Outdoor Skills

From MeritBadgeDotOrg

MeritBadge.Org offers resource and video links for First Aid, Swimming,
Outdoor Skills, Backpacking, Cooking, Navigation, Cycling, and Wilderness Survival Skills. Troop Program Features let you make Outdoor Skills a part of your troop program.
These are also the resources for Webelos Outdoorsman.

Contents Basics  Sun Protection  Insect Protection  Hygiene  Safety Backpacking Camps Campfires  Knife Skills  Ax and Saw Skills  Building  Types  Starting  Safety Campsite Cooking Skills First Aid Gear  Lights  Checklists Hiking Skills Hydration Leave No Trace Navigation Outdoor Code Sleeping Bags Sleeping Pads Tent Types Tent Setup Water Purification Weather Skills Wilderness Survival  Survival Kit  Survival Shelter  Survival Signaling

Outdoor Skills are important parts of the Cub Scout, Webelos, and Boy Scout programs:

• Cub Scouts can camp with their Pack or at Cub Scout Resident Camp.
• Webelos earn their Webelos Outdoorsman Activity Badge.
• Boy Scouts earn their Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, and Wilderness Survival Merit Badges.

Also see:

• Skills Instruction and Videos: First Aid Skills - Swimming - Outdoor Skills - Wilderness Survival - Backpacking - Cooking - Navigation - Campfires - Clothing - Cycling Skills

Resources

While your handbook is your primary resource, the links below can help you learn Outdoor Skills. See the Disclaimers.

• See: Camping, Backpacking, Hiking, and Wilderness Survival Merit Badges. Make these a part of your Troop Program.

►  BSA Videos: The BSA Video: Skills Lessons are excellent but are large files that require Apple QuickTime.
►  This symbol notes many other lesson videos.

Outdoor Basics

Shortcut: Outdoor Basics

►  BSA Video: Overnight camping gear (See notes.)
►  Video: Camping Lesson Videos

• REI: Health Topics - REI: Before You Leave Home -

Sun Protection

Shortcut: Sun Protection

►  Video: Sunscreen - Video: Learn What Sun & Bug Protection Gear to Pack When Camping

• REI: Sun - REI: Sunglasses - REI: Sun-Protection Clothing - REI: Sun, Bugs, Plants -

Insect Protection

Shortcut: Insect Protection

►  Video: Insect Repellent

• REI: Insect Repellent -

Hygiene

Shortcut: Hygiene

• REI: Hygiene and Sanitation -

Outdoor Safety

Shortcut: Outdoor Safety

►  BSA Video: Safe Hiking (See notes.)
►  Video: Buddy System - Video: Hiking Regulations & Permits -

• Buddy System - Amer. Hiking Soc: Hiking Safety - Hiking Dangers - REI: Security

Backpacking Skills

See Backpacking Skills for Backpacks, Packing, Reducing Weight, Stoves, Gear, and more.

Campfires

Shortcut: Campfires

• See: Fire Safety merit badge and Firem'n Chit.

►  BSA Video: Second Class Light a Fire and Stove (See notes.)
►  BSA Video: Second Class Fires and Stoves

Knife Skills

Shortcut: Knife Skills

►  BSA Video: Second Class Knife, Saw, and Ax (See notes.)
►  Video: Cleaning a Knife - Video: Sharpening a Knife - Video: Pocket Knife Care - Video: Knife Sharpening Devices - Video: Knife Sharpening Safety - Video: Knife Sharpening Mistakes - Video: Knife Sharpening: Edges & Goals

• wikiHow Video: How to Sharpen a Knife - Knife Sharpening Tricks - How to Sharpen a Knife

Ax and Saw Skills

Shortcut: Ax and Saw Skills

►  Video: Knife and Ax Safety - Knives, axes, and saws to take to the wilds

Campfire Building

Shortcut: Campfire Building

• BSA Video: Second Class Prepare a fire (See notes.)
• REI: Campfire Basics - Campfire building

