Summer Camp Solar Homing Beacon

July 17, 2013 By Clarke Green

Here’s a clever idea from Camp Wanderer that combines a canning jar and the top section of a solar re-charged garden light to create a lighted container for things like matches at camp.
While I am at summer camp I’ll have a jar sitting on my picnic table with a spare headlamp or small flashlight inside in case night falls before I have bothered to find one.
The jar also serves as a “homing beacon” as we walk back from evening activities.

About Clarke Green

Clarke has worked with thousands of Scouts and Scouters as a director at his local Scout Camp (Camp Horseshoe), and as a Scoutmaster for 30 years. He is the recipient of a number of awards recognizing his service to Scouting, including the B.S.A.’s Silver Beaver, District Award of Merit, and is a Vigil Honor member of Octoraro Lodge 22. He is author of the blog and podcast at Scoutmastercg.com, The Scouting Journey, and Thoughts on Scouting. An avid outdoorsman and amateur actor, he lives in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania with his wife Teddi.

Comments

Jim Kangas says

July 17, 2013 at 12:11 pm

If you don’t want to worry about glass, how about a plastic peanut butter jar? They also make terrific travel containers for things like those little plastic laundry soap pods, or anything else you don’t want crushed, and I’m sure the lid can be adapted pretty much the same way.
ASM Dave says

July 17, 2013 at 11:09 am

This is cool. I’m not sure if I want to put a glass jar in my backpack or not, but I like it. I assume the taller sample would spread more light.
- Gabriel Palmer says
  
  July 17, 2013 at 12:05 pm
  
  @ASM Dave Maybe a clear plastic jar? An old Peanut Butter jar should work…
  - SFoster says
    
    July 19, 2013 at 10:24 am
    
    Or a quart sized plastic mayo jar – the mason jar lids usually fit those.