WEBELOS

HANDYMAN

Circle 10 Council

Scouts learn how to make minor repairs around the house and garage.  They also learn how to take care of tools and their proper use. Remember that though these activities may seem simple to you, it may be the first time one of your Webelos has been exposed to changing a tire or learning about tools and how to use them.  Be careful not to criticize and lose patience if the boys seem clumsy with a screwdriver or wrench.  They will learn greatly from your patience and will be so proud of what they’ve accomplished in earning this badge. Handyman is part of the Technology group of Activity Badges.

OBJECTIVES

To acquaint Webelos with odd jobs that they could do to help out around their homes.  To help Webelos learn the proper care and storage of tools.

To make Webelos aware of the importance of the proper storage of household chemicals.

Where To Go And What To Do

Have a clinic on the care and repair of bicycles. Set it up like a shop and have each boy bring his bike and do repairs. Etc.

Demonstrate different ways to mark tools for ownership identification.

Hold a nail-hammering contest. See who can hammer a nail in the fewest number of strokes.

Visit a good home workshop and have the owner explain the use, storage and care of tools.

Arrange a visit to a service/repair station. Have a mechanic explain the use of different types of equipment. He may show how to check oil levels, fluids and belts, tire pressure, and change light bulbs in a car.

Organize a pack car wash.

Organize a pack bike rodeo.

Show safety measures for lawn mowing.

Build sawhorses show their use.

Build a small step stool (see Webelos Book).

What a great way to help around the home and make life easier for Mom and Dad.  This activity badge will provide new opportunities to gain new skills, which will last them a lifetime.

Tie Slide – Miniature Tool Set

Materials needed: Miniature tools Leather tool kit 1 - .5” x .5” PVC pipe

Leather pieces Lacing

1. Stitch or lash two pieces of leather together with the tools between the two.

2. Attach the PVC pipe to the back to form the loop.

Tool Holder

An empty soft drink handy pack carton makes a useful tool holder. Paint the carton or cover with paper.  Insert painted small frozen juice cans in carton sections and use to hold and carry pliers, paper punch, screwdriver, scissors and so on.

Handy Punch

You will find this homemade awl very useful for many projects. You will need a nail about 3-inches long, plus two

strips of wood about 1-inch wide, 4-inches long and 3/8-inches thick. Place the nail lengthwise on one wood strip,

with the head about ½-inch from the end and point of nail extending beyond the wood. Hammer edge of nail head

embedding it in the wood. Apply glue to other wood strip and place it on top of first strip. Hammer nail end

together until nail head is embedded in top strip. Let dry. The wood handle is convenient when heating nail for

punching heavy plastic.

Bicycle Rodeo

If handyman is worked on during the spring or fall, it would be a great idea to tie in a bicycle rodeo or a bicycle safety program. The death toll in bicycle accidents is about 1,000 a year. Boys between the ages of 5 and 14 are involved in the majority of serious bicycle accidents. Many people on bicycles do not realize that they are a driver in the same sense as being an automobile driver. Webelos Scouts need to learn that when they are on bicycles, they are drivers and must obey the same traffic rules as other drivers.

At your bike rodeo, train the boys in how to keep their bicycles in good working order, how to drive them safely,

and teach them of the rules of the road.

You could set up an “obstacle” course and have the boys safely maneuver their bikes along the course. A special neckerchief slide could be made up and given to all participants, or make up a certificate to hand out.

Handyman Scavenger Hunt

In a boy’s home or meeting place, hunt for the following items or create your own list.  Boys should be accompanied by a leader or parent.  They should not gather the items but instead, have the boys write down the location of each.

Here is a sample:

Pruning shears, Edge trimmer, Lawn mower, Gasoline can, Oil can, File, Pliers, Hammer, Nails, Screwdriver, Air pump, Tire tube, Old rags, Old newspapers, Window cleaning solution, Aluminum cans, Tire pressure, gauge, Crescent wrench , Tire changing tools, Auto jack and stand.

After the locations for these tools are recorded, go over the list and see if any of the items are not stored in the proper locations. For example, are the old rags stored on top or next to the gas can in a closed cabinet?  Are the pruning shears lying on the floor where young children may be able to “play” with them?  Also check the tools for cleanliness and sharpness.  These factors influence their serviceability.