive. It is worth it.

Let the Camping Fun Begin

Bug Free Camping Any camping trip will experience some problem with insects and bug bites. You are in a bug’s territory when you set out for the nearest wooded camping space. You can’t change that, and you cannot eliminate all pests. Would you really want to? Solutions to pest free scouting trips are not supposed to kill all bugs. It allows troops and scouts to avoid walking into a breeding ground without protection. The point of a trip out is to have fun. Bugs should not be the thing that makes it miserable.

John Cherokee / Camping, Great Tricks That You Can Learn /

February 21, 2019

Scouting Attire for Fancier Events

Boy Scouts are not known for their style. Every boy scout troop out there has a similar style of clothing that they wear when participating in group events. They all end up with a very traditional, brown colored, scouting outfit, whether they are two or fifty-two years old. This may be fine for cookie sales and helping neighbors, but it doesn’t do much for their image if they need to attend a more formal event with their group. It is during these rare circumstances that moms, dads, and scouts, search endlessly for scouting attire that is fit for fancier events.

The Traditional Boy Scout Attire

Boy Scout Outfit The idea behind the uniform is to serve as a reminder to all scouts of their devotion to their troop. Beyond showing their commitment, when they put on the uniform, they are equals with others in the group. It is also useful as a way to tell which troop that boy belongs to in the event they get separated from their group. All it takes is a single glance at their badges, which makes it possible for even smaller boys to get involved in troop activities. These badges also show their achievements.

The More Formal Uniforms

Comfortable Dress Wear What if a troop hosts a school dance? What if they host an awards ceremony and decide to dress more formally than their uniform would allow? For the most part, boy scouts never need to dress up their uniform any more than it already is. Adding to it or taking away from it, would make them less a part of the group. However, because each boy scout is unique in their personality, it may not be wrong of them to stand out on rare occasions and special events. They can do this by simply adding a 10 pocket leather vest to their uniform. It will keep them warm, give them a place to hold treasures they find on scavenger hunts, and look great at the more formal events. It adds to the uniform without taking anything away from it.

When Will You Dress Up?

For scouts, awards are a big deal because they show that you are a strong team member. It also means that you have a higher standing within the troop. Your uniform is your badge of honor, and you should never take that away from you. However, adding to it by adding a little of your unique personality should not be a bad thing for you to do. You can wear a jacket before your troop meetings, you can express your style before awards, and you can look great when you are hanging out with friends after the meeting has ended. A jacket, a new tie, whatever, does not have to become a part of your everyday scouting outfit, but on rare days when you need to stand out; it could be a wonderful thing. Does new traditions fit in with your boy scout troop?

John Cherokee / Great Tricks That You Can Learn /

April 13, 2017

Great Tricks That You Can Learn in the Boy Scouts

First-Aid Training

The first-aid training is a must in every boy scout program. So, if you want to learn very cool information about first-aid and get a proper training, I recommend that you try out the boy scouts. I personally have learned a lot of things about first-aid. In fact, everything that I know and what I use today, I learned during the boy scouts. The great thing about the training that you get is that you learn not just how to treat injuries or various illnesses, but you also will get taught how to avoid them and understand how they appear or what are some of the early signs and symptoms of an illness. That is very important because if you know how to avoid something, you will use that to your benefit and when something actually happens you will recognize the symptoms and you can react on time.

Map and Compass Use

These two things are usually the first things that you will be taught in boy scouts because the map and compass are necessary in order to not get lost. The training or instructions that you will get to use them will not take a long time, but it will take you a long time to get used to using them. I remember my first time when I needed to use the compass and map to get to a location. It was very interesting and at the same time scary situation because I got lost for real. I was out hiking in some new place and I got off the road and couldn’t find my way back. Thanks to the boy scout instructions about map and compass use I was able to find my way out of the place.

Starting a Fire

Fire is an essential part of a camping trip, and of course, essential for boy scouts too. When I was in the boy scouts, I had no idea how to start a fire, and I was actually little scared first because I saw on TV what terrible things fire can cause to a forest if it is not taken care of properly. The other kids were excited to learn how to do it, so I pretended to be excited too. I was surprised how detailed and secure the instruction was.

John Cherokee / Great Tricks That You Can Learn / Boy Scouts, Scouts, Tricks /

March 30, 2017

How Values Learned In the Boy Scouts Can Be Applied in Real Life

Being a boy scout really taught me some skills down through the years.

And while a lot of those skills are physical in their nature, and come in handy while I’m at play on adventures, other skills that are more mental in nature were also instilled in me.

Skills that can be applied in everyday aspects of your work and life. And importantly, skills that employers crave for their employees to have.

