Running the Armory Activity

Armory Masters have a lot of responsibility. They work to:

  • prepare the armory for smooth functioning
  • teach safe tool use and certify knife use
  • teach building techniques
  • regulate knife check outs
  • inspire camper projects

 

Prepping the Armory

Success in the Armory begins with solid prep work and set up every morning. Here is a simple list to use every day without fail:

CiTs or JCs:

  • Plug in walkies, make sure the nobs are switched off & all charger base lights are red.
  • Bring box shops to castle.
  • Blue-tape carpets to table tops.
  • Hang up signs and decorations
  • Test knife blades and replace if needed.
  • Tape over knife sign-out sheet.
  • Prep Cardboard by slicing into different sized sheets
  • empty scrap bins into dumpster
  • set up templates
  • lay out green House project bags

Armory Masters:

  • If it’s Monday jigsaw prep precut swords and bamboo
  • Set up and organize tool table, Armory Master’s table and knife checkout system
  • Hang armory clock.
  • Prep daily armory examples.
  • Make paper mache.

If it’s rainy add these tasks:

  • Figure out where campers gear will have to go to stay dry.
  • Set up any extra tables and chairs.
  • Set up rain circus activity areas.
  • Stoke any fires you start, prep marshmellows and other fun stuff.

 

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Practice your safety and tool use speeches! Keep them as short as possible! Make your speeches entertaining and keep kids engaged by pulling them in for examples!

Things you will need to cover are:

  • safe and effective tool use.
  • the new knife Safety Systems
  • a special into on canary cutters

Then break them up into newbies who need to make a sword and kids 12 and up who want to get knife certified.

 

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New Knife Safety Systems for 2025

The organization of the Armory and proper prepwork done before campers arrive will help maintain a calm, orderly and safe Armory as much as our new systems.

New Layout

Every table intended to be used for cutting in Armory must have carpet fitted to it. We will no longer be using cardboard to cover tables, only carpet. In addition identifying a wide open space in the grass for cutting cardboard will create a lot more space in the Armory on dry days.

The Armory Master will keep their own table for certifications and to help campers practice how to cut safely and effectively. Below this table will be a bin holding all knives and safety gloves. A sign out sheet for knives will be on top of this bin.  Campers may only check out a knife and glove with a counselor present and only a counselor may reach into the box.

New large signs will be placed around the Armory to help instruct and direct campers to use tools safely and effectively and to maintain a safe space in the Armory.

 

Short Speeches, Newbies and Certifications

On Mondays the Armory Master’s introduction and safety speeches and demonstrstions will be kept as short as possible. Master’s will practice the delivery of this speech to make it as short, effective and entertaining as possible, they can use bullet points as reminders to help them.

After the Armory Master’s speech, newbies who want to make a sword will be directed to work with a specific counselor who will pull out precut sword shapes and precut bamboo.

Campers ages 12 and up who want to be certified in knife use will meet with the Master who will check their online quiz and then give them a pacman cut test making sure they are demonstrating safe knife use. If a camperse passes both tests their cutting hand will be stamped with an ink certification and they may check out a knife and safety glove. The safety glove must be worn at all times while a knife is being used. Unsafe use of a knife should be gently corrected immediately. Willfully mis-use of a knife should get that campers’ certification stripped and it may also warrant a call home.

 

The New Canary Saw

Although knife use is limited, campers of any age may use our new canary saws for cutting cardboard without taking any tests at all. They may need a little extra instruction at first. Expect some frustration at first, but a canary saw is an easy tool to use after a little practice and will allow more accurate cutting with little extra time.

To encourage campers to use of canary saws we ask counselors to use them too whenever possible and to become as proficient with a saw as they are with a knife.

 

Getting Your Own Knife and Stapler

It’s a bit of an investment but if you enjoy making things out of cardboard we encourage staff to buy their own stapler and knife. Carrying your own set of tools means you will never have to search for an unused tool again. We have precut tool belts to hold your stapler and knife while at work. Talk to Pete the Tech Director for anyone at HQ about getting a tool belt and where to purchase tools; we may have some extra tools to sell at a reduced rate.