July 2013 – SCOUT PIONEERING

Jamboree Pioneering Area: Initial Preparations

Our Inimitable Quarter Master: Benny Poedjono waits on RIck Strong.

Ropes. For thirty different pioneering projects and structures, plenty of rope had to be measured, cut, and whipped for lashings, anchors, and guylines. We had plenty of manila and appropriate synthetic fiber rope in a variety of diameters on hand, and thanks to a well-organized storage arrangement and experienced quartermaster, ongoing supplies were readily available.

“We’ve got spars!” Of course the spars for our pioneering projects were a major consideration. Where would they come from, and how would we get them? By emailing this photo (on right) with the simple statement, “We’ve got spars!”, our director, Jim Keller let us know that spars for our projects and structures had been delivered to Garden Ground Mountain! Naturally, before we could build anything, they’d have to be skinned!

Spars were waiting to be skinned and utilized up on Garden Ground in readiness for the arrival of the Jambo Pioneering Staff.

Skinning Spars. Starting full swing on the 11th of July morning, and continuing through the end of the 12th, amidst pouring rain with steadfast purpose and draw knives, a full crew persistently and methodically set upon the pile of heavy, hardwood spars. In spite of the tedious and often bent-over, backbreaking work, sloshing through mud in water-logged boots, spirits were high! There was something about working hard up on that mountain along with a like-minded, jovial crew that kept us going in fine form up to and after the very last spar had been relieved of its bark.

Notice how the pile is progressively getting smaller! (Photos taken in between periods of rain.) Click for larger view, and click again for detailed images.

Spars are selected from a centrally-located area and often cut to size in accordance with the needs of each project — Spars are selected from a centrally located area and often cut to size on the spot in accordance with the needs of each project

After spars were skinned, they were transported to central locations throughout the pioneering area and selected by crews in accordance with their length and diameter to meet the material requirements for specific pioneering structures and projects. Most often, they’d be sawed to the desired lengths before being carried off to various construction sites. The total pioneering area was later dubbed: Peschke Field (named after pioneering legend, Adolph Peschke).

Why skin the spars? Basically, there are three reasons:

If tied on top of bark, lashings are prone to slip, if the bark shifts or loosens under the strain during use.
Skinned spars last longer than those left with the bark on. Unskinned spars are more subject to rotting from moisture and more susceptible to weakening from insects.
Pioneering projects with skinned spars look really nice.

Butterfly Knots are tied in the dragging rope to form handholds. — To retrieve the poplar flagpole, butterfly knots were tied in the dragging rope to form handholds.

Transporting heavy spars. An extra long spar for the flagpole and larger-diameter spars for the climbing area had to be moved by entire crews. The 30′ poplar flagpole was dragged by tying butterfly knots for handholds in the dragging line. The uprights for the climbing area were lifted and carried by joining the ends of a rope and threading it under the log so that a series of two carriers grabbing a hold of the rope could walk the spar along on either side.

Carrying a heavy spar in pairs, along each side. — Carrying a heavy spar for the climbing area in pairs, along each side.

JAMBOREE PIONEERING AREA: MAIN PAGE

Pioneering Area, 2013 National Jamboree

The Pioneering Area was named Peschke Field after Adolph Peschke, who through the years had motivated and inspired so many with his high standards, creativity, and pioneering know-how.

The following layout is a depiction of the pioneering projects and activities featured at the 2013 national jamboree up on Garden Ground Mountain at the Summit Bechtel Reserve. For a larger view, click on the layout once. Then, for a closer view, click on any section you choose:

Layout of the 2013 National Jamboree Pioneering Area up on Garden Ground Mountain at the Summit Bechtel Reserve

The Gateway leading to the Pioneering Area and Flying the Colors over Peschke Field from our Central Flagpole — The Gateway leading to the Pioneering Area, and Flying the Colors over Peschke Field from a 30′ Poplar Flagpole

JAMBOREE PIONEERING AREA: MAIN PAGE

Single A-Frame Bridge Pictorial

The Single A-Frame Bridge is made up of three subassemblies. Please refer to Bridge Walkways as a point of reference for two of the three of these subassemblies. The following photos will enliven the text and instructions featured in Adolph Peschke’s informative, older pioneering merit badge pamphlet. Click on the photos for larger views:

Lashing the top of the legs with a two pole shear lashing. Lashing on the ledger to the bottom of the legs. Lashing on the transom at the desired distance from the butt ends of the legs. All square lashings are lashed tightly, especially on the transom. — Captured from the 2013 Jamboree Pioneering Area

Carry the assembled A-Frame to the creek or ravine. Standup the A-Frame in the desired position. Carry over the walkways and place them on the A-Frame’s transom. Connect the underspars of the walkways to the transom with three strop lashings. — Captured from the 2013 Jamboree Pioneering Area

