Campcraft

Campcraft in the present day

Campcraft in the 1940s

Campcraft is an activity at Birch Rock where campers learn how to use knifes, how to make fires, and other survival skills. It is one of the most popular activities at camp, most campers go to it at least a few times. There are four Campcraft badges instead of the usual three for most activities. There is the Junior Badge, Senior, Advanced, and Ranger. Along with badges, a camper can earn his Knife, Fire, and Ax Rights at Campcraft. Campcraft takes place on the waterfront at Injun Joe's.

Knife Rights

If a camper has his Knife Rights he can keep a knife in his cabin and, with a counselor's permission, use it during free time like second rest period or Cabin Night. Campers with their Knife Rights may also bring their knives on Trips. For a camper to earn his Knife Rights he must show skill with a knife and have knowledge of proper knife handling. The parts of getting one's Knife Rights are to:

• Carve a feather stick (a thick stick with the bark removed and "feathers" cut into it so it can be used as kindling)
• Learn how to sharpen a knife
• Memorize the "4 Alwayses"
• Take an oral and practical skills test on knives

After that his knife will be given to him and he will be able to use it as long as he does not break any of the rules. If a camper has his Jr. Campcraft Badge then he only needs to take the test to get his knife rights back each year and if he has his Advanced Campcraft then he does not even need to take the test. If anyone irresponsibly handles a knife then his knife rights will be revoked.

Fire Rights

If a camper has his fire rights then he is allowed to build fires when they are needed around camp. Campers without their fire rights are not allowed to be directly involved in building a fire or keeping a fire going.

• Learn the basic theory of fire (heat, fuel, oxygen)
• Light a fire in 20 minutes with one match and keep it going well for another 40 minutes. A camper is only allowed one log for this test, the rest has to be foraged sticks. This is the main part of earning one's fire rights.
• Clean a fire pit
• Do the small fire rights oral test

As with knife rights, fire rights can be revoked and they need to be re earned every year unless you have your Junior Campcraft Badge in which case you can do a small oral test to get them back. A camper with his Advanced Campcraft Badge never needs to re earn his fire rights.

Badges

Jr. Campcraft

A Jr. Campcraft badge

The Junior Campcraft badge is the first Campcraft badge. There are three badge parts which are listed below.

• Fire rights
• Knife rights
• Knowledge of a few basic knots
  • Bowline
  • Square knot
  • Figure 8 knot

Senior Campcraft

The Senior Campcraft badge is Campcraft's second badge. The badge parts are below.

• Natural Cordage
• Senior Knots
• Shelter Building
• Fire test using a magnesium block rather than a match
• Survival 101

Advanced Campcraft

A coal burned bowl and spoon made at Campcraft for the Advanced badge

The Advanced badge is the third Campcraft badge. It was the final badge until the Ranger was reintroduced in 2005. With his Advanced badge a camper never needs to re earn his knife, fire, or ax rights. Ax rights are not very useful, the only time a camper uses an ax really is on canoeing or base camping trips. The badge parts for the Advanced badge are below.

• Natural Shelter
• Axe Rights
  • Chopping
  • Splitting
  • Stacking
  • Sharpening
• Fire test using flint, steel, charcloth, and a tinder ball
• Advanced Knot Test (tying behind your back)
• Coal burned bowl and spoon
• Survival 201

Ranger

The Ranger is the fourth and final Campcraft badge.

Main article: Ranger