SCOUTING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20896, 27 November 1937, Page 10

SCOUTING

SCOUT NOTES Miss Mavis Lennon, who has been collecting and editing the notes in this column for the past few months has recently left Timaru for Dunedin where she has secured employment. Whilst we are sorry to lose her services, we wish her every success in her new job. She informed us that she definitely intends to take up Cub work as soon as she settles down, and we know that some Pack is going to be lucky. SCOUTS Scouts thoughts are turning campwards. Where are we going? When are we going? If you have not already done so, you should be getting your gear together and planning to make this years’ camp make up for the camp which was postponed last year. No boy is a true Scout unless he has been camping and tasted the joys of living out under the trees, if I had my way, I would make it one of the Second Class Tests, that a Scout should have attended at least one camp. After all, we are brotherhood of the open air and though Dens are necessary, one cannot get down to the real thing in Scouting inside. Think of the joys of waking up in the morning with the thought of a full day in the open air with its games and Scouting activities rounded off with a real campfire and a cup of hot cocoa and then to bed. There is a badge which is rather rare although it should not be. That is the Camper Badge. This badge takes some

getting but when once gained the proud possessor feels that at least he has qualified tor the name of SCOUT. I .will deal with the necessary qualificatoins of the Camper Badge in another Issue of these notes. This week I want to draw your attention to some real Summer badges, the Swimmer's and Rescuer’s Badges. The last is a King’s Scout Badge and must be repassed annually. SWIMMER’S BADGE 1. Swim 50 yards with clothes on (shirt, trousers and socks as a mimimum), and undress in the water. 2. Swim (without clothes) 100 yards On the breast and 50 yards on the back with the hands either clasped or the arms folded in front of the body. 3. Dive and pick up small objects from the bottom. Mr Bracefield is the examiner and both he and the caretakers of the various swimming baths in Timaru are at all times willing to assist members of the movement in obtaining this badge. RESCUER’S BADGE Attired hi a shirt and trousers: — 1. Perform in the water four methods of rescue, and three of release from the clutch of a drowning person. The drowning subject, about the size of the rescuer, in each of the rescue methods to be carried at least 10 yards. 2. Dive from the surface to a depth of at least five feet and bring up a stone, brick or iron weighted object of not less than five pounds. 3. Demonstrate the Schafer method of resuscitation, and the promotion of warmth and circulation. 4. Swim 50 yards and undress before touching ground. 5 Throw a lifeline to within one yard of a small object 15 yards away three times out of four. NEW PROFICIENCY BADGE It will be of interest to all scouts to know that there will probably be another badge called the "Road Safety” badge added to the list of tests. The methods of the test have not yet been approved but examinations will probably be conducted by or under the supervision of an officer of the Transport Department. At the same time tests will be added to the Tenderfoot, Second Class and First class. In future all Scouts will have a knowledge of the responsibilities in footpath and “pedestrian crossing” etiquette. As Scouts advance in the tests explanation (or description) of a cyclist’s and pedestrian’s duties in regard to oncoming or passing traffic will be required. The rules of paarking and of the motor code, and the rules of the road may be incorporated in the First Class Tests.

WOLF CUBS We must not forget you young people now that the summer days are with us again. You will want to be out in the open air as much as possible and there are one or tw’o badges that you can be thinking of. The Gardener’s Badge is one that each Cub should try for, also the Swimmers Badge is worth a try. I will tell you what you have to do for these badges:— Gardener Must grow four of the following:— (i) in water—bulb, chestnut, acorn; (11) on flannel or moss—mustard and cress, beans, peas. Must name four of the following from growing specimens—trees or shrubs, flowers, vegetables. In addition, must (a) care for a small patch of garden for three months; (b) recognise four weeds. Swimmer Must be able to swim 25 yards (any stroke). Be able to float on back for 66 seconds in salt water or 30 seconds in fresh water. Swim on back for fifteen yards. Be able to “duck's dive (dive while standing in the water, or swimming,) Or perform a "honey-pot” (jump with arms clasped round knees) from a board, bank or boat. Now 1 know that quite a lot of you car. do these things and although you may not yet be Two Star Cubs, I am sure that Akela will let you attempt

the Badge and then when you have got “both eyes open” you can get these important badges. Next week I will try to tell you about some other badges that are best attempted during the summer months. I see that we are to have a “Learn to swim. Week ” Now, won’t that be just a good chance to show what you can do. Can we all say that each | fellow in our Patrol or Sox can swim? ' What about it you chaps? Try to get j each fellow in your Troop or Pack to learn to swim and if they can alI ready do that, well, try to get them I to go for their Swimmers Badges. ST. PETER’S GROUP The recently formed Cub Pack at j St. Peter's is going strong now and the numbers are steady at 10. The Scouts have been rather slack lately but the new committee which has been formed have decided to get tilings going and show their interest in the work of the Group. Warrants have been applied for for the Cubmasters and these ladies are very keen and have quite a “Cubby” little Pack now. HIGHFIELD I “Golden Quill,” our Akela, has left us to go to Dunedin. We are sorry to lose her, but we must remember that “A Cub gives in io the Old Wolf” and we must try to Do Our Best for our new Akela, Miss K. Lennon. Of course she is not new to us as she has been wwith us for about three years now. We were very interested when Mr W. Wah gave us a talk on the youth of China, and when he spoke of the friendly feeling which should exist between nations, we were reminded of our Law which says that “A Scout is a friend to all and a brother to every other Scout." The Troop is going to celebrate its fifteenth birthday with a party and social very soon. We hope that all parents and friends will come along. THE DOMINION HEADQUARTERS BULLETIN Writing in the first issue of the I headquarters Bulletin, the Hon. Dominion Chief Commissioner stated that the outlook for Scouting in the Dominion is capable of tremendous development. By development, he meant, firstly, that there are large areas where no troops exist at all or perhaps just one troop and. secondly, that where the troops which do exist are not working to the best advantage in many Instances. The important move is to appoint a travelling Commissioner, to be always on the job. He would encourage existing districts and, in adI dition, he will help to set up new districts.