Chicora Chapter, Santee Lodge 116 Pioneering Crew after completing the construction of a Double Platform Monkey Bridge
Click on the image to learn about current BSA pioneering regulations.
Teddy Roosevelt, a great supporter of the Boy Scouts, used to exclaim: “Bully!” When we did a good job and did our best—”Bully!” When it was a great idea and we carried out the plan as a team—”Bully!” Well, if there’s an interest in adding pioneering to your overall Scouting program, or expanding your program to make it more fun—“Bully!”
As always, the majority of today’s Scouts love the kind of woodsy activities that provide outdoor fun that’s involving and challenging. This kind of fun is timeless! To build a good pioneering project requires rope, wood, good sense, and skill, and when completed, there’s a happy feeling of accomplishment and success.
Naturally in today’s world, the Boy Scouts of America places an emphasis on keeping up with the times—there’s a general thrust to make the Scouting program relevant to the youth of today. Of course, this makes sense. Maintaining interest and attracting new members is contingent on the assurance that what Scouting offers is YOUTH-RELEVANT!
An Introduction to Round Lashing for New Scouts During a Troop Meeting
But, amidst the wide spectrum of fun available in Scouting, there’s always an attraction to and fascination with what’s termed, “old school.” It’s the way things were done before all the modern technology so prevalent in today’s society. Pioneering is all about using basic and advanced Scout skills to get things done, to make life in the outdoors easier, and for having just plain ol’ fashioned good times.
I would like to know how the base of the 30′ flagpole is made
That flagpole was an adaptation of a design inspired by Rex Hendricksen of the 29th Cardiff Scout Group. The notion is by lashing together a series of interlocking tripods the structure is given greater rigidity. Here’s a link to the source: http://www.pioneeringmadeeasy.co.uk/misc/flaggiant.html
I would love to know where to buy all those wonderful poles or where to look.
I confess, the 5′ Scout Staves we use for training and interpatrol competitions, (and putting up dining flies) ARE purchased, from the BSA Supply Division. But, all the pioneering spars have been harvested through the years from SC pine forests and stands of mature bamboo. Refer to http://scoutpioneering.com/2013/02/14/pioneering-kit/ for information regarding spars. I’ll email you with some specific questions.
Hello Larry,
I am starting a new scout group and we are putting together a pioneering kit. If we are using bamboo spars, are the diameter requirements the same as pine? We are in Mainland China and growing a 15 meter length of bamboo can take about 3 months! Actually, in our new Boy Scout Camp location the bamboo is kind of a pest. This will make for fairly unlimited spars! But for larger builds I want to know if it is as safe. I have never used bamboo myself, only pines.
Hi Sully!
As you know, China’s been using bamboo for centuries. It’s strong! Look at all those enormous scaffolds! Also, the largest and most elaborate pioneering structures I’ve ever seen consist of numerous bamboo poles: http://www.scoutmastercg.com/shiang-yang-ope/
Personally, I have very limited experience with bamboo. Other than for patrol tables during a camporee, one 10′ double tripod gateway, and just recently the 14′ Tower Gateway, http://scoutpioneering.com/2013/04/15/tower-gateway-4-flag-tower/ we consistently use pine. We’re blessed by residing in an area where there’s LOTS of pine. Because bamboo is so light, you can harvest lengths with thicker diameters which should provide a fine measure of confidence and security in their ability to stand up to the stress related to larger constructions.
The stumbling block I think most people falter over is: how does one lash bamboo so the lashings hold? I can’t seem to get a consummate answer to this query. Because the bamboo was so slick, when we used our usual manila lashing ropes, the lashings would slip. Some years back, we used a 3′ strip of rubber inner tube with a length of 1/4″ manila tied to each end. The rubber stretched around the bamboo for the initial wraps, and this held okay. On the last, most recent occasion, we wrapped the areas where the lashings were to be tied with friction tape, and this worked very well.
Good luck with your pioneering program! Send us some photos! And let us know what you come across that works well for lashings!
We will likely use a mix of pine and bamboo. We have come up with a design that I still need to model for testing. We are using 3 of the 14′ towers and connecting them with two 3 meter bridge spans. For safety we have added netting to the towers and bridges so there is not enough room to fall through. We also have a lot of track and field high jump/pole vault mats around the base and under the bridges. We do not have the same restriction of 5′ in China. But they do require netting and safety pads or harness.
For weight we are thinking of using bamboo for the bridge. 10 ladder support rungs holding up 1cm plank boards as a walking surface.
Thought?
Just re-reading what John Sweet says in Scout Pioneering about bamboo, “…because nature has developed it to withstand a vertical strain only, it will develop a ‘green stick’ fracture if subjected to a bending moment of any severity.” He then does pose a question about its reliability where personal risk is entailed.
I was also concerned about that on the bridges. My intent for the bamboo has been reduced to use as hand rails and the cross spars on the bridge. With the number and length of cross spars I am not worried about them cracking. But the long spans are a very different story. Those will have to be pine.
Of course this sounds interesting. Please send a photo after you build it.