For preparation, all the blanks are cut out. We will use Olfa craft knives which work well both left and right handed/
The Bears will make bear neckerchief slides. The wood used tomorrow will be Hinoki. The samples are Katsura and Hinoki.. The nose piece on the blanks I made are Honoki ... Broad-leafed Magnolia.
The Webelos will make Scout signs. I used Honoki for these but I have some earlier cut pieces of Spruce.
I will take my camera but, knowing me, may be too busy to take pictures. I hope at least to get pictures of some of the finishes.
I have seen this taught with bars of soap and plastic knives. Not only was it a problem because the Cub Scouts did not have a vision of an object in the soap, but ended up with a mess, a waste of soap, and nothing memorable ...or even a good idea of how to handle a real knife.
On the other hand, over all the years I have taught this, each child has taken home an object to remind him of his success. Every bear turns out differently and unique. We use lots of sandpaper glued to Popsicle sticks
to smooth out the rough places.
Over the years we have had nicks ... but not many, and nothing a band aid couldn't take care of. My biggest challenge is not the sharp knives in the hands of boys, it is the "helicopter parents" hovering over the boys, ready to grab that knife and give it a few whacks too.
