Information Booklet 5

Do Not throw away short pieces of wood, they will come in useful as pegs, pickets, ladder rungs and short cross pieces. After all you never know what might be useful. Finally, you will need a few handy tools : Hand Axe, saw, Mallet, A lump hammer to deal with those pickets, A spade and knife, but remember - before you use any tool MAKE SURE that you are properly trained and that you can use then safely at all times Now you are ready to start Pioneering, but remember seek out advice and check your project before you use it and above all else DO EVERYTHING SAFELY but enjoy your new skill to the full and have FUN - Happy Pioneering NOTES: Information Booklet 5 Lashings & Pioneering Compiled For Cambridgeshire Scouts August 2013

ESSENTIALS Lashings are used to join together poles or spars to enable the construction of objects and structures. In Scouting this activity is called pioneering. Common pioneering projects include gateways, bridges and platforms, or smaller camp items such as washstands, chairs, benches and tables. SIMPLE LASHINGS Pioneering Lashings prevent your rope form chafing! Pickets Metal pickets are ideal if you can get hold of them, this type are generally used for supporting marquees. Ideally they should be about a Metre long with an eyehole at the top and once firmly embedded in the ground they take a lot of moving. Pickets can be made from Green Wood but they take sometime to make properly and should be left to the experts. Using the Picket In many cases you will only need one picket per anchoring rope which is attached using a round turn and two half hitches. This is dependant on the type of project undertaken and should be checked before any use of the project is used. Some typical examples can be seen below. Single picket - used for simple structures - To stabilise A frames, Diagram 1. Triple picket (known as 3-2-1) - used for major projects - Anchoring for Aerial Runways, etc., Diagram 2 Bits and Pieces As you progress with pioneering you will find that you acquire bits and pieces, there are however, some items that might come under this heading that you could not do without. For example - drums - the 20litre (five gallon) variety will be needed for rafting. Please note that where ever you obtain them WASH them out thoroughly before using them. It is ESSENTIAL that the water we are lucky enough to use for such activities will not be contaminated. Make a collection of old canvas, sacking and plastic fertiliser bags (make sure these have been properly washed out before use) they can be used for protecting trees and your ropes, for making saddles and comfortable seats.

Spars and Poles Pioneering Spars & Poles Spars and poles may be obtained at reasonable cost from the forestry Commission. Larch and Spruce are recommended as being the best for the job, not only are they straight and sound but are much lighter than the other varieties. For most pioneering projects you will need 2.5 to 3m (8-10 foot) poles of about 100mm dia. In the commercial world, pole diameters are measured at the tip, therefore if you by a 100mm diameter pole, this will be the width at the top of the pole, the base being known as the butt. If your Forestry Commission Officer can not provide the size of poles you require, he will know who can - perhaps a local manufacturer of - Rustic furniture! Peeled poles cost fractionally more, but are strongly recommended, not only are they smoother to handle but you quickly spot any flaws or cracks that appear. Coniferous poles are particularly difficult to peel and from experience an extra few pence on the cost is well worth it. Looking after your spars and poles Spars are best stored on a covered rack, preferably in the open. Here they won t dry out, which might cause the development or cracks and flaws, or become to damp, which at worst cause rot in the wood. For convenience, colour code your poles with a dab of colour paint to indicate the length. Before you use them they should be checked carefully for rot and flaws, this can be done by ringing your poles. Ringing Poles Anchorage's - pegs, pickets and trees. Many of the projects you will under take will need to be anchored firmly to the ground and because of the safety factors involved this section is obviously of some importance. Trees. The most solid and safe anchorage there is - is a tree, but to find a tree in exactly the right location is a matter of luck. You should never use a tree unless it is in the right spot as a slight deviation from the true for a main hawser could put a extra strain on the sheer legs and cause them to give way. You could try adjusting your project so that it s in line with the tree! If you do use a Tree, protect it with sacking or old canvas; this will also help to

