SCOUTENG

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20930, 8 January 1938, Page 17

SCOUTENG

ROVER SCOUTS

Rover Scouting is a special outlook on life; the outlook of the Man-Scout, not merely the outlook of the man who was once a Scout, nor even of the man who has set himself to teach Scouting to boys The ideals and principles of the Scout Law and Promise lives on, but more intensely 7 now, to mould a man’s conduct; the practices of Scout Craft develop and multiply to make a man more skilful, his work more interesting and useful, and his life more valuable to his fellows and his country. Rover Scouting, as the continuance of Boy Scouting, has to find first and foremost its application to your own personal development and character growth; to your “getting on in,the world;” to your life in the home of your parents, or the home you are going to make for yourself; as well as to your real value as a citizen the only boasts of true happiness. It leads to self-discipline and selfreliance, to an honest pride in work, to a clean patriotism. It includes the Scout Law, the Scout Motto and the Scout Spirit; as you grow older you will find that they grow up with you and you will be moved again and again to remind yourself of the Scout Promise, from the point of view of a maturing man.

CAUTIONARY CUTS FOR CAREFUL CAMPERS Camp spells Cleanliness, Activity, Manliness and Pleasantness. Cleanliness because a good camp is a clean camp, both outwardly and inwardly. Activity, because a Scout Camp is a necessity in Scout Training, and the

best enjoyment comes from healthy activities.

Manliness, because in a Scout Camp there is no room for babies. Everyone taking part in it must take his share, work hard, do right and think right.

Pleasantness, because it is the fellow who does his share and more and who pulls the hardest o nthe trek-cart when going up hills, who is cheery throughout. Site.—See it beforehand, in bad weather if possible. If this is absolutely out of the question, ask the local Scout people to get it for you. Don’t “buy a pig in a poke.” Discuss with your Court of Honour what the Camp should achieve in the way of training and select your country accordingly. Pay particular attention to such points as water, milk, fresh meat, fresh vegetables, fuel, so that you can have a good and plentiful supply.

Work out diet sheets and order the stores which you cannot procure in the neighbourhood of your camp site. Give each boy a list of the kit and gear he should bring, and send a copy of this to parents and guardians, together with a parent’s permission form for them to fill in and return, and full information as to the camp, dates, place, postal and telegraph address, times and places of assembly and dispersal, visitors’ day, cost, etc., etc. If possible, ensure that those you are taking to camp have not been in contact with any infectious disease. Arrange for transport of Troop and gear and for stock of provisions to await arrival. Advise local doctor of your exact location and carefully note his name and address and where you can obtain an ambulance or other conveyance in case of need. Arrange so that the religious needs of the boys be properly provided for. Replenish your Camp Medicine Chest. Don’t forget the various odds and ends that you will need in order to make the camp a success. Arrival.—Pitch camp according to arrangements worked out beforehand, each Patrol being responsible for its own tent, etc., and for some additional Troop job. Don’t forget kitchens, stores for food, washing places, latrines, urine pits, rubbish pits, incinerator (if possible). Get a fire going soon and dish out tea. In Camp.—See that your Camp Rules are simple and understood. The fewer the better. Arrange alternative programmes for wet and fine days—a Scout camp is not a loaf. Outside the limits of camp proper, Scout uniform must be worn. Be jolly glad to see the local Scouter when he comes round. If you have a good camp, you’ll be glad to show it off. If you haven’t, it’s just as well that he should know about it, because he is the fellow who will suffer for it afterwards.

Ask the owner or his agent to go over the site with you before you leave, and thank him by word and deed Results.—lf you have run a good camp, the results will be easily apparent in your Troop, the local people should look forward to the Scouts returning again, and Scouting in the neighbourhood should have benefited by your stay.

PATROL LEADERS

I have often wondered just how some Patrol Leaders came to be appointed. They just hang on without seeming to get any further, they do not seem to have the sympathy of their Scouts. Well it really is a tough job being a P.L., that is, if you mean to do the job thoroughly. To start off, a good Patrol Leader is one who does his best to live ujf to the Scout Law and help his boys to do the same. He commands the respect of his Scouts %d knows just how much to expect from them. He is willing to give up some of his time to helping his Scoutmaster and by so doing, aids the Troop. Sometimes I hear a P.L. say that one of his fellows is always “fooling". Well, I don’t blame the Scout as much as I do the P.L. It should be his job to see that the fellow who is inclined to fool has enough to do so that he has no time to spare. No one Scout in any Troop has reached the point when he can say truthfully that he can learn no more. We are all of us. learning each day something new to add to our'stock of knowledge and we should follow the example of The Chief Scout who goes about with his eyes open and takes note of all he sees, storing up the knowledge thus gained and bringing it out just- when it is needed.

It is the fellow who can and does do this who will be the best P.L., he will always be just that one step ahead of the rest and can then be a LEADER.

—“Rama." Stunt A between-the-items camp-fire stunt this, made up from a joke. A traveller is apparently lost in a wood. Enter Local. ’Traveller: “C’n you tell me the way to Hogvllle, please?” Local: “Huh?” Traveller.(louder): “Can you tell me the way to Hogvllle?” Local (with hand to ear, and pondering) : “Yep, saw one just a moment ago.” Traveller- “HOW DO I GET TO HOG VILLE?”

Local: “Yes, look there, on th* branch of that tree. . . .” Traveller (exasperated): “I think you’re a fool.” Local (as “understanding” dawns upon him): “Yep, there’s lots of ’em in this wood!” Collapse of Traveller. Local drags him off by the feet. Secret Safe “What I have just said is a great secret. It was told to me In the strictest confidence. I must caution you against repeating it." “I shall endeavour to be just as cautious as you are. Small Beginning The sailor was on shore leave. He staggered into a public house and called loudly to the waiter. “Bring me some ale.” “Yessir. Pale, sir?” “No. Just a glass for a start.” Soon See Millie: “But, mother, I can’t marry him. He’s an atheist and doesn't believe there is a hell.” Mother: “Go ahead and marry him, dear, and between us we’ll convince him he’s wrong. Hard Prisoner: “The judge sent me here for the rest of my life.” Prison Guard: “Got any complaints?” Prisoner: “Do you call breaking rocks with a hammer a rest?” Quite Different “You are extravagant!” complained Mr Brown. “That electric fire has been burning upstairs all day.” “Don’t worry, dear,” explained his wife. “Its not ours. I borrowed it from next door.” Same Again Landlord (to motorist who has been carried into his inn after an accident): Yes, sir, you have had a very bad smash, but I managed to bring you to. Motorist: I don’t remember. Do you mind bringing me two more? Going Up Three young men in the local pub were boasting of their height. “Look at me,” said Tom. “I’m six feet two and a-half in my stockinged feet.” “All right,” put in Dick. “I’m six feet five and three-quarters with my hat on.” “And I can beat the lot of you,” added Harry. “I’m seven feet eight—with my umbrella up.” A Real Bargain A young matron, shopping, asked a butcher the price of hamburger steak. “Twenty-five cents a pound,” he replied. “But at the corner store it is only twelve cents,” said the customer. “Well, why didn’t you buy it there?” “Because they didn’t have any.” “Oh. I see,” said the butcher. “When I don’t have it, I sell it for ten cents a pound.”

DON’T LAUGH AT THE CHAP WHO CAN’T DO SOMETHING YOU CAN .... HE MAY BE ABLE TO DO SOMETHING YOU CAN’T! —From Nosey’s “Book of Great Thoughts.”