Boy Scouts

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7974, 4 December 1911, Page 5

Boy Scouts

[Ur SCODTMASTSB.j Notes of the doings of patrols in the ■Wellington province arc invited by "Scoutmaster,” care of tho “N.Z. Times.” Every scoutmaster has a story to tell of the weekly movements of his troop, if he will only tell it. By the interchange of news the boys get to know what is being done, and so they are encouraged in their work.

Camp Notes. General Badon-Powell who has just returned from a two mouths' camp iu Scandinavia has written some interesting notes about his holiday, as well as some useful hints on camps and camping out. Ho says: X wrote my notes this month from camp. I hope that many a Scoutmaster will have'boon able, like me, to take his holiday this year in camp. If he has enjoyed it half a much as I am enjoying mine, ho will have done well. I am certain that a week or two of such, life is the best rest-cure and best tonic for both mind and hody that exists for a man, whether he bo boy or old 'un. And for both it is a great educator. By camp I mean a woodland camp, not the military camp for barracking a largo number at one time under canvas. That is no more like the kind of camp X advocate than a cockchafer is like a goo so. A Boy Scout's camp should bo the woodland kind of camp, if it is going to be any real good as an educator. Many, nay, most, military camps arc liable to do more harm than good to boys, unless exceptionally well-managed and closely supervised. Whereas a woodsman's camp, if properly carried out, gives the lads occupation and individual resourcefulness all the time. Routine Discipline. A largo camp lias of necessity to be carried on witii a considerable amount of routine discipline. Parade® have to be held to give the boys instruction and occupation, fatigue parties, tent inspections, roll-calls, bathing parades, ana to on. Were it not for the fresh, open-air life this kind of camp might almost as well be carried out in town barracks; it teaches the boys nothing of individuality, resourcefulness, responsibility, nature love, aad the many iittl© finn.gh really great) bits of character education for which, the woodsman's .-amp is the best, if not the only, school. But such a camp cau only be canied out with a small number of boys; from thirty to forty being the e uil number with which it is possible. And then only if the patrol system is Tealiy and entirely made use of. Of course, it is easy for one to vnte *■ from an ideal camp of the kind and Imagine that everybody has the same advantages, but I don't altogether mean to do that. I know the difficulties that one has to contend with as a Scoutmaster in England, but I want to put the idea before those who have not peihaps thought out the question very carefully and who, I by custom or example, are inclined to take the military form ot camp os being the usual amd right for boys. The ideal can then bo followed as nearly as local circumstances tv ill allow. Coffee and Scones. Hero I am camped by a rushing river between forest-clad hills. It is close on

ten iu the morning. I turned out at five, and yet those five hours have been lull of work for me, albeit it was no more than little camp jobs. The fire had to be lit, coffee and scones to be made. Then followed boiling and sand-scrubbing the cooking utensils; collecting of firewood for the day (both kindling and ember-forming wood); a new cross-bar and pot-hooka had to be cut and trimmed; a pair of tongs for the fire, and a besom for cleaning the camp ground had to be cut and made. Bedding had to he aired and stowed; mocaaBins to be greased; the camp ground swept up and rubbish burned; the trout had to be gutted’ and washed. Finally, I had a ehave and bathe; and here X am ready for the day’s work whatever it may be. But this took five hours to do. My comrade went in yesterday to the nearest hamlet and ■will be back to-day with our letters and supplies. He will find me away fishing or and gathering berries for our "sweet" of

Btewed fruit at dinner; but be will find the camp swept and garnished, fire laid ready to ha lit, cooking pots, cups and plates all clean .and ready for his use, and food handy. . . , Example. In a small camp so very much can be done by example. You are living among your boys and are watched by each of them and imitated, unconsciously by them, and probably unobserved by yourself. ' , If you are lazy, they will be lazy; if you make cleanliness a hobby it will become theirs; if you are clever at devising camp accessories they will become rival inventors, and so on. But do not do too much of what should be done by the boys themselves, see that they do it—"when you want a thing done, don’t do it yourself/ is the right motto. When it is necessary to give orders, the secret for obtaining obedience is to know exactly what you want done and to express it very simply and

very clearly. If you add to the order an explanation of the reason lor it, it will be carried out with greater willingness and much greater intelligence. If you add to the order and its cxplanatiou a smile, you will get it carried out with enthusiasm —for, remember, "a smile will carry twice as far as a snarl." , • A pat on the back is a stronger stimulus than a prick with a pin. Expect a good deal of your boys, and you .will Scouts and Farming. A large mansion, together with a good sized farmhouse, farm buildings, and an estate over 100 acres, has been given by Benjamins Eewgass for the purposes of a farm colony in England in which Boy Scouts will be trained to become farmers and experts in rural industries.

The estate is vested in trustees. Sir Robert Baden-Powell, Lord March, Sir Herbert Plumer and W. Cripps. and mil be controlled by a goyemins committee- i

The house is of four stories, and will bo used as tho schoolhouse. There are besides, a bakert', laundry, workshops, stables, engine room and water towers, also cottages which will accommodate

the staff. . The school, which will begin next month, starts with 30 boys, gradually working up to between 160 and 200. The boys will bo taken from fifteen years of when they have finished their ordinary education. At present they will be selected chiefly from the southern counties, on nomination by the scout county councils; subscribers, however, will also have the right to nominate a certain number. The actual cost to each parent will be X*2o a year and the ordinary course will bo about two years. Boy Scouts Growing Fast. Activity in the national headquarters of the Boy Scouts of America, and the general interest in the scout movement is shown by the fact that in Juno 15,000 pieces of mail were sent out, in July 22,000, and in August, 19,000. In those throe months, 1152 additional scoutmasters and 32 scout commissioners were commissioned, and thousands of boys qualified as scouts. ♦ ♦ ♦ Forward Scouts. At the Christmas camp of the "Wellington troops a handsome prize will bo awarded to the scout who recites the following .verses in the best manner. En-,

tries to bo at least six. Age of competitor to be considered: FORWARD SCOUTS. Forward Scouts! your country needs you. Play, your scout-craft fair. Learn to serve the land that breeds you Earn the name you bear; British pluck and British honour. Let these be your care. Let your conduct and your bearing Be as pure as light; Keep the uniform you're wearing Free from every blight; Let your words be clean and wholesome. Aim to do the right. Duty lies around and o’er you. On with bold attack. Bravely fight the foes before you. Never looking back, Help yourselves in helping others Fame you will not lack. Do your good works in the morning. When the skies are blue, Every deed of question scoring. All the long day through. Then the world will hold you honest, . Manly, brave, and true. Onward Scouts! be up and doing, Smiles will win the day. Know the path you are pursuing Is the better way; ' Clear the road for those behind you. Scouts are here to stay. —A. J. Freeland.