Skillful Scouting

Which fire set-ups are better for cooking and witch ones for bonfires? Do you light the logs or the tinder? How about the kindling? Here are some tips to build a better fire. Sort your wood There are three different sizes/kinds of wood.   Tinder is the small, flaky wood that will burn easily and quickly.  This is what you put ON THE BOTTOM to light the fire.   Kindling is the wood that goes ON TOP of the tinder.  Place your fuel on top of the kindling, in a tipi (best for bonfires) or a log cabin (best for cooking). Light your fire You can use anything from flint and steel to a BBQ lighter, just light the tinder and watch for it to grow. You will most likely need to move things around to keep it going. Once it gets as big as you would like it, just let it burn.. Eat & Sing! While you let your fire burn to coals, why not sing a campfire song? When your coals are ready, roast marshmallows, cook hot dogs, or boil water. Questions,...

When camping, you need somewhere safe to put your stuff and to sleep. A tent is a great shelter, but you need to carry it with you, so maybe not the greatest idea for a hike, depending on which tent you own. The Ideal shelter for me is a shelter that is strong, easy to set up, reliable, and comfortable. The other day, I tested out an A-frame shelter with a tarp & rope. This is what my shelter looked like in the morning. I roll around a lot in my sleep. also, the tarp collapsed to the center of my rope. This is not good, but if you get a few clips to hold the tarp in place on the rope, it will work much better. When you think of Shelters, you may think of tents, or tarp and rope thrown up between two trees, but the most important thing for making a strong, durable shelter it to have a strong frame. You will probably want to make that with spars(long pieces of wood; strong.). Whether you are building a shelter putting a tarp over your picnic table, you are going to ...

Okay, so even if you aren't going to hike 25 kilometres, you will want to pack lightly. Here's what I brought: -duct tape (never know when you'll need it!) -pocket survival kit -lifestraw -water bottle -Matches or lighter, preferably water proof. -Mess kit (I have an old one consisting of an aluminium plate, pot, pan, and cutlery. But it also works to just bring a mug, spoon, and if you want, a fork) -multi tool -flashlight -paracord bracelet -Food (usually non perishable items are best, this can be eaten on the trail and the can can be used to boil water in a campfire) -tarp & rope to build a shelter (a tent also works, but sometimes these can be heavier)

  Here's what gear I suggest to bring on a camping trip. This is just the basics, so feel free to bring anything else you see fit. -Water bottle (hydration is very important!) -pocket survival kit (mine is a SOL pocket survival kit by Doug Dritter) -whistle -compact towel -paracord bracelet -duct tape -work gloves -flashlight -compass (you need to know where your going) -led lantern -clothing (depends on how long your out, but be sure to also pack something  warm) -matches -drybag (can be bought at dollarama or mountain warehouse) (note, you can also bring a knife, but only if you are trained in how to use it, and you have parent permission. they can be very dangerous) These are just the basics of gear. If you want to know more about useful gear (there's some great stuff out there) check out my other posts.