As autumn arrives, and summer fades into memory, I had a few thoughts on how we teach, and how we learn, when it comes to scouting and bushcraft skills.
My first year of junior college had me in a classroom where the professor was telling us shiny-faced 18 year-olds that the point of higher education was to get to the point where we could teach ourselves, and not need a guy like him. Later, in graduate school I learned about the Orders of Ignorance, and was told that the goal in any learning should be to reduce your OI by one, at least.
In my experience working outdoors with my kids and my scouts, watching survival shows on TV, paying for a week of hands-on instruction, and even my back-yard practice, there is hopefully an element of discovery involved. Trying something new, trying an old trick in a new way, or under different conditions, just as long as I'm pushing the envelope a little bit.
Recently I've seen more and more argument about teachers, though, and harsh critiques of people who've set out to share something, because the viewer didn't like the guy's style, or thought he had a better way, or was put off by a certain method. One thing I've learned, and I think this is really important to keep in mind when trying to learn anything, is that a teacher is the sum of their experience, training, and environment. The sum of human experience is far greater than any individual can ever imagine, let alone master, so I think it bears remembering that every teacher has something to offer, because they've been to places I haven't, done things I've not thought of, or researched and learned techniques and disciplines that I've not already mastered myself. Even on my death bed, when I've done all the wilderness survival, camp cooking, knot-tying, fish-catching, and tent-sleeping I've cared to do, I will most certainly not be able to say "I've done it all." There are ways of doing this that I'll never get around to, never earn mastery of, or even have an experience close enough to really understand why they do it that way over there, when I do it this way over here.
When I try to teach, I try to share what I've learned so that others can gain skills, and earn vital knowledge... the kind that, once known, doesn't need to be remembered. I know where my limits are, though, and I expect most other instructors of any craft know this about themselves as well. The know-it-all's tend to get weeded out eventually. And as I was pondering this subject, it occurred to me that there are a couple of truths that anyone, learning or teaching, ought to keep in mind before judging someone too hard. Style counts less than substance, and those who get hung up on "how" someone goes about their teaching may be missing important information stuffed inside the wrapper. The other thing is, someone's method of teaching informs the student, it doesn't always define the whole person. A popular instructor may have a distinct persona, but especially in the case of television shows, that's usually just the facet they show to make their mark in an increasingly crowded market. At home, as human beings, we're far more complex than we tend to be for a fixed audience. I know at scout camp, I'm the Man In Charge... but I don't live my life this way, and there are very specific reasons I operate a camp of youth the way I do that has nothing to do with me as a person.
So next time you're looking for a school to teach you bushcrafting skills, or watching a show with a host you may or may not like, or reading a new book on the subject, keep in mind that you're only ever going to get a slice of the human experience out of one author, one host, or one teacher. This is where not being dogmatic, staying open-minded, and proving out what you learn through your own experience benefit you better than pride, or ego, or just plain old-fashioned stubbornness.
Now get out there, the leaves are turning.
Eagle Island Base Camp
Monday, September 22, 2014
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
On Whose Authority?
On Whose Authority?
Over the last year or so I've noticed several discussions which focus on teachers, on authority, on certifications, and so forth. Who is the better teacher of a skill (old kung fu movies come to mind, "My master is better than yours!") is a question many students wish to know the answer to, because they strive to become qualified in some way. There are many schools out there focusing on bushcraft, outdoor living, self reliance, and survival. A student can spend an enormous amount of money going through all this training and certification, and then hang out their own shingle as an "expert" because someone else said so.
At the academic level, we do this all the time without thinking. Universities teach courses and offer credit, and at the end you get a diploma which proves to the working world that you might know something about your subject of expertise. But Harvard doesn't offer Masters in Bushcrafting right now. so we have to make do with other forms of training and trust in the quality of that training.
I'd like to paraphrase one of my respected teachers, Alan Watts, on the subject of Authority. It was originally written regarding spiritual authority, the word of the church, and so on. But I think the theme is equally useful to consider in any pursuit of recognition.
So, in the case of the various survival and bushcraft schools--which I choose not to name because I'm not trying to pick a fight with them--or any number of other groups who offer training, followed by some form of certification that you know what you're doing, it gives the student a sense of superior accomplishment because we tend not to trust our own experience and authority in complex skills and decision-making. These schools might say that their way will prepare you to be confident, prepare you to teach, or prepare you to survive, and that this way must be obeyed in a certain way or else you won't pass the class, and your time will be wasted. But their ways are held to be effective and right only because we say so.
Now, there are times where the authority of teachers is far more obvious, and I'll put medical training up on this pedestal readily. I would not suggest that one can become an EMT or a doctor without going through extensive and rigorous training, to acquire knowledge that is not readily available to the average person. The basics of anatomy and medicine are available to most people through good books and online resources, but the difficult lessons of how it all actually works, depends on life-and-death judgements, and that is probably better left to experienced teachers, rather than self-education.
