Week 4 - Pioneering merit badge. Ian W.Derrick, (AKA Dec) gets involved with all 3 merit badge classes. The aim, to build a new gateway for ‘Scoutcraft’ using the all knots & lashings required for the merit badge AND the ropes that the Scouts will make during the week.
Teaching the lashings
A safety Issue
It was noticed that cinder blocks were being used to lift pioneering poles off the ground.
How strong are these blocks?
If the block was turned on its side, a hole would be available which could make grabbing/ moving a rope (by putting a hand or arm through the block) under the pioneering project a lot easier. Sooner or later someone will do this. But what if the block were to fail with someone’s hand/arm through the cinder block or underneath the pioneering pole.
Is this an accident waiting to happen?
Could a cinder block on its side support a heavy pioneering pole, could it also support someone standing on the pole to pull a lashing tight.... only one to be sure .... try it and find out.
Result (left) - a cinder block on its side would NOT support the weight of a heavy pioneering pole.
CINDER BLOCKS SHOULD NOT TO BE USED TO SUPPORT PIONEERING PROJECTS. Its just not worth the risk.
Rope Making
The new ‘Scoutcraft’ gateway
The Friday morning team tied the tripods (sailmaker’s lashing), fitted the cross-bar and tied the ropes to raise and lower the ‘SCOUTCRAFT’ sign.
The 1st of the afternoon teams erected the project and added 2 tripod bracings to support the structure.
The 2nd afternoon team finished the gateway and raised the ‘Scoutcraft’ sign
Be proud of your work!!!
A small plaque bearing the names of all who had taken part in the building of the new gateway was hung from it. (see below)
The finished gateway (right)
A job well done ...
The end of week 5 and the gateway had not been taken down and rebuilt by the next group of merit badge pioneers.
