Adventure And Misadventure

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31680, 16 May 1968, Page 12

Adventure And Misadventure

While everyone will have been relieved by the safe return of the three boys who became lost on a walk near their holiday camp at Birch Hill, no-one can be content with the circumstances that led to their misadventure. The Boys’ Brigade and similar organisations are doing invaluable work in introducing boys and girls to the countryside and encouraging a healthy interest in outdoor adventure; and no-one ■will wish to curtail these activities unnecessarily. But the apparently simple walk near Birch Hill last Saturday did not go wrong merely because some of the boys were unsupervised. The very sense of adventure that such a camp seeks to inspire helped to lead some of the boys astray. Like many older persons who tramp the hills—but with more excuse—the boys underestimated, or were unaware of, the risk of becoming lost Then, having become lost, they broke a fundamental rule of bushcraft: they let their party break up. It is easy to say now that the boys should, at all times, have had an older leader. It is easy to say that having gone alone, they should have abided by some firm instruction to follow a track and to remain together. Leadership, obedience, and common sense are expected in a disciplined organisation of this kind; they cannot be taken for granted.

The Boys’ Brigade will, no doubt, promptly review its procedures to ensure the safety of its parties in the bush and hills. In particular it will have become aware of the need for continued supervision even in circumstances which appear to present no element of danger. Youth organisations have won the confidence of parents by their high standards of care for their young charges. To retain this confidence they might have to restrict their activities to fit more exactly the numbers of qualified men and women available to take charge of excursions. The Birch Hill incident should not discourage youth organisations; it should encourage the community to see to it that the organisations are well equipped and well manned