But when it comes to more humble experiences like starting a fire, building a shelter, obtaining food, signalling for help, or even purifying water, there are so many resources available to the common person that there is no excuse for not getting outdoors and testing it for yourself. And in this way, through your own experience, you create your own authority and wisdom on the subject of living and recreating outdoors. It may take many nights outdoors for you to earn your experience and gain confidence, but the false lure of paying thousands of dollars and holding up a certificate risks confusing the symbol with the real thing. That certificate isn't going to keep you warm at night unless you use it to start your campfire with, nor will it fill your belly or stop your bleeding or quench your thirst. These are all things you have to learn for yourself. Good teachers help, of course, but reliance on dogma is not a reflection of an adaptable mind, which I think is far more important in any situation human beings find themselves in.
As the cliques and popular groups tell you they have "the way" for being successful outdoors, remember that they live by all the same rules you do - they need to eat and drink, be sheltered, and generally have the same powers of observation and reasoning as you do. I think that the sharing of experience, and of hard lessons learned, is a good thing for all of us, but I find it puzzling why people go so far out of their way to elevate to "rock star" status certain personalities or groups when the body of their teaching is, and has been for quite some time, very much in the public domain.
Some people are more effective at communicating information than others. That's to be applauded and maybe even invested in, but the egos which attend our community do us no service at all, in my opinion. Any discussion of who is "in" or "out" of a group takes away from the reason we're all doing this to begin with, and that is to have joy in our outdoor experiences.
Over the last year or so I've noticed several discussions which focus on teachers, on authority, on certifications, and so forth. Who is the better teacher of a skill (old kung fu movies come to mind, "My master is better than yours!") is a question many students wish to know the answer to, because they strive to become qualified in some way. There are many schools out there focusing on bushcraft, outdoor living, self reliance, and survival. A student can spend an enormous amount of money going through all this training and certification, and then hang out their own shingle as an "expert" because someone else said so.
At the academic level, we do this all the time without thinking. Universities teach courses and offer credit, and at the end you get a diploma which proves to the working world that you might know something about your subject of expertise. But Harvard doesn't offer Masters in Bushcrafting right now. so we have to make do with other forms of training and trust in the quality of that training.
I'd like to paraphrase one of my respected teachers, Alan Watts, on the subject of Authority. It was originally written regarding spiritual authority, the word of the church, and so on. But I think the theme is equally useful to consider in any pursuit of recognition.
What is the source of a teacher's authority? He can tell you that he can speak from experience. That he has experienced situations which have made him profoundly skilled or understanding or clever or whatever it may be. And you have his word for it. You have the word of other people who likewise agree with him. But each one of them and you in turn, agree with him out of your own opinion and by your own judgment. And so it is you that are the source of the teacher’s authority. And that is true whether he speaks as an individual or whether he speaks as the representative of a tradition or a school.
So the question comes back to you. Why do you believe, why do you form this opinion? Upon what basis does all this rest?
So, in the case of the various survival and bushcraft schools--which I choose not to name because I'm not trying to pick a fight with them--or any number of other groups who offer training, followed by some form of certification that you know what you're doing, it gives the student a sense of superior accomplishment because we tend not to trust our own experience and authority in complex skills and decision-making. These schools might say that their way will prepare you to be confident, prepare you to teach, or prepare you to survive, and that this way must be obeyed in a certain way or else you won't pass the class, and your time will be wasted. But their ways are held to be effective and right only because we say so.
Now, there are times where the authority of teachers is far more obvious, and I'll put medical training up on this pedestal readily. I would not suggest that one can become an EMT or a doctor without going through extensive and rigorous training, to acquire knowledge that is not readily available to the average person. The basics of anatomy and medicine are available to most people through good books and online resources, but the difficult lessons of how it all actually works, depends on life-and-death judgements, and that is probably better left to experienced teachers, rather than self-education.
But when it comes to more humble experiences like starting a fire, building a shelter, obtaining food, signalling for help, or even purifying water, there are so many resources available to the common person that there is no excuse for not getting outdoors and testing it for yourself. And in this way, through your own experience, you create your own authority and wisdom on the subject of living and recreating outdoors. It may take many nights outdoors for you to earn your experience and gain confidence, but the false lure of paying thousands of dollars and holding up a certificate risks confusing the symbol with the real thing. That certificate isn't going to keep you warm at night unless you use it to start your campfire with, nor will it fill your belly or stop your bleeding or quench your thirst. These are all things you have to learn for yourself. Good teachers help, of course, but reliance on dogma is not a reflection of an adaptable mind, which I think is far more important in any situation human beings find themselves in.
