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Troop 308 · 75 min meeting plan
Lashings Tower Build
Patrols build a freestanding tripod or A-frame in 30 minutes using square, diagonal, and shear lashings. Tower has to support a Scout's weight at the end. Hands-on, loud, photo-worthy.
Why this format
Lashings are the requirement that intimidates new Scouts the most because they involve more than one person and more than one rope. Building one real, weight-bearing structure in 30 minutes makes them click.
Pick a structure the troop can actually use later — a tripod for a flagpole, a chippewa kitchen for the patrol box, or a low A-frame trestle for the campout obstacle course. The fact that the build is real is what makes the lashings real.
75-minute meeting plan
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 0–10 min | Safety brief, demo of square + diagonal + shear lashing by older Scout |
| 10–25 min | Each Scout ties one of each lashing on a practice rack — judged before they touch the tower |
| 25–55 min | Patrol builds the assigned structure |
| 55–65 min | Load test: a Scout climbs / hangs from the structure |
| 65–75 min | Debrief, disassemble, coil and store |
Three lashings, three uses
| Lashing | Joins | Use case |
|---|---|---|
| Square | Two spars at right angles | Frame corners, deck supports |
| Diagonal | Two spars crossing diagonally | X-bracing for sway resistance |
| Shear | Two parallel spars (with a frap) | Tripod legs, A-frame top |
Per-Scout scorecard
| Skill | Demonstrated |
|---|---|
| Tied a square lashing — wraps + frapping turns | ☐ |
| Tied a diagonal lashing — timber hitch start | ☐ |
| Tied a shear lashing — spread legs after | ☐ |
| Helped raise the structure safely | ☐ |
| Coiled rope cleanly at the end | ☐ |
Supplies
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| Spars (1.5–2 in × 6–8 ft) | 12+ |
| Lashing rope (¼ in manila, 15 ft) | 12+ |
| Practice rack (pair of spars on sawhorses) | 1 per patrol |
| Mallet (for setting frapping) | 1 per patrol |
| Work gloves | 1 pair per Scout |
| Camera (for the photo on the troop site) | 1 |
Safety rules
- No one climbs the structure until an adult and the SPL have each pulled hard on every leg.
- Hard hats if you have them. If you don't, no climbing higher than 4 ft.
- Spotter on every side during raise.
- Knife/saw users have Totin' Chip.
Sources
- Scouting America — First Class Rank Requirements (2025)
- Pioneering merit badge pamphlet — lashings and structures