Scout Skills – Camp Gadgets

1
2
4
3
5
6
1
RUBBISH BIN (4 tall sticks or staves : 1 sturdy black sack.) Bang the sticks into the ground at suitable
distance. Tie the corners of the sack to the uprights. If the corners won’t tie, use elastic bands. Beware
squirrels, badgers, foxes - change frequently. Beware - fills with rainwater ! - pierce MINUTE pin-prick hole in
base. Use several in a line, marked for re-cycling items (e.g. Glass, Tins, Paper etc.).
2
BOOT SCRAPER (4 large wooden pegs : 1 flat piece of cut timber) Use the pegs to support the timber slat.
Bang well in as there will be considerable strain in use. Position carefully to avoid trips/falls yet be near enough
tents to be useful (suggest between side guy-lines). Watch build-up of loose mud and clear if necessary.
3
POT RACK (4 large wooden pegs : 2 long staves or broom handles.) Bang in pegs at 45 o angles, crossed over
to raise stave off the ground. Position clean pots upside down (also saves drying-up blackened pots on clean
tea-towels !!). Lids can be lent, inside down, against structure, next to its pot for easy retrieval.
4
WELLY-BOOT STICKS (2 poles per person, longer than the longest welly to account for amount banged into
the ground, plus room between welly and ground). Beware insects, especially earwigs, love to crawl up to the
toe end ! Position between guy-lines of tents to avoid trips etc.
5
MUG TREE Get Scouts/Cubs to find suitably branched stick on site. Cut off the very twiggy ends. Make hole in
the ground with a tent peg, insert branch. If this is difficult, leave the tent peg in the ground and tie the branch to
it. Position with care. Hang mugs over stick, not by handle as this collects rainwater and odd bits of twigs, ash,
grass etc. This also saves drying-up !!! Can also be tied to Dining Shelter upright pole ( above or below eye
level - for safety).
6
SHOE RACK Get Scouts/Cubs to find suitably forked and straight sticks on site. Make hole for uprights using a
tent peg. Place shoes/boots upside down (but beware insects !). Suggest sheltered position. Also BEWARE
leaving shoes out (especially at night) as foxes just LOVE shoes !!!!
1
3
2
5
4
1
KITCHEN ROLL HOLDER (or cling-film, foil or toilet roll). Simple stick or dowelling to insert in roll. String tied to
each end (round turn & 2 half hitches), An extra spar of wood, with a slot cut in each end, is needed above to
keep the string apart or else it will prevent the roll turning. Position with care (to avoid eye level) in store tent.
2
TREE LARDER Enamel plate : length of old net curtain : string or cord for hanging. Overlap the edges then
gather top of net in your hand and tie simple ‘thumb knot’ in it. Do the same at the bottom of the net. Insert plate
through the overlapping edges. Tie cord under the top knot in the net (round turn & 2 ½-hitches) and suspend
up a tree in shade with a long line so it can be lowered easily. Always make certain that food is not touching the
net and that net is overlapped well. Use to keep fruit or veg. Beware squirrels !!
3
TEA-TOWEL RAIL 1 stave or broom handle : long length of string/cord : 2 large tent pegs : 3 short canes or
dowel rods. Bang upright into ground. Use clove hitch to attach the middle of the string to the upright. Attach
rods at intervals using clove hitch with an extra ½ hitch to stop it slipping. Peg outwards from the upright using 2
or 3 turns of string around the pegs and a couple of ½ hitches.
4
WASHING LINE 2 handy trees : length of string/cord enough to go several times round the trunks and double
the distance between trees. Find the middle of the string and wrap around the tree once. Take the two ends and
twist them tightly together all along their length. Tie the double, twisted string around the 2nd tree with round
turn & 2 ½-hitches. Hang washing by forcing bits of fabric between the twisted strings, SAFETY position this
with great care, away from used ’walkways’.
5
WOODPILE SHELTER (frame) 2 staves : 4 large pegs : quantity string/sisal. Use the method & knots etc. as
for the tea-towel rail. Add the connecting string. Add large logs to keep wood off the ground and dry. Place a
suitably sized tarpaulin over the structure and peg or weight down at night and in wet weather.
KNOTS AND LASHINGS
You only need to know a few knots and lashings to enable you to make all of these structures.
KNOTS : Clove hitch : Round turn and 2 ½-hitches : Reef
LASHINGS : Square Lashing : Triangular Lashing : Snake Lashing :
You can find out how to do these from most Scouting sources or the Internet.