As the cliques and popular groups tell you they have "the way" for being successful outdoors, remember that they live by all the same rules you do - they need to eat and drink, be sheltered, and generally have the same powers of observation and reasoning as you do. I think that the sharing of experience, and of hard lessons learned, is a good thing for all of us, but I find it puzzling why people go so far out of their way to elevate to "rock star" status certain personalities or groups when the body of their teaching is, and has been for quite some time, very much in the public domain.
Some people are more effective at communicating information than others. That's to be applauded and maybe even invested in, but the egos which attend our community do us no service at all, in my opinion. Any discussion of who is "in" or "out" of a group takes away from the reason we're all doing this to begin with, and that is to have joy in our outdoor experiences.
Sunday, August 10, 2014
The Personal Survival Kit
The Personal Survival Kit
Not your camping gear. Not your bushcrafting gear. Not your "let's try out a new skill" gear. Not your snivel gear.
We're talking about your core Personal Survival Kit (PSK). The stuff that, when roaming outdoors, you carry no matter what. The stuff you'll rely on when things go wrong, not when they go right.
Naturally, there will be some layering, some things in your pockets not in this kit, and some things in this kit you might use in normal bushcrafting, but this kit is put together and carried as a single item to be broken into when circumstance requires. Tied to your body, more often than not, at all times.
Pictured is 99% of it. Not in the photo is my first and most important survival item: my cell phone. Even in the most remote woods I have available to me, I can often get enough signal to send a text, even if it won't connect voice. SMS requires far less bandwidth, and can handle interrupted connections, as it breaks the text down into packets and sends them as it can until the message has gone out. Also not pictured is my GPS, which I rarely use for personal navigation, but if I'm not near a road intersection, and I need to provide precise coordinates, is an invaluable tool for getting those numbers to a rescue team. I could replace both with a SPOT tracker, and just mash the 911 button if things go wrong, and it's on my short list of outdoors gear to add to my setup.
From the upper left: SOL Survival Bivy. Oven roaster bag for the wayward traveler. About the same cost as a Wal-mart sleeping bag, but tiny and more important, light. Good for cutting the wind off my body at night, and keeping 20 degrees or so inside. Not perfect, but much better than nothing, far better than a mylar sheet. A red bandanna, for whatever you need a bandanna for... too many uses to count. Contrasting color to the woods, though, is important. Next, my most expensive item here, a sil-nylon tarp/poncho. 11.5oz of waterproof heaven, 104x57 inches. Worth every penny in fast personal shelter in place, or on the go. A map of the local area. More useful by itself than a compass, because it contains information about the area, and can be oriented to without any other tools. This one is waterproof and tear-resistant, and has served many trips to this particular locale. Under it are a couple contractor bags. Additional waterproofing for gear, shelter, me, or a buddy. Fill with dry leaves and browse for a mattress, or just use as a ground cloth to keep dry. slippery, though, so be warned.
The beer can had its lid removed with a side-safe can opener, and rinsed well. A favorite of ultra-light backpackers, it serves as the billy pot and weighs nothing. Keep the lid to hasten boiling or keep stuff out of the pot while working. Titanium spork, because the plastic ones melt too easy. The little ziplock bag is my pocket kit, which has a button compass, water purification tablets, storm matches, blot clotter, safety pins, and kevlar thread. Handy if all else is lost, I'm not without something to help improve my situation. Small bic lighter, because that works 99% of the time. Match case with more UCO storm matches, along with a ferro rod and the best blast whistle I've ever tested. Small Petzl headlamp. LIFESTRAW, because they're cheap and they work, really useful if you can't get a fire going for whatever reason. Just keep the drinking end clean, and chug down that dirty river. Pack of dry soap leaves, and a small bottle of hand sanitizer, because hygiene is important in the bush, and the alcohol is a secondary fuel source or firestarter. Hank of paracord, because, well, paracord.
12 hour light stick if I need to save, or have drained, my headlamp. Good enough for one night. Arrowcard dogtag model for extra little blade, saw, and hunting point, not that it should come to that. Connected on a chain is a dogtag-sized signal mirror. At the bottom, my tool kit tin. Heaviest item in the picture, but contains many excellent tricks including bank line, saw blades, a small multitool with pliers, and other goodies. It is an entire post unto itself. Mora knife, floating handle, solid sheath. I own two, neither has failed me yet. Shaving sharp. Some first aid stuff, hard to show as that bit of kit is always evolving and repacked for almost every trip outside my neighborhood, but at a minimum, some gauze and blood clotting agent, in plastic bags useful for sealing up serious wounds against infection or air movement. The duct tape in the tool kit suffices for small cuts. Finally, a bit of food. Mio water enhancer, so that foul-tasting but safe water can be made a bit more palatable, especially warm. Tea would be better for hot drinks, if you can carry it and a little sugar, but this works cold too. Couple flat-packs of tuna and a mountain house ration. Not because I'm going to starve in 48 hours, but keeping both energy and morale up helps everything else.
