SCOUT NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23306, 16 September 1937, Page 8

SCOUT NOTES

GLADSTONE GROUP

(By

PATHFINDER)

Both the scout troop and the cub pack are in a flourishing state. Because of numbers and many boys being unable to attend the Thursday evening meetings the scouts have formed a patrol which meets on Fridays. Scoutmaster G. Johnston is still controlling the main troop on Thursdays, while Assistant Scoutmaster G. C. Alington instructs the other one. This idea seems to be working well and the troop will be watched with interest in the future. The cub pack is also dividing into two parts in order to take in the number of young boys wishing to join. The original pack, which meets on Wednesday evenings, is being reduced to 15 by taking some senior boys for positions as sixers and seconds in the new pack, which will begin regular meetings tomorrow at 6 p.m., half-an-hour. earlier than the usual time so as to fit in with the second scout troop on the same evening. Cubmaster R. H. Alington will look after both packs, assisted by Assistant Cubmaster Townson and G. Anderson with the first pack and G. Hill with the second one. The group realizes that it is very fortunate in having the use of the All Saints’ Hall, which is very suitable for their meetings. MEETING OF CUBS Last Saturday at 2 p.m. a good number of the Gladstone cubs assembled at All Saints’ Hall for a special meeting. After a good game in the hall grounds the pack quickly went to Thomson’s Bush. Akela (the jungle name for cubmaster) and the first two cubs to arrive set off laying a trail with coloured wool. This led well round the bush tracks over Elies road and through the other bush, where the treasure was hidden. While the pack was following the trail those who laid it had to wait well out of sight, and while on the edge of a small stream a cub had the misfortune to fall into the water. He was not very wet-and by borrowing another boy’s jersey could stay with the rest when they all had found the treasure. Needless to say the treasure was eatable. The hunt over, the seesaws were tried out before the boys returned to the hall to dismiss after an easy but none the less vei-y enjoyable afternoon.

This is an article from the rover scouts’ magazine, The Rover World: Now it came to pass that three rovers forgathered, and did discuss among themselves the reason why scouting appealed to them. And the first man said: “I think it is only right that we should lend our support to an educational and patriotic movement, and do

our bit in training youngsters to be efficient citizens of the future.” And the second man did say: “I like to feel that I am one of an organized and uniformed association, banded together for service to others. It seems to make one feel a purpose in life.” But the third man, he of the well-worn uniform with many years’ service stars, said: “You may be right, but I am in scouting because I just can’t help it. It’s a glorious game to me.” Here is a game for cubs: Two numbered teams at one end of the den run round the outside of two marked circles. Then, whenever a number is called the one cub with that number must run to a post at the far end of the den while the other tries to catch him. A point is scored for each cub caught The team with the best score wins and the teams run and catch' alternately. SCOUTERS’ TRAINING Scouter is the term used to cover all officers in the movement whether cubmaster, assistant, scoutmaster or commissioner. In order to help scouters the more easily to grasp the aims and methods of the movement in practice, training centres have been established throughout the world. The camp chiefs who are scout leaders, and akela leaders who are cub leaders, have earned their diplomas through a course of training at the central training school at Gilwell Park, near London. That is why the training courses are called Gilwell courses. This place has gained a reputation reaching far across the world for the novelty and the spirit of its training. Overseas Dominions, foreign countries, county education committees, army authorities, clergy training schools and teachers’ colleges have all sent men there to be trained, and in no case have they expressed anything but satisfaction with the results.