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How To: Use a square lashing

Square lashing is a knot-making technique that has been made famous by the Boy Scouts of America's massive pioneering projects, and is really integral to any structure made out of poles like the one you see in the thumbnail. This video will teach you how to use square lashing to bind two poles together perpendicular to one another. You will need to know how to tie a clove hitch to make this work.

How To: Prepare a survival tin for camping

In order to prepare a survival tin for camping, you will need the following: water purification, condoms, brass wire, a candle, a magnifying glass, waterproof matches, cotton balls, fishing hooks, small compass, whistles, fishing line, and empty tobacco tin, and artificial worms.

How To: Tie the Miller's Knot (bag or sack knot)

In order to tie a Miller's Knot, which is also known as the bag or sack knot, you should begin by wrapping the rope around the object you wish to bind: the Miller's knot is a binding knot. It is used to bind things. Next, wrap one of the free ends around it. You are, basically, wrapping one end around a second time.

How To: Use a tent pole repair sleeve while camping

Putting up a tent is hard, but putting one up when one of your poles is broken is nearly impossible. Remember that little metal tube that came with your tent? Now is its time to shine. This video will teach you about the tent pole repair sleeve, the aforementioned metal tube, and how to use it to fix a tent pole and get your camping trip back on track.

How To: Put up a camping tarp

Learn how to put up a tarp for shade and protection from the rain in this video. First, find two trees with a nice flat spot in between them. Throw a rope up over a limb at least fifteen feet or so high. Now, tie the rope off to itself or to a smaller limb. Next, secure the rope on the other tree and leave the slack on the ground. Next, put the tarp over the rope evenly and anchor one end with a wire tie, small rope or bungee. Now you hoist the tarp up using one end of the rope and pull it to...

How To: Pack patrol boxes with useful items while camping

In this video tutorial, viewers learn about patrol boxes. There are two patrol boxes that are mentioned in this video. The materials that are contained in the first box are: a twin burner stove, propane lantern , adapter hose, propane converter, fat wood, fire starter, matches or lighter, trash bags, aluminum foil, rope and a large paper mat. The materials contained in the second box are: several sized pots, pot lids, frying pan, griddle, colander, backpacking gear, plates, cutting board, tow...

How To: Cook with various types of camp fires

There are some basic tips that you will need to know in order cook over various types of campfires. Hazel wood is a good wood to use, because it is a quick growing wood. Make a tripod with 3 wood posts and copper wiring. You will also need 2 hook sticks. Reserve them, when you are scavenging for wood for your fire and your tripod. These will be useful tools.

How To: Make a fire starter out of recycled candles

Cut an old sheet of news paper at about five inches in width. Roll it down to create a thick stick of newspaper. Get a roll of string that is specifically made of cotton or use a natural fiber string. Tie the string around your roll of newspaper to make sure it stays together or that it will not unroll. Submerge the rolled newspaper/s on a pot of hot and melted old candles. Let it sit for at least a minute or more as needed. Remove the rolled newspaper/s from the pot and let them dry out for ...

How To: Start a fire with a fire steel

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to use a fire steel. The fire steel consists of a piece of steel and a striker. To use the fire steel, simply by pressing one piece against the other to create sparks. To ignite a fire with the sparks, users will need some sort of kindling or tinder. Simply strike the fire steel against the tinder to allow the tinder to catch the spark and create a fire. This video will benefit those viewers who are planning to camp or want to learn about wilderness s...

How To: Prepare your kids for their first camping trip

In this clip, learn how to get your children ready for a camping trip. Camping can be a fantastic experience for your little ones where they can learn about the environment, animals and basic outdoor activities. Teach your kids outdoor safety and get them involved so that they have a ton of fun.

How To: Make a comfy DIY camping chair for less than 5 dollars

Not every camper is looking to totally "rough it" while they are in the woods. In this clip, learn how to make a comfy, folding camping seat out of cheap supplies for less than five bucks! This foam pad is far better than the ones you buy at those expensive camping stores and because you made it yourself, you know it will work. The best part? If you lose it or it gets ruined out there in the wilderness, it was so cheap and easy to make that you can just create another one!

