camping

Boy Scout Skills That Translate Well Into Real Life Situations

cooking

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.

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Vital Items You Need to Bring on a Camping Trip

girl and tent

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.

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How To Choose The Perfect Base For Camp

tent

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!

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