Explorers Onsite Task List
Kitchen duty – After lunch, under parental supervision: build the fire for cooking - practice your flint & steel fire starting skills. Fill black cauldron with water, then build a small fire underneath it to heat dishwater. Fill silver washing tubs halfway with cold water. Do not put wash tubs on the fire to heat water. Check in at kitchen occasionally to be sure they have all they need
Make a treasure map of the fort & hide treasure for each group – Pace to scale; draw in buildings, use your compass!
Observe weather & record it in your journals - bring your weather poster
Rope making – We supply instructions and materials
(Optional) Lasso Game & Practice your Knots - materials provided during rope making, instructions not provided
Move personal sleeping gear into Northwest Blockhouse – only at the scheduled time!
Know your night watch & morning schedule and responsibilities
Evening kitchen duty – wash ALL communal dishes
The Campfire – Use only the fire pit in the compound to make fires. Your wood ration is limited to the contents inside the wooden structure in front of the Officer’s Barracks door. The fire should be no larger than is necessary for cooking and keeping warm. Wood is a precious resource, please use it only as needed. Before leaving the area, be sure the fire is completely out. Pick up any debris such as foil from in and around the fire pits.
Axe or Hatchet – An axe or hatchet is made for chopping or splitting wood and should be used for that purpose only. Before using such a tool, it should be checked carefully to be sure that the head of the tool is securely fastened to the handle and that the handle is firm and sound with no cracks or splits. Any person chopping wood should maintain a six-to eight-foot circle around him/herself in which no other person may stand. Adult supervision is mandatory during wood-chopping activities. The woodcutter’s own feet and knees should be well away from the swing of the axe. Axes can be dangerous tools — make sure anyone using one has been well briefed on their safe use!
Rules and Responsibilities:
- Follow the adults’ instructions at all times
- Obey all safety rules
- Practice your Explorer skills
Night Watch – Check schedule. Wake up Cooks in front of the Kuskov house for breakfast, or as specified by your Teacher
Morning Responsibilities:
- Make sure the fires are ready for the Cooks and clean water for the washing station is set up once more
- Pack personal gear and bring it to Fort Gates. Sweep Northwest Blockhouse. Make sure it’s completely cleared out
- Inspect all buildings - make sure they are cleared out & well-swept
- Re-stack woodpile as directed by ELP Instructor. Rake around woodpile, fire pits, black cauldron, and pick up any trash that is in the fire pits, clean off fire pit rocks. Return gear to closet
- Check for litter in fort compound and throw away any that you find in the garbage
- If your group is finished and another is not, find out how you can help
- Fort Litter Pick Up – All groups line up shoulder to shoulder and walk the inside of the fort for a full fort cleanup