How To: Make a survival whistle out of a willow twig

If you're out in the wilderness with only one or two other people, it's easy to get separated. Even worse, if you planned for the trip to be "all natural" and decided not to bring any electronic gadgets like TVs and cells phones, then there are no lines of communication between you and your buddies.

How To: Find edible wild food to stay alive in the wilderness

If you were on the hit show "Lost," would you be able to survive? While most of the main castmembers on the show tough it out through learning how to eat the island's vegetation, we know that most of you probably would have no clue as to how to distinguish between a poisonous mushroom and a non-poisonous one, and which plant growths are edible and which aren't.

How To: Use the common rope seizing knot

Rope seizing is a technique that is used when two things need to be held together with rope, like two pieces of timber for example. This video from ITS Tactical demonstrates how to use some cord to perform rope seizing on a big, heavy rope so that you can use it to suspend an object or perform other heavy rope-using tasks.

How To: Pan for gold in a lake

In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to pan for gold in a lake. You will need the sand that you mined for gold. Put some sand in a pan, put water in the pan and mix it with your hands. Then stir the pan underwater. Loosen the sand with your fingers and keep stirring the pan. Gold being heavy, this will make the gold to settle down at the bottom of the pan and the dirt will remain on top. Then give the pan a good shake and tap it at the bottom. Now you pan the dirt out....

How To: Make a lean-to in the wilderness

Sometimes you need a little shelter when you are hiking or camping. If it starts to rain, or you need a little shade from the sun, it will help you very much to build a lean to. In this tutorial, learn how to make a lean to if you are stuck in the wild.

How To: Plan for a backpacking trip

Backpacking sounds like the most basic way to travel but it is actually quite a large undertaking. In this tutorial, learn all you need to know to plan for a backpacking trip, no matter where you're traveling to. This will help you stay safe and prepared for anything. Of course, before arranging backpacking gear for a trip, it's important to make a plan of the trip in order to determine which items are necessary. Learn about bringing backpacking gear that fits the climate and conditions of a ...

How To: Backpack and camp with healthy food

Just because you are not at home is no reason to abandon your healthy eating lifestyle. In this tutorial, you will learn all about planning healthy meals and snacks while you are on the go. Discover how to pack your backpack with the right, lightweight snacks and maintain proper nutrition when out and about. Of course, when planning caloric intake and healthy eating for a backpacking trip, it's important to create a backup plan in case something doesn't go according to plan. Learn about carry...

How To: Pan for real gold

In this video tutorial, viewers learn how to pan for gold. Users will need a gold pan. Begin by add some dirt and rocks into the pan. Then pan has ridges that will keep the gold in the pan. Dip the pan and fill it in some water. Now gently shake the pan from side to side for 20-30 seconds. The gold will sink to the bottom as you shake. Then slightly tilt the pan forward to pour out some water as you're shake the pan. This video will benefit those viewers who are interested in searching for mi...

How To: Pan for gold using "backwash & tap" method

The video shows how to pan for gold using the backwash and tap method. Take about a quarter cup of Georgia concentrate and add to a panning tray (looks like a shallow bowl with ridges). Add some water to cover and gently move the mixture around to wash off the lighter sand and dirt particles (gold is heavier and will sink to the bottom). Resettle the mixture at the bottom and start over, continuing to wash off the sand until you start to see specks of gold along the side. Keep resettling the ...

How To: Make leather string or thong from an old glove

You will use an old work glove to make the string. First cut the seems of the glove to the finger tips with scissors. Cut out the palm part of the clove. Remove the elastic off of the back with a knife. remove the hem with your scissors. Next, start cutting at the edge up around the shape of the glove. Keep going round until it starts turning into one long piece. Go back around the leather and trim up the rough edges and corners. He ends up with about seven foot of string. It's a cheep free w...

