Q: Look for and only use brown acorns, as these are ripe; green acorns are unripe and are unsuitable for eating (but mature green acorns can ripen in a clean, dry place). Avoid any acorns that appear mildewed, dusty, blackened, etc. Quality nutmeat will be yellowish in colour.Unprocessed, natural nuts of various kinds of oaks:  White oaks produce bland tasting acorns. The best for harvesting are the swamp white oak, Oregon white oak, and the burr oak. Generally, these won't need leaching. Red oaks produce bitter tasting acorns. The Emory oak's acorns are mild enough to not require processing.  Black oaks produce very bitter tasting acorns and need a lot of leaching to overcome this. Untreated raw acorns contain high concentrations of tannic acid, causing their taste to be bitter and them to be toxic to humans if eaten in large quantities. It is possible to remove the tannic acid by simply leaching it out of acorns in a pot of boiling water, pouring out the hot water and having repeated changes of water. Continue doing this until the water does not turn brown after you have strained and replaced it.  Another method for leaching: place one tablespoon of baking soda into one litre of water. Leave the acorns to soak in the baking soda infused water for 12-15 hours. A Native American or rustic method is bagging the nuts and allowing them to soak in a clean, flowing stream for a few days until no brown-colored water is seen when checking their progress. Raw acorns can be stored for months without spoiling; this dramatically increases their value, being a "process as needed food resource", however, they must be dry or otherwise they can get moldy and mildewed. But only when leached are they ready to use.
A: Gather your ripe acorns. Leach the acorns of tannins. Remove the acorns once leached and leave to simply dry or to make roasted nuts after drying, as desired.

Q: Instead of thinking about how you're going to respond, take the time to listen and attempt to understand their words while the other person is talking. Pay attention to what they say, the feelings they express, and what they communicate through their body language. If you don't understand something they said, or if you're going to directly respond to one of their points, repeat what you think they said back to them first and ask if you understood them correctly. Sometimes being an active listener may also require you to be silent. Showing that you are okay with silence, even if it is a bit uncomfortable, may give the person time to gain the courage to share. Your body can communicate to the other person that you’re listening and engaged. Nod occasionally, smile, and use other facial expressions. Examine your posture and ensure that it is open and inviting. This means uncrossing your arms and legs and facing the other person as they speak. Make eye contact and point your body toward the person, but keep your body in a relaxed position. Forcing open body language may seem unnatural. Be open to disclosing information about yourself and also open about listening to the other person. If you disagree about something, be willing to hear the person out and consider their viewpoint. Instead of making your goal to “win” the conversation or be right, make your goal to better understand someone else and hear a different perspective. For example, if you tend to argue with your Uncle about politics, aim to make the conversation more meaningful by hearing each other out and being willing to consider their viewpoint. People feel heard and understood when you show that you’re listening. When you validate someone, you show them that you accept them and that what they say is important. Validation can be as simple as saying, “That seems so difficult” or, “No wonder you’re struggling, it seems like you’re under so much stress.” Validation creates connection and safety, which are important in a meaningful conversation. Reflect back on what they say to ensure your understanding and show that you’re listening.  For example, say, “I hear you saying that dealing with your aging parents is difficult.”
A: Practice active listening. Maintain open body language. Approach the conversation openly. Validate their experiences.

Q: Before enjoying your dinner, take the biggest pot you have. Rinse it out if necessary and then fill it with clean water. Place it over the fire so it starts to boil while you eat. Once the water is boiling, carefully distribute it between three buckets. One bucket is for washing, one for rinsing, and one is for sanitizing your dishes. Fill each bucket about a quarter of the way full with water. In your first bucket, add a few drops of a liquid dish soap. The soap should be biodegradable to help protect the environment while you camp. Some soaps are specifically made for camping. Before leaving for your trip, see if you can find a camping-specific dish soap online or at a local department or hardware store. You can buy sanitizing agents online or at local hardware or camping stores. Check the label to see how many sanitizing tablets you should add to the bucket. Usually, the ratio is one tablet per gallon of water, but ratios will vary by brand. You may not have a means to measure the exact amount of water you're using. Just do your best to estimate.
A: Start boiling your water while you're eating. Separate the water into three buckets. Add soap to one bucket. Add a sanitizing agent to one bucket.

Q: You'll need large pieces of thick, sturdy cardboard, craft glue, paint, ribbon, and optionally a flat corner bracket which you can purchase from your local hardware store. Draw the shape of the axe you want, blade and handle, onto a piece of paper. The simpler the shape, the better it will work. Trace this shape onto at least four pieces of cardboard (six is better) and cut them out with a box cutter knife. If you're a kid, get help from an adult with this. It's very easy to stab yourself or cut your finger off! Take one piece of cardboard to act as the center. Glue the corner bracket at the L between the handle and the the blade. You can also place a thin stick or dowel rod in the handle piece if you want to. Glue all of the layers together, with the reinforced section in the middle. You can use the box cutter to bevel the edges of the blade section if you want. Once this is done you can cover the whole thing in duct tape, paint it to look real, or wrap the ribbon around the handle to give it a really authentic look. Enjoy your new battle ax!
A:
Gather your materials. Make your template. Cut out your pieces. Reinforce the center. Glue the pieces together. Add finishing touches. Done!