Camping I Honor

Recreational Activities

Requirements

1. Understand and practice good conduct in the field, with respect to preserving nature.

   Answer: You must follow the leave-no-trace principle: carry out all your trash, do not cut living trees, use only marked trails, keep campfires in appropriate places, and do not feed or disturb the animals. Nature should be left as you found it. — The 'Leave No Trace' principle is the worldwide foundation of responsible camping. For Pathfinders, it connects to the biblical mandate of Genesis 2:15 to care for creation — preserving nature is an act of Christian stewardship.

2. Know eight things that should be done when you are lost.

   Answer: You must: 1) stop walking immediately; 2) stay calm; 3) use the S.T.O.P. method (Stop, Think, Observe, Plan); 4) stay in the same place; 5) signal with three whistle blasts (distress signal); 6) build a simple shelter; 7) conserve water and energy; 8) stay visible with light-colored clothing in an open area. — The universal distress signal is three consecutive sounds (whistle, shouts or shots), repeated at regular intervals. Staying put triples the chances of being found by rescue teams, who always follow the last known point — the S.T.O.P. method is taught by Search and Rescue worldwide.

3. Be familiar with various types of sleeping equipment, suited to various climates and times of the year.

   Answer: You must know the main sleeping equipment and when to use each one: a sleeping bag with a temperature rating (a summer model above 10°C, a three-season one for the in-between seasons, and a winter model for intense cold); a sleeping pad between the body and the ground (EVA/foam for general use or inflatable/self-inflating, more comfortable and insulating); a tent suited to the season (3-season for common use, reinforced 4-season for snow/strong wind); a hammock with mosquito net and rainfly for hot, humid climates; and blankets or an extra liner for intense cold. In humid climates prefer synthetic fabrics (they dry quickly); in dry cold, greater insulation under the body prevents heat loss to the ground. — The sleeping bag rating indicates the minimum temperature of use (e.g., -5°C to 15°C). The sleeping pad prevents heat loss through the ground, which is greater than through the air — sleeping directly on the earth lowers body temperature even in a warm bag. Four-season tents withstand strong wind and snow.

4. List the personal items needed for a weekend camping trip.

   Answer: You must bring: clothes for 2 days (including a warm layer), closed shoes and sandals, a hygiene kit (toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel), a sleeping bag, a flashlight with extra batteries, insect repellent, a water bottle, plate/cup/cutlery, a rain jacket and a Bible or study book. — The personal list covers basic needs for the 2-3 days of camp without depending on other campers. Items such as a rain jacket and a warm layer follow the principle of anticipating the weather, and the Bible is part of the daily spiritual routine in the Pathfinder Manual.

5. Plan and take part in a weekend camping trip, with at least 2 overnight stays.

   Answer: You must plan with your unit or club a real camping trip of at least 2 nights, defining the location, the list of shared and personal equipment, the meal menu, the spiritual and recreational program, and the roles (cook, secretary, chaplain), participating actively from start to finish. — The 2-night camping trip ensures a complete experience: setting up the structure, the first night, a full day of activities, the second night and breaking camp. The Pathfinder Manual requires prior planning with a checklist and clear roles, forming leaders from the basic level of Honors onward.

6. Know how to pitch a tent. Observe fire prevention rules after the tent is pitched.

   Answer: You must pitch the tent: lay out the floor, fit the poles together, raise the structure, secure it with stakes firmly in the ground and install the rainfly. Once pitched, keep fire, lanterns and campfires at least 5 meters away and never cook or light candles inside. — The nylon of modern tents is highly flammable and burns in seconds when near flames. The 5-meter rule and the ban on cooking inside prevent fatal fires — recorded annually at campsites around the world, mainly from candles and lanterns inside tents.

7. Know and practice the hygiene principles of a campsite, whether in a place with facilities or a rustic campsite.

   Answer: You must maintain daily personal hygiene (bathing, brushing teeth, clean hands), store food in closed containers away from animals, separate organic waste from recyclables, use a latrine or dig a hole 50 meters from water for relieving yourself, wash utensils after each meal and have treated drinking water. — The 50-meter rule for human waste comes from the worldwide camping code (Leave No Trace) to avoid contamination of water sources. Most gastrointestinal infections at campsites come from unwashed hands and untreated water — boiling for 1 minute or chlorine/iodine tablets eliminate pathogens.

