This section of BackpackBasecamp.com is dedicated to the great tradition of Scouting. Little is more important in the world than the healthy nurturing and development of our young.
About the Author: The lead author of Scoutmaster's Corner is Forrest Jones; Forrest Jones is an Eagle Scout that grew up in the mountains of Montana and enjoys the outdoors. He currently serves in the BSA Scouting Program as an Assistant District Commissioner, and as an Assistant Scoutmaster. He has been a Scoutmaster or Assistant Scoutmaster for over 15 years. He is an Architect and currently lives near Seattle, Washington, with his wife and 2 daughters.
Scoutmaster's Corner - The 10 Essentials; These are the “Scout Outdoor Essentials,” and should be included on most outings. Read the complete article about the essential gear to bring on a hike. Click Here.
Scout Handbook Tests
The Boy Scout Handbook contains a wealth of great information.
Sometimes, Scouts may get a slow start in Scouting, if they do not sit down
are read through the handbook and benefit from the efforts of those
that have preceded them. Many of us Scoutmasters have been
trying to figure out clever ways to get the Scouts to continue to read
through their Scout handbooks. One ways is to make homework
assignments that involve certain sections of the Scout handbook, another is
to give bribes to those that read it. But what I like best is to give
them tests on some of the material that is contained in the Scout Handbook.
The following are 3 relatively easy tests of some of the material that is
contained there. These tests are relatively quick, 10 minute tests,
that can be used in some of the spare time that is sometime available.
If you have them tie the knots, it takes quite a bit longer for the grading
process, but all of those knots are required for the Tenderfoot, 2nd
Class and 1st Class ranks. Everyone has spare time at home,
and it would be great if they could just read 5 or 10 minutes each day
reviewing the Handbook and related Scouting information. It will
instill in them a greater sense of appreciation of the outdoors and of the
basic skills that they need to learn and make their own.
Boy Scout Handbook Test - Beginner -
Click Here
Boy Scout Handbook Test - Intermediate -
Click Here
Boy Scout Handbook Test - Advanced -
Click Here
Answers are included in the MS Word document that can be downloaded.
Gear Checklists
On the way to one of our Troop Campouts, we called one of the Scouts to see
if he was coming. It turned out that the Scout thought that he would not be
able to go due to a schedule conflict, but now was available to go. We told
him and his Mom that we would pick him up in 5 minutes and help him pack.
To our amazement, he was almost completely packed by the time that we got
there. At the Troop meeting prior to the Campout, we had handed out our
Checklist of “Things to Bring on a Campout.” When we arrived, he had packed
his personal items, and had set his backpack in the middle of the living
room and was reading off the remaining items from the checklist, while the
rest of his family were running to fetch those items. It was truly great to
see. These Checklists were made to make the process of packing and planning
a little bit easier. Scouting can not be learned in a classroom. We can
review some of the skills needed, but Scouting is really an outdoor
program. The root word of Scouting is not “Scout,” it is, “Outing.” It is
when we are in the outdoors, that we see can really see all of the great
creations that are around us. It is also at these times that we are
developing outdoor skills and memories that will last for our lifetime.
Checklist - 20 Mile Hike
Items to Bring on the Troop “20 Mile Hike” -
Click Here
Checklist - Campout
Items to Bring on the Troop Campout (Vehicle Access) -
Click Here
Checklist - Backpacking Campout
Items to Bring on the Troop “Backpacking” Campout -
Click Here
Checklist - Winter Campout
Items to Bring on the Troop Winter Campout (Vehicle Access) -
Click
Here
Checklist - 50 Mile Bike Ride
Items to Bring on the Troop “50 Mile Bicycle Ride” -
Click
Here
We have created an Amazon Bookshop on BackpackBasecamp.com and dedicated
on section of it to Scouting
Link to Bookstore