These kinds of skills are on every employers checklist when it comes to hiring and promoting staff, and not just here in the States – but all over the world.

Teamwork:

Something that every employer is interested in is “how do you work as part of a team?”.

Teamwork is seen as vital in pretty much every working situation you could imagine, and for good reason. Working as part of a team is rewarding and this is a skill that all boy scouts learn.

Being able to work effectively with a range of different personality types will stand well to you in your employment.

Time Management:

Another thing that employers often ask is “how do you prioritize your time?”.

Having the ability to meet targets, weigh up tasks that should be completed first and general planning competencies are great abilities to have, and are likely to come up at almost every interview you will ever attend.

Leadership:

Some people are more naturally gifted leaders than others, but there are others that are followers. In the boy scouts, you are taught it is better to display leadership qualities together with your team working skills.

Be the person that people want to follow, not the person people are told to follow. This is achieved by working in the team, carrying out the same tasks as the rest, rather than dictating tasks to the team and taking a back seat.

The best way to improve a team is to lead the way, rather than directing them on their way, and watching them wandering off aimlessly.

Employers clamor for people with leadership skills in every single industry.

Adaptability:

Another question often asked at interviews is “How do you deal with change?”

Well, adaptability is something that comes naturally to boy scouts in time. You are constantly immersed in new environments, and you’d better adapt to them, or else your gonna have bad times!

But seriously, in the scouts, you could be in a range of different conditions, and adaptability is key, and can mean the difference between excelling at your task at hand or performing badly.

Change should only ever be seen as a good thing, not a obstacle to be overcome, but an opportunity to excel, and maybe learn something new in doing so.

We are taught many things in the scouts, and it really is a great tool, a way of preparing you for stepping out into the big bad world.

John Cherokee / Camping, Great Tricks That You Can Learn, Volunteering While Traveling / Boy Scouts, Boy Scouts Skills, Boy Scouts Values, Scouts, Tricks, Values /

March 19, 2017

Boy Scout Skills That Translate Well Into Real Life Situations

During my time in the boys scouts, I picked up and learned an awful lot of skills.

Now admittedly, some of those skills seemed somewhat worthless at the time, but as I encountered certain situations while out on my adventures, the skills I had learned came back to me.

And I could apply those to get me out of some pretty sticky situations. For instance, compass reading skills are something, that I feel, should be taught to everybody in school, as knowing your sense of direction is vitally important if you end up lost.

Below listed are some skills that are practiced by the boy scouts, that translate well into real life situations.

Knot Tying:

Boy scouts sure do need to learn a lot of knots! And while some may seem like an exercise in the mundane, others are pretty handy.

I’ve covered knots previously here in my blog, which you should check out, for examples of how boy scout knots can be applied in real life challenges.

Trail Marking:

This is not your classic “leave a trail of breadcrumbs” exercise, but a method of tracking where you have been, so that you can follow that same trail back to safety, or to your base camp.

Few things are more frustrating than getting lost in wooded areas, for example, and walking around, swearing you have seen that one tree at least three times by now!

Biodegradable, high visibility tape can be purchased in hiking and camping stores, that will enable you mark your way, enabling you to return back to your starting point, and best of all, will break down naturally over time.

So you don’t need to worry about cleaning up your tape as you return – perfect if you are battling against incumbent weather conditions.

Cooking:

I firmly believe that everybody should know how to cook, even if it is just basic things such as a nice spaghetti bolognaise. Cooking is a skill that all boy scouts learn in their time.

Having the ability to nourish yourself and practice good food safety are skills that you will continue to use all throughout your life, and are especially handy when it comes time to strike out on your own, starting college.

First Aid:

Another thing boy scouts learn is how to apply first aid.

You never want anything bad to happen of course, but if something does, having a first aider attend to the victim can really mean the difference between life and death. First aid courses are ran regularly pretty much everywhere.

In fact, many workplaces have programs, where they educate their staff in first aid techniques for free.

Community Service:

As you know, I love to volunteer. These are qualities that were instilled in me in the boy scouts.

Every scout must perform some form of community service as part of the badge awarding process, and it is during this that one really learns how important this is.

John Cherokee / Camping, Great Tricks That You Can Learn, Volunteering While Traveling / Boy Scouts, Boy Scouts Skills, camping, Volunteer /

March 7, 2017

Headed Out On a Fishing Trip? Don’t Forget These Items!

Whenever I feel the stress of day to day life beginning to build up on me, there is simply nothing better than heading out to a body of water, casting out my line, and reeling in some big ‘uns!

Fishing is one of those past times that really can help with the unwinding process. It’s like all those worries evaporate across the gentle waves of water, breaking against the shore.

