Altoids
Boxes
 |
Usage
|
Sources
These
can be purchased on EBay
in lots of 50 for about $15 to $20. It would be nice to find
a cheaper source. |
Balsa
Wood
 |
Usage
- Fins,
wings, and nose cones for rockets and gliders
- Easily
carved and shaped
- Raingutter
regatta boat hulls
- tinder
for firestarting
Substitutes
Balsa
is hard to beat. It's strong, light, and relatively cheap.
Still,
in some applications I've been able to replace it with styrofoam,
insulating foam, compact disks, and pokemon cards (rocket fins). It all
depends on the application. Be opportunistic
|
Sources
When
Pack 365 recreated the BSA
raingutter regatta boats, we purchased balsa
from
http://www.nationalbalsa.com/
We
ordered 2"x3/4"x48" balsa sticks for about $2.50 apiece (May 2006).
You
can also order balsa stick and sheet stock from Ebay.
Either of
these sources should be cheaper than retail prices at local hobby
stores.
|
Bamboo
Skewers
 |
Usage
- Masts
for homemade raingutter regatta
boats
- Any
craft project that requires dowel stock in 3/32" to 1/8" sizes
|
Sources
These
can be found in most grocery stores. They come in packages of 100 for
one to two dollars.
|
Bike
Helmets
 |
Usage
At my house, many of the bike helmets we purchase end up being used as
dog toys. Our dogs love them, especially the crunchy shell
and
the buckles.
Unfortunately service as a dog toy degrades the helmet's ability to
separate my kid's head from the pavement.
Bike
Rodeos are a good opportunity to inspect and replace helmets. |
Sources
Ohio ThinkFirst has done helmet exchanges for scout Bike Rodeos (e.g. this one and
possibly this one).
As of July '07 the relevant contact information is:
Central
Ohio ThinkFirst
Injury Prevention Program of the Level I Trauma Center
The Ohio State University Medical Center
Office: 614-293-3021
"Providing Injury Prevention Programs to the Central Ohio Community"
|
Boomerangs
 |
Usage
Throwable object |
Sources
Leading
Edge Boomerangs is run by Chet Snouffer of Columbus. Chet has
given boomerang demonstrations at Council residence camp and District
Daycamp. Check out his website.
|
Boot Repair
Before
After |
Usage
Resole
your old hiking boots so you don't have to break your feet into a new
pair.
|
Rocky
Mountain Resole will resole most major brands of hiking
boots. Cost as of May '08 was $65. Additional
repairs would be extra. |
2-liter Bottles
|
Usage
|
Sources
One of the local bottling companies gave
us a
pallet of plastic bottles for the 2006 Buckeye Daycamp. My
guess
is that most of them will do this for the asking.
|
Bowling Pins
 |
Usage
- Driving tent stakes; generic
pounding tool
- Troop "The Three Stooges"
appreciation night
|
Sources
Apparently
bowling pins wear out and bowling alleys replace them at regular
intervals. Take your troop or pack bowling some evening and
chat
up the manager of the bowling alley.
|
Rifle Brass
 |
Usage
Rifle
brass is a material looking for a project. It's easily
obtained
in quantity and uniform sizes. I just haven't figured out
what to
do with the stuff.
- 22 cartridges can be used as
bootlace tips
- 45
casings can be used to wick a rope -- glue the casing onto the rope
tip. Various sizes are available for different kinds of rope.
- Rifle
casings can be fit to the ends of dowels as ferrules.
- I've used 20 millimeter cartridge
brass (available at army surplus stores) as the tip of a walking stick.
That's all I've come up with.
Suggestions are welcome.
|
Sources
Any
shooting range (e.g. the Powder Room) will generate used rifle brass by
the bucket. They'll probably give you some for the asking.
The Shooting Venture Crew, Crew 45,
can also obtain rifle brass in moderate quantities.
|
Camp Cups
 |
Usage
These
are plastic
sports cups that we give to the kids at daycamp to help keep them
hydrated. They can be purchased with pack or scout artwork
printed on the side. Work great as dog toys/treats. |
Sources
If you
google the search phrase "14
oz. stein"
you'll turn up lots of hits to vendors that manufacture promotional
items. Typically you need to purchase them in lots of 200.
