Scout decorating ideas fro hiking stick and walking staff making

      We get many requests from scout leaders concerning ideas for walking stick making projects. Some of the best ideas how to decorate walking sticks for scout comes from badges received, individual personality of the scouts and utilities added to the hiking sick or walking staff project end result more useful in the wild.

    Scouts earn badges that symbolize certain achievements. One great way is to add the badges to the walking stick or wood burning badge achievement. For example for hiker burn a mountain image or forester wood burn trees. Wood burning is a great way to accent walking stick projects. You can even carve or wood burn the entire Boy Scout oath on the walking stick.  Remember to put your scout troop number too!

     I’m not a great painter so I usually do not paint on walking sticks. However, if you have some artist skills paint scout images on the walking stick project. Remember to put a clear coat on the walking stick first or the paint will soak into the wood and spread out as you paint destroying the image. In previous articles we discussed adding a compass, rope and other useful tools to your walking stick project adding outdoor items that you may need in an emergency.

   Adding a compass to the top of the walking stick or to the lanyard gives you an added outdoor tool. Also, weaving rope onto your hiking stick making project is a great way to carry extra rope when need. If you need instructions on these ideas and much more get the walking stick making guides. Other useful walking stick making add on include whistles, small knife and cutting wire.

Making hiking stick scouts how to make handle

One thing that makes a walking stick more unique hand is the actual weaved hand hold area. When making a walking stick you can use the standard drill a hole through the walking stick, slide a rope or leather through the hole and then tie it off or you can make a truly unique hiking staff or stick using rope weaving techniques. 

What you need for cord working and weaving:

        Para cord           Matches or Lighter       Knife
        Clear Tape         Needle                       Dental Floss (not the plastic type)

                          

         Before you start making your walking or hiking staff handle use a match or lighter to melt the end of the cord. We do this to prevent rope frays and unraveling.  Yes, it can catch on fire and drip if you are not careful. The end of the cord is hot. Do not touch it until it cools when working on your hiking stick making project.  Now using rope working weaving techniques for your walking stick making scout project to create various patterns.  If you are scout or you need instructions on how to weave a walking stick  or hiking staff handle you may consider obtaining the walking stick making guides that walks you through weaving a handle such as the one below. Weaving rope on your hiking stick project adds uniqueness. 

          The first image shows just a few of the rope colors (para-cord) available for just a few dollars. The above image and below are two different weaves. Weaving is not hard once and most people can master at least one weave in 30 minutes with proper instructions. Have fun making your walking stick and hiking staffs!