How To: Pan for gold a few simple steps

In this video, Graham shows us how to pan for gold. In a few simple steps, an individual could become rich!!! Graham is working with sandstone in Virginia in a swamp like area, but this process could be done in any river. Gold usually gets stuck in cracks in the sides of rivers, and in this case, the cracks are in sandstone rock in this swamp-like area. Shovel up some of the sandstone bed bedrock, or whatever type of material is available, place the shoveled up material in the pan. Fill up th...

How To: Pan for gold outdoors

In this Outdoor Recreation video tutorial you will learn how to pan for gold outdoors. This is a good excuse to play in the dirt for young kids or even for the whole family. Go to the woods, find a stream that is shallow and the current is not strong. Choose a spot that has roots, because the gold gets in the roots. Scoop up some mud in a deep pan and remove all big stones from it. Then put the pan underwater and stir it. Loosen the mud with your fingers and keep stirring the pan. Gold being ...

How To: Use bowl gold panning techniques

Space Painter demonstrates how to pan for gold. Put the sediment in a pan and fill it with water. Agitate the pan back and forth. The light sediment will rise to the top as the heavy material sinks. Tip the tray into the water trough to remove the lighter sediment. Gold panning techniques have evolved over the years although it is a very similar process. Use a motion of the ocean or a straight up and down agitation technique. The gold panning pan should have grooves. There's still a lot of go...

How To: Practice food safety on a camping trip

Before you make that extended camping trek out into the wilderness, there are a few things any self-respecting camper should know how to do. And one of those things is how to safely feed oneself. With this free video guide, you'll learn how to practice food safety when roughing it in the wild.

How To: Cook your food while backpacking

Before you make that extended trek out into the wild, there are a few things any self-respecting camper should know how to do. And one of those things is how to feed oneself. With this free video guide, you'll learn how to safely and efficiently cook food when backpacking. For more information, watch this free video guide to camp cooking.

How To: Fit a hiking backpack

You literally carry it on your back for miles upon miles (or, depending on your locale, kilometers upon kilometers). Make sure it fits right. This guide will make sure you know everything you need to know to ensure that your hiking pack fits snugly and comfortably.

How To: Make a camping sitting stool

There's nothing greater than being in the outdoors and away from all the hustle and bustle of the city. Of course that doesn't mean you should be without basic necesseities. In this two part tutorial find out how to make a sitting stool used for camping. Enjoy!

How To: Prep a hide for tanning

Warning. This video is not for vegetarians or animal lovers since it does show an animal's hide. Now for those interested, this two part turorial shows you how to prep the right equipment needed to tan an animals hide.

How To: Set up a classic A-Frame tent

There are tons of quick pop up tents available nowadays, but the classic A-Frame tent still remains one of the most popular. A-Frames are those classic tents with the spikes in the ground that hold it up. They take a little more effort to erect but they are perfect for backpacking or short camping trips.

How To: Car camp

Whether you're at a concert or on a road trip, sometimes you need to camp out. Check out this video if you are planning a car trip where you will be camping along the way. Car camping requires plenty of preplanning and patience but will be totally worth it in the end when you have one sweet road trip!

How To: Build an upside down fire

If you ever find yourself in the woods after a long day of hunting or fishing, you're going to need a fire. So in this two part video tutorial you'll find out how to build an upside down fire and make it last longer than the traditional method of making a fire. Enjoy!

How To: Pack camping food

Dr. Cook discusses the best ways to pack your food for a camping trip. When it comes to packing food for your camping trip, the best way is simply to pack everything into Tupperware. Everything will be held neatly in one place, and certain items can even be organized in Ziploc bags, and then put into the Tupperware. These bags are also great for keeping the food dry, and can also be used to pack individual meals. Removing the food from its original packaging and placing it in a Ziploc bag als...

How To: Make a fire with chapstick and cottonballs

This is a survival video which shows how to make a fire out of chap stick and cotton balls. This is called the wicks/wax principle. For the wick, cotton balls are used. For the wax, any petroleum based product is good. In this case chap stick is used. Take a big chunk of chap stick out of the tube, about 1 inch. Smear the chap stick into the cotton ball. This will evenly distribute the chap stick throughout the cotton ball. Spread out the chap stick filled cotton ball so that it creates a big...