Troop 170 Ties the Knots

Boy Scouts in Troop 170 of Marianna met on July 16, at the First Presbyterian Church to continue working on their requirements to advance to the rank of “Tenderfoot”.

Patrol leader Hunter Hutton instructed fellow Scouts by demonstrating the techniques used to tie a series of knots, including two half hitches, a taunt-line hitch, and others. Scouts discovered how knots have thousands of uses. For example, on camping trips, knots hold gear together on the Scout’s pack, secure tents, and prevent boats from drifting away. If accidents occur, knots can be used to keep bandages in place or help in rescue attempts. Scouts used the EDGE method to instruct someone else how to tie a square knot, which is the knot that ties two ropes together. The EDGE concept states: EXPLAIN how it is done; DEMONSTRATE the steps; GUIDE learners as they practice; and ENABLE them to succeed on their own. Finally, Scouts learned permanent ways to protect a rope from unraveling by whipping and fusing the rope. Whipping works by tightly wrapping a string around the end of a rope, while fusing uses heat to melt the fibers of the ends of a rope together.

Boy Scouts in Troop 170 will continue to work on their Tenderfoot rank requirements at the next scheduled meeting. For more information about the Scouting program, please e-mail cokehut@digitalexp.com, or call 209-2818.