Pack it all into the container of your choice. Nest small gear in the billy pot, keep first aid and the knife at the top, shelter items next down.
And it goes everywhere with me in the bush. Period.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Scouting and Politics
Scouting and Politics
When I was a boy, the only politics in scouting were the petty ones carried in by some of the adult leaders, centered more around who was a better Scoutmaster than anything else. National politics were, thankfully, not on our radar as youth.
Today that is no longer true. In a world constantly bombarded by the 24/7 in-your-face news cycle, social media, and instant information, we're helpless against the onslaught of agendas coming our way from every direction.
Today, I got in my email a letter concerning the contentious issue of Gays and Scouting. I'll begin by saying I don't know what the right answer is. I support my friends who have other orientations and experiences than mine, and I will defend their right to be who they are, whether that conforms to someone else's idea of what's "right" or not. I also see, how in an all-male organization, there are some questions that are driven mostly by fear, but still remain unanswered because the BSA is not willing to use the youth of the program as guinea pigs in the experiment of finding out whether a pro-LGBT stance is appropriate or not.
The letter says:
It goes on...
What I want to say is this - the BSA made a choice last year to allow Gay youth, but prohibit Gay leaders. I think this was the worst possible choice they could have made, for two reasons. First, it was an act of appeasement. Had they held their ground and stuck with tradition, they'd have been called a bigoted organization, but as a private organization that is their right. It may not be for everyone, and I find that tragic, but it remains a legitimate option. Second, it creates the worst possible environment for a gay young man... membership in an organization that tolerates him because it feels it has to, but sends a clear message that his natural mentors, the gay men who've lived in silence or shame, are not worthy to lead other young men as adults. It puts the young man in a position of being surrounded by people who accept him by policy, and not in true fellowship.
I think if BSA were genuinely interested in helping young men today, it would find a way to accommodate the young men of yesterday, and display the kind of character we try to teach boys... that all are worth of our positive attention, that there are good lessons to be learned in the outdoor experience, and that sexual behavior, regardless of orientation, doesn't belong at camp. The fear that a gay leader might be acting inappropriately with gay boys should be lumped in with the same youth protection we follow now, in defending against any other form of pedophelia. Abuse is abuse, and that should be where policy stops. Further marginalization and judgement doesn't achieve the high moral standard BSA claims to be carrying the torch for. Rather, demonstrating the quality of character to dive in and tackle difficult problems at the adult level, so they don't turn into problems at the youth level, is what BSA really ought to be doing, if it weren't living in fear.
I'll not discount those fears, either, because the other truth of today is that our society is more litigious than it used to be, and trials are far more public than they were in my youth. The BSA has a lot of money coming in from people who think there should be no compromise, and their fear of being sued, de-funded, abandoned by their base, or pilloried any other way for taking a stand for equality is something its board of directors has to deal with.
But I think men like Green Bar Bill, Ernest Seaton, or even Lord Baden-Powell might have risen to the challenge if they were here today.
When I was a boy, the only politics in scouting were the petty ones carried in by some of the adult leaders, centered more around who was a better Scoutmaster than anything else. National politics were, thankfully, not on our radar as youth.
Today that is no longer true. In a world constantly bombarded by the 24/7 in-your-face news cycle, social media, and instant information, we're helpless against the onslaught of agendas coming our way from every direction.
Today, I got in my email a letter concerning the contentious issue of Gays and Scouting. I'll begin by saying I don't know what the right answer is. I support my friends who have other orientations and experiences than mine, and I will defend their right to be who they are, whether that conforms to someone else's idea of what's "right" or not. I also see, how in an all-male organization, there are some questions that are driven mostly by fear, but still remain unanswered because the BSA is not willing to use the youth of the program as guinea pigs in the experiment of finding out whether a pro-LGBT stance is appropriate or not.
The letter says:
As many of you are aware, a youth member and Eagle Scout in our council has been publicly advocating for further change to the current BSA adult leader standards. This young man, who is openly gay, has stated his intentions to attempt to register as an adult leader when he turns 18, in early August.
It goes on...
NCAC has, and will follow the policies and procedures set by the National Council. As such, it is anticipated that the scout’s application for adult membership will ultimately be denied, after a full review like any other application that is submitted, and he will
voluntary adult leader after he reaches 18 years of age.