If you are headed on a fishing trip soon, don’t forget to bring out some of these items with you (Other than your poles and hooks!)

A Good Fishing Net:

Many people head out fishing, and don’t bring a good net with them. The process of trying to land a fish, without a net, is a lot harder than simply gently placing the net under your catch and pulling in the net.

This is especially helpful if you intend on fishing “catch and release”. Good nets are inexpensive, and are usually foldable, so you aren’t weighed down or hindered by their size.

Surgical Style Gloves:

Handling fish can be nasty, and some species are especially slimy. Plastic surgical style gloves are a God send in this sense. They can even be used as glove liners for heavier gloves.

Just be sure to take them home with you for disposal when finished!

A Hook Extractor:

These can be gotten from bait stores everywhere, at a cost of a few bucks. They are extremely small, taking up virtually no room in your bait box. Furthermore, they are easy to use, and are kinder to the fish, making the removal of hooks much easier.

Waterproof Baggies:

If you intend on bringing the catch of the day home for some good cookin’ later, it’s a good idea to have some waterproof bags with you. I find the zip lock bags are the best for this, as they are easily secured, even with one hand.

Powdered Gatorade:

Thirst can catch up with you quickly while out on the water. Powdered Gatorade is ideal, as the little sachets take up hardly any room at all, and are ideal to help you keep up those hydration levels!

Of course, if you’re having a couple beers while out on the water, this step might not concern you, but make sure to moderate your alcohol intake while near bodies of water.

Accidents always occur to people who say “ya, but it’ll never happen to me”.

Fold Up Fishing Stool:

A fold up fishing stool is another essential item to make sure you bring with you.

Lightweight, and usually coming with a shoulder strap for transportation, you will be glad you have brought this with you, as the day can get quite long standing on a river bank or lake shore.

Some even come with built in rod rests, making the process of fishing a breeze!

Fishing is a real pleasure, and even more so, armed with some of the above items!

John Cherokee / Camping, Fishing, Great Tricks That You Can Learn, Volunteering While Traveling / Fishing, things to bring when fishing, Travel, Tricks /

March 2, 2017

Vital Items You Need to Bring on a Camping Trip

The time of year is fast approaching where many people decide it is time to spend a little bit of time in the great outdoors, camping. I myself like to spend time out on fishing trips or when I go kayaking, immersed in Mother Nature.

But I’ve learned down through the years, both in my time with the boy scouts, and on my own personal trips, that there are some essential items that should be packed (and some treats too of course!).

I’ve listed some of these for you, to help you enjoy your camping trip even more!

Toilet Paper / Wet Wipes:

When nature calls, while out in Mother Nature herself, you don’t want to get caught short.

Toilet paper packed by itself tends to get damp very easily. I find that if you pack your toilet paper in an old coffee can, it will stay perfectly dry.

Wet wipes are very handy too, but if you choose to use these, make sure the brand you buy is bio degradable, as traditional wipes simply won’t break down, due to the materials they are made with.

Starbursts Make a Fantastic Camp Fire Treat!

Maybe you are not the biggest fan of marshmallows, or perhaps you are looking for a fruiter alternative. If so, you have got to try this!

Placing a Starburst fruit chew over the camp fire makes a wonderful treat. Crispy and crunchy on the outside, hot and melty on the inside – divine!

Tin Foil Will Cook Almost Anything:

Fold a few sheets of tin foil and pop them into your bag when you head out camping. Tin foil will cook virtually anything you can think of, from jacket potatoes to shrimp.

Simply wrap your chosen food up tight (leaving a little room on top for steam) and just place on top of your camp fire – and voila! Perfectly cooked food in a little time.

You can prepare other foods like marinated meats etc prior to heading out, to make life a little easier also.

Pocket Knife:

You won’t realize how handy one of these is until you actually need it. A swizz army knife has everything a camper could ever want, from screwdrivers to corkscrews, saws and scissors.

Taking up a tiny amount of room in your backpack, packing one of these is always a no brainer for me.

Wet Gear:

Ok, so you have checked the forecast, and it’s promised nothing but sunny blue skies, ahead of your camping adventure.

But you would be surprised at how quickly conditions can deteriorate, I know I have been surprised and caught short more than once.

Fortunately, these days you can get wet gear that is minimal in size that can be tied to your bag, and weighs virtually nothing. You won’t regret packing these, should you be caught in a sudden change of weather!

These, in addition to the usual camping gear that you will pack, will make your trip one to remember.

John Cherokee / Camping, Great Tricks That You Can Learn, Volunteering While Traveling / camping, camping tips, Things to bring on a camping, Travel, Tricks /

February 24, 2017

How To Choose The Perfect Base For Camp

One of the best skills I learned as part of the boy scouts was how to choose the perfect base, when you need to camp out for the night.

