From our earliest days, Americans have always met the challenge of the frontier.  Venturing into the wilderness carrying everything they needed on their backs, these brave scouts were at home with nature, familiar with all of the plants and animals in the forest and on the prairie.  Skilled with the bow, rifle and rod, they caught their game, started their fires with flint and steel, and cooked their meals.  Skilled navigators, they knew how to find their way through any terrain.  They befriended the Native Americans and learned their ways.  Far from civilization, they learned how to care for themselves and their comrades when sick or injured.  Skilled pioneers, they built bridges to cross rivers, forts for protection and homes for their families.

These traditions are kept alive today in the Scouting movement.  Schiff Scout Reservation is proud to present the Pine Tree Training Program, designed to teach you the same skills our forefathers needed to survive in the wilderness.       

Go to the Sagamore Service Troop page

Backpacking

The program is designed to give Scouts basic knowledge on clothing, boots, equipment, meal preparation, and water purification in the backcountry. The topics cover key requirements for the Tenderfoot rank and Camping and Backpacking merit badges; however, this is not a merit badge class.

Participants should bring their backpacks, including all gear they would need for an overnight patrol or troop hiking trip. We will conduct pack inspections and select campsite locations (weather permitting)

Campfires (new program)

Learn how to build different types of fires. Campfire enjoyment as well as the importance of SAFETY!! The role of a campfire that is needed for survival. Covers related requirements through first class and Leave No Trace Principles.

Cooking

This topic can be tailored to your troops needs.  It can cover the following areas; Tenderfoot thru First Class cooking requirements. Or advanced cooking including Menus, Food shopping, Food Preparation, Dutch Ovens, Cooking without utensils, Clean-up, and Sanitation.  Either way, your group will cook and clean up a Lunch.  I will contact the Scoutmaster prior to the date to find out what he wants to cover. 

Emergency Preparedness

Following the Scout motto of "Be Prepared," learn how to create an emergency plan and make a disaster kit for your family. 

 First Aid

Hands-on training for beginners through advanced.  CPR, bandages, splints, symptoms and responses. Not a merit badge class, although much is covered. 

Fishing

Open to all Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Ventures.  Hands on fishing program designed to stimulate the love of fishing. We will go over all the requirements for the fishing Merit Badge and try our luck on Deep Pond. You will need to bring a fishing pole and a lunch. Boy Scouts working on the Fishing Merit Badge need to bring a blue card signed by your Scoutmaster. Anybody over the age of 16 must have a New York State fishing license.

Indian Lore

The program runs two to three hours, and gives a general background of Native Americans, including types of clothing, habitats, foods, some of their rituals, and Native American antidotes.

Also included; participants make a Native American craft. One requirement toward the Indian Lore Merit Badge is earned.

Pioneering

Scouts learn knots and lashings, from first-timer to making useful structures using spars and ropes. This becomes a fun day, which can include rope making and splicing; parts of the Pioneering Merit badge. 

Nature

Sessions will cover the 2nd and 1st class requirements completely, plus how to read the signs of Nature for weather, direction, by season, etc.   Participants should be familiar with the material covered in the requirements, and the plants and animals common to our area. 

Each participant should bring their Handbook, pen, pad, pocket knife or garden snips, 1" roll of masking tape (can be shared by several scouts), and a couple of plastic shopping bags to collect specimens with. This is not the Merit Badge

Orienteering

The Orienteering program is a full day session, which teaches skills in using a compass, map reading, navigating using a map and compass and the basics of the sport of Orienteering. The program stresses the practical application of the skills,  culminating with the basic Orienteering course at Schiff.

The program will satisfy requirements 2-6 of the Orienteering merit badge and Second Class requirement 1a.  Upon request, we will also cover measuring distances and heights (First Class requirement 2) and telling directions without a compass (First Class requirement 1).  Scouts should bring an orienteering compass.

Shooting Sports Archery & BB Gun

Come out and enjoy a fun-filled morning, afternoon, or all-day shooting Crossman .177 Cal Pellet rifles and archery.  Webelos or older