Single A-Frame Bridge Materials and Instructions

Single A-Frame Bridges at the Jamboree

A triumphant success—posing on their Single A-Frame Bridge — A Triumphant Success—posing on their Single A-Frame Bridge

In the Pioneering Area of the 2013 national jamboree, we put together a couple of Single A-Frame Bridge kits, so Scouts and Venturers could build this simple crossing bridge during their visit to Garden Ground Mountain. Each kit included:

two pre-constructed walkways
two 12-foot leg spars (shear legs)
one 5-foot transom spar
one 6-foot ledger spar
two pre-positioned anchors
four pioneering stakes
two guylines
five lashing ropes

Whenever a crew wanted to build a bridge, we provided an overview of the design and gave them a quick introduction to tying a rope tackle and the Japanese Mark II Square Lashing. What follows are some photo montages of the Single A-Frame bridges built from the kits during the jamboree. For larger and largest views, click on the photos once, and then once again:

Positioning their A-Frame in the ditch while preparing the guylines, and lashing the walkways to the transom.

Lashing the ledger tightly to the legs and putting tension on a guyline. — Lashing the transom to the legs and putting tension on a guyline.

Link to: Larger Image — Positioning their A-Frame and hammering stakes in the corners of the walkways.

Lashing on the Transom — Lashing on the transom to the legs.

Lashing on the ledger and holding the A-Frame up while adjusting the height of the transom.

The shear lashing at the top of the legs, and lashing the ledger at the bottom. — The Shear Lashing at the top of the legs, and lashing the ledger at the bottom.

Lashing the A-Frame legs with a shear lashing, and lashing on the ledger. — Lashing the A-Frame legs with a Shear Lashing, and lashing on the transom.

Carrying their A-Frame to the ditch and placing the walkways on the transom.

Lashing on the transom and attaching the walkways.

Tightly frapping a square lashing for the transom and working together to join the walkways to the A-Frame. — Tightly frapping a Square Lashing for the transom and working together to join the walkways to the A-Frame.

Strop lashing the walkways to their A-Frame.

On occasion, a pair of Scouts wanted to build a bridge, and with persistence, and the help of staff or friendly Scouter, they were able to get it done.

JAMBOREE PIONEERING AREA: BRIDGES

JAMBOREE PIONEERING AREA: MAIN PAGE

Single A-Frame Bridge (scoutpioneering.com)

Membership and Retention

Premise: When Scouting is WELL-PROMOTED in its true and irresistible light, as a value-based movement providing experiences found nowhere else, there will be a manifold increase in membership comprised of those families who not only want to get involved, but who will knock on the doors of individual Scout units and their local councils to learn how.

MEMBERSHIP

Promote the FACTS! Redirect the focus of the general public with an exciting and impactive presentation of these facts brought to life in an impressive 60 second video advertised in the national media.
Mount a multifaceted “Scouting is Both” print ad campaign. (inquire here.)

RETENTION

Premise: In conjunction with Rocketry, Robotics, STEM, and the advances in lightweight, no-impact, backpacking techniques, re-emphasize the traditional campcraft skills. They are timeless and carry with them the mystique and fascination that forever remains attractive to youth! Revitalize these skills as a central feature of the Scouting program, and in so doing, not only increase incentive to join and stay involved, but counteract the consensus that over the years the BSA’s outdoor skills requirements have undergone what has been construed as an unfortunate “dumbing down” yielding an influx of higher ranking Scouts that can’t put up a dining fly of light a fire in the rain.

Revise the campcraft advancement requirements, providing the grounds for the acquisition and use of campcraft skills that are appealing, relevant and continually used as part of a troop’s outdoor program.
Across the board, in publications and training materials, emphasize and promote the inclusion of traditional methods of camp cooking and campsite set up, for front-country camping, that do not impact the environment.
Hold inspiring adult training sessions, initially at the Summit and Philmont, introducing and teaching relevant, old-school campcraft and pionerering skills and how to include them as an integral, challenging, and fun part of the unit’s program.
Provide action-based program materials enabling units to deliver a program that not only teaches the skills, but brings them to life, so that Scouts can actively experience their use in a way that is enriching and fun.
Train district and council trainers to present an Advanced OLS course replete with methods and activities designed to deliver these skills as part of their troops’ programs.
Following a well-working, field-tested design, provide the wherewithal to councils and/or OA lodges to implement their own pioneering and advanced campcraft programs.

Check the Facts!

FACT

The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America, incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916, is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.

FACT

In addition to traditional Scout and campcraft skills, Scouting also incorporates modern technology. NOTHING has changed—only expanded.

FACT

The Boy Scouts of America provides the most effective program of youth protection in the world.

FACT

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

Scout Oath (or Promise)	Scout Law
On my honor I will do my best To do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.	A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.