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Pioneering

Overview

What’s a gee-haw whimmy-diddle? In this honor you’ll find out as you learn how people lived in a time before cities were built and no one had electricity. Make your own butter and chop a log in half!

Investiture Achievement Connection: This Honor is related to the Investiture Achievement requirements for FRONTIER GUIDE Outdoor Living which require completion of this Honor or one of four other Honors.

Requirements

1. Describe in writing, orally, or with pictures how the early pioneers met the following basic living needs:

  • a. Housing and furnishings
  • b. Clothing
  • c. Food
  • d. Cooking
  • e. Warmth and light
  • f. Tools and handiwork
  • g. Sanitation
  • h. Transportation

2. Construct a piece of useful furniture by lashing. Learn the following lashings:

  • a. Square Lashing
  • b. Diagonal Lashing
  • c. Shear Lashing
  • d. Continuous Lashing

3. Do one of the following:

  • a. Weave a basket using natural materials
  • b. Make a pair of leather moccasins
  • c. Make a lady’s bonnet by hand sewing
  • d. Make a simple toy used by the pioneers

4. Know how to make flour from at least one wild plant for use in baking.

5. Build a fire without matches. Use natural fire building materials. Keep the fire going for five minutes. You may use the following to start your fire:

  • a. Flint and steel
  • b. Friction
  • c. Electric spark
  • d. Curved glass
  • e. Metal match
  • f. Compressed air

6. Show axmanship knowledge in the following:

  • a. Describe the best types of axes.
  • b. Show how to sharpen an ax properly.
  • c. Know and practice safety rules in the use of an ax.
  • d. Know the proper way to use an ax.
  • e. Properly cut in two a log at least eight inches (20.3 cm) thick.
  • f. Properly split wood that is at least eight inches (20.3 cm) in diameter and one foot (30.5 cm) long.

7. Do two of the following:

  • a. Make a ten-foot (3.0 meters) rope from natural material or twine.
  • b. Tie ten knots useful to the pioneer and tell how they were used.
  • c. Using rope and natural materials, make one device for moving heavy objects.
  • d. Construct an adequate and comfortable latrine.

8. Explain the need for proper sanitation relating to solid and human waste and the washing of body, clothes, and dishes.

9. Assist in the construction of a ten-foot (3.0 meters) long log or rope bridge, using lashings.

10. Know four ways to keep the wilderness beautiful.

11. Do two of the following:

  • a. Make a wax candle or other form of pioneer light source
  • b. Make a batch of soap
  • c. Milk a cow
  • d. Churn butter
  • e. Make a quill pen and write with it
  • f. Make a corn husk doll
  • g. Assist in making a quilt

12. Know five home remedies from wild plants and explain their uses.

13. Do one of the following:

  • a. Assist in constructing a raft, using lashings. Take a five-mile (8.3 km) trip on a river with this raft.
  • b. With an experienced wrangler, participate in a two-day, 15-mile (25 km) horseback trip, carrying all needed supplies on a pack horse you have learned to pack.
  • c. With an experienced leader, participate in a two-day, 15-mile (25 km) canoe trip, carrying all needed supplies properly. A short portage should be done.
  • d. With an experienced leader, participate in a two-day, 15-mile (25 km) backpack trip, carrying all needed supplies.

Answer key & resources

Master awards

This honor counts toward:

Investiture Achievement

This honor is required, suggested or listed as an option in:

See also

Adapted from AY Honors/Pioneering on the Pathfinder Wiki, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0. See the original page's history for its authors.
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