Leader's Guide

1. The length of the hike will depend on your site; it may be through a park, around school buildings, or around a campground. In pairs, have girls note landmarks on their maps and make a legend. Have the girls had fun? Maybe they would like to do this again on another day with a different destination. Trail signs and sketch maps are in several Girl Scout resource books.

2. Practice with girls how to roll and tie their own sleeping bag or bed-roll. At day camp, or resident camp, sleeping bag or bed-roll rolling can be practiced.

3. Review square knot, bowline, and clove hitch. Teach sheetbend. Sheetbend is used when you need to join two ropes of unequal thickness together.

4. Practice knife safety. A good habit to develop when passing a knife,is to always wait for the receiver to say, "thank you" before letting go. This can prevent the tool from being dropped and causing injury. Try a new project with your knives. Be sure they are sharp!

5. Discuss prevention of accidents. Fainting - have victim lie down for at least 10 minutes; keep head low; if recovery is not prompt or if condition recurs, seek a doctor's help. Sunburn - try to prevent by limiting exposure at start of season; once burned stay out of sun completely until soreness is all gone. If burn covers large area or is severe, a doctor may be needed. Whenever possible, have a nurse talk with the girls about these conditions.

6. Lay and light a fire. The girls should know what the fire will be used for. This will assist them in deciding what kind of fire to build and how large it needs to be. Girls need to know how to put out a fire first, before starting to build one. Fire should be put out by, first spreading out what is left with tongs or shovel so it can cool down, then sprinkle water a little at a time around the fire with a small cup or your hand or a squirt gun, then stir ashes around and wet down again. Be careful with water - too much all at once will send up large clouds of dangerously hot steam.

7. Try a new cooking method. Use any two cooking methods not employed in Levels I, II, or III. If you can find a new one that is not on the list, so much the better.

8. Practice conservation of fuel using only as much fuel as needed for cooking and campfires. Let the girls try practicing this as they use fuel for cooking and campfire. A fire that is too big is also too hot to get close enough to use for cooking. Plan for a fire to burn itself out about the time you are done using it. Don't add a lot of wood to a campfire just before bedtime.