SCOUT NEWS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 March 1939, Page 4

SCOUT NEWS

EASTER CAMP PREPARATIONS IN HAND (Contributed) Last week wc told you “Who's Who” at the district camp to be held at Takaka this coming Easter. Since then the treasurer, quartermasters, and scouters have all been busy preparing for the camp. Entrance forms are starting to come in already. The Rangatira and St. Joseph Troops have handed in their’s, while several other troops arc not far behind. As soon as every scout intending to come has returned his form the Q.M.s can finalise good supply orders and scouters will be able to find out the scouts allotted to their troops. News from Takaka tells us that a working bee is busy preparing the site, and collecting tent poles and firewood. Takaka is certainly doing its bit towards making the camp an outstanding success. From all over the district information comes to us of troops’ preparations. Cookery practice, knot-tying and tent pitching seem to be the activities of the keen troops. The following notes bn preparing for a camp should be of some assistance to both scouts and scoutmasters.

“The best way to learn how to camp is to go to a camp.” Now that does not mean that every scout has to wait until Easter before h? finds out. It means that you have ta take advantage of Nelson weather and Nelson valleys. Get out now before the cold weather comes, whether it be a week-end, a day, or even a* afternoon, it will all help. There are a few things you should practice up and learn perfectly before you go to camp, especially wood-cutting (Dad will tell you all about that), firelighting and cooking over a camp fire. Learn how lo keep your axe sharp, how to chop quickly, where to find dry wood and how to make a fire in a few mo-

Cooking: As some of you have found out scouts get hungry and what is more they don’t like waiting for their food because of an inefficient cook. So if you are on duty as a cook, make cer tain that your cooking is good and is on time. You know the old saying “Good food becomes bad food by bad cooking and good food becomes better food by good cooking.” The lay-out of the kitchen is important. An area cleared, cleaned and roped off with one entrance on each side is the best. The state of the kitchen will tell its own tale. Anyone can see at a glance whether a scout knows his job or not. If he does, the place will be tidy with wood cut and piled ready for use. The axe will be safely parked, pots and pans clean and no food scraps lying about. If he doesn’t know his job then the kitchen will be a confusion of pots, wood and rubbish. The same applies tc the sleeping tents, where everything should be tidy. Food should not be taken inside your tent as it attiacts flies and, also, crumbs get mixed up with the blankets. A tip to the scouts! Don’t give your Patrol Leader or Scoutmaster a worrying time and spoil the camp by slacking, shirking, or grousing. Go to camp with your mind made up: (Ist) To work hard and do every job thoroughly. (2) To keep your eyes open for jobs that need doing and do then without being told. (3rd) To smile and whistle under difficulties and to obey cheerfully and quickly. In a scout camp every scout worthy of the name is a helpful chum to every other scout in the camp. The funny boy in a camp is a nuisance if he fools when there is work to be done, but he is simply ripping if he has got the sense to know when to stop fooling. The patrol leader will have a responsible job and the special points he must look to arc:— 1. The absolute neatness of his tent and personal kit of the patrol. 2. The punctuality of his scouts in carrying out orders for getting up, meals, parades, inspection, etc. 3. The immediate and thorough

carrying out of every order by the boys in his patrol. He must allow no slack-

Study the above and practice all you can to make yourself proficient in every way. Next week’s column will contain further information. IRON DUKE SEA SCOUTS . The sea scouts are working slrenuI ously for the regatta which is held each Easter in Wellington. Our troop has always had great success in bringing back Nelson trophies gained, and as the Iron Dukes know that to maintain their reputation they must work hard, much training is carried out during each week. The troop is growing and this means a busy time for the lads responsible for the coaching of the newcomers; Several have recently passed the greenhorn test and will shortly be parading in full uniform. Mr A. K. Griffith was a very welcome visitor to the meeting on Thursday, and during the evening he presented the Brian Jones Memorial Shield to the Midship Watch. This shield is competed for three limes each year and covers the greatest improvement in S.S. work. Every branch of scouting, including scout spirit, is embrace 1 in this competition. It is significant to note ,thal the Midship Watch with Cox’n K. Winstanley in charge is the junior watch of the troop. Cox’n Winstanley is the third boy of the same family to enter the troop. The general progress rf the troop is good. Three senior boys are being put through the King Sea Scout, tests by Mr A K. Griffith. This is an indication of constant progress and Scoutmaster McNamara and his assistants. N. Jones and Tl. Hounsell are to be commended for their hard work.