Learning to build things that are useful or fun is an important skill to have. You can make a lifelong hobby from what you learn, or you could become a builder as your life career choice.
Depending on what you are constructing, building materials in a project may vary from wood to cement, to plastic, to steel, or even a combination of all of these. For this adventure we are going to focus on wood. You will learn about the correct hand tools and how to safely use them. You will learn how to select the right type of wood for the project you decide to make and why that step is so important. Before you finish this adventure you will use your new skills to make a project from wood.
Rationale for Adventure
Learning to work with wood to create fun and useful items is a good skill for anyone to have. This adventure will expose the Bear Cub Scout to the proper use and safety of hand tools, how to choose the correct type of wood for a project, and also how to construct a project. This adventure offers a good opportunity to bring other adults
into the den setting by asking for help with some of the technical aspects of the adventure. This adventure can become the preliminary taste of woodworking, which is a merit badge offered at the Boy Scout level.
Requirements
Note: This is now a required adventure. When the new Cub Scout program for 2015 was released, this was an elective adventure. As of 2016, it has swapped places with the Grin and Bear It adventure.
Complete all of the following requirements
- Discover which hand tools are the best ones to have in your tool box. Learn the rules for using these tools safely. Practice with at least four of these tools before beginning a project.
- Select, plan, and define the materials for the project you will complete in requirement 3.
- Assemble your materials, and build one useful project and one fun project using wood.
- Apply a finish to one of your projects.
Takeaways for Cub Scouts
- Working with wood to create a project
- Understanding basic tools and tool safety
- Learning some basics about project planning (selecting a project, evaluating what is needed, choosing the proper type of wood, etc.)
- Using math skills while measuring
- Showing creativity and artistic skills with the final project.
- A Scout is trustworthy, helpful.
Historical Requirements
2015-2016 Transition Addendum
With the 2016 update this adventure is now a required adventure, swapping places with the Grin and Bear It adventure.
2015 Handbook Requirements
Bear Handbook, 120
Bear Den Leader Guide, page 99
- Discover which hand tools are the best ones to have in your tool box. Learn the rules for using these tools safely. Practice with at least four of these tools before beginning a project.
- Learn the steps of planning a building project and how to read the instructions or drawings.
- Select and build one useful project and one fun project using wood.
- Learn how to finish a wood project.
