2nd Class Knife Axe Fire
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Fuzz-Stick Whittling Contest
Contact Wood-Splitting Contest
String Burning Contest
Water Boiling Contest
Fire Rubbing Stick Contest

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Scout Knots
2nd Class Knife Axe Fire
2nd Class Wildlife
Compass Treasure Hunts
First Class Wood Love
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Think of two words that spell fun for young Scouts. Hike Cooking! Right! That's what they'd like to be doing before they even become Tenderfoot - and know what? It isn't hard for them. They have fun while learning. The saying, "Show me a Troop with some good outdoor cooks and I'll show you a good Troop," is usually true, so if you are interested in developing a good Troop teach your Scouts the six parts of the Cooking Requirement in the order given in the Handbook for Boys:

1. Sharpen knife and whittle.
2. Sharpen axe and chop.
3. Clear site, lay and light fire.
4. Cook meal.
5. Clean up.
6. Also important, put out fire!

Of the six, a Scout thinks principally of building the fire and cooking the meal - and of eating it. That's why the Handbook for Boys suggests operations Nos. 1 and 2 being done in advance.

Fire-Building Important

The Yankee pioneer put the whole thing in a nutshell when he said, "Well the most important part of cookin' is the durned fire-buildin' anyway."

A One-Month Program

When making your Troop Program for the month, consider the following indoor and outdoor items which are described in this chapter:

1. (In or Outdoors) Knife and Axe Sharpening.
2. (Indoors) Passing a Knife and an Axe.
3. (Indoors) Fire-Lighter Whittling Practice.
4. (Indoors) Fuzz-Stick Whittling contest.
5. (In or Outdoors) Contact Wood- Splitting Contest.
6. (Outdoors) Axe Practice.
7. (Outdoors) String Burning Contest.
8. (Outdoors) Water-Boiling Contest.
9. (Outdoors) Fire-Building Instruction and Practice.
10. (Indoors) Fire-Building by Rubbing Sticks and Flint and Steel.

Indoor Knife and Axe Sharpening

Why not give instruction and demonstration in this subject at an indoor Troop meeting? To demonstrate axe sharpening indoors make a wooden gadget to hold a short-handled Scout axe in place while filing it. The instructor can give all instruction needed while he is sharpening a knife and axe if he demonstrates the methods described and illustrated in the Handbook for Boys.

Following the instructions urge the Scouts to learn Knife and Axe Sharpening and Passing as soon as possible by working in Patrol Meetings or at home with the help of their dads. A reasonably new, clean, sharp file is required for axe filing.

Knife and Axe Passing Practice

To prepare for this contest conclude knife and axe instruction with a demonstration of correct methods of passing such sharp tools.

If desired, conduct contests, but absolutely eliminate speed and running For example, let Scouts take turns receiving and passing a knife and axe from one to another. Have a First Class Scout or Explorer judge each Patrol.

Passing Axe

When passing the axe, pass by the handle with the head down and the edge outward. The receiver grasps it with his right hand. See instructions above.

Whittling Instruction

Let someone who knows how, demonstrate the whittling of a fuzz-stick. It would be most unusual for an eleven-year-old boy to produce his first fuzz-stick with shavings at least 3 inches long all remaining on the stick. With this in mind demonstrate the easiest way to whittle a fuzz-stick, and then tell the Scouts:

1. The knife must be sharp.
2. Use native materials, free from knots (white pine is excellent).
3. Keep the first three or four shavings very long, stopping about 1/2 inch from the end of the stick.
4. After a good start hold the knife still and pull the stick while holding it against the leg, turning the blade in a trifle at the very end of the pull.

At the conclusion of the whittling instruction and demonstration announce a Fuzz-Stick Contest for the next meeting. Arrange for one Scout from each Patrol, who knows he has the soft wood at home, to split and bring it, instead of depending upon each Scout to bring his own to the next meeting.

Fire-Lighter Whittling Practice

Demonstrate the making of a simple fire-lighter which is designed for lighting a fire in the wind.

To make a fire-lighter whittle 5 or 6 thin shavings 4 or 5 inches long on the end of a soft wood stick, and when making the last cut pass the knife on through the stick, cutting off the bundle of shavings.

Members of each Patrol drop down on their knees in a circle. Scouts who have a knife and a stick practice this and as soon as they succeed they pass on their knives and sticks, and other Scouts take a turn. After everyone has had a turn at practicing start the contest described below.

Fuzz-Stick Whittling Contest
Contact Wood-Splitting Contest
String Burning Contest
Water Boiling Contest
Fire Rubbing Stick Contest

Boy Scout Games