Campcraft

Campcraft is an activity at Birch Rock where you learn how to use knifes and fire and that kind of stuff. It is generally a pretty popular after activity, 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, senior, advanced, and the Ranger. At Campcraft you can earn your knife and fire rights as well as badges. If a camper does not already have his knife rights he will be automatically signed up for double period Campcraft within the first couple days of activities. 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 carve with a counselor's permission or supervision. This is useful on cabin night so you can carve your own stick for cooking hot dogs and on trips so you can bring your knife. To earn your knife rights you must show skill with a knife and have knowledge of proper knife handling. The criteria are as follows.

• carve a feather stick (a thick stick with the bark removed and flaps cut into it so it can be used as kindling)
• learn how to sharpen a knife
• memorize the five things to always remember when using a knife

After you do all of that your knife will be given back to you and you can use it as long as you do not break any of the rules. If you irresponsibly handle a knife your knife rights will be revoked.

Fire rights

Having your fire rights allows you to build fires on cabin night and on trips. Otherwise you can not be directly involved with the handling of fire around camp. The criteria of getting your fire rights is below.

• learn the basic theory of fire
• light a fire in 20 minutes with one match and keep it going well for an other 40 minutes. You are only allowed one log for this test, the rest is foraged stuff. This is the main part of earning your fire rights.
• clean a fire pit
• do the small fire rights oral test

The junior Campcraft badge

The junior Campcraft badge is the first Campcraft badge. If a camper gets his junior badge then he will not need to redo all of his knife and fire rights parts the next year to re earn them. There are three badge parts which are listed below.

• fire rights
• knife rights
• knowledge of a few basic knots
  • the bowline
  • the square knot
  • the figure 8 knot

The Ranger

The Ranger is the fourth and last Campcraft badge. The badge parts are below. No one will tell you what secret training is.

• wilderness solo
• bowdrill fire
• cooking
• shelter
• advanced nature badge
• secret training
• totem