Sneaky Book for Boys

by Cy Tymony

  Get Drinking Water from Plants

  Water is all around us in the air. The trick in obtaining it is to make it condense on the surface of an object and then collect it in a container.

  Evaporator Still

  An evaporator still can be made with a clear or translucent plastic bag and a large plant. It works by allowing the sun to shine through the bag and heat the plant, causing it to give off water vapor through its leaves. The water vapor condenses on the inside surface of the bag and drips down to the bottom. It can then be used for drinking water.

  What’s Needed

  Large plastic bag, preferably clear

  What to Do

  Gather green leaves or grass and place them in a plastic bag in a recessed area of the ground, as shown in Figure 1. Select an area where there will be plenty of sunlight. Or choose a plant or leafy tree branch, brush off any excess particles, wrap it in a plastic bag, and secure its opening with string, wire, or a tight knot; see Figure 2.

  As the bag heats up, water from the leaves will evaporate and then condense in the bag as droplets that can be consumed later.

  FIGURE 1

  FIGURE 2

  Overground Solar Still

  You can survive up to a month without food but only a few days without water. In the wilderness, there’s always a concern about obtaining fresh drinking water. If you are near vegetation and have a large plastic bag available, you can quickly construct a solar still to acquire water.

  A solar still uses heat to draw moisture from air, ground, or plants. It then collects the moisture droplets and condenses them into a container for drinking. Solar stills are easy to make, but the amount of water they produce will vary depending on their size, the amount of sunlight, and the terrain.

  What’s Needed

  Plastic bag, preferably clear, or plastic or vinyl material

  Cup or bowl or watertight container

  Rocks

  Stick

  Digging utensil

  What to Do

  The evaporator still proves that water from the air and from plant material can be trapped inside a plastic bag. With an overground solar still, you must dig out an oval or triangular trench and then another around it in an oval shape, as seen in Figure 1. Create the trench on an incline so that water will flow toward the end of the oval section.

  First, place a tall stick in the center of the still and set the plant materials inside the center trench; see Figure 2. Next, cover both the stick and both trenches with the plastic bag and hold it in place with rocks. Last, ensure that the bag end is closed and secure. Water from the plants will heat up in the sun, evaporate, condense on the inner surface of the plastic bag, and run down the sides and into the closed end of the bag in the outer oval trench, where it can be poured into a container later; see Figure 3.

  FIGURE 1

  FIGURE 2

  FIGURE 3

  H2Origami—Make a Sneaky Cup

  Gathering or extracting condensed water from the air will be futile without a bowl or cup. You can make a sneaky cup from paper-preferably coated paper from a magazine-or from a large leaf from a tree.

  What to Do

  The following illustrations show a piece of paper with two sides. Each step is shown in its corresponding illustration figure number.

  Start with a square piece of paper or large leaf.

  Fold corner B diagonally on top of corner C.

  Fold corner A, now point A, down as shown.

  Fold corner D, now point D, to the opposite edge, to the place where the first crease hits the edge of the paper.

  Fold the paper on these two creases.

  Fold the front (top) flap, corner B, down to cover all the layers. Fold the other flap, corner C, backward (there is only one layer to cover in the back).

  Open the cup by pulling the front and the back apart.

  The sneaky cup can be placed underneath a dripping condensation gathering area to save fresh water.

  Sneaky Animal and Fish Traps

  If you’re ever trapped in the wilderness, capturing small animals for food can prove to be energy-wasting and very difficult. Using items you may already have in your pocket, along with rope, twigs, string, twine, and wire, you’ll be able to set small sneaky traps to catch emergency food.

  By setting several traps, you’ll have the ability to catch much more potential food than by chasing animals with a weapon (which you probably don’t have anyway!).

  What’s Needed

  Box

  Sticks

  Wire

  Strong threads from clothing or string

  Belt

  Vines

  Tree branches

  Small bits of food or worms

  Bottle

  Small rocks

  Large rock

  What to Do

  Box Trap

  First, locate a cardboard box or use wood branches tied together with vines or strings to make a sneaky box shape. The box must have a door that can be propped open with a small branch in order to close behind the animal.

  Next, position some small food or worms or a shiny item to lure the animal into the box opening. Set the stick so that it is positioned to keep the box door open gently, not rigidly. This allows the animal to bump into it and inadvertently close the door, thereby trapping the animal inside as shown in Figure 1.

  If the box has an open top or no door flap, place the branch so that it props the box up off the ground. Set the bait near the base of the branch so when the curious animal moves about, it will bump into the stick and cause the box to drop on him. See Figure 2.

