The Maker culture is a social movement with an artisan spirit that encourages learning-through-doing in a social setting. The less formal Maker culture can be a bridge to the more formal STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) culture.
ElderEagleThe Maker culture uses learning-through-doing, often in a social setting, to bring about invention and create new devices using modern and traditional technologies and crafts. Bushcraft is about adapting, thriving in the natural environment, and developing the skills and knowledge to survive the wilderness, similar to some of the skills developed in Scouting. Resilience is developing the skills to better cope with difficult challenges and stress. Largley using social media, ElderEagle explores the intersection of Maker, Bushcraft, and Resilience. The intent is to recognize resilience using simple technology and lore to explore social support and positive-coping skills, such as adaptability. The "Nearly Wordless Workshop" is a minimalist approach that recognizes Roy Doty's "Wordless Workshop", a popular illustrated home improvement series, the ran as a syndicated feature for 50 years. The narrated versions are longer, having more STEM. Video playlist » |
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Revive a Camillus scout knife using simple tools. Many of us started our bushcraft journey as Cub Scouts. The challenge is to revive a vintage Camillus cub scout pocket knife by adapting and using readily available household materials. |
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Overhaul a worn Victorinox Spartan using simple tools. The challenge is to overhaul a tired Spartan swiss army knife using simple tools. This includes cleaning, sharpening, and adding new scales, compass, and lanyard. The method encourages personal resilience through attainable goals, persistence, and trust. |
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Spartan woods makeover. The challenge is to adapt a promotional Spartan swiss army knife, for use in the woods, using simple tools. This includes removing a promotional logo from the knife and making a compass, ferrocerium fire starter, and a tinder lanyard. The method encourages personal resilience through attainable goals, persistence, trust, and adaptability. |
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Victorinox fire Walker. The challenge is to adapt a Victorinox Walker with an emergency fire starter system. This includes reviewing the minimalist Walker, stropping, making a minimalist ferrocerium lanyard/fob, and a fire starter pouch to complete the system. The method encourages resilience through adaptability. |
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Morakniv Eldris breakaway lanyard, fire starter, and compass. The challenge is to make a minimalist breakaway lanyard with ferrocerium, tinder, needle compass, and sewing kit. The method encourages resilience through adaptability. |
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Dead reckoning: navigation using a makeshift compass. The challenge is to use dead reckoning using a makeshift compass. A brief example of dead reckoning uses a pin as a compass to find one's way back to a trailhead. The method encourages resilience through belief and adaptability. |
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Make: SAK survival lanyard. The challenge is to make a Swiss Army Knife lanyard or fob having a ferrocerium fire starter, jute tinder, and magnetized needle with thread contained in paracord. |
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Make: SAK corkscrew fire starter. The challenge is to adapt a Swiss Army Knife corkscrew to serve as an emergency fire starter with ferrocerium rod and tinder. |
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Basic Maintenance of a Swiss Army Knife. A well worked SAK gets a 20 minute makeover using simple tools. This includes cleaning, three simple methods for sharpening, as well as stropping, lubrication, disinfecting, and making a diamond knot fob or lanyard. |
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Comparing and contrasting the Swiza D03. A brief comparison of the Swiza D03 to the Victorinox Spartan, Pioneer, and Electrician Swiss Army Knife (SAK). |
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Make a Corkscrew Compass and Sewing Kit. A very simple five minute project for a makeshift compass and a sewing kit consisting of needle and thread that will fit into the corkscrew of a Swiss Army Knife (SAK). |
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Comparing and adapting the Victorinox Cadet and Sportsman. Comparing and adapting the Victorinox Cadet and Sportsman Swiss Army Knife (SAK) to include stropping, stitching, and making a pin compass. Links to making a corkscrew compass/sewing kit and a corkscrew ferrocerium fire starter. |
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Last-ditch mindset, Part 1, Scenario. The best survival tool is the ability to think clearly. Make a simple kit for short term survival to maximize your ability to think clearly, set goals and persist. Further improve your pocket knife for survival. Yet, last ditch mindset is not about clever tools, rather it is intended to promote the goal that to effectively cope with challenging situations we need to be prepared to deal with both physical and mental challenges. Scenario developed from the perspective of a first responder. |
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Last-ditch mindset, Part 2, Make it. The best survival tool is the ability to think clearly. Make a simple kit for short term survival to maximize your ability to think clearly, set goals and persist. Further improve your pocket knife (SAK) for survival. Yet, last ditch mindset is not about clever tools, rather it is intended to promote the goal that to effectively cope with challenging situations we need to be prepared to deal with both physical and mental challenges. |
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Last-ditch mindset, Part 3, Adapt it. The best survival tool is the ability to think clearly. Make a simple kit for short term survival to maximize your ability to think clearly, set goals and persist. Further, in Part 3, select a SAK and improve your pocket knife (SAK) for survival. Yet, last ditch mindset is not about clever tools, rather it is intended to promote the goal that to effectively cope with challenging situations we need to be prepared to deal with both physical and mental challenges. |
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Classic Swiss Army Knife Maintenance and Makeover. A SAK Classic gets maintenance and a makeover using simple tools. Makeovers include a tweezer compass, toothpick stitcher, and adapting the blade’s ricasso to serve as a ferrocerium fire rod striker. Maintenance includes cleaning, sharpening, detailing, lubrication, and disinfecting. Briefly compares the Classic SD and Wenger/Executive 81. |
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Find or make your SAK keyring light. Part 1, AAA lights. Find a keyring light for the Victorinox Classic and Wenger’s version Executive 81 keyring SAKs. Contrast and compare SAK keyring sized led lights in AAA (ThruNite Ti3, Fenix E01 V2), rechargeable lithium, and coin/button cell designs. Make a paracord keyring. |
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Find or make your SAK keyring light. Part 2, Rechargeable lights. Find a keyring light for the Victorinox Classic and Wenger’s version Executive 81 keyring SAKs. Contrast and compare SAK keyring sized led lights in AAA, rechargeable lithium (Fenix E03R, Olight i1R 2 EOS, Nitecore Tube V2) and button cell designs. |
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Find or make your SAK keyring light. Part 3, Button light review and make your own. Find a keyring light for the Victorinox Classic and Wenger’s version Executive 81 keyring SAKs. Contrast and compare SAK keyring sized led lights in AAA, rechargeable lithium, and coin/button cell (Photon Freedom, clones) designs. Make a LED button light designed for your needs. |