Unit price is $0.60 to $0.70. Turnaround varies, but we were
able
to get them in 10 days. |
|
Carabiner
|
Usage
Inexpensive
carabiners are used to hang useful items from belt loops, tent poles,
and clothes lines. Cubbies like them.
|
Sources
Use google to find companies that sell promotional
items.
Pack 365 used http://www.laserengravedkeychains.com.
They sell custom engraved carabiners and other stuff.
We
purchased several lots of overrun carabiners, some blank some with
random engraving. Cost was $35 for a lot of 100.
|
Cardboard  |
Usage
You can
face a chain
link fence with cardboard to make a backstop for archery and other
shooting sports (like slingshots). |
Sources
We got
cardboard for
the Buckeye Daycamp from the Bike Source. Bicycles come in
large
cartons and the Bike Source store at Bethel and Sawmill will give you
as much cardboard as you can carry away. |
Cicadas
 |
Usage
It's
been reported that Cicadas are pretty good in a stir fry, but they
need to be collected and frozen just after they emerge.
A more
appropriate use might be to incorporate one (live/dead?) in a
neckerchief slide the next time the monthly cub theme is
"We're down with bugs".
NOTE:
While cicaedas are mostly harmless, some people are allergic
to them.
|
Sources
Cicadas were plentiful in
Columbus
about three years ago, but are not expected to emerge again for another
14 years. They are emerging in other parts of the country --
at
this point, finding a sources is a research problem.
Ebay
perhaps? |
Concretions
 |
Usage
Concretions
are
geological formations found in the Columbus area. Look for
them
in shale streams, parks, and flower beds. You can find large
specimens in the creek at Camp Lazarus. Look below the
amphetheatre.
Concretions
can be an interesting addition to the Webelos geology activity.
|
Sources
ODNR has
a fact
sheet about concretions. You can fine large
examples (one to 5 feet) in the shale streams around Columbus. Al Magnuson
has smaller examples of ironstone and dolomite concretions (2" to 8")
that can be lugged to a pack or den meeting. |
Cyanoacrylate
Glue
 |
Usage
Gluing
things together
- Fins
to rockets
- Fingers
to fingers, scouts to scouts
- Fletching
arrows ??
- Gluing
a coin to a sidewalk is occasionally amusing
Superglues
are strong enough for building rockets and
airplanes and set up faster than wood glue. They come in
different thicknesses. If you use these glues in scout
activities, make sure you have a bottle of debonding agent so
that you can unglue any scouts that have become accidentally or
intentionally bonded.
If you apply a layer of superglue to a seam and
gently pour baking soda over it, the glue will cure very quickly.
|
Sources
Hobby stores sell Cyanoacrylate glues in
a
variety of quantities and thicknesses. They also sell
debonding
agent. Not sure if hobby stores are the best source if you
need a
lot of this stuff.
Don't buy more than you need, once the container is opened it doesn't
keep very well.
|
Film Canisters |
Usage
|
Sources
Digital
photography is making these hard to find, but they can still be
obtained from places that develop film, e.g. Meijers, Walmart, Cord
Camera. High School or College photography instructors are
also a
good source.
If you need a lot of these in a hurry, EBay
usually has them in lot quantities.
|
Fishing Poles
 |
Usage
Helpful
in catching fish, trees, scouts, assistant cubmasters, and
other stationary
or slow moving objects. It's recommended that you rig the
pole
with a casting plug instead of a hook when teaching cub scouts how to
cast.
casting plug
usually made of rubber |
Sources
ODNR has a program called Passport
to Fishing intended
to introduce kids to fishing. A Passport to Fishing event
consists of a 4-station round robin where kids learn about
- Fish habitat and handling
- Fishing Knots and Basic Rigging
- Casting
- Finding places to fish
Every
kid who
completes the round robin receives a spincaster rod and reel that is
supplied by ODNR. The event must be led by an ODNR trained
instructor. Training is free, takes about 6 hours and covers
skills and the program reporting requirements. |
Flint
 |
Usage
Flint is used to make arrowheads and stone tools. You can
also
use it for firestarting by scraping it across a bit of iron.
