Tin Can Lantern - A good way to punch holes

Hey all Scouters out there!


Some cool tricks this time, couple of things for tin cans I picked up, hope you like.

First things first and where due is due, I wouldn't write this if i didn't pay attention and listen to the awesome "The Urban Bushcraft Podcast" folk! Podcast is available on iTunes and on their website at  http://urbanbushcraft.co.uk/, The hosts are scout leaders, they love their subject, which is bushcraft and survival oriented and I could not recommend a podcast more!

Listening to the Christmas podcast episode of Urban Bushcraft while re-arranging my wardrobe, they described a great way to use old tin cans!

If you check my previous entries, I described a way to make a tin can hob, a vagabond hob with a tin can and some tea light you can cook pancakes and get the young scouts excited in camps or evening activities.

Preparing the tin can was a bit of a hit and miss for me, you think punching a few holes are not a big deal, well it is! Here is a trick to try and I can't wait to try it myself too.

Fill the tin can with water, freeze it to ice and then using a big enough nail hammer punch holes to your hearts content without the tin can warping and bulking! This will give you a good finish to your tin can.

Don't just stop at making hobs, try making patterns and shapes, even messages, given time you should have a lovely tea candle lantern, decorated with anything you like! The episode was a Christmas one so fir trees and little angels were the designs of the time.

Now, Easter is also a celebration of light, I know in Greece it is for sure; everybody carrying the holly light from church to home in a progression. Small tins punched with shapes or spring flowers and Easter eggs or bunnies around it would look great when you light a tea light inside. Why not punch two holes on the top on opposite sides and fit a handle made of wire too!

Last, if you keep the holes up the top two thirds of the can and use the bottom third to melt some paraffin wax in it adding a wick you have an integrated candle in a tin as well!

Let me entertain you

Ah the bitter taste of defeat!

I heard a parent telling me the reason that one of our scouts decided to give up scouting is because she got bored with it. The scout in question stopped way back in September, together with her friend and a couple more scouts. They just didn't turn up back from the Summer break.

So why does it feel so bad now, eh? that was months ago, water under the bridge and all that. Well...
You can't win them all, right?

It comes down to one thing. Can we provide exciting program, exciting activities week in week out that captivate the young mind and keep them coming for more? If we put it this way, I don't think we can.

Planning a term just to the power of fun activities is expensive and evidently not enough.

We can only offer what our resources allow, how much time we got and how much will it cost are always the questions. But what we need to focus on should also be driven by the young members. We must be able to listen in order to enable our young scouts achieve their potential.

Keeping children entertained is not what we should aim for. If they are bored it's because we are not relevant to their needs. Feeling that you belong and own the scouting meeting is key. Take scouting ceremonies, for example, they do this very well.
We start the day by following a known routine, the opening ceremony or grand howl. We all know what to do, how it's done and not many outside our circle know what's going on and why; but we do. So we start with something that we control and we are part of. Not the most entertaining thing or the definition of fun but they love it!

What about the time between ceremonies or when meetings are over?
Week in, week out, do they know that they are the owners of the scouting adventure?
Do they have a reason to come back?
When we break for Summer, do they know why come back in September?

We need to include them in the program planning, not just by asking them what they want to do, writting down a wishlist. We need to sit and listen to them talking on equal terms. What do they come up with when we talk about adventure, hikes, camps, visits, or the news, our community, their school life, their friends.

In other words it's not about compiling a list but understanding their needs. And when we show them we do understand they will stop being bored and start being scouts.

When you see numbership falling, scouts not proud of their uniform, not participating in activities; alarm bells should ring.

Leaders should ask first, What are we doing wrong?