From National: Hammock Camping Merit Badge is approved!
:-P
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From National: Hammock Camping Merit Badge is approved!
:-P
you have been watching way too much sugh......
a big atta boy for you sir..fine idea and thinking out of the box..the knowlage on this site is a#1 and accurate..keep up the good work..hoo rah
"Civilization is the limitless multiplication of unnecessary necessities." - Mark Twain
“I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.” - John Burroughs
Not to take away from the fun of this thread (and I do want patches), but there really is no reason the Camping Merit Badge could not be earned while hammocking - reading hammock as my variation of tent used to camp out.
We must, indeed, all hang together, or assuredly we shall all hang separately. - Ben Franklin
(known as a win-win on this forum)
As a scoutmaster myself, I chuckled reading this. My scouts idea of cooking over a fire (or just having a fire) requires flames at least 2' high, and usually with a long 'stir' stick that they can wave in the air once it's ablaze
Even their achy stoves are cooler if the jets are oversized so the flames can come way out around their pots.
-b
"There's no point in being grown up if you can't be childish sometimes." - Dr Who
my scouting resources
In my mind, mastering basic scout skills is necessary for a scout to learn to enjoy any minimalist type setup- so I encourage scouts and parents to look toward it as a First Class on up "perk." Our Boys set up their own tents and hammocks. Those new to the troop are not encouraged to hang, but rather are buddied up with a more senior scout who can help set them up for success in keeping their gear organized and give them suggestions on what is needed/necessary for tenting. Setting them up to succeed and be able to feel self reliant is an important aspect in our troop. I will encourage newer scouts to try a nap in a hammock, but also show them some of the complexities at the same time. None of this is hard lined.
Our troop has close to half a dozen boys hanging now. For these, the buddy system forms in a very natural system. Since setting up the hammocks is a bit more technical, the guys naturally graduate to each other to solicit advise on sites and critique setups and/or try out new setup tricks. Buddies tend to hammock sharing one anchor tree or setting up parrallel close to each othe
If the Troop feels more comfortable tenting, perhaps the hammocks can be pulled out for Patrol functions when the groups are a bit smaller. For me, the key has been to use hammocks as one more tool to use in our outdoor method. Never let tha hammock become the emphasis. Utilize it as an option for those looking for an added dimension and an adjunct to advanced skill applications.
H4x
SM TR49, SR-875 "A boy learns integrity through his eyes, ears and hands."
"You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to." Bilbo Baggins, as quoted by Frodo The Fellowship of the Ring
I have been involved in scout for over 20 years and have never seen a hammock used on a camp out until I found this site. I earned my eagle when I was 14 and I hope to get my son (now 2 years old) involved in scouting also. If there was a hammock merit badge when I was a younger I would have earned that one. Hopefully I will be able to change the way the scouts around here look at a tent very soon.
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