Leave No Trace
During a campout, you see no empty spot to set up your tent, except for one area, but it is next to a Scout you aren’t exactly friends with. With a buddy, staying on trail, you walk for a little bit until you find a good spot to set up your tent. It is on top of some vegetation. Which principle of Leave No Trace does this follow or break? Why?
This breaks the rule, “Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces,” because camping on vegetation, which is not a durable surface, goes against these principles.
Your troop is planning to have a campfire after a long day. Right when the campfire was going to start, you tell the troop that the flammable tents need to be moved out of the area, and although it ends up getting done, people are resistant and annoyed about the extra work. Which principle of the Outdoor Code does this follow or break? Why?
This follows the principle of being careful with fire, because all flammable objects, which are the tents in this case, are moved away from the fire.
Your Scoutmaster assigns your patrol to build the troop’s camp teepee using lashings. You see some perfect logs in the camp, which your troop didn’t bring, but despite that, your patrol decides to use them to build your lashing. Does this scenario demonstrate when to or when not to use a lashing? Why?
In this scenario, lashings should not have been tied with the logs, because it most likely belongs to the camp or to another troop in the camp, and permission should have been obtained before using those resources.
Two patrol leaders are having a loud argument, but it is about a very important matter. You go over and settle down the argument, even though you have been told not to interfere with the argument. Which principle of Leave No Trace does this follow or break? Why?
This scenario follows the principle stating, “Be Considerate of Other Visitors,” because loud arguing can disturb other campers, but settling down the argument avoids this.
While walking to your next class at camp, you spot a very unique and cool-looking rock. You pick it up and keep it safe in your daypack. You want to keep the rock. Which principle of Leave No Trace does this follow or break? Why?
This breaks the rule, “Leave What You Find,” because it is ethical, especially as a Scout, to ensure that things found in nature are left in nature; it contributes to leaving no trace.
You and your buddy are walking to your next class during class, when you guys suddenly realize that you will be late to class. You end up getting off the trail, hiking through the woods, and you arrive in class just a few minutes late. Which principle of the Outdoor Code does this follow or break? Why?
This principle breaks the rule about being considerate of the outdoors. It is not ethical to get off the trails and go through the woods in the wildlife, as it prevents negative impact on the environment and on wildlife habitats.
After the need of having to build a clothesline using lashings, you obtain Scoutmaster and camp permission before building lashings. Does this scenario demonstrate when to or when not to use a lashing? Why?
This scenario demonstrates when to use a lashing, because the lashing is being built for a purpose that lashings should be used for, and permission was obtained.
You and your buddy are late to dinner. You guys realize that you don't have time to stop and wash your hands, because you would be holding back the whole entire troop. Luckily, you have some bottle soap, and you quickly stop at the lake, using it as water, and wash your hands. Which principle of the Outdoor Code does this follow or break? Why?
This breaks the principle of being considerate in the outdoors, as soap going into the lake can harm aquatic life and can negatively impact the aquatic ecosystem.
After cooking for your patrol, you decide to give some of the extra, untouched but properly cooked food, to some of the wildlife around you. Which principle of Leave No Trace does this follow or break? Why?
This breaks the rule, “Respect Wildlife,” because there are many risks with feeding wildlife, including leading to the animal becoming more aggressive and losing their natural ability to find food for themselves in nature.
During nighttime at campout, it is really late, and because you and your buddy discuss the importance of sleep, especially in camp, you guys decide to skip showering and go straight to sleep. Which principle of the Outdoor Code does this follow or break? Why?
This principle breaks the rule of being clean in your outdoor manners, as skipping showering can result in not being clean and properly hygienic in camps.
During a campout, you need to build a lashing, and in the troop trailer, you find PVC pipes, which you and your patrol decide to build lashings with. Does this scenario demonstrate when to or when not to use a lashing? Why?
This scenario demonstrates not using lashings, because the appropriate material is not being used.
During nighttime at camp, you and your troop decide to have a campfire. You find a campfire ring, which has already been used. Despite this, your troop uses the campfire ring to build a campfire. Which principle of Leave No Trace does this follow or break? Why?
This scenario follows the principle, “Be Careful With Fire,” because fire safety is utilized when a ring is used to make campfires; campfire rings are typically permitted areas for making fires. The campfire ring can be used, even though it has already been used.
During a campout with your troop, you guys decide to build a fire. Unfortunately, the only available fire ring is destroyed and heavily rusted; it is clearly unusable. Your patrol decides to resolve this matter by building a new fire ring. Which principle of the Outdoor Code does this follow or break? Why?
This breaks the principle of being conservation the minded, as building a new fire ring can destroy vegetation and ruin soil. Additionally, building a fire ring without the appropriate materials is a big fire hazard.
After the troop campfire, your patrol has been assigned the duty of putting out the fire. Not wanting to go far to fetch some water, you simply cover and suffocate your fire with some sand and dirt nearby. After that, you use a shovel to mix around the ashes. You then add more sand and dirt to fully suffocate the fire. Which principle of the Outdoor Code does this follow or break? Why?
This breaks the principle of being careful with fire, as putting dirt and sand on the fire is a fire hazard; it can temporarily suffocate the fire, but later on, the fire can re-ignite. This also breaks the Drown, Stir, Feel Method.
While preparing for the camp, you spend some extra time developing a plan to pack out all trash in the campsite, although the members of the patrol constantly bug you, saying it is not important. Which principle of Leave No Trace did you follow or break? Why?
In this scenario, you would be following the principle stating, “Dispose of Waste Properly,” as you are taking the time to develop a plan for packing out all the trash when at camp.
At camp, your patrol has been assigned as the clean-up patrol; it is your job to clean up any spilled food or drinks. After cleaning up a big mess, one of your patrol members spots just a little bit of food on the ground. Although your patrol members are hesitant and do not want to clean up such an insignificant mess, they end up doing it anyway. Which principle of the Outdoor Code does this follow or break? Why?
This follows the rule of being considerate in the outdoors, because not cleaning up any spilled food or drinks can attract wildlife and can even destroy plant life.