GOOD PRACTICE Know your knots before attempting to learn lashings, particularly the clove hitch and the timber hitch, which are essential elements of a lashing. The clove hitch is used to secure a rope to a spar, as when beginning a lashing. It is far more secure than a single half hitch. The timber hitch is used to secure the end of a rope to a spar. The key to making secure square and diagonal lashings is to keep them tight and tidy, particularly when frapping. This is when the lashing is passed round one spar and then completely round between the spars, over and under at least three or four times, to draw the whole joint firmly together. It requires tight work, and is best done in pairs, with one Scout pulling hard on the end of the lashing while their partner ensures the turns at each corner are as tight as possible. However, ensure that lashings used to make sheer legs and tripods have sufficient play to permit the spars to open out to form a solid base. When finishing a lashing with a hitch, make sure it cannot slip round the spar and loosen the lashing. through an obstacle course and back to base. 2. Micro raft Create a miniature raft from twigs or lollipop sticks, lashing them together with string. The aim is to place a tea light on the raft and float it in a bucket of water. 3. Tipi tales working in groups, challenge participants to design and build a tipi from spars, lashings and canvas or a large sheet. 4. Get across that give participants an imaginary scenario in which they must cross a six-metre wide river using nothing but spars and rope. Create the river using two parallel pieces of rope six metres apart, and encourage participants to think of potential solutions to the problem. This might involve constructing a type of bridge, an aerial runway or transporter, or even a trapeze. Introduce time limits and other restrictions. For example, you could blindfold some members of the team or say that the river is shark-infested, so that no-one is allowed to enter it. As well as the clove hitch, the timber hitch and the sheet bend, other knots that are useful for pioneering include the scaffold hitch or bo sun s chair knot, which is used to attach a rope to a plank to make a seat, and the Blackwall hitch, for fixing a rope to a hook. Learn these knots to enable the construction of more complex projects. Additional lashings that may be useful in pioneering include Japanese lashings, the Filipino lashing, the sailmaker s lashing and the half knot or West Country sheer lashing. Learn to tie these lashings in addition to the four basic lashings. Make edible pioneering structures with bread sticks and strawberry laces! Small scale camp gadgets can be built in free time on camp or this could be an ongoing challenge throughout the stay. NOTES:- Spars and pioneering poles will last much longer if they are stripped of bark before use. Try to source spruce, larch or ash, and avoid brittle woods like willow and poplar. Use good quality rope such as 8 or 10mm diameter sisal for lashings that will take a strain, though thinner sisal can be used for small pioneering projects.

LESSON 6 Figure of Eight Lashing (25 Minutes) INTRODUCE What? The project and rules. How? Explain the premise of the project, which will combine all the skills previously learned. DEMONSTRATE What? Examples of a large pioneering project that uses examples of various different lashings. How? Show pictures or models to give the group ideas of the sort of projects they could build. Then split them into teams and give them some time to plan their projects they could either use the ideas they came up with in the first lesson or think of new ideas. They will need a list of available materials to help them with their planning. EXPLAIN What? The rules and any specific considerations. How? Devise an appropriate set of rules and create a mark scheme. Make sure you explain these rules to the teams so they understand how they will be marked. You could give a certain number of marks for each type of lashing, and bonuses for using all four different types. You could also give marks for matching their project to the original design, and marks for whether the project works or not (if applicable). APPLY What? Undertake and complete the project. How? Give the teams a time limit and set them off! SUMMARISE What? Check understanding by scoring the projects. How? Assess each of the projects and give each a score. You could even get groups to mark each others projects using the mark scheme. TAKING IT FURTHER... The following activities are all fun pioneering projects, which are the most practical way to both practise lashings and illustrate the importance of tying t hem well. For more pioneering ideas, see the factsheet on pioneering. 1. Prehistoric pioneering make a device using spars and ropes capable of transporting dinosaur eggs (sponge balls or water balloons) safely If learning how to tie lashings for the first time, use cardboard tubes rather than wooden spars. Tubes are smooth and of a constant diameter, making them easy to handle. Blocks and hooks will be needed for more advanced pioneering projects such as aerial runways, hoists and swings. SAFETY GUIDELINES Ensure that Scouts can tie lashings confidently and securely before undertaking pioneering projects. Run small scale pioneering projects before progressing to large scale outdoor projects. Always carry out a RISK ASSESMENT before undertaking any pioneering activities Ensure that pioneering structures are safe and properly anchored before allowing anyone to use them. Basic Pioneering - Outdoors There are many good ideas in Scouting publications, but to many this is a boring subject mainly because of the choice of project undertaken or lack of preparation. Where to start, well this booklet only sets out to give a taste, you must choose wisely or your efforts will only go to waste. When you have chosen your project and made sure that the necessary equipment will be available, you must brief and if need be, train the other members of the Patrol. Some of the younger members of your Patrol may require some instruction in the basic knots and lashings that will be used on the project. Where to start, well first you need to know what equipment is available, like ropes, spars etc., and how many people you need to complete the project. lets start with :- Ropes and lashings : what's the difference? Rope manufactures often specify rope size by its circumference, which makes it sound heavier than it really is. For example : a rope of 25mm (1 inch) circumference has a diameter of 8mm. For our purposes, 'rope' is greater than 25mm (1 inch) circumference and 'lashing rope' is 25mm, or