►  Video: Fire Site - Video: Where to Build a Campfire - Video: Types of Fires - Video: Fire Pits - Build a Fire - Video: Kindling -Video: Picking Kindling - Video: Wood - Video: Arranging The FIre - Video: Keep a Fire Going - Video: Sparking a Campfire Flame - Video: What Not to Burn in a Campfire - Video: Put Out a Campfire

Campfire Types

Shortcut: Campfire Types

►  Video: Log Cabin - Video: Tee Pee - Video: Building a Speed Fire

Campfire Starting

Shortcut: Campfire Starting

►  BSA Video: Second Class Light a Fire and Stove (See notes.)
►  Video: Video: Fire Starting - Video: Flint & Steel - Video: BlastMatch - Video: Steel Wool - Video: Fire Piston - Video: Magnifying Glass

Campfire Safety

Shortcut: Campfire Safety

►  Video: Safety - Video: Dangers

Campsite

Shortcut: Campsite

►  Video: Campsites - Video: Finding Practical Campsites - Video: How to Choose a Campsite - Video: How to Choose a Location - Video: Campsite Hazards

• REI: Campsite Selection - REI: Setting up Camp

Camps

Shortcut: Camps

• USSCouts.Org Boy Scout Camps database with reviews
• Find BSA Council Camps: BSA: Find Councils -
• BSA: Council websites - Unofficial list of Council websites -
• Scout Camps USA Printed Book Online

• Camps Database

Clothing

See Cooking Skills for Footwear, Socks, Layering, Cold Weather, Warm Weather, and more.

Cooking Skills

See Cooking Skills for Meal Planning, Recipes, Food Handling, Dutch Oven Cooking, and more.

First Aid

Shortcut: Outdoor First Aid

• See First Aid Skills, First Aid Kit, and First Aid Merit Badge.

Gear

Shortcut: Outdoor Gear

►  Video: Packing

• REI: Trekking Poles and Hiking Staffs - REI: Binoculars - REI: Two-Way Radios

►  Video: Gear

Lights

Shortcut: Lights

►  Video: Lighting Needs

• REI: Flashlights - REI: Headlamps - REI: Lanterns -

Checklists

Shortcut: Outdoor Checklists

• Camping Checklists - More Checklists - REI: Adventure Travel Checklist - REI: Backpacking Checklist - REI: Snow Camping Checklist - REI: The Ten Essentials

Hiking Skills

Shortcut: Hiking Skills

See Hiking Merit Badge. Make Hiking A Part of Your Troop Program.

►  BSA Video: Second Class Five-Mile Hike (See notes.)
►  Hiking Videos - Videos: Planning - Videos: Footwear - Packing for Day Hikes - How to Choose & Use a Backpack for a Day Hike - Video: Keeping a Hiking Pace - Video: How to Keep Your Feet Dry - Video: Hike Planning - Video: Hiking for Beginners - Video: Advanced Hike Plans

• Amer. Hiking Soc: Food - Myths - REI: Day Hike Checklist - REI: Daypacks

Hydration

Shortcut: Hydration

►  REI: Hydration - Video: Hydration - Video: Hiking Water Gear
*REI: Hydration System - REI: Water Bottles - REI: Cleaning Water Bottles - REI: Water - REI: Water Treatment: Backcountry - REI: Water Risks

Leave No Trace

Shortcut: Outdoor_Skills#Leave No Trace

• Leave No Trace - Leave No Trace LNT Site - BSA Leave No Trace - BSA's Teaching Leave No Trace - Video: Leave No Trace - REI: Minimum-Impact Travel
• Leave No Trace Awards: Cub Scouts - Boy Scouts and Venturers

Navigation

See Navigation for Navigation Without a Compass, Maps, Compass, GPS, Lost and more.

