ELECTIVE ADVENTURES
Castaway
Resources
for this
Adventure
Learn About the Adventure
Complete Requirements 1 and 2.
Complete a. and your choice of b. or c.
(b) With the help of an adult, demonstrate one way to light a fire without using matches.
(c) Using tree limbs or branches that have already fallen or been cut, build a shelter that will protect you overnight.
Do all of the following.
(b) With your den, demonstrate two ways to treat drinking water to remove impurities.
(c) Discuss what to do if you become lost in the woods. Tell what the letters "ST-O-P" stand for. Tell what the universal emergency signal is. Describe three ways to signal for help. Demonstrate one of them. Describe what you can do to help rescuers find you.
(d) Make a list of four qualities you think a leader should have in an emergency and why they are important to have. Pick two of them, and act them out for your den. Describe how each relates to a point of the Scout Law. Describe how working on this adventure gave you a better understanding of the Boy Scout motto.
Cooking Without Pots and Pans
Baked Campfire Apples
Ingredients
☐ 1 large apple
☐ 1 Tbsp. butter
☐ 1 tsp. Brown or white sugar
☐ Dash of cinnamon
☐ 2 sheets of aluminum foil - 10 inches long
☐ Switch it Up: Add chocolate chips or peanut butter
Directions
Cut a “ plug” out of the top of the apple. Keep the plug to re-insert later. Stem can stay on or come off.
Use a butter or paring knife to carve out all of the core and seeds. Try not go through the bottom (but if you do it is okay).
Fill the center with butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Re-insert the plug.
Double-wrap the apple in aluminum foil.
Cooking
Campfire cooking method: Place on hot coals for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes rotate to cook the other side. Remove from the coals and let them cool before eating.
Grilling method: Turn the grill to high and cook as above.
Oven method: Bake in an oven preheated to 475 for 10 minutes.
Popcorn in a Bag - Two Ways
MICROWAVE
Ingredients
☐ ¼ c. Popcorn kernels
☐ Brown bag
☐ Optional: Oil, Seasonings
Directions
Put ¼ cup of popcorn kernels in the brown lunch bag
Optional: add 1 tsp oil
Fold the top of the brown bag and fold the corners down to tuck them in.
Microwave for 2 minutes. But LISTEN… STOP the microwave when the popping stops.
Season as desired.
Ideas: salt, ranch powder, chili powder, parmesan
CAMPFIRE
Ingredients
☐ 2 Tbsp. Popcorn kernels
☐ 2 Tbsp. canola or vegetable oil
☐ 18 inch square of aluminum foil
☐ Roasting stick/ Tongs
Directions
Place the popcorn and oil in the middle of the foil square.
Loosely seal the edges to form a pouch - leaving room for the kernels to pop.
Twist the top around the roasting stick or tie on with string or twine.
Shake continuously over the fire until popped
Season as desired.
More Cooking Ideas
Light a Fire Without Matches
Materials:
☐ Magnifying glass,
☐ 9 volt battery,
☐ steel wool,
☐ Optional: flint and steel fire striker, sticks, string
Safety: Find a safe place to start a fire - in a fire bowl or ring.
Prepare: For a successful fire you need to prepare the proper layers.
Tinder: Fine, dry material that easily bursts into flame - dry grass, slivers of shaved dry wood, etc.
Kindling: Once the tinder is set you need kindling - dry twigs no thicker than pencils are great.
Fuel: This is what will keep your fire going. Dry wood about as thick as your arm is a good choice.
Once you have gathered your fire materials it is time to generate heat.
Heat: Lighting a fire without matches. Once you have a flame add you kindling and the fuel.
Magnifying glass - the sun is very powerful and with a magnifying glass, you can focus its rays directly on your tinder to start a fire. Once you see smoke you can very gently start blowing on the ember to get the fire to spread.
Friction - rubbing sticks together or constructing a spindle and a bow are another way to make fire. It is not easy but if you want to give it a try check out your Webelos book for instructions.
Flint & Steel - This is the classic caveman way! Strike you flint against steel to produce sparks. Direct the sparks down at your tinder. Watch for smoke then gently blow to spread
Electricity: Touching a 9 volt battery to steel wool will start a fire. Be careful to never carry them in the same pocket!
Survival Kit
Checklists
Remember, different trips have different needs.
Be sure to check your kit before you head out!
Purify Water
Purifying water is an essential skill. Below we will share three simple ways to do this.
Solar Still
Photos ©Thomas Kim
Materials
☐ Plastic Bottle (bigger is better)
☐ Dark Colored Aluminum Can
☐ Can opener
☐ Scissors
☐ Clean Cup
☐ Dirty or salty water
Directions
Cut the bottom off the plastic bottle, roll the bottom up inside itself about 1-2”.
With adult help, cut the top off the aluminum can.
Put the dirty water in the can.
Fit the plastic bottle over it.
5. Set it in the sun to let the water evaporate.
6. Once droplets have formed along the inside of the plastic bottle tap it to knock it down into the “cupped” area of the plastic bottle.
7. Remove the plastic bottle’s lid and pour the clean water into the clean cup.
Two More Ways to Purify Water
#2 - Water Purification Tablets
Materials:
☐ 1 quart of water,
☐ 1 Water Purification Tablet
Directions: Carefully follow the directions on the back of the package.
#3 - Boiling Water
Boiling water is probably the easiest and least expensive method of water purification.
Bringing water to a rolling boil for a full 10 minutes will kill most microorganisms. (A rolling boil means the top of the water is moving around in the pan.)
If the water is muddy, filter it through a bandanna first. That won’t remove any microorganisms, but it will make the water look better when you boil it.
S-T-O-P for Safety & Rescue
S - Stay Calm - If you are panicked, you can’t think clearly. Take a deep breath and think.
T - Think - How did you get there? Get out your map and see what you can find out.
O - Observe- Look for footprints; any landmarks? Find any clues you can to find out where you are.
P - Plan- If you are fairly sure of where you, start back. Use trail markers to mark the path you follow. This will help you get back to your starting point if you need to.
Signals for Help
Whistle. Get noticed. One of your ‘essential 6’ items should be a way to signal. A whistle is the perfect thing to use if you are lost or hurt to signal for help.
Signal Mirror. Use a mirror or shiny object. Shine the sunlight off of the object to get the attention of other hiker.
Bright colors. You can also attract attention by spreading brightly colored materials like tarps or emergency blankets in an open area.
Tip: The universal emergency signal is anything that appears in a series of three. That could be three whistle blasts, three fires, or three large Xs formed with logs in an open field.
Hug-A-Tree Coloring Book
Print as a booklet.
hug a tree book.pdf