GUIDE NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 23682, 3 December 1938, Page 5

GUIDE NOTES

By BIG GUIDE Visitors’ day at the provincial camp in December is Wednesday, December 21. If the number of visitors warrants it, it may be possible for arrangements to be made for a special bus from town. Will captains inquire from their Guides if their parents intend to visit the camp and notify Miss Cumming of the numbers.

Town companies must arrange for their donations to the stocking trail to be left at St. John’s Ranger room on Tuesday night (December 6) at 7 p.m. The following camp rules were evolved by a patrol in council at a Guide camp in England. They will be useful hints for those who are going to camp.

“Eyes and hands. Look and do. If you see a guy-line loose, tighten it. If you see a friend or even an enemy carrying something heavy, help them. If you see a hot billy being put on the good green grass quickly insert a brick beneath it, and later, make a pot stand. Toffee papers? Pig bucket lid? No eyes or hands wanted for these, merely instinct. Feet. Save them by remembering to bring the knife at the same time as the bread. A ground sheet is not for feet. Wait till the dew and damp is gone before clothing them in stockings. Ears. Try and listen to the morning bird chorus. A warning whistle means, “prepare,” and, if in spite of the warning you are not there when the rally whistle blows—hurry when you hear it.” This is an extract from the Chief Guide’s letter while on a visit to Kenya: “Last night was one of the most wonderful that the Chief and I have ever spent. We were literally in a house in the treetops, right out in the forest all night. We looked down into an open arena in the forest where walked buck, gazelle, wild pigs and even rhinoes! It was too unusual for words. Here we spent 24 hours gazing unseen on these lovely wild things, without their knowing we were there. There was a full moon and we watched this wonderful pagent of wild animals moving about on their half-mile wild stage in their own quiet undisturbed way. It was heavenly, especially when the moon rose, and we saw the vague outline of forms coming down to drink at the pool. We could neither of us coil down in our blankets to sleep until the moon went out and all the animals went to sleep and the birds, too; but they all got busy again with the dawn.”