TROOP NEWS
Q: Every time I use my propane stove, it leaves black soot all over my cookware. How can I stop this from happening? What is causing that soot? — Alicia, Peoria, Arizona A: Flames on propane stoves should burn blue. Check the color of your flames — are they yellow? That’s a sign the fuel and oxygen are not mixing properly, which then forms carbon particles, or soot. This soot sticks to your pots and pans, preventing them from heating efficiently. Clean your cookware after cooking to keep any soot from building up. To prevent soot from forming, disassemble and…
Sleeping pads provide cushioning to help you get a good night’s sleep. Most are either inflatable, like the Therm-a-Rest Trail Scout ($60, thermarest.com), or are made with closed-cell foam, like the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite SOL ($40, thermarest.com). Closed-cell foam pads are usually more durable, but they’re bulkier. The Z Lite SOL’s foam is softer on top for comfort and denser on the bottom for durability. Inflatable pads roll down to fit snugly inside your backpack. The Trail Scout packs down to less than a foot long. There’s no rule saying you can use only one pad. By layering multiple pads,…
Who is this Super Mario baddie? Dry BonesSpinyDeath KoopaBoney Who is this Super Mario baddie? KonkThwompWhompBlocky Who is this Super Mario baddie? RockyHawkeyeHip HawkRawk Hawk Who is this Super Mario baddie? BlinkyRexFrightyShy Guy Who is this Super Mario baddie? YarggBlarggToastyTorchy Who is this Super Mario baddy? BloopyToadstoolGoombaBowser Who is this Super Mario baddie? BlinkyBlooperBlimpyBonk Who is this Super Mario baddie? BombermanBob-ombBoomerBom-ba Who is this Super Mario baddie? Donut GhostClydeSwoopBoo Who is this Super Mario baddie? Chain ChuckChain ClankChain RoverChain Chomp Who is this Super Mario baddie? Hammer ShellHammer BroMallet ManLakitu Who is this Super Mario baddie? WendellBowserGoombaKoopa Troopa Who is…
You can take your own fingerprints or the fingerprints of others by using a pencil, a sheet of paper and some clear adhesive tape. WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO TAKE FINGERPRINTS Pencil Sheet of white paper 3/4-inch-wide clear adhesive tape WHAT YOU’LL DO TO TAKE FINGERPRINTS 1. Draw a 2-by-1-inch rectangle on the paper with a pencil. 2. Blacken the rectangle with your pencil. 3. Rub your thumb (or the end of another finger) on the black rectangle to transfer the pencil’s graphite to your finger. 4. Apply a piece of the tape on your finger, covering the tip all the…
Citizens — including youth — play an important role in crime prevention in the community. Here are easy ways that you can help make your neighborhood safer. Find out more by earning the Crime Prevention merit badge. 1. INSPECT YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD With a parent or other trusted adult, take a tour of your neighborhood and create a checklist of possible problems. Look for things like broken streetlights, overgrown bushes, abandoned buildings and any kind of unusual activity. 2. OPERATION IDENTIFICATION People who mark their belongings have a better chance of getting them back if they’re stolen. Consider an identification program…
Spring means it is time for the arrival of several billion feathered visitors from Mexico, Central America and South America. Many of these birds make incredible journeys every year to find the perfect place to nest and raise their young in the U.S. and Canada. The wide variety of migratory birds includes many colorful songbirds: warblers, tanagers, vireos, buntings and orioles, to name a few. Ducks, cranes, shorebirds, raptors and hummingbirds also migrate. Hundreds of bird species in North America migrate each fall and spring, nesting in the northern part of their range and wintering in the southern. Migration distances…
Whether you’re taking a break mid-hike, kicking back around the campfire or sitting down to eat a meal, a camp chair keeps you comfy and off the ground. Which chair is best depends on how you’ll use it. The best one for backpacking isn’t always the one you’ll want for car camping. If you’re backpacking, pick one that’s lightweight and low bulk. It can be something as simple as an inflatable seat or a foldable cushion. You can find small collapsible stools that are easy to pack. You can also make your own camp chair: Use your pioneering skills to…
Relax around camp by building a comfortable camping chair. It’s easy if you have the pioneering skills. WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE A CAMP CHAIR Three spars about 4 inches in diameter, two 8 feet long and one 12 to 15 feet long Four sections of rope, one 30 feet long and three 3 to 4 feet long 6-by-8-foot (or slightly bigger) tarp, folded into an isosceles triangle Three heavy rocks slightly smaller than baseballs but larger than golf balls WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE A CAMP CHAIR Step One: Determine which ends of each spar are the thickest, and…
You can use an old neckerchief (or any fabric you like) to make a fun coaster for your drinks. WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE A DRINK COASTER Fabric glue Construction paper or foam tile Ruler Scissors Neckerchief (or any fabric you like) Permanent marker Tape WHAT YOU’LL DO TO MAKE A DRINK COASTER STEP 1. Trace a circle on a piece of paper using the mouth of a cup and cut it out. STEP 2. Cut three 1-foot-by-1-inch strips from your neckerchief, which will make a coaster about 2 ½ inches wide — perfect for a standard water bottle. Before…
Q: The survival kit my parents gave me came with a little sewing kit. What is that for? — Connor, Franklin, Tennessee A: Survival kits should include the Scout outdoor essentials, along with some gear to help you signal for help, protect you from the elements and make repairs. The sewing kit is for repairs. When your tent or clothes rip, you can use a needle and thread to fix them. But your supplies are helpful only if you know how to use them. Practice sewing on your merit badge sash or uniform. Insert thread through the eye of a…