The Ten Essentials

"When faced with potential disaster, stop, calm down, and think."

The history of the "Ten Essentials"

Back in the 1930's a group called The Mountaineers of Seattle began holding a course on mountain climbing. They discovered that students new to climbing often came unprepared for emergencies if they became separated from their partner or group. A list of "Ten Essentials" was developed and every climber was required to carry them on his person at all times.
 

The Ten Essentials

1. Pocket Knife - A knife can be the Scouts best friend or greatest enemy. The best kind of knife to have is 2 ½ inch multi-blade, because not only are smaller knifes sharper, the smaller size make them easier to carry around, but more importantly if you break a blade you still have blades left to use.

    

2. First Aid Kit - a first aid kit is essential for any trip to the outdoors. Most of us know that a first aid kit should house bandages and some kind of disinfectant (for more details check out the Boy Scout Handbook), but how many of you would include:
   1. Prescription Drugs - Doctor prescribed no matter how often you must take them
   2. Sun Screen - protect your skin from the sun
   3. Whistle - a way to get attention brought onto yourself
   4. ID Card - proof of who you are
   5. Foil - Tin Foil is reflective and will make a good singling device as well as a cup, bowl, plate, a way to repair flashlight and so on.

    

3. Extra Food & Water - If you are like other young Scouts you don't have a stomach, you have a bottomless pit. If you are going on a day trip or an over nighter a good option is some kind of "Trail Mix" or energy bars. Extra food means something other then what you have already planned to take and eat. This food should not be your favorite and nor does it have to be in large quantity. The fact is this extra food probably won't prevent you from starving, but may offer you some comfort while providing a few extra calories to burn to keep you warm.

    

4. Water - The human body is 75% water, the body can not last more then a few days without water. It is a must that you carry water with you at all times. As part of your survival kit it might be a wise idea to have some way to purify water such as: a purification pump or iodine tablets.

    

5. Matches, Fire Starters & a Candle - If you have ever spent a day in the beautiful but cold mountain air, you would never consider going their without a way to get warm and cook upon. The wooden strike anywhere matches are the best type. A fires starter is classified as something other then matches or a lighter. Candles are just plan handy to have. All these items should be stored in some kind of water and air tight container.

    

6. Extra Clothing - This is gear other then what you are planning to take, such as: a sweater, space blanket and a few trash bags. These items are extremely compact and lightweight. The garbage bags will protect you and your gear from the environment. May also include:
   1. Hat
   2. Neckerchief, Bandana or Handkerchief

    

7. Map & Compass - Would you go camping without knowing where you are going, so it would be a great idea to carry a map of the area where you are going. The map can help you figure out where you are or start a fire (ha, ha). If you don't know where you are don't try to leave - remember to "Hug A Tree". In other words make a tree, a rock or other object your best friend and stay put. Search and Rescue will be able to find you easier and quicker if you stay put.

    

8. Flashlight with extra batteries and bulb - a small "AA" lightweight flashlight like a "Mini Mag" will be just find. The light could help you read a map, or perhaps for signaling. You won't need it to walk after dark if you will only trust your night vision.

    

9. Rain Gear - A large trash bag will work in a pinch, but a good poncho or rain coat will work even better. I can tell you from personal experience that it is not pleasant to be wet and cold. If you like to be miserable then this is one item you can leave behind.

    

10. Rope - A good sturdy 50 foot chunk of 1/4 inch nylon rope. In a pinch the rope could be used for rescues, to hang wet clothes on, to set-up a shelter and even keep your hands busy.

Whenever Traveling in the Outdoors don't forget the "Outdoor Code"

The "Outdoor Code" reminds everyone of the importance of caring for the environment.

This page was written by Scott Robertson using the following books as guides:

• The Official Boy Scout Handbook
• Wilderness Survival by Suzanne Swedo
• Camping and Wilderness Survival by Tawrell
• The Webelos Resource Book
• The Wilderness Survival Merit Badge Pamplet

Bear Necessities

The Numbers Game
Use the following numbers to fill in the blanks for each statement. Each number listed is used once.

1. There are _____ steps in the Bobcat Trail (include Parent Guide).
2. _____ fingers are used in the Cub Scout salute and sign.
3. You must complete _____ achievements to the earn Wolf badge or the Bear badge.
4. The Bear Achievements are divided into _____ major groups.
5. Although not all must be completed, Bear Cubs can select from _____ possible Bear Achievements to earn your Bear badge.
6. On the trail to earning your Bear badge, you will earn _____ Progress Toward Rank beads.
7. You must complete _____ electives for each arrow point earned.
8. Our pack number is _____.
9. There is _____ Cubmaster in our pack.

Bear Achievement Groups

Circle the 4 major groups into which the 24 Bear Achievements are divided.

Uniform Colors

Lots of colors are used in Cub Scouts. Match the appropriate color to the item listed on the left.