less than 25mm circumference, which is often referred to in a rope shop as 'line'. Which type of rope? You have many choices of man-made rope (nylon, terylene or polypropylene) or natural fibre rope (sisal, manila hemp or jute), which do you choose? Natural fibre ropes have been used for generations and their disadvantages are well known. they can be heavy to handle, shrink when wet and then need drying and careful checking for rot and mildew. But with good maintenance they are safe, strong and will last for a long time. Man made rope is light, flexible, resistant to rot and mildew and remains the same in all weather conditions but some of its disadvantages could be positively dangerous. It is very 'elastic' rope, and may fracture without warning with a whip like backlash that could be hazardous to anyone standing nearby. Man made rope is also abrasive, which means that if one nylon rope is lying on another the rubbing action could cause a dramatic fracture. Almost everyone will know that tying knots in a nylon rope can be difficult, and if you do use this type of rope always tie knots with a long tail to allow room for extra half hitches... just to make sure that the knot does not slip! So which rope do you choose? If you need rope for supporting structures, as lifelines on rafts or for heaving then man made should be quite safe, but for foot and handrails of a monkey bridge, the use of natural fibre ropes is recommended until more is known about the safety factors of man made rope in these situations. Buying rope and lashings. It has already been stated that rope is measured by its circumference in inches but sometimes it may be catalogued by its diameter in millimetres - here is a quick conversion :- diameter (mm) / 8 = circumference in inches Visit a rope shop or chandlers for some up to date prices. A trip to a boating exhibition might be worthwhile as rope manufacturers often have displays at these and are willing to help. Suppliers of agricultural machinery may stock rope suitable for heaving and supporting pioneering projects. Although you may find that the cost of rope is initially high, if carefully looked after it will last for many years and prove to be a sound investment. Lashing rope or Line is needed for major pioneering structures using heavy poles. The way to work out just what lengths of rope you require is as follows : - SUMMARISE What? This section checks understanding of the skills taught in the lesson. How? Travois racing challenge teams of participants to make a simple triangular frame using three square lashings, in order to carry a team-member from one point to another as quickly and safely as possible. Make sure the travois are safe before allowing teams to use them. Complete the challenge by ensuring that equipment is dismantled ready for storage. LESSON 3 Shear Lashing (25 Minutes) Following a similar structure to the previous lesson, explain how a sheer lashing is tied as well as why and where it might be used. A great activity is to place a candle at one end of a room and a box of matches at the other. Teams have to lash together a long pole that can hold a match at one end, and then use this to light the candle! LESSON 4 Diagonal Lashing (25 Minutes) Again, use a similar structure as the previous lessons to explain how a diagonal lashing is tied as well as why and where it might be used. A suggested activity for this lesson is to ask teams to create A-frame stilts. Use a sheer lashing at the top, then two diagonal lashings to make a pair of stilts then see how far people can walk with them. Remember to have spotters on hand in case they slip! LESSON 5 Figure of Eight Lashing (25 Minutes) Use a similar structure as the previous lessons to explain how a figure of eight lashing is tied as well as why and where it might be used. A suggested activity for this lesson is to play nuclear reactor. In this game, a no-go area is marked out on the floor, and a tin (the reactor ) is placed in the middle. The group has to lower a cooling rod (anything you like!) into the tin without touching the sides. To do this, they should build a tripod which fits over the marked area, lowering the rod on a rope directly down into the tin. Other solutions are possible, so encourage participants to be creative, but tell them their design has to include at least one figure of eight lashing!

