SCOUT NOTES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23463, 30 March 1938, Page 16

SCOUT NOTES

By White Fan*

ROMANCE OP SCOUTING We arc hearing a good deal these days about the romance of Scouting. What is romance? How does any project or idea become romalhtic to a boy or a man? Is it not chiefly escape from the every-day humdrum routine of existence that we seek when ws are romantic? New worlds to conquer, new trails to embark upon, the need of fresh and vital sparks of enthusiasm to kindle the urge to have our “ spirits stabbed broad awake ” by engrossing experience different from anything we have ever known. Scouting answers this imperative demand of growing,, curious, adventurous, questioning youth. The romance, the challenge of new fields of achievement and experiment. The Cub finds romance m his backyard tent. The Tenderfoot finds it in the thrill of following a marked trail or his first adventure in signalling, his first successful making of a fire by friction. So it goes through the stages of Scouting, The older Scout gets his through the thrill of re-creating a scene of battle between > a.fox and a grouse by 1 track marks; getting an impression in plaster, or stalking a brood of birds with his camera. Patrol leadership has also its own romance. So have life-saving and first-aid demonstrations, which may lead at any moment to tho real thing in a life and death emergency. The older Scout is not outdone in this business of romance, for he finds it in wilderness-camping, canoeing, trail- , building, forestry, mountain -climbing, r Sea Scouting, and scientific expeditions./ What thrilled him as a second class Scout is perhaps tame enough, but there are always new challenges to his body, mihd, and- spirit l luring him, on, providing new, adventure, new claims to sturdy manhood. If we can keep romance in Scouting in all the stages to satisfy the cravings in every, boy’s heart we shall have little trouble' ■ in keeping him in Scouting. It is (he one inrallible stimulus to which he re- ' acts instantly, wholeheartedly, and happily/ 1 ■- '* ’ t 1 v - SCOUT WEEKThe week just closed has been a real -: Scout Week in the full souse of the word. Apart from the weekly moclings of each Troop, there was the big night on Tuesday when the swimming carnival attracted a large number to thePublic Baths. Over three hundred entries were gone through in record;.., time, involving the competition for the Rotary Club Swimming Trophy, lifesaving, breast stroke, free-style, and, relay challenges. In this we congratulate the St, Clair Troop on their fine: effort in winning the trophy. Follow- . ing close on this event was the broad-.'' cast of a campfire in which a number of Scouts took part. This also proved popular. Saturday brought the week to a close, when a big sports day and picnic were combined at Bethunc’s . Gully. Early in the morning Cubs anti Scouts began to arrive, and in the ,- % ' afternoon quite a number of parents,' - and friends were among the gathering. Ideal weather favoured the gathering, which entered wholeheartedly into the races, relays, and games which were staged. Roslyn Troop are to bo. congratulated on their win in this work.-. ROVERS The District Rover Crew have- ; ’ilanncd their next metding for Rutherford Street Hall, where, after having-/ tea together, they plan to visit the Old Folk’s Home for a yarn and somei songs. This crew is showing a small increase in numbers, and arc pleased to welcome all-comers who have gained their seventeenth year. BADGE WORK ‘ The first class bad"e work lias been /’ arranged for Logan Park next Saturday afternoon, while in the evening the Ambulance and Missioner badges • will be held at District Headquarters.. Entries should be sent in straightaway to the secretary. On April 6 the Pathfinder badge will be held at Headquarters, .

ROSLYN. Twenty-seven answered the call on Friday, when second, class work was. carried out. Scouts Scott. Harraway, and Seddon passed their Kim’s Game, while Ellis, Sparrow. Die!:, and Seddon passed their ambulance work. The Stag Patrol were presented with the trophy for the best, work during the month. A leaders’ meeting was later held. Eighteen Panthers gave a Grand Howl to Commissioner Wing', ' who visited the jungle, inspected the pack, and had a chat. Peter Sparrow received his Sixer’s stripe, while Jim Donaldson received his second’s stripe. Relay races followed by first star work. A happy sing-song closed the evening. MOHICANS Eighteen Cubs sprang into the jungle on Wednesday, Star and badge work was then proceeded with, Ken Bertenshaw received his stripe as a Second of the Blue Six. A church parade was held, at which nine Cubs were present. Several members of the committee have visited the Pack at its work, are pleased at the progress made. ST. ANDREW’S The Troop call brought everyone to the alert on Friday, when arrangements were made for the sports meeting. A lively game was followed by patrol work. A pow-wow was held concerning Easter camp at Silver Peaks. Parade closing with the Promise, a leader’s meeting was then held. ' OPOHO Second class signalling and ambulance instruction occupied the main section of the work at the Thursday parade, which was well attended. PX. Collie succeeded in gaining his second class badge. Commissioner Wing was present and had a yarn with the Troop, congratulating them on their improvement and keenness. A tug of war and inspection closed the evening. KNOX A good muster answered the Troop call on Friday, when work was carried out in Patrol corners, S. Dawson and S. McKay were invested as members of the Brotherhood and welcomed to the Troop. The inter-Patrol competition has resumed with keen competition among all Patrols. Mr R. Dawson visited the Troop during the evening. Six members of the Rover Crew met on Saturday, when games and mat work relieved the discussion work.