What I want to say is this - the BSA made a choice last year to allow Gay youth, but prohibit Gay leaders. I think this was the worst possible choice they could have made, for two reasons. First, it was an act of appeasement. Had they held their ground and stuck with tradition, they'd have been called a bigoted organization, but as a private organization that is their right. It may not be for everyone, and I find that tragic, but it remains a legitimate option. Second, it creates the worst possible environment for a gay young man... membership in an organization that tolerates him because it feels it has to, but sends a clear message that his natural mentors, the gay men who've lived in silence or shame, are not worthy to lead other young men as adults. It puts the young man in a position of being surrounded by people who accept him by policy, and not in true fellowship.
I think if BSA were genuinely interested in helping young men today, it would find a way to accommodate the young men of yesterday, and display the kind of character we try to teach boys... that all are worth of our positive attention, that there are good lessons to be learned in the outdoor experience, and that sexual behavior, regardless of orientation, doesn't belong at camp. The fear that a gay leader might be acting inappropriately with gay boys should be lumped in with the same youth protection we follow now, in defending against any other form of pedophelia. Abuse is abuse, and that should be where policy stops. Further marginalization and judgement doesn't achieve the high moral standard BSA claims to be carrying the torch for. Rather, demonstrating the quality of character to dive in and tackle difficult problems at the adult level, so they don't turn into problems at the youth level, is what BSA really ought to be doing, if it weren't living in fear.
I'll not discount those fears, either, because the other truth of today is that our society is more litigious than it used to be, and trials are far more public than they were in my youth. The BSA has a lot of money coming in from people who think there should be no compromise, and their fear of being sued, de-funded, abandoned by their base, or pilloried any other way for taking a stand for equality is something its board of directors has to deal with.
But I think men like Green Bar Bill, Ernest Seaton, or even Lord Baden-Powell might have risen to the challenge if they were here today.
Friday, July 25, 2014
Wilderness Deficiency
Wilderness Deficiency
I had half-written a blog post earlier this week, and trashed it, because I was rambling and not making my point. Today, I stumbled across an article that helps focus the issue I wanted to bring attention to: the benefits of being outdoors. I think it can be broader than that, though, a communion with nature, solitude, even meditation in the midst of the natural world can be of enormous benefit to us, regardless of the practice of wilderness skills, which is what I'm mostly focused on here. But the point is, get outdoors - it's good for you.
From The Nature Conservancy:
One thing I've noticed about life in these United States, is that we've made it a challenging experience to actually get outdoors. There's a permit or fee just about everywhere you go. It's not near where we live, since most of us live in cities now. It takes effort to crack time out of our busy schedules. It's temporary, meaning you can only go for a short stay... long treks in true wilderness are getting very rare. Nevermind trying to live out there, unless you've come into enough money to buy yourself a piece of remote land, bought the permits to build a dwelling there, and can afford the taxes and upkeep. The days of going to the mountain to ponder life in a cave for months are unobtainable in this country, in this time. So the best we can hope for is to sample it, get a little taste now and then, and hope it's good enough for our soul in the long term.
I read the article the other day about a woman getting in trouble for letting her kid play in the park unsupervised. Such play-time was a staple for me as a child, as I've written before. It's sad that we seem to be exerting conscious effort in moving away from the very activities that produced generations of rugged people, and now we're finding some really solid reasons to go back to that kind of activity, but our policies and laws try and sell us on the illusion of total safety and control, if only we're willing to deny our kids the freedom of exploration, of risk, and God forbid, discovery of the real world, and not our manufactured artifices we dull them with every day.
I had half-written a blog post earlier this week, and trashed it, because I was rambling and not making my point. Today, I stumbled across an article that helps focus the issue I wanted to bring attention to: the benefits of being outdoors. I think it can be broader than that, though, a communion with nature, solitude, even meditation in the midst of the natural world can be of enormous benefit to us, regardless of the practice of wilderness skills, which is what I'm mostly focused on here. But the point is, get outdoors - it's good for you.
From The Nature Conservancy:
Full ArticleI too am scared of nature sometimes. I’m guilty of listening to the stories of one-in-a-million accidents and giving into irrational fears. Heck, my cousin has Lyme disease. What if my daughter, Kareena, got Lyme disease? Or what if the unthinkable happened—a drowning, a broken neck?But then I realize: No one discusses the successes. Getting up the mountain or through the rapids is not news. But in truth, the risk of a freak accident is, by definition, miniscule, and the benefits of persevering are enormous. Being outside provides a sense of accomplishment, no matter what you’re doing—hiking, looking for bugs, kayaking. And it offers real biological benefits that far outweigh the risks.Parents and grandparents have intuitively known about these benefits for years. Now, the medical community is getting behind them too.