There are a number of steps you can take also, based on boy scout techniques, that will ensure that you have a very positive camping out experience.

Below, I’ve listed some steps you can take to make sure your camping trip is the best yet.

Find Nice, Flat Terrain:

Scout about for an area that is plenty flat. Avoid areas that may seem like there are stones or rocks close to the surface, as these tend to rise up into your back, just as you are settling down for the night.

Ideally, if you can get someplace that is both flat, with some underlying natural cushioning, such as moss or grass, these are the best sites to set your tent up on.

Avoid Trees That Seem Dead:

Murphy’s Law dictates that sometimes, the place that seems to be the most perfect spot ever, is right underneath a large dead tree.

And tempting an all as it may be to simply “chance it” for the sake of a few hours overnight, these areas are best avoided. A large limb could easily break off the tree overnight, falling on top of your tent.

And while there is benefit to choosing areas that may have some overhanging, natural shelter, there is no more rude awakening, than having a massive tree branch land on top of you at 3am!

Next To Water Spots Should Be Avoided:

It may seem perfectly ideal to camp next to water spots, for drinking water, cooking and washing purposes. However, if that water hole is ideal for you, you can sure bet it’s gonna be ideal for wild animals also.

Try and Choose Breezy Areas:

This might seem at least questionable, but it makes sense. Bugs and mosquitoes are less likely to bother you in breezy areas, and this choice will become perfectly clear once you are sat around the campfire!

Ensure The Site Appears Well Drained:

Imagine the scenario – around about 2am, you’re all tucked up in your sleeping bag, sound asleep. A pitter patter of rain on your tent, suddenly turns into a torrential downpour.

And just like that, you are sleeping in a massive puddle, because the area you’ve chosen has no drainage! These things happen to a lot of first time campers, but with a little prior knowledge, you can avoid them outright.

Choosing a campsite that is suitable isn’t a hard skill to learn. Just remember to clean up after yourself after you have finished on the site.

It’s the great outdoors for a reason, and it’s best to keep it that way – try and leave the site as if you were never there at all. Happy camping!

John Cherokee / Great Tricks That You Can Learn, Volunteering While Traveling / camping, camping tips, Choosing perfect base for camp, Tricks /

February 15, 2017

Essential Knots To Know, Even If You Aren’t a Boy Scout

You would be amazed at the sheer amount of knots that one has to learn when in the boy scouts (I sure know I was). But what surprised me the most was, how knowledge of these knots can be applied in other situations.

Of course, when you are learning something, it can be hard to see how what you are learning can be applied to real life situations. But boy scout knots are functional in a range of situations.

Here, I demonstrate some of the ways you can use boy scout style knots in real life encounters.

Bowline Knot:

This is one of the more basic knots that you first learn, and is pretty useful. By creating this knot, you can fashion a non slip loop that is ideal for rescue work, should you unfortunately find yourself in circumstances that warrant this knot’s creation.

Square Knot:

Following on from the Bowline, a Square Knot allows you to clamp dressings to wounds. As it is a binding knot, you can also use this in a range of other applications.

A Square Knot is very similar to how you ties your shoe laces, and pretty much everyone knows how to do that! In fact, all a Shoestring Knot is really, is a double Square Knot – see, you already know how to do it!

The Sheet Bend:

This knot was originally invented by sailors, who needed to tie up their boats or ship’s sails, hence the name Sheet Bend.

I like to use this knot when I have two separate pieces of rope that I need to join together. It is especially handy where those two pieces of rope are of different diameters.

The Taut Line Hitch:

If you like camping, this is an essential knot to know, as it will enable you to adjust the lines on your tent poles. This knot is extremely reliable and is also trustworthy.

Clinch Knot:

Ok, I’m gonna cheat a little here, but I feel that this is an essential knot that everybody should know. Not essentially a boy scout knot, the clinch knot is used by fishermen to attach hooks to their fishing lines.

Everybody should know this knot, and if you are on a combined fishing / camping expedition, you really will benefit from knowing how to tie this one!

The Timber Hitch:

Following on from the camping theme, if you are intending on making a camp fire, and will have to heave firewood back to base, a good knot to know is the Timber Hitch.

This knot stays tight under pressure and comes away easy when slack is put on the rope. You can also use this to attach a rope to a log, if you need to clear some forest area.

I use these Knots on a regular basis. We could all do with having a little more knot related knowledge!

John Cherokee / Great Tricks That You Can Learn / Boy Scouts, Knots, Scouts, Tricks /