Horseshoe Scout Reservation
April 13, 14 & 15, 2012
A pioneer’s journey begins with your trek in your covered wagon to Camp Horseshoe, along the banks of the creek the Indians called Octoraro. After arriving and looking for favorite sites with names like Lenni Lenape, Octoraro, Dan Beard, Kit Carson, Conestoga, Boonesboro and Trailblazer, you’re ready to greet the great wilderness as your forefathers did. By campfire, blankets, tents and the call of nature.
From there, your journey continues with the hard work of setting up a fine wilderness camp with your troop of travelling pioneers. This camp could include making articles that add some creature comforts to a pioneer’s camp.
From the great wilderness camp, with a walking trek through the evening hours to the great Goodman wilderness barn, the trek continues with the group of pioneers learning about using ropes, block and tackles and rope block and tackles.
From here the great journey continues back to those famous wilderness camp area and night of rest, for we know that the great journey will continue at first light.
As first light approaches, cooking fires are lighted, the smell of a wood cooking fire, the preparations of a meaningful, well cooked breakfast at the start of a day filled with a long journey.
The journey continues with a short walk for the quest of the pioneer skill of making a rope, trestle and ladder building. After a busy morning of making rope, the pioneers trek back to camp for a well cooked lunch and time to make camp living easier by making gadgets using rope, wood and natural materials. As our pioneers finish cleaning up after a hearty lunch the journey continues.
The journey continues with a short walk for the quest of the pioneer skill of making a rope, trestle and ladder building. After a busy morning of making rope, the pioneers trek back to camp for a well cooked lunch and time to make camp living easier by making gadgets using rope, wood and natural materials. As our pioneers finish cleaning up after a hearty lunch the journey continues.
The journey moves to the great field by the bridge crossing the mighty Octoraro River. In this great field is the need to construct towers for alerting pioneers as to the great dangers that lie ahead. Towers to be built using handmade rope, spars and the knowledge of these young pioneers. The towers so strong and tall that signals can be seen for miles from the tops. From here, after the great judging of these fine works of art, the journey continues.
The pioneers head tiredly back to their great camp to enjoy the great chili cook off and a well earned camp dinner. After this great dinner the leaders of the pioneers will be judged as to who is the best chili cook.
With full bellies and a nice campfire, stories will be told of the days adventures. The night is growing old as sleep call these young pioneers, who know that they will be up with first light.
As first light approaches, the pioneers know that they will soon have to pack up their wagons for the trek through the great wilderness and as they are leaving this wonderful area, they know that there must not be a trace that they have been here…….
Just a quick note, this is a troop activity that will upon completion of the requirement allow the boys to earn the pioneering merit badge. This will also allow for completion some of the night required for the camping merit badge and the cooking merit badge.
Friday
6 - 8 PM Checkin, turn in blue cards, set up tents.
8 - 10 PM Group session-work on Requirements 4 & 8
9:30 - 10PM Crackerbarrel
11 PM Lights out
Saturday
7 - 9 AM Breakfast
9 - 11 AM Rope Making, Simple Trestle, 15 foot ladders
11 - 1 PM Lunch at camp sites
1 - 5 PM Build Towers & Camp Gadgets
5 - 7 PM Dinner at campsites
Judging of Projects, Cooking & Iron Chef Dessert
11 PM Lights out
Sunday AM
7 - 9 Breakfast, clean up camps, pack up
9 - 9:30 Complete blue cards
9:30 - 10 Awards ceremony
Bring: Tents, First Aid Kit, Food, Bow Saw, Dutch Ovens
Leave at Home: Propane, charcoal, stoves
Pioneering Weekend Prerequisites
1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illness that could occur while working on pioneering projects, including minor cuts and abrasions, bruises, rope burns, blisters, splinters, sprains, heat and cold reactions, dehydration, and insect bites or stings.
2. Do the following:
a. Successfully complete Tenderfoot requirements 4a and 4b and First Class requirements 7a, 7b, and 7c. (These are the rope-related requirements.)
b. Tie the following: square knot, bowline, sheepshank, sheet bend, and roundturn with two half hitches.
c. Demonstrate the following: tripod and round lashings.
3. Explain the uses for the back splice, eye splice, and short splice. Using 1/4- or 3/8-inch three-stranded rope, demonstrate how to form each splice.
Supplies for Pioneering Weekend: | Cost |
3-20’ spars for triangular tower | $0 |
20-10’ spars for ladder/tower/triangular tower | $0 |
16- 6’ spars for cross members & railings | $0 |
??-4’ spars for gadgets | $0 |
12-2’ spars for ladder rungs | $0 |
1500’ box of 3/8” sisal rope (if needed - can be ordered from HSR) | $45 |
Rope whipping materials | $0 |
3 - 24” stakes for guy ropes on tower | $0 |
Sledgehammer to drive stakes | $0 |
Twine for use in ropemaking machine to make 3-50’ foot guys lines | $0 |
Pole Ladder
What I refer to as a 'pole' ladder is the more traditional type of ladder. This simply involves choosing two strong spars of the required length and attaching rungs at regular intervals using a square lashing.
One important thing to note is that the two main uprights are not parallel to each other. They should be angled inwards towards each other as you go to the top of the ladder. This will prevent the rungs from slipping downwards.
I suggest that you test the strength of each rung (and lashing) carefully before using the ladder.
Triangular Tower
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