This month's theme is Mechanics which, in a way, can be thought of as "advanced pioneering." Mechanics relies heavily upon a working knowledge of engineering and physics. Understanding the six basic machines (the lever, wheel and axle, pulley, inclined plane, wedge and screw) as well as how they can work to your advantage will help you in designing and constructing everything from simple camp projects to more complex builds such as bridges and towers. With a good foundation in simple machines and strong skills with lashings the rest is limited only by your designs and imagination! Check out the image above to learn about a simplified form of a square lashing called the "Japanese Square Lashing." To learn more about simple machines you can check out this link to see a good book on mechanical fundamentals which should be available in your local library.