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10 steps to start fishing
Turn off the video games. Put up the balls, bats and other stuff. It’s time for a different kind of fun — fishing. Follow these simple steps! STEP 1: For gear, KEEP IT SIMPLE. All you need is a cane,...
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How to avoid heat exhaustion
John Musgrove was on his first backpacking trip, and he was not a happy hiker. “I’m tired, and I think I’m going to barf,” he moaned.” The eighth grader and his Scout patrol were hiking a section of...
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How to avoid altitude sickness
Mount Elbert rises to 14,433 feet above sea level. Nothing in Colorado stands taller: the view is spectacular. But if you ask 14 year old Travis Archuleta what he remembers most about Mount Elbert, it...
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Choosing the right fishing lure
How do you catch a fish? If only it was that simple. There’s a reason it’s called fishing and not catching, right? Read up on the lures on this page, make your choice, then go out and give it a shot....
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First aid for the trail
No matter how well-prepared you are, injuries can strike anywhere on the trail. Know what to do when they strike. The next time you see one of these five common problems, you can spring into action....
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An all-star tour of the night sky
When you think of stargazing, you might picture yourself on a summer’s night, staring up from your sleeping bag at zillions of sparkling white dots above you. Well, viewing stars is even better in...
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Make your own minnow trap
Click here for a PDF version of these instructions. You’re ready for fishing. You’ve got everything … but bait. And no cash to buy any. Well, forget throwing money at minnows. Gather your own! It’s...
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How to avoid hypothermia
Twelve-year-old Erick Cole was sick at heart, and scared. Erick and his little brother, Andy, 4, had been sledding together out in the Nebraska snow. When it came time to go home, Erick decided to make...
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How to tie basic fly-fishing knots
Fly fishermen depend on knots and must know how to tie several different knots properly. A badly or improperly tied knot will result in lost fish and great frustration for the angler. Here is a drawing...
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How to avoid frostbite
“Don’t go far,” Frank Simon’s mom called as Frank and his three friends set out to ski the backcountry from a lodge at Paradise Inn, Wash. It was a sunny day, but the temperature on the lower slopes of...
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Fun games to play in the snow
Winter camping is serious business. You know the routine: Dress properly, build the right kind of shelter (or buy the right kind of tent), eat the right kind of food and drink plenty of water. Dress in...
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Plan and run a Klondike derby
Download our detailed Klondike derby guide (PDF format) Get plans for a great Klondike derby sled (PDF format) Planning a Klondike derby is a great team-building exercise requiring leadership and...
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How to find fossils
Sometimes a rock’s just a rock … and sometimes it’s a fossil. How can you tell the difference? Research which fossils are common where you’ll be hiking. Stop by a museum or visitor center, call a local...
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Unusual but effective cooking methods
Click here to get instructions for making your own mailbox stove Who says camp food has to taste blah? With minimal effort, a troop of North Carolina Scouts has gotten creative with campfire cuisine...
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How to build a quinzee snow shelter
A quinzee is a simple shelter made by hollowing out a big pile of snow. They can take several hours to build, but are an effective way to stay warm when camping in the winter. Here’s how to build one....
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Build a flagpole, table or chair for your camp
Give your average camper a set of spars and a coil of rope, and in return you’ll most likely get only a puzzled look. But present those same materials to a pioneering expert and you’ll get chairs,...
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How to build a survival shelter
Being a “survivor” has captured the imagination of millions of TV watchers. But a survivor is much more than a TV fantasy. A survivor is someone prepared to live—and live as healthfully as...
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Calls for climbers and belayers
When climbing or rappelling, it’s very important for the person on the rock to communicate well with his belayer. To do this, they use “calls.” Here are some of the generally accepted signals for...
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Properly Portaging Your Canoe
Technique is more important than sheer strength when lifting your canoe. Standing at the canoe’s center, rock the boat to generate enough momentum so that it’s sideways, with the top facing away from...
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Hiking through history
America has 17 National Historic Trails and miles upon miles of other ancient wilderness routes. Hiking these trails is a great way to pay tribute to the pathfinders who dared to go where few had gone...
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