1. Making your Own Camping Gear
University of Scouting
3/2009
PM Ziolkowski

2. Making your own

3. Course Outline Introductions (Who am I, Who are you)
Why make your own?
Form of the class
What are some projects
Troop gear
Patrol gear
Backpacking gear
Resources
Web sites
Books
Sources for materials

4. Introductions Pete Ziolkowski Definitely not a “gear head”
Scoutmaster Troop 284 Endwell
2X Den leader
Philmont 2004, 2008 hopefully 2009
Definitely not a “gear head”
Not exactly a “crafty” person
Materials background

5. Why make your own? Lots of reasons not to Primal urge Sticker shock
Huge number of suppliers of camping equipment
Primal urge
Who hasn’t?
Boy Scout field book circa 1972
Challenge
Sticker shock
Home made does not necessarily mean cheaper
Lighter
Tailor to your own needs and physical dimensions
Fun

6. Form of the class Would like to be free flowing
Collect ideas for projects that worked and others that didn’t.
Talk about the plusses and minuses of different projects
Talk about field tests
Talk about techniques and methods
Lessons learned

7. Make your own or Use something else
Can you replace commercially manufactured gear with something different?
Answer is yes…….
Ideas:
32 oz Gatorage bottle instead of a nalgene (Philmont tested by me)
Pack towel. About $10-$18 dollars but in reality they are just a chamois towel.

8. Troop gear projects Patrol boxes flag stands chefs kits tent bags
Hot water heaters (never got to it this year)
Cooking

9. Boy type projects Projects that can be made as part of a meeting
Pop can stoves (Tested)
LED flash lights
Film can type (Philmont tested)
Multiple LED lights (didn’t get to this this year)
Hip belt water bottle holder (Philmont Tested)
Mosquito head net
Fire starter
Ground cloths/foot prints (Tested)
More?

10. Backpacking type adult equipment
Alcohol stove, wind screen and fuel bottle
Tents (tested)
Detachable floors (tested)
Tarps (tested)
Sleeping pads
Sleeping bags (Down and synthetic)
Sleeping quilt (tested)
Synthetic
Wash basins
LED Head lamps
Bag for transporting pack to N.M.
Coffee percolator (saw it on U-Tube)

11. Resources Make Your Own Gear, Recommended Reading Building Snowshoes
Adventure With Polarfleece : A Sewing Expedition
More Polarfleece Adventures : The Journey Continues
Sew the New Fleece : Techniques With Synthetic Fleece and Pile
Polar Magic : New Adventures With Fleece
Sewing Outdoor Gear : Easy Techniques for Outerwear That Works
Sew and Repair Your Outdoor Gear
The Essential Outdoor Gear Manual: Equipment Care, Repair, and Selection
Made for the Outdoors : Over 40 Do-It-Yourself Projects for the Great Outdoors
The Ashley Book of Knots
The Complete Book of Sewing
Fabric Savvy : The Essential Guide for Every Sewer
BSA Filed book
Roughing it easy

12. Resources- Web Sites http://www.backpacking.net/makegear.html
(SGT. Rock)

13. Materials http://www.therainshed.com
Outdoor wilderness fabrics
Switches other electrical parts- radio shack
WEB sites usually steer you toward materials and sources as well.