Looking for Wood Craft

[Doug in Burlington]

I'm off to cub camp in a couple of weeks with 26 8-10 year olds. I would like to get them to make/build some sort of craft (of course using wood!). I would like it to be useful and something the kids would use but it can't be too big as we'll have to transport up the pieces and bring back the finished result! Does anyone have any plans or ideas of things they have seen or made?
Thanks
Doug

[jim in Halifax]

I have cut out pieces for bird houses and a good craft is to take a picture of BP and have them trace the outline onto a piece of pine using carbon paper....then take a nail and pound the indents/outlines with the sharp pointed end of the nail to make indents all around the outlines......I do not know if you live close to a scout shop/michaels/or another craft shop but I have purchased a "sample" of a craft at one of these stores and made duplicates for crafts for beavers and cubs..of course there are a number of craft books available at libraries with wood and paper craft ideas..have been involved in scouting program for 46 years....J

[Chimera]

I've used a plan similar to this a lot. The kids love building it and then racing it.


http://www.runnerduck.com/toy_boat.htm

Have fun

[Frank Pellow]

I've used a plan similar to this a lot. The kids love building it and then racing it.


http://www.runnerduck.com/toy_boat.htm

Have fun
Thanks, I have saved the material at the link and will build some with my grandchildren later this summer.

[Robin in Niagara]

Years ago my son made a pine squirrel profile for pulling out oven racks. The tail is a handle and the ears pull out the rack and the front paws push them in. We still use ours. Do you want a photo of it?
Robin

[Chimera]

You can add decks or other features to the boats as the skills of your kids progress. They can be stacked and glued on or you can use dowels to simulate smoke stacks.

[Doug in Burlington]

Hi Robin
If you can post a pic that would be great. Probably will not use for this camp as I will not have time to make 26 of them!but it sounds like a neat idea and might use in the future!
Thanks
Doug

[Doug in Burlington]

Hi Chimera
Thanks for the idea. I've done this one in the past and the kids really liked it. I'd forgotten all about it. Don't know why because at the time they raced them on a pond and got them stuck in a shallow marshy area where they waded into the black muck to retrieve them - took hours to get them clean! I think I'll go with this one because this time we'll be on a lake! Thanks for the reminder.
Doug

[Max In Sudbury]

We used to make tomahawks (axes) when we were kids. Take a fresh limb and cut a slot in the middle of one end. A beaver log also works. Find the flattest, smoothest rock and tie it in the groove using a couple of pieces of leather or twine. Carve the handle with a jack knife.

Only supplies that you have to bring is the twine/leather.

My grade 8 industrial arts teacher used to have us pull nails from old 2 x 4s. He would then build picnic tables which he sold for a profit. Don't know where the money went! You could always use the kids as slave labour to make supplies for your shop!

Good luck.

Max

[Robin in Niagara]

Doug
I found the pattern my wife drew 25 some odd years ago and I will photograph it on her cutting board with 1" squares. From this you gan make a new pattern. Since she drew it out herself feel free to copy it and use it as you want, or anybody else on this forum. This may take a few days.
Robin

[Stan]

There is also the baseball and glove holder for the boys. The version for the girls is a hairdryer/curling iron holder. Quick and easy projects that are useful and not too big.

[jim in Halifax]

I'm off to cub camp in a couple of weeks with 26 8-10 year olds. I would like to get them to make/build some sort of craft (of course using wood!). I would like it to be useful and something the kids would use but it can't be too big as we'll have to transport up the pieces and bring back the finished result! Does anyone have any plans or ideas of things they have seen or made?
Thanks
Doug

What craft did you use?? How successful??
By the way what are your boys/girls paying for registration in your area this year...$115.00 in Halifax

[Pete in Welland]

How about limberjacks? or the similar one that has a propellor in the end of a stick and you rub another stick over notches cut in the first stick and the propellor goes around.
Now if you had a mini lathe there could be some HP magic wands?