1.   Along with the privilege of having a knife comes the responsibility of using it properly to ensure the safety of users, other campers, and the environment.  Troop members need to learn how to use knives safely and how to take care of, maintain, and store them in good condition.
 
A jackknife is a knife with a folding blade that will be used often for a wide variety of tasks: cutting a rope, scraping a carrot, trimming a branch, or whittling a toggle.
 
Jackknives sometimes have more than one blade or tool.  The knife may include an awl for drilling holes, a can opener, or a combination screwdriver and bottle-cap opener.

Some tips for using the jackknife are:
·         Hold the handle securely with the whole hand.
·         Always cut away from the body.
·         Move at least an arm's length away from anyone else before using a knife.
·         Keep the knife closed when not in use.
·         Do not walk around with an open knife.
·         Keep the knife away from extreme cold or heat.
 
2.   Opening the Jackknife.  Hold the jackknife firmly with the fingers of one hand.  Hold the top edge (slot) of the blade with your thumb and forefinger.
 
Keep your fingers away from the sharp cutting edge of the blade.  Pull the blade all the way out until it clicks into its open position.
 
3.   Closing the Jackknife. Hold the handle of the jackknife in one hand with the sharp cutting side of the blade upward.  Hold the dull, non-cutting side of the blade in the other
hand.  Push the blade up and around toward the slot in the handle.
 
4.   Whittling a Point.  Whittle a point with the jackknife to make tent stakes, poles, skewers for cooking, etc.  To whittle correctly:
·         Hold the handle of the jackknife firmly.  Do not put your thumb on the blade.
·         Cut away from the body.
·         Cut slowly so the knife won't slip.
·         Shape the stick by cutting off little pieces of wood.  Do not try to cut off big pieces.       
 
 
5.   Passing the Knife. Always close a jackknife before you pass it.  When handling other knives, grasp the knife blade along the dull edge and pass the handle to the other person.  This way, you have control of the sharp edge of the knife.
 
When not in use, a jackknife should be kept closed and in a pocket.  A lanyard or sennit of macramé could be made as a holder to hang from a belt or pack.
 
6.   Sharpening the Knife.  A sharp knife is safer than a dull knife.  Be sure to include a
sharpening stone on your list of items to bring.
 
The sharpening stone should be lubricated with oil or water before using.  Use the stone's
coarse side first to remove nicks, then follow with the finer side to hone the edge to
perfection.
 
Hold the stone in one hand and the open knife in the other.  Keep the fingers holding the stone below the top edge of the sharpening stone.
 
Lay the flat side of the knife blade on the flat surface of the stone.  The knife blade will be at a slight angle to the stone with the unsharpened edge of the blade slightly raised.
 
Move the blade on the sharpening stone in a circular motion.
 
When one side of the knife is sharp, turn the blade over and sharpen the other side.  Use the same circular motion.  Make sure the total cutting edge of the blade is in contact with the stone.  After sharpening both sides of the blade on the coarse side of the stone, repeat the process on the finer side.  The knife blade and the sharpening stone may become warm from the friction.  Test the sharpness of the knife by cutting a piece of wood or a piece of rope.
 
7.   Cleaning the Jackknife.
 
·         Always keep the knife clean and dry.
·         Hold the cleaning cloth at the back of the blade away from the cutting edge.
·         Wipe the blade clean and dry as you draw the cloth toward the blade's tip.
·         Wipe carefully across the whole blade.
·         Oil the jackknife's hinge with machine oil.
·         Never clean the blade by rubbing it in dirt or sand.

Good preparation is the basis for a good experience in the out-of-doors. 
Here are some steps to follow to help your girls have a safe, productive, happy camping experience.