One thing I've noticed about life in these United States, is that we've made it a challenging experience to actually get outdoors. There's a permit or fee just about everywhere you go. It's not near where we live, since most of us live in cities now. It takes effort to crack time out of our busy schedules. It's temporary, meaning you can only go for a short stay... long treks in true wilderness are getting very rare. Nevermind trying to live out there, unless you've come into enough money to buy yourself a piece of remote land, bought the permits to build a dwelling there, and can afford the taxes and upkeep. The days of going to the mountain to ponder life in a cave for months are unobtainable in this country, in this time. So the best we can hope for is to sample it, get a little taste now and then, and hope it's good enough for our soul in the long term.
I read the article the other day about a woman getting in trouble for letting her kid play in the park unsupervised. Such play-time was a staple for me as a child, as I've written before. It's sad that we seem to be exerting conscious effort in moving away from the very activities that produced generations of rugged people, and now we're finding some really solid reasons to go back to that kind of activity, but our policies and laws try and sell us on the illusion of total safety and control, if only we're willing to deny our kids the freedom of exploration, of risk, and God forbid, discovery of the real world, and not our manufactured artifices we dull them with every day.
Monday, July 14, 2014
City Mouse, Country Mouse
City Mouse, Country Mouse
As a man in my 40's, I remember a distinct difference between city living, and country life. I was raised in Portland Oregon when I was a child, but always spent time in the summer at my grandparent's homes, which were far more rural. One set lived near the water in Washington, with woods just behind the house, the others lived in Oregon farm country for a few years, raising filberts and grass (as far as I could tell when I was 7). The difference between these two great summer vacation choices, and my home in the city, was obvious to me even as a young boy.
In the city, there were pretty distinct boundaries. I couldn't go past the end of the street alone, I could go to the corner store with a friend (3 blocks away) and we'd walk to school in a loose herd, but there were real limits. Playgrounds were concrete, stone, and asphalt. I had a mud hole in the backyard, where I was free to dig in good weather, provided I rinsed off before coming in, and there are still probably a dozen matchbox cars buried in that lawn the current owners know nothing about. I remember getting a pocketknife at some point, but not being able to do much with it there in town. As an only child, I ended up spending a lot of time indoors, entertaining myself with model cars, and a vivid imagination.
But when I went to the grandparents, it was a different story altogether. My physical boundaries expanded, my unsupervised world grew, and my activities were naturally outdoor-oriented, even if there weren't any friends to play with. I learned about trees, water, boats, fishing, knife use, fires, and maybe a few fireworks. It was like living another life, when I stack the memories up against each other now, many years later. What struck me, was the kids who lived out by the farm, or up against the woods, whose home was those places, taught me a lot by their familiarity with it. They were used to doing things differently than I did them in the city, and we're all familiar with the old story of the mice, one who lived in the city and one who lived in the country. They each specialize in different things, and live very different lives.
What's this got to do with Scouting?
We have a Scouting program to help get our city-fied kids out in the woods once in a while, and try to teach them how to do things in a more natural environment. If we're lucky, some of it sticks. There's only one problem: all the available places to camp, especially here on the East Coast (but I hear reports of it out West as well) have so many rules, so many restrictions, that one is forced to endure a thin copy of what used to be a "rugged moment" in a boy's life. You can't cut your own firewood, you can't pick up dead wood even, lest the fungus have nowhere to grow with the heavy use these campgrounds survive, but you can buy a bundle of wet firewood for $8 at the camp store if you like. Oh, and don't bring it with you, there's a beetle problem and we don't want people spreading invasive and destructive species. So we get just enough to heat up a foil dinner and maybe roast a marshmallow, and probably lit it with some match-lite charcoal, and didn't put much thought into fire lays, or starting techniques, or whittling fuzz sticks or even finding and preparing tinder and kindling in any meaningful way. The tent pitches easily on flat ground, where ten thousand have been pitched before. The cooler has fresh ice, so we don't worry about managing our food for a simple overnight. We're at home, except there's not much of a roof over it... but for all intents and purposes, we've not really left our mindset behind and because of that, there's little room for a new one to creep in.
This hit me in the stomach the last evening of our High Adventure this summer, when one young man told me that his big lesson of the week was the importance of woods tools, and how he'd never really had to use them before. This is one of my high-flying Eagle Scouts. A natural leader, charismatic, achieved and decorated, and as experienced as any kid coming through our program. And he'd never really had to use an axe, or a saw, or a knife, for days of firewood prep just to boil water for dinner, or dry his clothes, or keep warm at night. Now I understand our Wilderness Survival High Adventure is a bit challenging, but it's just built on a set of basic Scouting skills, and I was surprised to learn that these skills were not as common as I'd assumed they were, and the youth were not nearly as practiced in them as they ought to be by the time they're finishing High School and getting ready to enter the world as Men.