  FIGURE 1

  FIGURE 2

  FIGURE 3

  FIGURE 4

  Snare Trap

  First, locate items like long vines, thread from clothing, string, twine, or wire to make into a sneaky rope. Braid the material for strength and tie knots in both ends.

  Next, tie one end of the rope around the base of a tree and secure it with a knot. Make a loop with the other end; this will become the snare. See Figure 3.

  Hide the loop with grass and twigs placed on top of it. Place small bits of food or worms to attract an animal into the snare’s loop. When a small animal runs into the loop, it will attempt to escape and pull it tighter, thus becoming trapped more tightly.

  Rock Trap

  If no box is available, use a large rock to trap a small animal. As for the box trap, place a branch so it props up the rock. Position the stick very delicately, because it should fall at the lightest touch. Place bait material next to the base of the branch so that the animal will knock over the stick while investigating and become trapped by the weight of the rock, as shown in Figure 4.

  Sneaky Fishing

  Experienced outdoorsmen know the value of being able to lure and trap fish. In an emergency survival situation, when you’re near water and cannot get back to your campsite, you can use everyday items to make sneaky fishing rigs. A sneaky fishing rig consists of a line, a hook, and a lure.

  The line extends the hook and lure deep into the water. The lure attracts the fish, and, with a little luck, the hook ensnares it, allowing you to pull it in for a meal. If the hook and lure stay too close to the water’s surface, tie a small rock to the line so it will sink deeper into the water.

  What’s Needed

  Foil or other shiny object

  Bait (worms, insects, food bits, or feathers)

  Wire

  Strong threads from clothes or string

  Dental floss

  Paper clip

  Vine

  Plastic bottle

  Tree branches

  What to Do

  Fishing Rigs

  Lines. Fashion your fishing line from items you have on or around you, such as dental floss, clothing thread, or wire. Nature provides tree vines that, when flattened with a rock and braided together, can make a good makeshift fishing line.

  Hooks. You can make sneaky fishhooks using pins, needles, wire, small nails-even a thorny
branch. Paper clips, a straightened key ring, stiff wire, shells, and bones can also be used.

  Lures. Just because a hook is dangling from a line, you can’t depend on a fish to investigate it, so some sort of bait is required. Use whatever you can find in your area that can be stuck on the end of the hook. Insects, worms, and small bits of food will do the trick. If you’re out of real food, objects like a button, a shiny chain or foil wrapper, a feather, a small key, or even a fish-shaped leaf will increase the odds that you’ll lure a fish to swallow the hook.

  Simply wrap the line around the hook, place the bait item on the hook, and extend the line as far out and into the water as you can as shown in Figure 1. If possible, prop up the line with a forked branch to allow it to extend farther into the water.

  FIGURE 1

  Fish Nets

  If you’re near a stream, you may be able to catch fish with a net, which is easy enough to make.

  First, find a long tree branch that splits off into a fork and remove all the leaves on the branch. Take a spare shirt and tie the sleeves and collar area into a knot.

  Then place the shirt upside down into the forked branch so it produces a makeshift net. Secure the shirt to the branch using whatever you have-paper clips, a key ring, wire, or smaller forked branches-to keep the shirt tight on the branch ends. See Figure 2.

  Last, lay the branch and shirt into the water, and you can ensnare aquatic creatures in your Sneaky Net.

  FIGURE 2

  Aqua Traps

  A spare plastic bottle can provide another sneaky method to trap small fish if you’re near a stream or pond.

  First, use a knife or sharp rock to cut off the top of the bottle. Then place some sort of bait material in the bottom of the bottle. You can use insects, worms, small food bits, a button, a shiny chain, a foil wrapper, or a feather.

  FIGURE 3

  Next, turn the bottle top upside down and push it, mouth down, into the bottom section so it’s wedged tight. See Figure 3. Now place the bottle near the edge of a stream or pond. Curious fish will swim through the mouth of the bottle looking for the bait but will not be able to get out. Leave as many of these aqua traps as you can in the water, and with a little luck you will find a fish dinner waiting for you on your return.

  Emergency Flotation Devices

  If you find yourself in a sink-or-swim scenario, what will you do if a flotation device isn’t available? Make a sneaky one from everyday things.

  When floating in water, the more you try to keep your head above the surface of the water, the more likely you are to sink. Just lie back and keep your mouth above water.

  When you attempt to raise parts of your body above the surface, you lose buoyancy. Luckily, however, you can add to your buoyancy with virtually any empty container that holds air. In some instances two or more may need to be secured together.

