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Birdhouses!

12/22/2022

For our final meeting of 2022, the SAIL Pathfinders completed their Wood Handicraft honor by building birdhouses. Each birdhouse was build from a single cedar fence picket, and chosen from designs that favor some of our smaller local birds here in Central Texas. This was a fun project that really emphasized the old adage "measure twice, cut once," as well as gave the Pathfinders practice in construction and some on-the-fly problem solving (as well as a lot of great teamwork).

We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and are looking forward to our new adventures together in 2023. Thank you all for your support of the SAIL Pathfinder Club!

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Pizza Making!

12/14/2022

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The holidays are a great time to do something a little different, a little fun, and hopefully a little tasty, so this year the SAIL Pathfinders once again took some time out to earn the Pizza Maker honor. Yes, there is an honor about Pizza! Learning its history, key ingredients, how leavening works, and of course making (and eating) Pizza.

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Outdoor Skills and Knowledge

11/29/2022

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One of the things we focus on in the Pathfinder program is nature and outdoor skills and knowledge. Nature provides relief from the stresses and overstimulation of modern life and technology. Awareness of the world around us reminds us of our role and relationship to the natural world - and our responsibilities. Engagement with nature and the outdoors provides new avenues for learning, for practicing new skills, and for solving problems in real world scenarios and interactions. And time with nature helps us spiritually in our relationship with God.

This year, the Pathfinders have been experiencing nature in many different avenues. We have worked on learning about the trees around us. We have begun looking at animal tracks to learn about what may be living around us that we do not always see. And we have worked on some of our camping and outdoor skills, including fire-building without matches or lighters.

Why learn trees? Because they are all around us. Because different trees and collections of trees can tell us about the environment in which they live. Because being familiar with the trees can ease our sense of anxiety if we find ourselves... misplaced... when we go out. If we can know about the trees around us, we can be as familiar with our surroundings in the woodlands as we are in our own neighborhoods.

Why study animal tracks? We have limited time outdoors, and we may not be able to see the animals around us. But we can see their tracks, their scat, and other signs of their passage and interaction with their environments. Knowing about the animals around us eases our uncertainty when we go outdoors. It reduces the sense of the unknown, and helps heighten our awareness. And it is fun to imagine what the animals were doing when they passed by.

Why practice survival skills, like fire-building? It can increase our confidence is our ability to keep going even if things aren't going to plan. It can increase our own sense of accomplishment (when the spark ignites the tinder, it really feels great). It helps us understand the basic tenants of fire (fuel, heat, oxygen), and thus gives us ways to solve challenges when we may need a fire for warmth, lighting, or signalling. Sure, a match is easier to use, but knowing we can strike a spark into a fire is pretty cool.

We look forward to sharing other accomplishments, skills, and knowledge building as we work and explore together this Pathfinder year! Thanks for supporting the SAIL Pathfinder Club.

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Birdhouses!

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Outdoor Skills and Knowledge

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