ABS Youth Program
ABS Youth Program
SUGGESTIONS FOR THE YOUTH PROGRAM FOR THE NEXT YEAR
·
Expand the youth committee
from two to four and add Joe Keeslar and Tim Poiter. Larry and Wes would both
like to continue to be part of this program.
·
Actively seek volunteers
from around the country so we can have boots on the ground at each ABS event to
reach kids across the country.
·
We would like to obtain
safety glasses and may be a head cover for each youth that walks up to an ABS
event and gets to pick up a hammer.
I would like for them to keep the safety glasses as our way of promoting eye
safety. If any one knows how we
might reach the manufacturer’s maybe we could get them donated.
·
Support and publicize a
parent child hammer-in to be held during off school months.
(In a cool mountainous region)
·
Publish a teacher’s guide
for working with kids to include the techniques that Wes and Larry have
developed over the last two years.
The Teacher’s Guide would include:
We have learned that it is so very important for these young
people to walk sway with something they have made, be it a nail, fork, leaf, or
their first knife.
We have not lost sight of the fact that we are here to
teach knife making but we can not emphasize enough that these kids need to walk
away with something they have made.
Not all of the kids are capable of hammering out a blade.
We would like to explain the importance of picking an age
appropriate item for these kids to make and explain to the prospective teachers
how to make it.
The bible says to not feed children the strong meat of
the gospel in that vein most kids must be taught to work tapers before they can
make a knife
it also helps the
instructor evaluate the child as to strength and coordination
How to use the MAGIC WAND:
We have found that the best wand is made from a green stick.
A green stick can be placed on the exact spot the instructor
wants the next hammer blow it doesn't get in the way of the hammer when struck
nor readily burst into flames
How to make a nail
How to make a leaf
How to forge a knife
Suggestions on how to evaluate the student to pick the age
appropriate activity to use