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 another site.
  • Woodland courses cover the requirements for the related Webelos and Arrow of Light Adventures 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.

COURSES AVAILABLE INCLUDE:

Woodland Living – basic camping skills  –  Camper Adventure

Woodland Life – Birds, mammals, insects, and other woodland life  – Into the Wild Adventure

Woodland Plants  –  Trees, shrubs and other plants of the woods – Into the Wood Adventure

Our Changing Earth  –  Rocks and minerals; the forces that created them; the forces that are changing them –  Earth Rocks! Adventure

Enjoying the Woods  –  The plants and animals of the woods—for a younger age, non-webelo groups. – Webelos Walkabout Adventure

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 logbook 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 that do not have their own.