One hour is not a lot of time to cover all of that material. I recently spent 45 minutes at our troop meeting reviewing my PSK. Last year, I brought a box full of pieces and parts I was collecting to assemble my PSK. The boys had their doubts that was going to be able to fitt it all into an Altoids type tin. (Actially, I think the other leaders were more skeptical than the boys <img src="images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />). SSo this year I brought the assembled kit and emtied it out to prove that I had done it. I intended to open it anyway to add adhesive honing paper in it.

As I pulled out items, I would ask the group to suggest possible uses for an item. This demonstrated that many items had multiple uses. It also let me drive home the idea that one's brain is the most important tool. I also reviewed the STOP acronym and the hierarchy of priorities, both of which are part of the requirements for the marit badge (visit <a href="tp://www.meritbadge.com]MeritBadge.com[/url]" target="_blank">tp://www.meritbadge.com]MeritBadge.com[/url]</a> for a complete list of requirements).

I also learned from the process. I fist wrapped electrical tape arround my tin, one piece along the two halves seam to seal it, another spiraled around the narrow dimension. I then wrapped duct tape around the long dimension. Finally, my paracord wrapped it all again. When I removed the duct tape, it made a mess of the electrical tape as it stuck to it. So I've repacked the duct tape inside the kit using the waxy backed paper from an address label sheet as backing.

I also wondered about how I would keep my items unpacked in a true emergency situation. My kit is packed so tightly that the electrical tape helps to hold it together. Some of the contents would find their way in pockets or into my pack iff I have it. I wondered specifically about the electrical tape as it's difficult to keep untangled and clean. I've decided I would find a sturdy twig before I opened the kit (if time allows) and rewrap it in a small spool to stick in my pocket.

Anyway, I found that both the boys and I learned something . BTW, I signed up as the troop's merit badge counsilor too. I intend to work the requirements into our camping schedule this summer.