The School of Woodland Knowledge
For Webelo Scouts and Youth age 8-12
A Program of the Pine Bend Association
The
School of Woodland Knowledge, a part of the College of Wilderness Knowledge,
provides an opportunity to a younger age group (8-12). Like the college, courses are offered free of
charge to individuals and organized youth groups.
The
school provides a unique learning experience for youth:
·
Courses
are conducted outdoors, giving youth the opportunity to immediately apply their
new skills in a woodland environment.
·
Courses
can be scheduled as part of a weekend camp at the Birch Bend Campground or as a
one day course at a public park or other site.
·
Woodland
courses cover the requirements for the related Webelos activity badges plus
some extra skills.
·
The
cost if free. Youth or the group provide
their food, tent and other camping equipment.
The only tuition is the desire to learn about nature and the environment
in the out-of-doors.
School of
Woodland Knowledge
Courses Available include:
Woodland Living - basic camping skills -
Outdoorsman Activity Badge
Woodland Life - Birds, mammals, insects and other
woodland life - Naturalist Activity
Badge
Woodland Plants - Trees, shrubs and
other plants of the woods - Forester Activity Badge
Our Changing Earth - Rocks and minerals;
the forces that created them; the forces that are changing them - Geologist Activity Badge
Enjoying the Woods - The plants and
animals of the woods—for younger age, non-webelo groups.
Do You Fear The
Wind?
Do
you fear the force of the wind?
The
slash of the rain?
Go
face them and fight them
Be
savage again.
Go
hungry and cold like the wolf.
Go
wade like the crane.
The
palms of your hands will thicken
The
back of your neck will tan.
You’ll
be ragged and footsore and weary,
But
you’ll walk like a man.
Hamlin Garland
Birch Bend Camp
The Birch Bend camp is
located about 20 miles west of Mille Lac Lake, about 120 miles from the Twin Cities. The 220 acre campground includes forest,
wetland and meadow. It is a primitive
camp - water from hand pumped wells, pit type toilets.
We practice “Leave No Trace”
camping. What we bring in, we take
out. The only evidence we leave behind
is recorded in the log book or in a service project.
Groups using the camp furnish
their own leadership, tents, other equipment and food. Scout and Webelo groups follow the “Guide To
Safe Scouting”. Other groups follow the
rules of their organization.
The camp has a limited supply
of tents and cooking equipment for use, at a nominal cost, by units which do
not have their own.
For information or
to
arrange a course: