Repair Booklet FA Preview

DO IT YOURSELF! As Maya Angelou said: “ You can’t use up creativity: The more you use, the more you have.” Make sewing and fixing things your new super power! www.thinkoutsideboxes.com

FIX IT Dear fellow OUTSiDER, Have you ever ruined a pair of pants when playing outside? How about ripping a strap on your backpack? Or poking a hole into your tent?

For some people, when this happens, their first answer is likely: I need to buy a new one! But if you are out in the wild on a multi-day hike or camping trip, you won't be able to simply replace your gear.

Instead, you must figure out how you can repair it so you can stay warm, comfortable, and protected.

We are excited to teach you some of the basics of ingenuity when repairing old things and creating new ones. Enjoy becoming an #OUTSiDER who can say: "I did this myself!"

As always, we'd love to hear about your experiences, so please keep us updated and tag us on any pictures on facebook or instagram @thinkoutsideboxes.

Over & Out! THiNK OUTSiDE

Learn it a lamb When you cross up and a porc ine, you get what?

Try it

Live it An animal th at can sew it’s own sw eaters.

This Month's Gear YOUR PERSONAL SEWING KIT This compact, lightweight sewing kit contains everything you'll need to repair your gear - from threads and needles to scissors, safety pens, extra buttons, and more!

And for those special sewing needs (including an activity in this booklet), we've included these cool cord stoppers.

MULTI-TOOL No outdoor adventurer should be without this small survival card that has multiple functions so you are always prepared.

UTILITY TAPE This strong, bright colored duct tape will come in handy for instant repair and trail marking. Size: 2

550 Paracord

in x 30 ft (5 cm x 9 m)

You can never have enough paracord!

This lightweight rope

Resource Cards

can be used in many

Water resistant

different ways, just as

reference cards for

described in your

the many uses of

resource cards.

paracord.

DO IT YOURSELF (DIY) If you are having fun outside, you probably know that it is so easy to break something, tear something, or lose something. When this happens, you will have several choices depending on your situation:

1.

3.

You can give up and go back home defeated and ask your parents to buy a new one).

You can try to fix it together

1

2.

4.

You can ask someone else to fix it for you.

You can try to fix it yourself.

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For choices and , you depend on someone else to do it for you. It will be the easy choice, and it likely won't feel satisfying.

For choices

3 and 4 , you depend on your own hands, with or with-

out teamwork. You will feel that you accomplished something, and you can proudly say: "I did this!"

One of the greatest feelings is accomplishing something you once thought would have been impossible!

The best part about choosing to try to fix something yourself is that you can be creative with what you have with you.

Being outdoors is not about being fashionable, but about staying safe, dry, and warm.

Having duct tape holding your broken glasses together is totally acceptable. Or fixing your torn hat with a sewing needle and thread is fabulous.

The key to being prepared for small gear or clothing emergencies doesn't just mean that you have the right tools on hand, but also that you know how to use them

BONUS! Not only is it helpful to know how to fix things on your own, you are also contributing to less waste by not throwing away stuff that is still perfectly usable once repaired!

How do you mend a farmer'spants?

With cabbage patches.

SEWING BASICS Knowing how to sew is a key skillset to have as it allows you to fix your own stuff, such as clothes, bags, or outdoor gear. And once you get it, it's easy! Here are the basics:

Thread the Needle Cut your yarn (or thread) to the desired length. For a button, you typically need around 24 in or 60 cm. For other projects, you want to measure the length of the area you are trying to sew, then double it and add a few more inches or centimeters Thread the yarn through the hole of your needle, which can sometimes take a few tries.

Using your Needle Threader

1.

Use the needle threader that came in your sewing kit. Insert its wire loop through the needle hole.

Then insert part of your yarn through the wire loop. While holding both yarn pieces, pull the

2.

wire loop out of the needle hole.

Let go of the tail end of the yarn, and voila: your needle is threaded!

Finally, pull about 3/4 of the yarn through the hole, then tie the long string with a basic knot at the end.

The Running Stitch This running stitch is used to bind 2 pieces of fabric together, like adding a patch or fixing a rip. When finished, the stitch will look like a long line of dashes.

1.

Starting from the back of the fabric, poke your threaded needle all the way through both pieces of fabric. If your yarn knot slips through the fabric, reinforce it by adding another one.

Move ahead 1/4 in or 6 mm (or less for a stronger seam) and push needle back down through to the backside of the fabric.

3.

2.

Keeping a straight line, move needle ahead another 1/4 in (or 6 mm) and bring back up to the top of the fabric.

4.

Continue until fabrics are joined along seam.

Then push needle to backside and sew it up through the back stitch to avoid unraveling.

BUTTON SEWING Maybe next time when a button comes loose, you can get out your sewing kit and sew it back on with these basics?

A

Position button on fabric where lost button used to be to make sure button lines up correctly. Push threaded needle from backside of fabric up through fabric and through one hole. Pull thread all the way through on each stitch.

B Push needle from top of the opposite hole straight through to bottom of fabric.

Keep repeating the process until you have about 4 to 5 threads in each direction and button is securely in place. When using a 4- hole button, use the x-pattern to sew it on.

C

D

On the last stitch, push needle back down through the material to its backside

Sew up by going back and forth between the sewn-on yarn. Then tie it off before cutting any remainder thread.

E

TIP!

Don't pull button too tight so it can still fit through a button loop. In fact, if you need extra room between the button and the fabric, you may want to place a needle underneath the button and sew around it. When finished, simply remove it. Or, you can place a toothpick on top of button and sew over it.

I'm not very good at DIY but I managed to attach a piece of wood to another piece of wood. Nailed it!

MAKE A DRAWSTRING BAG Do you think you can sew a small drawstring bag that will hold things like your chapstick, keys, or wallet? Let's put you to the test!

In the spirit of being resourceful, find an old t-shirt. Cut out a 10 x 7 in (or 20 x 25 cm) patch, making sure that the bottom hem of your t-shirt is included as part of the patch. Then, fold fabric in half with the inside facing out

2.

1.

Start sewing sides together with a tight running stitch, starting at the bottom corner and moving towards the hem.

Do not sew the hem shut, but end the running stitch with a knot right before the hem.

Make sure each end is tightly sewn together to avoid unraveling.

When both sides are sewn together, turn the bag inside out.

Then cut a length of paracord 3 times the width of your bag. To avoid the kerns from coming out of the paracord, use some duct tape to close off the ends.

4.

Get one of your cord stoppers, push the top button down, then pull both strings through its center. Release the button once you pulled both strings tight to close the bag.

3.

Using a safety pin, push one end of the paracord string through the hem and pull it through towards the other end. Remove the safety pin after you pulled the cord all the way through.

5.

Wow! You just made yourself a cool bag!

MULTI-TOOL FUNCTIONS This quality multi-tool card is an excellent piece of gear to have on you as you are out and about. It has many different functions that come in handy on a variety of occasions.

1. BLACK ROPE As you'll learn throughout the year, you can never have enough rope. Your 36 in (or 1 m) of rope on this tool can be used for many different things!

2. KNIFE EDGE Even though this is only a small blade, you will be amazed how sharp it is. This knife edge can be used instead of scissors to cut ropeor to sharpen sticks. But be careful not to cut yourself!

3. RULERS (cm vs. inches) Rulers are always useful to have on hand for measuring things like distances on maps, animal tracks, or stick sizes.

9.

8.

10.

7.

5.

3.

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1.

2.

4. BUTTERFLY WRENCH The 2 slots that hold the rope are used to twist butterfly nuts.

These are nuts with wing-like projections that provide leverage when turning.

5. WIRE STRIPPERS There are four different size wire strippers that can help you strip the plastic coating from wires.

6. 4-POSITION WRENCH Rulers are always useful to have on hand - for measuring things like distances on maps, animal tracks, or stick sizes.

7. BOTTLE OPENER Simply put the small sharp edge against the bottom edge of your bottle cap and then push top edge down over cap until cap comes off.

8. SCREW DRIVERS Small and large flat-head (or slot-head) screw drivers are for tightening or loosening screws that have a straight, linear notch in their heads. Fun Fact: Screw drivers are the most common tool on the planet.

9. TWINE KNIFE Use this "V" shaped knife to cut twine, or other types of strings, by pulling the twine down into the "V" and pushing against the twine

10. CAN OPENER To open a can using this small device, place the small hook under the lip or rim of the can.

Maintain pressure and push the blade down through the top of the can.

While these tools were often created for something specific, you might be surprised for how many other things you can use them when in a pinch!

PARACORD Paracord is a lightweight nylon rope that is remarkably strong. It was originally used as the suspension lines of parachutes.

Today, it is used as a general utility cord. In fact, no serious survivalist should be without paracord. But there are two main things you need to know about paracord:

1.

2.

The poundage of a paracord refers to the break strength in pounds of the cordage as a STATIC load. This means, your 550 lbs paracord (also referred to as Type III) could hold up to 550 lbs (or 250 kg) of static weight. But as soon as your load swings or has any movement, the strength of the paracord is significantly weakened. Therefore, do not use it for swinging or climbing! Other things that weaken your cord are knots and wetness.

A paracord contains multiple smaller strands of string inside it, which then again can be used for a variety of things. You can explore the insides of a paracord on the next page.

FUN USES Check your Paracord Live & Learn Cards for just a few ideas on what you can do with your paracord.

Be creative and have fun thinking of or trying out other uses after the Q. What happened of yarn? cat ate a ball

TAKE IT APART It's time to check out the inside of this cool paracord! Get your scissors ready and cut off about 7 in (or 18 cm).

If you feel extra adventurous, and you have a parent nearby to help you, see if any of the cutting devices on your multi-tool can do the job.

Now that you cut your paracord open, you should be able to pull out about 6 internal twisted strands, which are also referred to as kerns.

Each kern is fine enough to be threaded through a needle hole. In fact, it will make the strongest sewing thread you've ever used! But if you need sewing thread that's even thinner, untwist a kern to get yarn!

A. She had mittens.

A few fun challenges:

1. When you twist all the strands apart, how many strings of yarn do you have?

2. Can you tie all your inner strings together? What is the total length of that cord?

3. Use one of the strands and thread it through the needle to sew on a button to your drawstring bag.

DIY TRIPOD A tripod is a portable 3-legged stand used as a platform for supporting the weight and maintaining the stability of some other object. The uses of tripods when outdoors is only limited by your imagination.

Things You Need Three similarly sized poles of wood (about 3 ft or 1 m tall) Paracord (about 15 ft or 4.5 m)

Instructions

1.

Place poles flat on the ground. Wrap paracord around one of the poles with a lark’s head knot to start the tripod lashing as seen in the picture to your right.

2.

Now wrap one end of cord around all 3 poles about three times. The tripod will be stronger, the more tightly you wrap the poles together (also referred to as "frapping").

3.

Using the same cord, wrap underneath the pole closest to you (the one with the lark's head knot), then wrap the cord 2 times around the strings in-between the first and second poles.

Move the cord over the middle pole and repeat wrapping between the middle pole and the pole furthest from you. Finally, pull the cord from underneath the third pole and weave it around each pole to secure it to the lark's head knot with a double knot.

4.

Now stand up the tripod on its "feet." Make sure the poles are spread equally apart and form a firm stand for the tripod.

Your tripod is ready for you to use as you wish!

5.

Ideas for Tripod Uses Build two tripods, add a cross bar on each, and lay small logs across them to create your own bench.

Make a shelter by hanging large leaves or fabric around its sides.

For a larger shelter, build another tripod and connect both tripods with a large stick laid over top.

Suspend stew pots over a fire so you can boil water.

Use it to hold a lantern.

A rope tied between two tripods can make an excellent clothes line.

JOKE

If you ever get cold while camping, just stand in the corner of a tent for a while. They’re normally around 90 degrees.

GLOBAL FEATURE:

Amazon Rainforest, South America The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical rainforest, with 1.4 billion acres (or 5.7 million sq km) of dense forests. In fact, it contains about half of the planet's remaining tropical forests. It is largely located in northwestern Brazil, but extends into other South American countries, such as Peru and Colombia.

The Amazon river winds through the area as the largest drainage system and one of the longest rivers in the world. The Amazon river is at least 4,000 miles (6,400 km) in length - which is equivalent of the distance from New York to Rome.

While it is actively debated if the Amazon river is actually larger than the Nile river, it is a known fact that the Amazon is the widest river of the world. In fact, the Amazon can expand from anywhere between 6.2 mi (1.6 km) at low stage to 30 mi (48 km) or more during the wet season.

Exotic Species About one in ten known species on Earth live in the rain forest, including thousands of plant and animal types. One of its most beautiful birds is the highly intelligent blue-and-yellow macaw. Macaws can live up to 60 years and stay with their same partner for life. Due to their stunning colors, they sadly have become a very popular species in the illegal pet trade, contributing to the reduction in wild exotic birds across the world.

Threats The Amazon rainforest is full of natural resources, from water to wood and wildlife. Unfortunately, these resources are often being exploited to support certain forms of businesses.

For example, deforestation (the cutting down of large amounts of trees in one area) is a major problem in the Amazon. In fact, the Amazon loses the equivalent of nearly 1 million soccer fields of forest cover each year.

The main reason for cutting down trees is to make room for more agriculture. But losing large patches of trees has negative consequences, such as reducing habitat for wildlife, leading to soil erosion and water pollution, and preventing the cleaning of air by trees.

DUCT TAPE SURVIVAL TIPS Duct tape is probably the most versatile repair tool you can find. It is made out of a mix of plastic, fabric mesh, and a rubber-based and pressure-sensitive adhesive.

Duct tape is water resistant, extremely durable, and can be used in many different ways. When using duct tape, just make sure that the surface is dry before applying it!

Repair Ideas Repair cracked water bottles with just a little bit of tape.

Fix a ripped strap on your own backpack.

Patch a hole in your jacket or sleeping bag to keep feathers in.

If zipper is broken, keep your tent door closed by sticking the door shut.

Splint a broken tent or fishing pole by taping a stick to the broken area of your pole.

Make cordage by twisting (or braiding) one or several lengths of duct tape into a cord.

Waterproof your shoes by wrapping duct tape around them.

Use tape to keep food packages closed overnight to avoid attracting curious animals at your campsite

Survival / First Aid Ideas Tape trash bags together to either create a full survival shelter or a windbreaker wall. To create a quick bivvy shelter, run a cord between two trees, then tape two trash bags together and drape them over the cord.

To get rid of annoying flies, hang up a strip of duct tape, ideally near food where flies like to hang out. Then wait for them to stick to the tape.

Create a first aid sling by folding tape in half longways so it is no longer exposing a sticky side. Use the strap to make a sling If you have a blister, put cotton gauze over your wound. Then tape over the cotton, so the tape doesn't touch the blister.

Make a pocket-size portable duct tape roll You got a lot of duct tape in your box, but it may be a bit too bulky to carry with you on short trips. Here is a great way to easily bring duct tape with you on any trip: Simply wrap some duct tape around a small pencil, your hiking poles, or a piece of cardboard!

MAKE YOUR OWN CUP If you watch any outdoor survival shows, you might have seen that making a cup out of duct tape is a great way to make sure you can hold drinking water. So let's practice!

STEP 1 Since you are home, you have the luxury of using a small glass or water bottle as your mold. In the wild, you may use a log or an old can as your mold.

Start by wrapping the duct tape, with the sticky side out, once around the glass, sticking it against itself at the end. Cut off any excess tape.* Start by wrapping the duct tape, with the sticky side out, once around the glass, sticking it against itself at the end. Cut off any excess tape.*

STEP 2 To create a base, use a similar process by sticking tape with its sticky side out to the existing tape frame. By using a criss-cross pattern, you'll need at least 3 tape pieces to make sure all the holes are closed.

STEP 3 Double check that your base is completely covered. You want to make sure that there aren't any openings.

STEP 4 Now repeat the process "backwards" by adding duct tape, sticky side down, to cover up the sticky sides and bottom for a clean non-sticky outside.

STEP 5 Lastly, pull your duct tape cup from your mold and admire your construction!

The Big Test: Pour water in your cup to test durability! If it leaks, add more tape to cover up any holes.

Pack it in your backpack as a back-up cup or use it inside your home to store small items or to make a hand-made vase filled with flowers from the outdoors.

MARK A TRAIL Assume you are staying at a campsite and want to explore the area around it. Marking your path can help you find your way back or help others find you. There are many methods to mark a trail: anything from marking the ground or trees to building cairns.

