Boy Scouts of America

Troop 282

Blue Elk District • Heart of America Council, BSA

A Chartered Organization of Trinity Episcopal Church

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Archive for April, 2011

April 22nd, 2011

Cedar Bluff

Cedar Bluff

By Joshua Joyce

I was so excited to go on this trip even with my brothers trying to scare me out of going. But soon I was wanting to go home. The hills were not what I wanted to do.

Then when it came to having lunch I realized I forgot my lunch at home but my brother Austin shared his lunch with me.

My experience was harsh and brutal. But it was worth it. The bluff was awesome when I made it to the top the view was amazing I could see for miles away, I could see the fish jumping out of the water and the camp grounds from up there.

I learned that caves are not a place to play (take my word for it) fun but dangerous. I learned that we all should leave no trace behind.

My favorite part of the hike was the caves.

(See more pictures from Cedar Bluff in the Troop 282 Photo Collection.)

April 22nd, 2011

Build A Camp Chair

Relax around camp by building a comfortable chair. It’s easy if you have the pioneering skills.

Materials

  • Three spars about 4 inches in diameter, two 8 feet long and one 12 to 15 feet long
  • Four sections of rope, one 30 feet long and three 3 to 4 feet long
  • 6-by-8-foot (or slightly bigger) tarp, folded into an isosceles triangle
  • Three heavy rocks slightly smaller than baseballs but larger than golf balls

Step One: Determine which ends of each spar are the thickest, and designate those as the base of each spar. Lay the two shorter spars together on the ground, parallel to each other, with each base at the same end and even with each other.

Lay the long spar down in the opposite direction, with its base at the opposite end from the bases of the shorter spars, with only about two feet of overlap at the tops. Keep them all parallel.

Use the 30-foot rope to perform a tripod lashing around all three spars.

Step Two: Fold each rock into a corner of the triangle-shaped tarp and twist to create a pocket that will hold the rock. Then tie one of the three shorter ropes around the pocket holding the rock by wrapping a few times and tying off the end with two half hitches.

Be sure to leave 2 to 3 feet of rope available. Repeat for each corner.

Step Three: Attach the tarp to the tripod by wrapping the remaining rope around each spar once or twice and finishing with a taut-line hitch.

The longest spar should act as the back leg of the chair, so attach the rope at higher point on that spar to create the back of the chair.

Step Four: Relax comfortably in your chair.

Click here for more pioneering projects.

Thanks to the Boy's Life for this great idea.