Data supplied by Pack 114

Decode This

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    7 13  5      3  6  9  4     10  1     11  2  8     12  8  1 11

Data supplied by Pack 114

Shaving & Chips quiz

Part I: Circle the correct answer

Part II: Fill in the blank

1. Close the blade with the ________________ of your hand.

2. A __________________ should never be used on something that will dull or break it.

Part III: Circle the correct answer

1. Always keep your knife ( dry / wet ) so it will not rust.

2. When using a knife, do not make ( big / little ) shavings or chips.

Data supplied by Pack 114

'Bear' ly Thinking

                 1    2    3    4    5   6    7    8    9  

             	 
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                10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18
 

1. If Bear Scouts wear the yellow neckerchief, write "M" in space 9. Otherwise, write "T" in space 9.
2. If it's OK to divide a number by zero, write "J" in space 10. If not, write "P" in space 10.
3. If you are the oldest person in this room, write the letter "X" in space 5. If you are not, write "S" in this space.
4. Put your hands behind your back and by counting on your fingers, find the 2nd letter of the alphabet. Write it in space 3.
5. If 8 + 9 = 17, write "U" in spaces 2 and 8. Otherwise, write "G" in these spaces.
6. If the Webelos badge is earned after the Bear badge, write "C" in spaces 1, 6, and 12. If not, write "H" in spaces 1, 6 and 12.
7. If Bill Clinton was our 1st president, write "G" in space 7. If he wasn't, write "O" in space 7.
8. If 5 feet equals one mile, draw a house in space 13. Otherwise, write "K" in space 13.
9. If you like this kind of "paper" game, write the first letter of the alphabet in space 11. If you don't, write "A" in space 11.
10. If you know your pack's number, write it in, starting with space 15. If you don't know it, ask your den leader. Then write it in those spaces!

Data supplied by Pack 114

Cub Scout Crossword

      	 
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                      |1 |2 |  |  |  |

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-------------------------------------

 |7 |  |  |  |8 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

	 
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|9 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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             |  |

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             |  |        |10|

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       |11|  |  |  |  |  |  |

      	 
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    |12|  |  |  |

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    |13|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

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----

Data supplied by Pack 114

Fire Safety

Fill in the blanks. Every answer is used once and only once!

1. Don't play with ________.
2. Keep ________ away from fires or heat.
3. Know where the ____________ are in buildings you enter.
4. Have fire ________ at home.
5. Check your ________ every month.
6. Smoky the Bear needs your ________.
7. If your clothes are on fire _________________.
8. In a smoke-filled room, the best air is near the ________.
9. The Fire Dept. emergency phone number is ________.
10. Never start a fire or use a stove without ____________ present.

Data supplied by Pack 114

Intelligence Test

This test is to see if you can follow directions.
Concentrate, but remember, you have only two minutes to complete this.

1. Read everything before doing anything.
2. Put your name in the upper right-hand corner of this paper.
3. Circle the word "name" in sentence number 2.
4. Draw five small squares in the upper left-hand corner of this paper.
5. Put an "x" in each square.
6. Put a circle around each square.
7. Put a circle around each word in sentence number 5.
8. Put an "x" in the lower left-hand corner of this paper.
9. Draw a triangle around the "x" you just put down.
10. If you think you have followed directions up to this point, call out "I have."
11. Now that you have finished reading this carefully, do only number 1 and number 2.
12. You have finished. How did you do?

Data supplied by Pack 114

Jungle Book Crossword

     	 
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                         |M | 

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 |W |  |  |  |

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----

                         |  |  |C |

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                   |B |  |  |  | 	 
|

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    |L |A |  |     |  |  |  |  |  |

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       |  |        |  |        |  |

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 |S |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 	 
|

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                   |  |

       	 
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                |P |  |  |  |

                -------------

Data supplied by Pack 114

Cub Scout Quiz

1. The BSA turned _____ years old February 8, 1998.
    
2. _______ __________ ____________ is the founder of Scouting.
    
3. The Cub Scout motto is ____ _______ ________.
    
4. The _________ _____ program introduces first grade boys to Cub Scouting.
    
5. There are ______ tracks to the Bobcat trail.
    
6. __________ achievements are required to earn the Wolf Badge.
    
7. The first ______ electives go toward the _______ Arrow Point for both Wolf and Bear ranks.
    
8. There are _______ Webelos Activity Badges that can be earned.
    
9. The highest award in Cub Scouts is the _______ ___ ________.
    
10. We belong to Pack ______ in the _______________ District of the ___________________ Council.
     
11. There are ______ boys in our Cub Scout den.
     
12. Our leaders' names are ______ __________ and ______ __________.
     
13. The Cubmaster's name is ________ __________.
     
14. Our February pack meeting is the _______ & _____ __________.
     
15. Our Packs highlight of the year is _________________.

Data supplied by Pack 114