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Compass tips and tricks
Want to win your next orienteering challenge? Get prepared by studying basic map-and-compass skills such as taking a bearing. Then move on to more advanced techniques such as aiming off and factoring...
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Make your own mailbox stove
Click here for mailbox stove recipes Visitors to Boyslife.org were curious about how to build the mailbox stove that was depicted in the November issue of Boys’ Life (“Come And Get It!”). You ask for...
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Catch and release fishing tips
Releasing the fish you catch can help sustain and build the population of wild fish. Here are a few tips for ensuring fish have the best chance of survival: • Use barbless hooks or flatten the barb on...
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How to maintain your bike
Maintaining your bike is your responsibility, both for your safety and that of the friends you ride with. Luckily, tuning up your bike isn’t as hard as it might seem when you first try. Here’s how to...
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How to set a steady hiking pace
Up one hill and down another: Before you know it, your pack weighs a ton and you’re panting like a dog. But a hike does not have to be this tiring. A steady pace will conserve energy by ironing out all...
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Make a firefly lantern
Want a natural nightlight? Try making a firefly lantern. Step 1: Make a mesh container from a piece of fiberglass window screen. Roll it into a tube with overlapping ends. Staple the tube together...
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Five great outdoor games
Think about the times you might have some downtime with your fellow Scouts. Maybe on a camp-out or after a meeting. That’s the perfect time to play sports. No referee? No official sports field nearby?...
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Make a solar hot dog cooker
If you curve some aluminum foil just right, you can cook hot dogs with the sun’s heat. WHAT YOU’LL NEED Utility knife Tape Saw Drill Roofing nails Glue 2 sheets of corrugated cardboard, 7 1/2 inches by...
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Fun wintertime projects
When Old Man Winter bares his cold, sharp icicle fangs, don’t turn into an indoor flake. Bite back! Here’s how to sink your teeth into winter and walk away with a few cool souvenirs. STICK IT TO A...
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Animal track identification quiz
Animal track illustrations are courtesy of Lynn Levine and Martha Mitchell. For more information see Mammal Tracks and Scat: Life-Size Tracking Guide or click on Heartwoodpress.com.
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How to build an igloo
How to build a quinzee snow shelter Fun games to play in the snow The best-known snow shelter is the igloo. A brilliant use of engineering and resources, this simple dome made out of snow blocks is...
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Gear checklists for your next trip
You’re frantic. Panicked even. In exactly one hour, your troop is heading out the door on an outing — and you’re stuggling to pack. What clothes do you need to bring? How about extra gear? No worries....
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Emergency preparedness quiz
Whether you're on the trail or just having fun in the park, it's easy to get into trouble. Accidents happen. People don't think ahead -- or just plain don't think. Here are 12 such situations. Would...
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Watch Venturers take part in Road to Ranger program
Hunter Chapman is a 14-year-old member of Venturing Crew 476 from Hewitt, Tex., sweating in blacksmith’s cabin while pounding on a piping-hot metal bar with a heavy hammer. It’s July 2008 at Sid...
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Camping quiz
Ready to put more "outing" into "Scouting"? You will be, once you ace this quiz on camping basics.
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How to go fishing at night
Fishing after dark takes skill. Here are tips to help you catch your limit. LEARN FISH HABITS Fish behave differently after dark. With no light, they depend on their sonar senses. Tiny nerve endings...
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Geocaching takes you on a modern-day treasure hunt
On treasure maps of old, X marked the spot. Today’s treasure might be marked N 41 51.649 W 085 46.433. Confused? Then you probably haven’t heard about geocaching (pronounced geo-cashing). Geocaching, a...
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How to skip rocks
To begin your quest for stone skipping success, follow these steps: 1. Select a skipping stone. The stone should be mostly flat, about the size of the palm of your hand and about the weight of a...
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How to beat the stink when camping
Brian, a 17-year-old Eagle Scout from Troop 965 in Chicago, whips through his daily grooming routine and feels clean all day. But when he went on a long camping trip to New Mexico, things got dicey. “I...
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How to build a bug board
You can learn a lot about bugs by going out no farther than your own backyard, and by using equipment you probably already have in the house. One way is to make an insect spreading board — your own...
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