Pioneering Material Question

[OldGrayOwl 10]

My troop wants to get into doing some Pioneering activities.

 

What sort of poles (logs), lengths, diameters, material would be required, how many, etc.?

 

They want to start off building simple things first, like campsite gateways, then move into more complicated projects like towers and bridges.

 

Any ideas and or plans?

 

Thanks

OGO

 

 

[acco40 95]

I'm trying not to sound glib but the troop should use materials they finds on location. That is true pioneering.

 

If the troop just wants to practice lashings, etc. in a troop meeting scenario (indoors?), I'd suggest nothing thicker than 4 inches in diameter and not more than 8 ft in lenght because anything bigger would be too unyieldy (is that a word?) for 10 year olds.

[Kudu 186]

OldGrayOwl writes:

 

"What sort of poles (logs), lengths, diameters, material would be required, how many, etc.?"

 

Lengths & Quantities: The traditional method is to learn this "hands-on" by building scale models during the winter months. See The Inquiry Net:

 

http://inquiry.net/outdoor/skills/b-p/models.htm

 

Kudu

 

[OldGreyEagle 5]

One could read the Pioneering Merit Badge book, the final chapter, titled "Pioneering Kit" gives a pretty extensive explanation of what is needed spar and rope wise along with dimensions and some auxilary equipment to consider.

 

Is there a copy of the Pioneering merit badge book in the Troop's library? It would seem to be an excellent acquisition

[OldGrayOwl 10]

Thanks.

Shows that my gray matter just ain't what it use to be.

Never thought of looking there.

[SSScout 1624]

Extreme Pioneering:::

 

Google "Chinese Bamboo Scaffolding"

and marvel at the 50 stories high, LASHED together outer scaffolding utilized in construction.

 

start at www.inbar.int/nm

 

At the Jambo, we saw a lashed together merry-go-round, several 'tensegrity' structures, all lashed from poles and rope. Maaavelous...

 

Wrap it thrice, frap it twice...

[Gunny2862 11]

Also from inquiry.net in the section on Scout Staves are several projects using your hiking staff.

I think this might be a good way to incorporate having another multifunctional item you carry with you. You could have them to practice with at meetings or at LNT (Leave No Trace)campsites and either use them for camp gadgets or use good deadfall for leave behind Pioneering efforts at non-LNT sites.

 

I'm using what looks like it was intended to be a broom handle and will soon be incorporating some of the inquiry.net suggestions to make it more useful as a carry item.

[mtm25653 10]

There is a lot of bamboo in our area, and landowners are usually very happy for our troop to cut it. Lightweight, strong, easy to handle (the biggest I've seen is 4-5" in diameter.)