Scout News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 12, 15 January 1936, Page 10

Scout News

(By “Tuakana.”) Conducted weekly 5n the interest of Scouting !n the district, and to acquaint the public with the work which Scouting embraces. All contributions should be in the hands of “Tuakana’’ c/o A. F. A. Woollams, Ridgeway Street, at the latest Monday morning.

Some of the problems which present themselves as a result of consideration of the vacation possibilities are discussed this week, and the writer would be pleased to hear from those interested. An exchange of views should be all to the good. At any rate Scouts and their parents or guardians may profit from the observations of one who has their interests at heart. Camping. In the eyes of most English Scouts a Scout out here in the Dominions is looked upon as being a first-class camper. Yet it is safe to say that a majority of these Scouts are not at all first-class campers. 1 wonder why? We have better opportunities than English boys have, yet we fail to use them. The first objection to Scouts camping out here seems to be the parents. Mother or father doesn’t like, the boy camping out in case something hap pens. Well, they are quite right up to a point. Anything is likely to happen when a greenhorn goes camping. But it’s up to you chaps to show your parents that, as Scouts, you can be trusted to look after yourselves. In a city like Wanganui there are plenty of places handy for camping and it is quite easy to camp out near home for one night and to come home safe, and sound. When your people, find that you are none the worse for one night out, fry two nights, and gradually increase it until -you find it possible to look after yourselves for a w r eek. Now, camping isn’t only a summer time game, but an all-the year-round game. Why stop camping when summer is over? There are lots of fine, week-ends during the year when you could get out. and away. This season none of the local troops have gone into camp, but there is one troop that intends camping at Easter. Why should not a few more troops do the same? Ruf. if you are going camping, whether with a. chum, 5 our patrol, or your troop, you need to know what to take, efr. Each week I will put in lists of what you will require, so that when 'the day’ arrives you will be ready. Watch out for camping notes each week.—Camper. Appropriate. 1 read on my calendar a most appropriate verse: Wishes won’t get there like hustle, Grit and push win out, you’ll see. Don’t ever wear your wishbone Where your backbone ought to be. Town and Country Troops. There are distinct advantages in being connected with a Town Troop which are not always appreciated. It is easier to secure a constant flow of recruits. It is possible for the Scouts themselves to see a great deal of other Scouts and to realise that Scouting is a real Brotherhood. The Scouters in their turn can see a great deal of each other, exchange views and experiences and pick up ideas and advice from each other. It is also possible for them to visit other troops and sec how things are done. On the other hand, in the country troops are scattered over a wide area and are not in a position to see very much of each other. They become somewhat isolated, grow up apart from the wholesome influence of other troops, and sometimes find it difficult to realise that Scouting is a worldwide brotherhood. They have the great advantage, however, of having the country ready to hand and of being able to apply themselves to outdoor activities. In order to do this it is frequently necessary for the Scouter to overcome the contempt that is bred of familiarity. The majority of couniry boys seem to go about with their eyes shut to all that is going on around them in Nature, except insofar as Nature influences their particular jobs. In the running of a country troop, especially in the depths of the country, the Scouter will get little or no outside help, experts in different subjects ars few and far between, and he will mostly have to rely on himself for everything. The best plan is therefore to start with a small number of boys. To start with a big troop invites disaster. A properly working patrol system also becomes of increasing importance, and it is in this direction that the •Scouter should throw his energies for the first few months. After a certain amount of progress has been obtained an opportunity may arise of meeting a neighbouring troop at some half-way spot when a few games can be played. It is important early on that the country Scouts should see that there are other Scouts in existence. The earlier this is done the better ,r.s it will have an influence on their own efforts. Origin of Our Clothes and Kit. Our early ancestors wore very simple garments, chiefly a single loose gown, varying in length, e.g.. a gentleman’s or lady’s would be quite long, a soldier’s or hunter’s shorter, with loose trousers buckled close at the ankle. Gradaully it got cut in half, and both “shirt” (the top half) and “skirt” (the bottom half) came from the same Norse word, “skytra,” meaning short. Scouts have gone back a thousand years and wear the Norse garments and call them by the Norse words; for shorts were not only short tunics, but sometimes the loose Saxon trousers cut sh o

No Leakage. We hear S’© much these days about the leakage from Pack to Troop, and from Troop to Rover Crew, that it is refreshing to hear something different. A Scouter in charge of two village Troops in England (what we would call country troops) writes that in his groups it has become an established fact for every 8-year-old boy fo join the Pack. It has become “the thing to do.” They start hanging round the headquarters from the age of 7 or under in the hope of being allowed a peep inside. There is no leakage between Pack and Troop, except where boys leave the place. There are plenty of counter-attractions, e.g., cinemas, outings, tea-fights, etc., but they make no difference to his boys.