It exposed a weakness, in my opinion, of city-based Scouting programs. That weakness is, the ease of which we assume we're doing a good job just because we're getting them out camping every couple of months, and that they're getting through the advancement to Eagle Scout. But these alone do not make a man prepared to deal with the outdoors, not really. It takes more focus on the things they actually learn. It takes repeated practice at things that, because of our limited camping options, are becoming harder and harder to do. That means we, as leaders, need to put in some extra effort to make sure they have the opportunities to really learn and put into practice the basic skills that we assume Eagle Scouts carry around with them.
How to accomplish this? I think the mental discipline is the hardest part... to be aware of how we might be missing something, and then actively plug the gap, is the first and greatest challenge. Survey the boys' skills. Put them to the test, challenge them to skills and see if they have it, or fail for lack of either real teaching, or for lack of practice at what they might have once learned. Bushcraft skills are perishable, like so many other skills that require good hand-eye coordination, focus, and discipline to accomplish safely, efficiently, and effectively. Theory is great, but observation under real conditions is priceless, and a variety of conditions for every outdoor task is needed to provide a well-trained and capable Scout. then we must create an environment where they can have these opportunities. I have a fire pit in my backyard, and plenty of cuttings from trees and bushes in a pile. Inviting the boys over to practice preparing that wood for a small cooking fire, and then making them start the fire over, and over, and over, where I don't care what they cut or how they cut it, or how many times they burn up what's in my pit... that's something I can do to get them more practical experience. It just doesn't fit our model of "meet at the church Wednesday night and nothing else," a rut I'd like to break out of more often.
But we're all busy. I get that, but it's no excuse. If we're to be responsible leaders of young men who want adventure, want challenge, and want success, I feel compelled to suggest we rise to the occasion, and go that extra mile to make sure they have the opportunity they need to learn what's expected of them, in a meaningful way that will stick with them as they enter adulthood.
I challenge the leaders of youth programs out there to take a good look at their program, and find the holes that might go overlooked. Fill them with practical learning opportunities, and watch your boys respond to it. Everyone wins.
As a man in my 40's, I remember a distinct difference between city living, and country life. I was raised in Portland Oregon when I was a child, but always spent time in the summer at my grandparent's homes, which were far more rural. One set lived near the water in Washington, with woods just behind the house, the others lived in Oregon farm country for a few years, raising filberts and grass (as far as I could tell when I was 7). The difference between these two great summer vacation choices, and my home in the city, was obvious to me even as a young boy.
In the city, there were pretty distinct boundaries. I couldn't go past the end of the street alone, I could go to the corner store with a friend (3 blocks away) and we'd walk to school in a loose herd, but there were real limits. Playgrounds were concrete, stone, and asphalt. I had a mud hole in the backyard, where I was free to dig in good weather, provided I rinsed off before coming in, and there are still probably a dozen matchbox cars buried in that lawn the current owners know nothing about. I remember getting a pocketknife at some point, but not being able to do much with it there in town. As an only child, I ended up spending a lot of time indoors, entertaining myself with model cars, and a vivid imagination.
But when I went to the grandparents, it was a different story altogether. My physical boundaries expanded, my unsupervised world grew, and my activities were naturally outdoor-oriented, even if there weren't any friends to play with. I learned about trees, water, boats, fishing, knife use, fires, and maybe a few fireworks. It was like living another life, when I stack the memories up against each other now, many years later. What struck me, was the kids who lived out by the farm, or up against the woods, whose home was those places, taught me a lot by their familiarity with it. They were used to doing things differently than I did them in the city, and we're all familiar with the old story of the mice, one who lived in the city and one who lived in the country. They each specialize in different things, and live very different lives.
What's this got to do with Scouting?
We have a Scouting program to help get our city-fied kids out in the woods once in a while, and try to teach them how to do things in a more natural environment. If we're lucky, some of it sticks. There's only one problem: all the available places to camp, especially here on the East Coast (but I hear reports of it out West as well) have so many rules, so many restrictions, that one is forced to endure a thin copy of what used to be a "rugged moment" in a boy's life. You can't cut your own firewood, you can't pick up dead wood even, lest the fungus have nowhere to grow with the heavy use these campgrounds survive, but you can buy a bundle of wet firewood for $8 at the camp store if you like. Oh, and don't bring it with you, there's a beetle problem and we don't want people spreading invasive and destructive species. So we get just enough to heat up a foil dinner and maybe roast a marshmallow, and probably lit it with some match-lite charcoal, and didn't put much thought into fire lays, or starting techniques, or whittling fuzz sticks or even finding and preparing tinder and kindling in any meaningful way. The tent pitches easily on flat ground, where ten thousand have been pitched before. The cooler has fresh ice, so we don't worry about managing our food for a simple overnight. We're at home, except there's not much of a roof over it... but for all intents and purposes, we've not really left our mindset behind and because of that, there's little room for a new one to creep in.
