low impact camping

[Ron S]

I grew up in the Scouting program when all meals were cooked on open fires, tents needed to be trenched to keep water from coming, etc. When I once again became active, a little over 6 years ago, I had quite a culture shock. I understand the reasons for low impact camping, and things like trenching tents needed to go away, but what I found was that the boys were lacking in skills that, as a youth, we took for granted.

For example, firebuilding skills were terrible. Even older Scouts had trouble with this basic skill because they were never practicing it. A few years ago, we went back to requiring that at least one meal per trip be cooked on an open fire. The firebuilding skills and cooking skills have improved tremendously.

Have any of you noticed similar trends and what have you done to improve basic Scout skills?
Ron

[PPC_NYLT]

There was a time when my troop didn't even use backpacks on camping trips. They carried everything in inside of garbage bags. That doesn't happen anymore, but cooking/firebuilding skills are still down. But this year, I had my hand in defveloping the klondike and have this insane, outragous, astronomical cooking challange for this year to force scouts to learn. I'll let you know how it turns out, but it should be interesting.

[jr56]

We have had one of our assistant scoutmasters giving instruction on fire starting without matches. Yes, some basic scout skills from years ago are going by the wayside.

[WVBeaver05]

Oh yes! Quite a change isn't it!!

I recall trenching those tents, scooping out shoulder and hip holes in the ground and cooking over open fires. I also recall replacing the sod and carrying out the unburnable trash.

It is a contrast that I point out in the Leave No Trace training sessions that I do. Lots of things change, in general the LNT is better.

But, no question about it, fire building and open fire cooking aren't as good as they once were (remember the 2nd Class requirement to build a fire with 2 matches or less, cook a meal with no utensils, or something like that). Our boys can build a fire, but don't always have the patience to do it right. Cooking on an open fire.... well, not so good.

YiS

[mhjacobson]

All that is means is that the BSA is responding to the camping culture. I remember at one campout -- years ago -- we were severely criticised by a camp ranger (national park) for following the BSA camping manual and messing up his campsite. We spent (as we always did) putting it back to where it was when we got there. Boy was he surprised!!

With the new low impact camping methods, the troop is able to set up camp in less time, and certainly is able to pack up and return the campsite back to where it was when we arrived in less time.

Recently we went to a camp that was owned by another Council. When I pitched my tent, I could place it inside the trench marks that had been made many years before (don't allow it any more). One could easily see the permanent damage that the old way did to the area.

A loss of scouting skills that are not currently needed is a small price to pay to keep our camping areas pristine for the next use.

[Ron S]

In my original post, I alluded to the loss of basic Scout skills as a result of low impact camping policies. In no way am I disputing Leave No Trace policies because I believe that LNT is a good thing and long overdue.

As adult leaders, I believe it is our responsibility to find creative ways to teach these skills and still follow the principles of LNT. For example, since fire building skills were lacking, we began a policy that at least one meal per campout was to be cooked on an open fire, preferably in a dutch oven. In campsites that have an existing fire lay, we encourage the boys to use this location for their cooking rather than creating new fire lays. In the event that a new fire lay must be made, the area must be restored to preuse condition.

Because our cooking skills were severly diminished, we instituted a patrol cooking competition on every campout. One meal (or dish) is designated as the competition meal and the adults serve as judges. The competition meal is always cooked on an open fire. The boys asked that the adults cook breakfast on Sunday morning for the winning patrol. We agreed, and you should see the meals we're cooking up now! Crawfish pasta, stewed chicken, from scratch cheesecake, ..........etc.

I guess what I'm looking for is ideas that you have used to continue to teach these skills and still follow Leave No Trace.
Ron

[WeeWillie]

Low impact camping isn't new. I was a Scout 40 years ago. We didn't trench then; we cleaned up the fire ring or concrete pad; scattered leaves ... so our campsite looked better than we found it. That was in New York. I now live in Arizona where we have to worry about forest fires. Therefore, our opportunities for fires are limited. Correctly using stoves and lanterns are every bit as challenging as cooking over a fire so I don't see a net loss in outdoor skills from that perspective.

The defficiencies I see in Scout outdoor skills are primarily adult driven. First is the pre-occupation with advancement at the expense of maintaining skill profiiciency. a.k.a Merit Badge Mills. The second problem is adult leader outdoor skill profficiency.

[bearpatrolleaderinctown]

it all depends on the scout master. yes my troop uses stoves but before we can use them we must be able to start a fire with two matches to get the start a fire requirment because if u can not start a fire with two matches every time how often r u going to start a fire