They seem to like Scouting for Scouting \s sake, and the Pack and Troop meetings are always well attended. Lie closes by saying: ‘Personally, I think the difficulty boils down to a little lack of imagination on the part of the Cubrnaster or Scoutmaster in not making their meetings interesting, and it does not rest with the boys entirely.” That is the conclusion he has come to after nearly 27 years of Scouting in all its varied phases. It is a well-known fact that in many Packs and Troops a set programme of work and games is put on year after year without any variety whatever. This is bad Scouting, as we know. We wouldn’t go to see the same film every I week at the cinema, yet we expect to keep our chaps enthusiastic with the same old programmes. Let us this year look at Scouting from the boys’ point of view, not from ours, to try to remember we were once boys ourselves. Dictionary of Scouting. We give further extracts from the “Dictionary of Scouting’’:--Group Council. -A talking-shop, in which you are the only one who talks sense. When the Cubmaster brings up a point, remember there is 5 per rent, of good in the worst of us. Hat, iScout.—Of cowboy pattern, worn by Scoutmasters (male) with four dents and dome-shaped by Cubmasters (female). Ask the Jaffer why; I cannot fell you. Intended to be worn on the head, but in the case of Rovers is worn not at all or on the rue-sac. Imperial Headquarters.— Oh, hush! Jungle, The.— A place in which Scoutmasters got lost. To find the wav through, read Kipling’s “Jungle Books,’’ or, belter still. “All the Mowgli Stories,” which is the same thina but easier, because it has nice pictures. Although it is such a difficult place for •Scoutmasters, the Cubs find their way through it quite easily under Akela \s leadership. There is a. hint, in this for Scoutmasters. When you would understand the Jungle consult Akela, however humbling to your dignity, Jungle Dances. Yps, J know they are not, dances, really, but what's in a. word, anyway? Like the Grand Howl, they have a meaning, but if you haven’t read what the Chief says about them in “The Wolf Cub’s Handbook,’’ you can’t expect to grasp it. But. the “Handbook” is still on sale, or it. can be borrowed. Parents.—A clumsy contrivance of Nature for providing Scoutmasters with (Scouts (this is not original, but is I nevertheless true). Unfortunately, they also produce Cubs. But Cubs grow up at length, and parents don't Jive for ever. There is a rumour that some groups find them useful. Rovers.—An explanation of this term has not yet been discovered. The plagues of Egypt were also horrible things at the time, but we regard them with complacency now. Rover Leader.—A member of the depressed classes. Is officially stated to be leader of his Rovers, but this is a delusion, as any Rover will tell you. Scoutmaster.—A superior person, who hides his fear of Cubs under a gruff demeanour. The Cub is encouraged lo look upon the Scoutmaster as his future leader, but finds it difficult to do so after discovering his complete ignorance of Cub matters. Can be trained in the right way if sufficient tact and flattery are employed. Will even visit the pack from time to time, provided that the Cubs are not too rough with him. Has probably never heard of “The Wolf Cub Handbook,” but might consent to read Akela’s copy. Tracking Bules for Scourers. In “Training and Tracking” certain well-known tracking rules are set out briefly, thus: Look into the eyes of the sun. Sketch and memorise, one single print. Get a comprehensive view of the whole track. Think with the mind of the hunted. When the track is lost, mark the spot, and cast round in a wide circle. Keep down wind of your quarry. Take your landmarks when you start, and look back occasionally as you go along. What is the Scouter’s job, especially if he is the leader of the team —the Scoutmaster? It is just the training of the character of the boy. I would suggest that each one of us set about that job as a tracker. The whole then becomes an adventure to us. A large tract of unexplored territory lies ahead of us. That territory is full of signs and trails for us to follow, if we only care to set our powers of observation and deduction to work . The cl early-defined, trail of the Troop •as a whole lies straight ahead of us, but that is by no means the only trad to be seen. Each single one of jur Scouts presents a problem, each is a trail to be followed up. Our Scouts as individuals are the predominating factor, and their characters should not be moulded to suit the needs of the Troop, but the Troop moulded to suit their characters. Each week I propose to take one of these rules in turn, and apply it to th 3 tracking on which the Scouter is engaged. in the hope that he may be encouraged to take up the track with greater enthusiasm and greater success.