Clik here to view.
How to Prevent and Treat Tick Bites
A tick bit Olivia Goodreau when she was 6 years old. That tick was infected with a bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Olivia and her family didn’t see the tick, and she didn’t get the “bull’s-eye”...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Prevent and Treat Snake Bites
It can be unsettling to come across a snake on a campout, especially a venomous one. Snakebites present a potential danger — about 8,000 people in the U.S. are bitten by pit vipers and coral snakes...
View ArticleClik here to view.
9 Things to Know About Wilderness Hazards
One of the best things about being in the wilderness is getting away from the rush of cities and everyday life. One of the biggest challenges of being in the wilderness is that you’re far away from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to build a campfire safely and responsibly
Campfire building is an important camping skill. However, overuse of campfires and an increasing demand for firewood has degraded the natural appearance of many areas. When building a fire, remember to...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Build a Cooking Tripod
The tripod is the most simple freestanding pioneering structure. It is most often used to raise items off the ground. A well-built tripod can safely suspend a pot over a cooking fire. WHAT YOU’LL NEED...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Add to the Never-Ending List of Fire Starters
Every fire needs fuel and that’s where tinder, kindling and firewood come into play. So what “fuel” can you use to start a campfire? Check out this list of traditional and off-the-wall ideas that will...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Do These Five Campsite Items and Snacks Work as Fire Starters?
Just like when you bake a cake, you need ingredients to start a campfire. First, you need heat. That comes from matches. Then you need oxygen. As long as you’re lighting a fire outside (and you’re on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Escape From a Rip Current
A rip current can carry sand, sediment and swimmers many yards seaward. When caught in a rip current, don’t panic and don’t exhaust yourself trying to swim against the current. Instead, swim across...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Make a Fuzz Stick to Help Start a Fire
It’s drizzling, and you want to start a fire. Any tinder you gather will likely be too wet, right? Wrong. You can create an effective fire starter, even with a wet piece of wood. Just grab your knife...
View ArticleClik here to view.
9 Things to Know About the Night Sky
Thousands of years ago, ancient astronomers observed the night sky and saw stars bunched together in what they called constellations. In one part of the sky, there was a group of stars that looked like...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Choose a Campsite
Before setting up your tent, remember these six keys to choosing a safe and comfortable campsite. Safety Find a site away from low-lying places that could fill with water during a flash flood. Stay...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Forms for planning your outing’s itinerary
Paperwork? For a backpacking trip? When it comes to backpacking and other outings, keeping good paperwork is part of Being Prepared. You’ll need a trip plan, an emergency plan and a duty roster....
View ArticleHow to prevent and treat blisters
There’s nothing better than hiking or backpacking in the great outdoors, but a blister can quickly ruin your day. Here are tips for how to avoid getting blisters and how to treat them. Some of the most...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Keeping warm on a cold night in an igloo
When it comes to building igloos, Troop 392 in Normandy Park, Washington, knows where to find paradise. Almost every winter since 2000, the troop has sent Scouts to Paradise — a popular recreation area...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Test your skills in 10 emergency scenarios
Studying the First Aid merit badge pamphlet is great, but to really Be Prepared you need to put everything you think you know to the test. That’s the idea behind the First Aid Meet, an event where...
View ArticleClik here to view.
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...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Skateboarding Video Tips and Tricks
Keith Baldassare wants to make you a better skateboarder. And he has the skills to do it. In September 2008, Keith broke the Guinness World Record of 46 consecutive skateboard frontside ollies on a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
How to Make Your Own Hiking Stick
Walking sticks make hiking more fun. Also called hiking poles or hiking staffs, they let your arms get into the act, so you cover ground more easily. Even better, they help you keep your balance,...
View Article