APPLY What? This section reinforces the skills learned earlier in the lesson. How? Ask teams of participants to come up with something that they could build using pioneering skills. Then ask them to use the straws and elastic bands to build a model of that item, in preparation for a later session. SUMMARISE What? This section checks understanding of the skills taught in the lesson. How? Play fast hands modelling. Shout out the name of a simple structure, such as a swing or an A-frame, which teams then have to build from straws and elastic bands. Give them 10 minutes to do this, then compare the results. Did the teams manage to make the structures? Where did they struggle? Offer suggestions to improve the designs. LESSON 2 Square Lashing (20 Minutes) INTRODUCE What? Explain what a square lashing is and what it is used for. How? Using one of the models, explain that different types of lashing are used to make strong connections. A square lashing is a strong method of joining two spars together to form a right angle. DEMONSTRATE What? How to tie a square lashing. How? Good demonstrations allow people to learn visually, without vocal distractions, by clearly showing the different steps involved. Using slow, deliberate movements, ensuring that all participants can clearly see what you are doing. Demonstrate each stage of the square lashing: tying the first clove hitch, making several turns to create a square lashing, how to frap and how to tie off the rope at the end with another clove hitch. EXPLAIN What? Now that the group has seen a square lashing being tied, repeat it with a verbal explanation of how it is performed. How? Repeat the demonstration, breaking down each stage to explain what you are doing and why. APPLY What? This section reinforces the skills learned earlier in the lesson. How? Ask pairs of participants to practice square lashings by lashing small spars together to form basic structures, such as a cube. As they do this, move around the group, coaching and offering advice. Imagine two poles to be lashed together. What is their combined diameter? Lets say it is 8 inches (200mm), multiply by 3 and the answer will be the length of lashing rope required in feet, in this case, 24 feet (8 Metres). For lighter structures sisal string is adequate for lashing and this maybe purchased from a local hardware shop. Looking after your ropes and lashings. Ropemaking is a miracle of mechanical engineering. If you look at natural fibre rope you will see that the individual yarns are twisted in one direction to make strands which are twisted in the other direction to make rope. Both yarn and strands being twisted in reverse to their natural way of turning. Rope therefore contains a lot of energy which is why a frayed end can soon result in a useless rope. A frayed end must be dealt with straight away and emergency method of dealing with this is the figure of eight knot. How to whip a rope (Simple) The ends of the rope should be whipped with thin string or strong thread to keep the strands together. Whipping is preferred to splicing because it does not increase the diameter of the ends of the rope, so you will still be able to use it with pulleys if you wish. 1 2 3 4 1. Make a loop in the end of the end of the whipping thread and lay along the rope about 25mm from the end. 2.Using the working end wrap the whipping thread over the loop and round the rope 3. Continue whipping over the loop and round the rope until only the end of the loop is visible. Thread the working end through the loop 4. Pull the standing end so that the loop and working end go under the whipping. Cut both ends

Man made rope The way to deal with ends is to melt them in a match or candle flame. Heavy nylon rope will, of course, have to be whipped. Lashing rope. The ends of lashing rope can be stoppered with adhesive tape, perhaps doubling as colour coding to indicate lengths. Storing your rope. Rope should be coiled or hanked and hung in a dry, well ventilated place. Most ropes are laid right handed, with the strands running upwards from left to right and should be coiled in a clockwise direction. Heavy ropes are best coiled on the ground. Coiling rope. 1. Stand with the rope behind you and coil in a clockwise direction Arrange the rope with the two ends hanging down the coil. 2. Using a small strop i.e. a circle of rope with the ends tied or spliced together. Pass the strop through the coil and slip one end of the loop through the other. TRAINING OTHERS This provides practical ideas to help teach other volunteers and young people how to tie lashings and use them for pioneering. Training might take place informally on camp, or more formally as part of a skills workshop or training course. OBJECTIVES By the end of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Explain what pioneering is and what it can be used for 2. Tie a square lashing 3. Tie a sheer lashing 4. Tie a diagonal lashing 5. Tie a figure of eight lashing 6. Create a pioneering structure using lashings. EQUIPMENT Various types and sizes of rope/cord Various sizes of spars including small canes Items as required for training activities. LESSON 1 Understanding Pioneering (20 Minutes) INTRODUCE What? So what exactly is pioneering? How? Play the classic game, Just a minute, to find out what the group already knows about pioneering. If a participant runs out of things to say, another participant takes over until someone manages to speak for a full minute. Hanking rope Coil the rope until you reach the end and again arrange the rope with the two ends hanging down the coil Take out one of the turns. but do not the last, carry it right round the hand and up through the loop DEMONSTRATE What? How pioneering can be used to make structures. How? Before the session, construct a number of small models from garden canes and string or straws and elastic bands. Make some interesting structures such as catapults, rafts, swings or bridges. Talk through some of the possibilities that pioneering offers. EXPLAIN What? The basic principles of the structures and how they are constructed. How? Show the group some of the basic principles e.g. connecting two poles together to create A-frames and pyramids. Get them to make their own simple structures from straws and elastic bands.