Originally Posted By: Mark_F
Hi everyone,

... I am hoping for some awesome suggestions that are budget friendly as well as something fun for the boys to make as well. Maybe something useful they can use in their scout endeavors as well.


Based on my obsession, signal mirrors come to mind.

  • budget friendly:

    If $10/boy is friendly, the Coghlan's model 9902 "Survival Signal Mirror" is 2"x3" glass with foam pouch (which is pretty much the best 2"x3" glass signal mirror on the market these days) can be had for $10 each at quantity 6 with shipping from Walmart, per this catalog entry: http://www.walmart.com/ip/8586955

    Or, for $7/boy, you can get the polycarbonate "Rescue Flash" mirror designed by Doug Ritter, here: www.ebay.com/itm/like/272019397847 The polycarbonate scratches easily, and isn't as bright, but it is more than bright enough (the flash is naked-eye detectable at 22 miles in my testing), much lighter than the glass, and shatterproof. The Rescue Flash is also sold at the official online BSA store here.

    This handy printable tutorial sheet goes well with these. Here's a photo of USAF Survival Instructor training Boy Scouts (using the StarFlash mirrors) as another view. In this photo, Coghlan's mirror the 3rd in the bottom row.

    If $10/boy isn't that friendly, the boys can make a pretty nice signal mirror with retroreflective aimer per the next bullet, though the mirror above has lots of nice features (like laminated glass for robustness, rounded corners for safety, and a lanyard hole to reduce the risk of dropping it) that are likely not going to be present in a home-made mirror.
  • something fun for the boys to make:

    They could make signal mirrors - thousands of boy scouts have done so for the Operation On-Target event. I'd make the "red bullseye" retroreflective aimer type. In this photo, home-made mirror is at top right.

    There are lots of safety issues in making one - be sure to view the first video below if you want to pursue this project.

    The materials are pretty much any glass mirror, regular tape, plus 1 sq inch of red retroreflective truck tape - the Harbor Freight tape (online or store): HFT Item #97562: 2in x 12 in Red and White Reflective Strips, 10 Pk (currently $7) has enough red material for 120 signal mirrors - probably enough for more than your whole troop.

    You basically scrape a quarter-sized disk of the silvering off the back of the mirror, punch a 1/4" hole in a 1"x1" square of the red tape, tape the red tape on the back of the mirror, red forward, and you are done. Here's a couple of instructional videos:





    For more on making signal mirrors, including making the double-sided mirror type, See this web page.
  • something they can use in their scout endeavors

    They should be carrying (and knowing how and when to use (and not use)) a signal mirror when out camping in any case.

    In terms of formal BSA recognition - showing that you know how to use a signal mirror is requirement 7b for the Wilderness Survival Merit Badge. Photo of signal mirror training at 2010 Jamboree


Edited by rafowell (11/14/15 09:03 AM)
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A signal mirror should backup a radio distress signal, like a 406 MHz PLB (ACR PLB) (Ocean Signal PLB)