As a general rule, trail markers should be placed about every 250 yds or 200 m, or less depending on the difficulty of the trail. Here are a few options of trail markers:

Ground Markings You may want to consider using sticks or small rocks to mark your path on the ground. These allow you to show the direction you are heading.

Tree Markings

Cairn

In heavily wooded areas, using duct tape can be a great way to mark your path by taping it to trees

A pile of rocks to be visible in heavy fog conditions. If you find one, add a rock for good luck!

TRAIL DIRECTIONAL MARKINGS

TRAIL STARTS

TRAIL END

GO STRAIGHT

LEFT TURN

RIGHT TURN

MARKED TREASURE HUNT Who doesn't love a good treasure hunt? Especially if done outdoors! So find an adult (or more) and some friends (if you'd like to share the fun) and get outside.

Instructions Find a wooded area, ideally one that you are already familiar with, like a neighborhood or metro park. After all, we want you to have fun and stay safe!

Mark a secret trail using the trail marking guide on the opposite page.

To do so, choose one of the following options:

OPTION 1: Ask a parent to mark a secret trail for you.

OPTION 2: Walk with a parent to mark a trail together.

OPTION 3: Alternate between option 1 and 2.

Whoever marks the trail must be sure to also hide some "treasure" at the end of the trail. This could simply be a fun message written with natural materials, like rocks or sticks, or an actual treat brought from home. Creativity is highly encouraged!

Once the trail has been marked, it's time to follow it! Depending on which option you choose, either try to follow the trail markings someone else put up for you, or have someone else find your secret trail

trees, please make If you end up using duct tape to mark e so you don't confuse sure to take it off after you are don t others and to protect the environmen

I'M PUZZLED Match descriptions on the left to the words on the right. Using a straight edge (maybe your multi-tool ruler?), connect the dots from the descriptions to the words to cross off letters not needed to answer the joke below

B R

I U

D

G W

S

H

A

M

N V S

T D L

Write down the letters that have not been crossed off above to answer this joke:

If you have 5 tents in one hand and 3 sleeping bags in the other hand, what do you have?

EMPATHY: RE-USE/RE-CYCLE This booklet showed you many ways to be resourceful with what you have. It showed you how to avoid waste by reusing things you already have or how to fix old stuff.

Being resourceful is not only a great way to save money, but also a way of reducing your trash impact on the environment.

Did You Know?

The average person generates over 4 lbs (or 1.8 kg) of trash every day and about 1.5 tons of solid waste per year. This means that in the U.S., we produce more than 200 million tons of garbage each year. This is so much trash that it can fill a baseball stadium from top to bottom TWICE A DAY!

Ways you can help make a difference Reduce Trash There are many different ways you can reduce trash, such as reusing your water bottles or bringing your own bag with you when you go shopping.

Recycle About 75% of the American waste stream is recyclable, but we only recycle about 30% of it. Are there items you can help recycle?

Compost When you are spending time outdoors, make sure you only leave "compostables" behind, such as apple cores, coffee grounds, or egg shells. These items can naturally degrade without leaving toxins.

A. Big HANDS

NATIONAL PARK SPOTLIGHT

Cuyahoga National Park This park’s development began about 100 years ago, but it wasn’t until the 1960s when local residents joined forces with state and national government staff to help protect its natural areas from any new development.

After a long uphill battle, at the end of 1974, President Ford signed a bill to establish the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area.

Over the next 34 years, more than $200 million was spent on the park to purchase land, restore nearly 100 historic structures, and establish activities for the public’s enjoyment. Eventually in 2000, the park’s name was changed to Cuyahoga Valley National Park, making it clear that it is now part of the National Park System.

SCENIC RAILWAYS Cuyahoga Valley is one of the few National Parks with a functioning passenger railroad system. In fact, it is possible to experience part of the park (26 mi or 42 km to be exact) through a 3-hour train ride. While on the train, you can not only view the natural beauty of the park and observe wildlife, but also learn more about the history of the railroads, which used to be an integral part of the United States' transportation system Today, America has only a few passenger rail lines left, unlike many other countries where people still travel by train to work or other places.