Outdoor Code

Shortcut: Outdoor_Skills#Outdoor Code

• Outdoor Code

Sleeping Bags

Shortcut: Sleeping Bags

►  Video: Sleeping Bags - Video: Choosing a Sleeping Bag - Video: Buying Sleeping Bags - Staying Warm in a Sleeping Bag - Video: Selecting a Sleeping Bag -

• Wikipedia: Types of Sleeping Bags - REI: Sleeping Bags for Camping - REI Video: Sleeping Bags for Backpacking - REI: Sleeping Bags Care & Repair - Storing Sleeping Bags
• REI: Bivy Sacks - Video: Bivi Bags

Sleeping Pads

Shortcut: Sleeping Pads

►  Videos: Video: How to Choose a Sleeping Pad - [1] - Sleeping Pads - Camping Sleeping Pads - Packing Inflatable Sleeping Pads - Video: Selecting a Ground Mat

• REI: Sleeping Pads -

Tent Types

Shortcut: Tent Types

►  Video: Tents - Video: How to Choose a Tent - Video: How to Pitch a Tent - Video: How to Set Up a Tent - Backpacking Tent Types

• Tents: Types of Tents - REI: Tents: Family/Base Camp - REI: Tents: Backpacking - REI: Tent Care Care & Repair

Tent Setup

Shortcut: Tent Setup

►  BSA Video: Tenderfoot Help Pitch a Tent - BSA Video: Second Class Pitch a Tent (See notes.)

• Campsite Selection

►  Video: Where to Set Up a Tent - Video: Clearing an Area for a Tent - Video: How to Stake Down a Tent - Video: Laying Out Ground Tarp for Tents - Video: Laying Out a Tent - Video: Putting Tent Poles Together - Video: Raising a Tent

Water Purification

Shortcut: Water Purification

►  Video: Importance of Water Purification - Video: Safe Drinking Water - Water Video: Purification Process - Video: Finding Fresh Water - Video: Water Purification

• Methods:Water Treatment

►  Video: Purifying Water - Video: Methods of Water Purification - Video: How to Select a Water Purification System Videos: Water Treatment Options: Filters - Chemicals - UV - Bottle Filters - Boiling Water - Cleanable Filters - Water Tablets

Weather Skills

Shortcut: Weather Skills

• REI: Weather Basics

►  Video: Adapting to Weather - Video: How to Gauge the Weather - Video: How to Check the Weather

Wilderness Survival Skills

Shortcut: Wilderness Survival Skills

See: Wilderness Survival Merit badge. Make Wilderness Survival A Part of Your Troop Program.
►  Survival Lesson Videos: Video: Wilderness Survival Tips - Video: Assessing the Surroundings - Video: Identifying Plants & Food - Video: Patience & Making Decisions - Video: Using Personal Possessions - Video: Desert - Video: Using Pinecones

Survival Kit

Shortcut: Survival Kit

►  Video: Survival Kit - Video: Survival Kit -

Survival Shelter

Shortcut: Survival Shelter

►  Video: Build a Shelter - Video: Using Straw Grass - Video: Finding Shelter - Video: Lean-To Shelters

Survival Signaling

Shortcut: Survival Signaling

►  Video: Signaling

See also

• Skills Instruction and Videos: First Aid Skills - Swimming - Outdoor Skills - Wilderness Survival - Backpacking - Cooking - Navigation - Campfires - Clothing - Cycling Skills

Related awards

Outdoor Skills Awards

Outdoor-related awards

• Boy Scout ranks: Tenderfoot - Second Class - First Class
• Boy Scout awards: Firem'n Chit - Totin' Chip - Paul Bunyan Woodsman
• Boy Scout Merit Badges: Astronomy - Backpacking - Camping - Canoeing - Climbing - Cooking - Cycling - Fire Safety - Hiking - Orienteering - Pioneering - Rowing - Weather - Water Sports - Whitewater - Wilderness Survival
• Venturing: Outdoor Bronze Award; Ranger Award electives: Backpacking
• Webelos Activity Badges: Forester - Naturalist - Outdoorsman
• Cub Scout Belt Loops & Pins: Astronomy - Map and Compass - Weather

Disclaimers

Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, or formal training. Please note that the only materials recommended by the Boy Scouts of America are those found or listed in official BSA materials such as the current Boy Scout Handbook. Outdoor Skills recommendations are constantly being revised. Neither MeritBadge.Org, nor its contributors make any recommendations. See the Guide to Safe Scouting.

• MeritBadge.Org Disclaimer