  What’s Needed

  Plastic bags

  Gas cans

  Large soda bottles

  Other items that will hold air

  String, wire, a belt, or cloth

  What to Do

  To make a flotation device of plastic bags, blow the smallest one up, tie a tight knot, and place it in a larger bag (or bags, if available) as shown in Figure 1 to compensate for small holes. Use these inflated bags as water wings to help stay afloat. Rest on your back with your head up (Figures 2 and 3).

  FIGURE 1

  FIGURE 2

  FIGURE 3

  FIGURE 4

  FIGURE 5

  FIGURE 6

  Figure 4 illustrates how to connect two water-holding bottles or jars together. You can also use a log if one is available. Be sure the log will float before laying your body on it (not all wood will float).

  There are many other flotation devices that you can devise by using some imagination. Just make sure to test their flotation capabilities before trying to use them. Figure 5 shows how to tie bags together.

  When no other items are available, your clothing can hold pockets of air to increase your buoyancy. If necessary, remove your pants or shirt, tie the ends of the pant legs or sleeves in knots and scoop air into them. Hold the other end together firmly with your hands and you should be able to ride above the water with little effort (see Figure 6).

  Ink or Swim

  Who among us has not feared for our small companions, children and pets alike, when they’re near a body of water?

  With a few everyday items, you can prevent a possible drowning. Just bring this easy-to-make lifesaving gadget with you when traveling over or near water with your little ones.

  What’s Needed

  Large wide-barreled pen

  Four large balloons (two for each arm)

  Four large rubber bands

  FIGURE 1

  What to Do

  You can store emergency sneaky water wings available for nonswimmers inside a large hollow pen barrel. When tightly wrapped, the balloons and rubber bands will easily fit inside a pen, as shown in Figure 1. Just slip the pen in a pocket or purse before a trip for added peace of mind.

  Figure 2 shows how to affix the sneaky water wings to a child’s arms in case of an emergency swim. If the rubber bands are too large for the arms or legs of the child (or pet), just wrap them around multiple times for a snug fit.

  FIGURE 2

  Craft a Compass

  If you’re ever lost, you’ll find a compass is a crucial tool. When markers or trails are nonexistent, a compass can keep you pointed in the right direction to get you back to a line of reference.

  A compass indicates Earth’s magnetic north and south poles. For a situation where you are stranded without a compass, this project describes three ways of making one with the things around you. For each method, you will need a needle (or twist-tie, staple, steel baling wire, or paper clip); a small bowl, cup, or other nonmagnetic container; water; and a leaf or blade of grass. How simple is that?

  Method 1

  What’s Needed

  Magnet–from a radio or car stereo speaker

  What to Do

  Take a small straight piece of metal (but do not use aluminum or yellow metals), such as a needle, twist-tie, staple, or paper clip, and stroke it in one direction with a small magnet. Stroke it at least fifty times, as shown in Figure 1. This will magnetize the needle so it will be attracted to Earth’s north and south magnetic poles.

  Fill a bowl or cup with water and place a small blade of grass or any small article that floats on the surface of the water. Place the needle on the blade of grass (see Figure 2) and watch it eventually turn in one direction. Mark one end of the needle so that magnetic north is determined.

  FIGURE 1

  FIGURE 2

  Method 2

  What’s Needed

  Silk or synthetic fabric—from a tie, scarf, or other garment

  What to Do

  As in the first method, stroke a needle or paper clip in one direction with the silk material. This will create a static charge in the metal, but it will take many more strokes to magnetize it. Stroke at least 300 times, as shown in Figure 3. Once floated on a leaf in the bowl, the needle should be magnetized enough to be attracted to Earth’s north and south magnetic poles. You may have to remagnetize the sneaky compass needle occasionally.

  FIGURE 3

  FIGURE 4

  Method 3

  What’s Needed

  Battery

  What to Do

  When electricity flows through a wire, it creates a magnetic field. If a small piece of metal, like a staple, is placed in a coil of wire, it will become magnetized.

  Wrap a small length of wire around a staple or paper clip and connect its ends to a battery, as shown in Figure 4. (For sneaky battery and wire sources ideas, see “Sneaky Science Projects” in Part II.) If the wire is not insulated, wrap the staple with paper or a leaf and then wrap the wire around it.

  When you connect the wire to the battery in this manner, you are creating a short circuit-an electrical circuit with no curren
t-draining load on it. This will cause the wire to heat quickly so only connect the wire ends to the battery for short four-second intervals. Perform this procedure fifteen times.

  Place the staple on a floating item in a bowl of water, and it will eventually turn in one direction. Mark one end of the staple so that magnetic north is determined.