8. Correctly use a pocketknife and hatchet. Know 10 safety rules for the use of these tools.

   Answer: Always use a pocketknife and hatchet that are sharp (a dull tool requires more force and slips). Know the 10 safety rules: 1) always keep the blade sharp; 2) always cut in the direction away from your body, never toward yourself or another person; 3) respect the safety circle (a radius of two arm lengths, with no one nearby) when using the hatchet; 4) when using a pocketknife, sit or brace yourself firmly, with elbows on knees; 5) always pass the tool by the handle and with the blade closed or protected, never by the blade; 6) never use a pocketknife or hatchet as a hammer, screwdriver or pry bar; 7) when finished, close the pocketknife and store the hatchet in its sheath; 8) clean, dry and store the tool after use, in a safe place away from children; 9) never run, play or walk distracted while holding the open tool; 10) cut on a firm base (a stump or board), resting the piece on the ground and not in your hand, and keep your hands behind the blade. — The safety circle is an area with a radius equal to twice the arm with the tool extended — no one enters that space during use. Most camp accidents involve a pocketknife cutting toward the body or a hatchet with a loose handle. Keeping the blade sharp paradoxically reduces accidents.

9. Campfires:
   • Demonstrate the ability to choose the location and prepare a campfire.
   • Know the safety rules for handling fire.
   • Know how to use matches.
   • Build a campfire using only one match and materials from nature.
   • Demonstrate how to protect the firewood that will be used for campfires, in case of rain or bad weather.

   Answer: You must choose a safe spot (5 meters clear, away from trees, dry brush and tents), prepare a clean base by digging or surrounding it with stones, arrange the materials in increasing layers (kindling → twigs → branches → logs), strike the match away from your body and light the kindling at the base. — Building in increasing layers (kindling → twigs → branches → logs) ensures a stable flame: the fire needs to catch first on the fine material (kindling) and 'climb up' to the thicker material. The rule of 5 clear meters around it prevents the spread of forest fire — every year wildfires start from poorly made campfires.

10. Make and eat bread on a stick (twist bread) at one of the camp meals.

    Answer: You must prepare a simple dough (wheat flour, salt, sugar, yeast and water until it forms a firm mass), wrap it around a peeled green stick, bake it by turning slowly over coals (not direct flame) for about 15 minutes until golden. Remove it from the stick and eat it hot at one of the camp meals. — Bread on a stick (also called damper or twist bread) has been a traditional scouting recipe since 1900, teaching the technique of cooking over coals without a pan. The stick must be of green (not dry) and non-toxic wood — bamboo, willow or poplar are safe, avoiding toxic plants such as yew or oleander.

11. Describe the proper procedure for carrying and keeping cooking utensils clean.

    Answer: You must carry the utensils in separate bags or boxes (clean ones in one, dirty ones in another), wash them right after each use with hot water and biodegradable soap using a sponge, rinse well, dry with a clean cloth and store them in a closed, dry place to avoid contamination by insects or dirt. — Biodegradable soap (vegetable-oil based, phosphate-free) protects the campsite's rivers and soil. Washing immediately prevents leftovers from hardening and attracting insects. Separating clean from dirty during transport avoids cross-contamination — good practices used in worldwide scouting and in professional kitchens.

12. Describe the appropriate clothing for sleeping and how to keep warm during the night.

    Answer: You must use specific clothing for sleeping (not what you wore during the day, which is damp with sweat): pajamas of breathable fabric, dry socks and a beanie in intense cold. To keep warm, use a sleeping bag suited to the temperature, a sleeping pad under you, and avoid sleeping directly on the ground. — Daytime clothing accumulates moisture from sweat, which cools the skin at night through evaporation. The sleeping pad prevents heat loss by conduction through the ground, which is greater than through the air — without it, even inside a warm bag, the body loses temperature. The beanie prevents heat loss through the head.

13. Draw a practical spiritual lesson from nature during your camping trip.

    Answer: You must observe creation attentively during the camp (the starry sky, plants, animals, wind, water) and relate what you saw to some biblical principle — such as Psalm 19:1 ('the heavens declare the glory of God') or Matthew 6:28-30 (God cares for the lilies and will care for you). Share the lesson with your unit. — Romans 1:20 teaches that 'the invisible attributes of God, his eternal power and divinity, are clearly recognized through the created works'. Drawing lessons from nature is an ancient Christian principle — Jesus used birds, lilies, seeds and sheep as illustrations of the Kingdom, and Ellen White recommends contemplating creation to strengthen faith.

14. Explain and practice the motto: "take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints, kill nothing but time".

    Answer: You must understand and apply each part: 'take nothing but photos' means not removing plants, stones or animals; 'leave nothing but footprints' means not throwing trash or altering the environment; 'kill nothing but time' means preserving living fauna and flora. Practice it all at the camp. — The motto is the worldwide basis of the Leave No Trace principle used in scouting, Pathfinders and national parks. Attributed to Chief Sealth (Si'ahl) in 1854, it became popular in the 1930s and today guides environmental regulations in more than 30 countries, connected to the biblical mandate of stewardship (Genesis 2:15).