4/22-4/28 Week Update

After finishing the Individual Shelter/Fireplace test at the beginning of the week, I completed the First Aid, Map of Area, and Cooking sections. The First Aid was not a very big task, as all Candidates from Birch Rock will have sufficient training in First Aid and will have the Red Cross book as a reference guide at testing camp.

The Map of Area test entails drawing a map with correct directional bearings (azimuths) between 5 posts that are driven into the ground at testing camp. The map must be correctly oriented with a magnetic/true north guide, and the candidate is expected to fill in extra objects that surround the posts, such as large trees, bushes, rocks, tents, bodies of water. This test can be completed throughout the week in between other tests, and teaches the candidate how to make a correctly proportional map of his surroundings. I will include examples from the old JMG book of good and bad maps to help illustrate what is expected.

Cooking is a main component of JMG testing camp, and campers are evaluated on this skill for three meals per day for the entire week. 

"Throughout the week, you will be expected to cook three meals each day for not only your group but for one or two counselors or testers who will eat meals with you. The group of counselors and testers at testing camp rotate throughout different camps for each meal...

...Each candidate in the group must prepare at least one bake, boil, and fry throughout the week. The testers at each meal will grade the meal and give each candidate a grade as well. (See below for grade sheet examples)."