WHAT IS SCOUTING ?

Hutt News, Volume 19, Issue 10, 8 August 1945, Page 9

WHAT IS SCOUTING ?

The question is often asked, "Whiit do Scouts do —Wliat is Scouting?" This article should give you the reply to that question. The aim of the Boy Scout Movement is the building of happy, healthy, and useful citizens. The Founder, Lord Baden Powell, drew from his vast store of experience of life and men when he wrote the handbook, "Scouting for Boys" over 3 8 .years ago. That book is now one of the world's best sellers, being translated into over 40 different lan guages. The Scout is expected to be alert. His motto tells him that he must always "Be Prepared", and the entire training is based on that idea. The ten Scout 'Laws', framed so that a boy of 11 can easily understand their meaning, are the guiding principles, and the Scout Promise —"On my honour I promise to do my best to do my duty to God and the King, to help other people at all times, and to obey the Scout Law"—keeps a high standard of conduct before him. . The outdoor side of Scouting is strongly emphasised, as by contact with Nature much can be learned. Through camping and hiking the Scout learns endurance, Initiative, commonsense, and how to fend for himself —he is trained not to be dependent on others. The Scout uniform is designed primarily for camp wear, and there also, the Scout staif, though often scoffed at, becomes a good friend with many uses. Supplementing the various badges which test a Scout's keenness are over 70 'proficiency', badges, grouped under the headings of public or national service, hobby, vocational and outdoor. Many a Scout, through developing the knowledge gained in J passing one of these (badges, has found his career. All Scout games are designed to train a boy mentally or physically, as well as to provide enjoyment and relaxation. Through mixing will boys of all types in his troop, the Scout, at an early age, learns to respect the and opinions of others. Rallies and jamborees help to carry this still further. The Scouts 'one good deed a day' has become a by-word. This rule of helpfulness to other people less fortunately placed than himself, which teaches a Scout to look out for opportunities to assist others, is a modern interI pretation of the code of chivalry practised by the knights of olden times. The Boy Scout Movement has passed several million boys of all nationalities and creeds thi'ough its ranks. Over two million are active members at the present time, ol which 19,000 are in New Zealand. There are thousands more who want to be Scouts, but their chance is small unless improved facilities and more Scoutmasters are forthcoming. This can only be achieved by tlie co-operation of the general public.