My kids obtained a bucket full of the stuff at an indian quarry near
Flint Ridge (see entry at left). Sizes ranged from 1"-2"
flakes
to large paperweight. The samples are often found encrusted
with
quartz.
The flakes are often very sharp, so try to discourage your cubs from
leaving them between seat cushions or on the floor where someone will
step on them . . . at night . . . in bare feet.
|
Sources
Flint
Ridge State Park
is located east of Newark. The park encompases quarries that have been
mined for flint for over 10,000 years. While it is not
possible
to collect flint from the park grounds, the quarries extend out of the
park boundary and may be found on several farms to the east of the
park. The owners of these farms will sell you flint by the
pound.
So take your pack to the park, listen to the program, and then drive
down the road to collect enough flint to keep your scouts
supplied with arrowheads throughout their scouting career (and beyond).
Follow the links for more information
|
Hot Glue Guns
 |
Hot
glue guns are great for cub crafts because the glue will "cure" in
under a minute. There are two varieties, high temperature and
low
temperature. The high temp glue will blister your skin, the
low
temp glue will sting but shouldn't burn. Make sure you use the low temp
version -- particularly for younger scouts.
Hot
glue sets
up quickly, but it's not particularly strong. Don't use it to
build rockets (birdie rockets are an exception) unless you like
watching the fins shear off when the rocket is launched.
|
Sources
Hot glue guns are sold at
hobby/craft stores like Hobby
Lobby or Michaels.
You can also get them at most hardware stores and places like
Harbor Freight. The cheaper ones work fine and cost about
$1.50.
The glue sticks can be purchased in quantity whereever you
can
find the glue guns.
|
Laminations
 |
Usage
- Making laminated
wallet cards
- laminating maps and
posters so they don't turn to mush in the rain
- laminating leaves
and notes for a leaf collection.
- Making raingutter regatta
sails
|
Sources
- Kinkos will do a 10x20 poster for
$10
- Harbor Freight
sells a heat activated laminator for $25. 8x11" Lamination
pouches are about 0.10 apiece. Cheaper lamination pouches can be
purchased on Ebay.
- Clear Contact Paper (the
stuff you use in your kitchen cabinets) is cheap and works well for
posters and maps.
|
Maps
 |
Usage
- Map
and compass activity
- Treasure
hunts
- Getting
lost; getting found
|
Sources
-
The County Engineer's office on Rte. 33 just north of downtown has historically had a box full of county maps that you could drive up to 24 hours a day. Also at the nearest Deputy Registrars office.
-
http://www.fceo.co.franklin.oh.us/maps.htm
- Topographical maps can be
purchased from ODNR. Read http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/geosurvey/pub/usgstopo.html
and
pay particular attention to the discussion of 7.5 minute quadrangle
maps. See the business card at left for location and contact
information.
|
Mouth
Barrier
 |
Usage
Needed
to complete first aid kit for Boy Scout Leader Training. |
- Go
to http://www.fastenal.com/
and search on part number 1014487. Cost is $9.60.
Nearest store is 7059
Huntley Rd., near Worthington.
- Mouth
Barriers may also be obtained from the Red Cross for about $5.00
|
Name Tags
 |
Usage
You use
a nametag to be kind to people who can never remember names.
|
- Quartermaster.com
has a selection of the usual "pin and post" nametags. They
also
have magnetic tags that don't poke holes in your shirt/skin.
- A google search on Scout
nametag will turn up lots of alternative suppliers.
|
1/8" Paper
Straws |
Usage
These
are the straws you drank milk from when you were a kid.
They're
no longer made because plastic straws are more sanitary.
A one to two inch length of paper straw is used as a launch lug -- an
essential component of small to medium sized model rockets.
|
Sources
You
can get paper straws on
Ebay. They're outrageously expensive (they're considered
collectable!?!? -- $10
for a box of 100), but much cheaper than the mylar tubes sold by hobby
stores.