This hit me in the stomach the last evening of our High Adventure this summer, when one young man told me that his big lesson of the week was the importance of woods tools, and how he'd never really had to use them before. This is one of my high-flying Eagle Scouts. A natural leader, charismatic, achieved and decorated, and as experienced as any kid coming through our program. And he'd never really had to use an axe, or a saw, or a knife, for days of firewood prep just to boil water for dinner, or dry his clothes, or keep warm at night. Now I understand our Wilderness Survival High Adventure is a bit challenging, but it's just built on a set of basic Scouting skills, and I was surprised to learn that these skills were not as common as I'd assumed they were, and the youth were not nearly as practiced in them as they ought to be by the time they're finishing High School and getting ready to enter the world as Men.
It exposed a weakness, in my opinion, of city-based Scouting programs. That weakness is, the ease of which we assume we're doing a good job just because we're getting them out camping every couple of months, and that they're getting through the advancement to Eagle Scout. But these alone do not make a man prepared to deal with the outdoors, not really. It takes more focus on the things they actually learn. It takes repeated practice at things that, because of our limited camping options, are becoming harder and harder to do. That means we, as leaders, need to put in some extra effort to make sure they have the opportunities to really learn and put into practice the basic skills that we assume Eagle Scouts carry around with them.
How to accomplish this? I think the mental discipline is the hardest part... to be aware of how we might be missing something, and then actively plug the gap, is the first and greatest challenge. Survey the boys' skills. Put them to the test, challenge them to skills and see if they have it, or fail for lack of either real teaching, or for lack of practice at what they might have once learned. Bushcraft skills are perishable, like so many other skills that require good hand-eye coordination, focus, and discipline to accomplish safely, efficiently, and effectively. Theory is great, but observation under real conditions is priceless, and a variety of conditions for every outdoor task is needed to provide a well-trained and capable Scout. then we must create an environment where they can have these opportunities. I have a fire pit in my backyard, and plenty of cuttings from trees and bushes in a pile. Inviting the boys over to practice preparing that wood for a small cooking fire, and then making them start the fire over, and over, and over, where I don't care what they cut or how they cut it, or how many times they burn up what's in my pit... that's something I can do to get them more practical experience. It just doesn't fit our model of "meet at the church Wednesday night and nothing else," a rut I'd like to break out of more often.
But we're all busy. I get that, but it's no excuse. If we're to be responsible leaders of young men who want adventure, want challenge, and want success, I feel compelled to suggest we rise to the occasion, and go that extra mile to make sure they have the opportunity they need to learn what's expected of them, in a meaningful way that will stick with them as they enter adulthood.
I challenge the leaders of youth programs out there to take a good look at their program, and find the holes that might go overlooked. Fill them with practical learning opportunities, and watch your boys respond to it. Everyone wins.
Thursday, July 10, 2014
On the growing of Men
On the growing of Men:
There are moments when we have to cast off our comfortable habits, get outside of our institutions, bend a few rules, and take matters into our own hands. A couple weeks ago, I went out in the woods with 3 other motivated men, and 15 teenage boys, for our Eagle Island Wilderness Survival High Adventure trip. These boys were challenged in ways they have never seen in polite society. They were challenged to work together just to get a drink of clean water, to rely on each other for the comfort of their sleep, the quality of their food, and the character of their fun. Nature threw in a couple surprises for us, and we engineered some stress of our own to keep it all interesting, but by the end of the week, 15 young men left the island with more self-confidence, a better appreciation of teamwork, an ability to be self-reliant, and a gratitude for the comforts of home they might not have had going out.
When I wonder if my youth programs have an impact, I need only think of the story a mother told yesterday about one of her sons who attended this camp 4 years ago - he is now in Ghana, serving a 2 year mission there, and she is convinced that the hardships he faced on my trip then, prepared him for the struggles he faces now. I can think of no greater reward than witnessing the practical application of the bushcraft, survival, self-reliance, and self-confidence skills I've tried to teach over the years.
A hearty Thank-You is owed to the other men who assisted me, kept things going when I myself got ill, related to the boys in ways I couldn't, and complimented my style of leadership with their own, providing a broad spectrum of excellent examples for the youth to look up to. I also want to thank the boys for rising to the occasion, and making it a positive experience for everyone, and for bringing their "A Game" when it came to behaving with courtesy and respect, when sometimes that was the hardest thing to do while wet, cold, hungry, and tired. You all have my respect for making it through a very challenging week.
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