ENDEAVOUR SEA SCOUTS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21210, 3 December 1938, Page 14

ENDEAVOUR SEA SCOUTS

One crew under Mr McMillan of the Dredge 350 staff took the Mercury, one of the crew boats, with six Sea Scouts, outside the extension on Saturday afternoon and as it was tire first time that Mr McMillan was aboard the Mercury the trip was taken partly for the purpose of getting the feel of the boat. Once he gets to know’ the boat

further voyages up and down the coast will be undertaken with the crews. The spray did not damp the ardour of the scouts who gained many tips from "Mac.” During the afternoon other members of the Troop passed the swimmers’ badge; the examination of the boys was held off No. 2 wharf. John Stericker, Doug Hinchey, Alex Bradley, Peter Low, Tom Bailie and Alan Sheed obtained charge certificates for under Oars. Mr Brown had charge of the examinations. Both boats are now equipped with new sails and will be used on the first suitable occasion. Four Oamaru scouts visited the local group a few weeks ago and they had their first experience under sail In heavy weather. They also had their first "ducking,” so the boys say. NOTES FOR THE WEEK We are pleased to report that Jack Shipman, an old St. Mary’s Scout, has undertaken to assist St. Peter's Group during the next year. As he has had good Scout training Alex McDonald will find him a strong colleague. The Scouters wish him the best of hunting. Northdown Te Rang! and St. Peter’s Troop have made arrangements to pitch Camp at Raincliff on December 28 for eight days. They will have the opportunity of commencing construction work on the new property. Highfield Rovers spent an interesting and instructive evening at the Fire Station during the week when the Superintendent, Mr McCann, dealt with the various aspects of fire control and the appliances of the local station dealing with the control of outbreaks. We notice that a lot of cubs in Timaru are wearing their cub badges during the day. During the recent conference this fact was stressed and it was agreed that all ranks of the movement should wear their badges. This is one of the points of scouting—that they can be recognised as having taken a promise to try and live up the aims as symbolised by the little badge they wear. A NOTE TO PARENTS Camping out is the great point in “Scouting” which appeals to the boy, and is the opportunity in which to teach him self-reliance and resourcefulness, besides giving him health and development. Many parents who have never had experience of camp life themselves look upon it with misgivings as possibly likely to be too rough and risky for their boys; but when they see their lads return well set up and full of health and happiness outwardly, and morally improved in the points of practical manliness and comradeship they cannot fail to appreciate the good which comes from such an outing. Our Chief states that he hopes that no obstacle will be placed in the way of the boys taking their holiday on the lines suggested.

KING S SCOUT BADGE To earn the King’s Scout badge, a scout must be proficient in most of the sections of scouting. He must be fully qualified in first class work and must be the holder of four of the following badges of which Ambulance Man and either Pathfinder of Coast Watchman are obligatory: Airman, Ambulance Man, Climber, Coast Watchman, Cyclist, Fireman, Horseman, Interpreter, Pathfinder, Pilot, Public Health Man, Rescuer, Signaller. He must be re-examined annually for all his qualifying badges and must cease to wear the King’s Scout badge should he fail in any of them. Any of these badges require plenty of instruction and scouts, after passing their first tests, need plenty of Scouting knowledge before they can attempt to earn this badge. One Sea Scout living up to the name of his troop is endeavouring to obtain this honour. GAME PLANT RACE Start off your scouts, either cycling or on foot, to go to any direction they like, to get a specimen of any ordered plant, say a sprig on a kowhal, a shoot of the manuka, a horseshoe from a chestnut tree, a totara leaf, or something of the kind, whichever you may order, such as will tax their knowledge of plants in the locality, and will test their memory as to where they noticed one of the kind required, and will also make them quick in getting there and back. CAMPS With the approach of the holiday season, Troops are commencing to overhaul all cooking and trek gear in preparation for the camping season. Certain rules from P.O.R. must be observed in connection with the camping of Scout Groups. No Scouts may camp without the previous permission of their D.C. The Group committee is responsible that preliminary arrangements for all camps and treks, transport and general conduct are satisfactory. The Group Scouter or Scouter in charge should possess the Camper’s Badge. He should submit his propo-

sals for camp (giving particulars) to the Group Committee at least one or two months prior to the date. At camp, two hours at least daily to be given to Scout Camp work. Scouts to earn as much as possible towards the cost of the camp and not rely wholly upon the Committee's effort. A special day should be set aside for parents, friends and Committee members. This is named the Visitor's Day. It is suggested that the Committee should invite a local doctor to visit the camp occasionally. No firearms are to be permitted in any Scout camp. CAMP LIFE Many people do not realise that there is a routine to camp life and the timetable may be of interest. The routine is as follow’s:— 7 a.m.: Turn out, air bed, wash, etc. 8 a.m.: Parade for prayers, flag break. 8.10 a.m.: Breakfast. 9.45 a.m.: Inspection. 10 a.m.: Scouting practice. 1 pm..: Dinner. 1.30 to 2.30 p.m.: Rest (compulsory). 2.30 to 5 p.m.: Scouting games in neighbourhood. 5 p.m.: Tea. 5.30 to 8 pun.: Recreation and camp games. 8.15: Cocoa and biscuit. 8.30 to 9.30: Camp fire. 9.30: Turn in. 10 p.m.: Lights out. Camp routine includes the care of the grounds and the making of gadgets for the camp, patrol work. There is no room for "loafers” or the “grouser” in a Scout camp. Every fellow must help, and help cheerily, in making it comfortable for all. In this way comradeship grows. WHAT OTHER FELLOWS HAVE SAID The best way to succeed in this world is to act on the advice you give to others. The greatest thing in the world is not so much where we stand as in what direction we are moving. Success does not depend so much upon external help as on self-reliance (Abraham Lincoln). We are not what we think we are, but what we think we are. The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be happy as Kings. (Robert Louis Stevenson) He who is happy is rich, but it does not follow that he who is rich is happy. (Cingalese Proverb) Hump your own pack. (Canadian Saying) Happiness is more than a grin on one’s face, it is the glory in one’s heart. It is the consciousness that one'smachinery is working perfectly on the job for which it was designed.