Help needed here! |
Patches
 |
Usage
Scouts will do anything for a patch. |
Sources
In Dec. 2007, Raven and
Associates
produced 300 Readyman patches for $0.67 per patch. Raven says
that they need about three weeks (sometimes less) to run a custom
order.
You can also order patches from the Scout Store, Sunshine,
and PatchSales.com.
|
Pokemon Cards
|
Usage
|
Sources
I tell
my kids that whatever pokemon cards I find left on the floor I'll turn
into craft supplies. I never run short.
|
| Propane Bottles |
Usage
- Running
portable lanterns and stoves when full
- Used
to fill landfills when empty
|
|
Rock Kits
|
Usage
ODNR
distributes a
geology kit. It's a box, 1" x 5" x 8", containing
a geological map of Ohio and 10
geology specimens.
| clay |
coal |
dolomite |
flint |
gypsum |
| limestone |
salt |
sand and gravel |
sandstone |
shale |
They're
free and you can usually get them
in
lots of 10-20.
|
Sources
I don't
have the exact source, but the contact information below should get you
started.
|
Rocket
Engines
|
Usage
Rocket Engines are used to fly model rockets. A model rocket
has
two components. The rocket airframe is reusable.
The rocket
engine fits into the airframe and provides the thrust to boost the
rocket. The engines contain gunpowder and can only be used
once.
|
Sources
Model
rocket engines
can be purchased from the scout shop, hobby stores and websites that
sell model rockets. The best prices I've found are:
- Michael's:
Michael's often prints a 50% off coupon in the Sunday paper.
Use it to purchase a 24 pack of engines. As of June, 07, the
pack
cost $54, unit cost with the discount is about $1.15
- Meijer's
often sells 3 pack's of engines for $4.00. Unit cost is $1.33
I've
heard of cheaper sources, but have never been able to locate them.
|
Root Beer Mix
|
Usage
|
Sources
See the discussion on the District
Google Group. The Wine Maker's Shop in Clintonville
had some as of June '08. |
Shooting Patches
 |
Usage
Cubs
(BB guns) and Scouts (BB guns, 22 rifles) can qualify for a free
shooting patch by shooting a score of 35 on targets provided by the Junior US Shooting Team.
This can be easily added to shooting sports activities at Council and
District events.
|
Sources
See the Shooting Sports
page for more information. The qualifying target can be
downloaded from the web as a PDF file. You can print them on a black
and white laser printer and duplicate them at Kinko's or your copy shop
of choice.
|
|
Spoof Patches
 |
Usage
I guess
these are for making a personal statement of some sort. caviat utilitor
|
Sources
|
Tent Repair
 |
Usage
Scout troops maintain tents that
are used by teenage boys. In spite of typically gentle handling,
the zippers sometimes wear out and need replacement.
|
Sources
- Eureka
- Call the customer satisfaction
department at
1-800-572-8822 (8:00 am to 5:00 pm M-F). In Oct. '07 they
quoted
a price of $50 to replace both zippers on a 3 man Eureka tent.
|
Wool Pants
 |
Usage
Keeping Warm |
Sources
Winter
in central Ohio is not very challenging compared to other areas of the
country. Still, winter camping can be wet and cold.
Wool
pants are significantly warmer than the standard scout pants.
They can be purchased online from various Army surplus
suppliers
(e.g. this
one)
for prices ranging from $10 - $25. Sizes are . . . well
they're
interesting. If you're lucky, you'll find pants that
approximately fit and are approximately scout green. If you
get
the wrong size, you have something that can be used for the camp three
legged race.
I'm not sure if these are considered part of a "BSA approved" uniform,
but when it's 15 degrees outside, who's going to care?
|
Wool
Sweater
 |
Usage
Keeping Warm |
Sources
Scouting
is one
of the few activities where you can wear a sweater with epaulettes and
actually blend in. This is a tan wool sweater available from
at
least two military surplus outlets (e.g. this
one).
The color matches the standard adult scout shirt.
If you
want one for a young scout, just neglect to tell your wife that the
sweater is made of wool and the clothes dryer will get the job done.
|
Games
