Scouts and Explorers: Mud, glorious mud

Clean your walking boots until you gleam, then waterproof them so you’re ready for your next adventure.

You will need

  • Something to protect surfaces (for example, newspaper or tablecloths)
  • Soft-bristle brush
  • Soft cloth
  • Proofer
  • Footwear Cleaning Gel (optional)

 

1.      Go for a walk. It’s best if the route is as muddy as possible – now’s a great time to splash in muddy puddles.

On your walk, think about how your feet stay dry, even though you’re walking through mud and puddles.

2.      When you get back home, you should, lay down sheets of newspaper. You should take your boots off and put them on the paper.

3.      You should brush any mud and dirt off of your boots.

4.      You should remove the laces and inner soles from your boots.

5.      You should hold your boots under the tap and wash them well with warm running water.

6.      You should clean your boots with soap, or a footwear cleaning gel like Nikwax.

7.      You should scrub any remaining dirt away with a soft bristle brush, then rinse away any leftover cleaning product.

8.      You should waterproof your boots with a proofing product like Nikwax proofer. You’ll need to get the proofer all over the outside of the boot, especially along the stitches.

Proofer makes boots water repellent again, so you’ll keep your feet dry next time you head out for a walk. Make sure you have the right one for the material your boots are made from, and follow the instructions to apply it.

10. After a few minutes, you should buff your boots with a soft towel or cloth.

11. You should stuff your boots with newspaper then leave them to dry naturally at room temperature.

You shouldn’t dry boots in direct heat, as it can damage them (for example, it’s not good for the glue that holds them together).

 

Reflection

This activity was all about being responsible. Why is it important for people to take care of the clothing and equipment you use for outdoor activities? Cleaning equipment like boots thoroughly after a hike means you can be used for many more muddy adventures. What might happen to people’s boots if you don't clean them properly? Mud can dry out material (especially leather) so it cracks, and dirt can stop the boots from being water repellent. If boots aren’t clean, warm air from people’s feet can get trapped inside. The warm air makes people’s feet sweaty, which isn’t very comfortable – it can even lead to painful blisters. Do people usually clean your own equipment? Do people find it easy to motivate themselves to clean your equipment, or do you usually need someone else to encourage them?

 

This activity counts towards
Scouts Physical Recreation Activity Badge – requirement 5
Explorers Physical Recreation Activity Badge – requirement 5

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