---
title: Improvement Era
description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930.
authors:
  - Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
collections:
  - periodicals
tags:
  - magazine
  - improvement-era
periodical: Improvement Era
volume: 24
number: 8
published: 1921-06
publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations
publisher_place: Salt Lake City
language: en
type: magazine
reference: 'Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations, "Fathers and Sons’ Outing, 1921," *Improvement Era* 24, no. 8 (June 1921): 730–732.'
source:
  url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2408unse
  transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers.
  identifier: improvementera2408unse
start_page: 730
end_page: 732
rights:
  status: public-domain
  basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1921-06)
  source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera2408unse
  publication_year: 1921
  note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1921, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright.
---

# Fathers and Sons’ Outing, 1921

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                Fathers and Sons' Outing, 1921

     Of course, we're going to have a Fathers and Sons' Outing this summer!
Been looking forward to the camping season all winter, thinking of the
hikes, and swims, scout games, the sleeping-out-of-doors, rolled in blankets,
while the flickering campfire throws fitful, uncertain shadows against the
tent wall. Oh boy!     There's a thrill in every moment of camp life, that
we wouldn't miss for all the world.
    First, Because we owe it to the boys.
    Second, Because we owe it to the fathers.
    Third, Because, being M. I. A. officers, we are anxious to put over this
part of the Summer program.
    Fourth, Because we believe in being loyal to those who have been loyal
to us.
     Fifth, Because we don't intend that the fathers and sons living in our
stakes shall be deprived of the good things that other fathers and sons are
receiving.
     Sixth, Because it is a fine way to bring an increased, friendly, sympathetic feeling between officers and boys, between officers and fathers,
and a closer bond of understanding and appreciation between fathers and
sons.
    The Y. M. M. I. A. Summer program provides for a Fathers and Sons'
Outing. The place, date, and duration of the outing, are left to each stake.
However, we recommend an outing of at least three days. One day, or a
part of the day, to get there, with bon-fire exercises in the evening; one
whole day for hikes, games and everything; and the next day, or part of
the day, to come home. Every extra day you can stay increases the j»y of
the outing that much more. We might suggest also, that while some think
it would be a splendid thing to have the mothers along, this, one annual
outing is being taken primarily for those wholesome effects that will come
from the association of the fathers and sons.
     Begin to prepare and set the dates for the outing now. Make the dates
suitable to the conditions existing in your community. Get the Presidency
of the stake and Bishops of your wards into the spirit of the thing. They
will all go with you because they appreciate your work, and they love the
fathers and sons over whom they preside.
     Let's all go out into the great out-of-doors, and rest, and play, and get
acquainted, in the old-fashioned way that Brigham Young used to bring the
people in closer touch with one another in social union. Choose places
away from resorts if possible. Resorts have a tendency to retard the camp
social spirit.  Avoid Sunday, unless your outing is an extended one, and
then observe the Sabbath day as a day of rest and worship.
                                  Suggestions for Camp.
       Select a     name for your camp, paint it on a sign, and erect the sign at
the camp.
       The following suggestions are offered. The camp should be officered as
follows
    1.  Chairman. Should be president of stake or superintendent of stake
or a person selected by them.
    2.                                        —
        Camp Director. Camp director under direction of chairman, has
general charge of camp.    Chairman and director may be the same person.
       3.       Commisary Committee.   Has in charge cooking instruction, menus,
provisions, fires, and inspection of      camp and held responsible for clean-

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FATHERS AND SONS' OUTING, 1921                               731

ing of camp, establishment of latrines, etc.; should select a sanitary squad
made up from members of different troops or divisions.
    5.  Camp Fire Toaster. Has charge of the evening program.
    6.  Program Committee. Has charge of all instructions, play, sports
and amusements.
     7.  First Aid. Doctor or good first aid man. Has headquarters.    All
sickness, accidents, etc., should be reported to him, May be head of sanitation.
     8.   Committee on Camp Site and Parking.     Lays out camp, assigns positions, locates places for horses, wagons, cars.
    These different groups may be regrouped into three or four committees according to the size and requirements of the campers.
    Each boy should provide the following articles: Haversack, knife, fork,
spoon, metal plate, cup, soap, towel, comb, extra pair of socks, two woolen
blankets rolled in canvas, fishing tackle and kodak if desired.
     Each ten boys should provide equipment as follows: Two frying pans,
two granite saucepans holding at least four quarts each, dish cloths and
towel, flash light, matches, two table spoons, can opener, one small water
bucket, one wash basin, first aid kit, axe, and tent. Each wagon or truck
must carry a pick and shovel for use around camp.
    All persons making the trip must agree to be governed by the rules
and regulations of the camp. The taking of fire arms is absolutely forbidden.
     The things suggested as necessary to take, of course, should be governed by the length of the outing, the climate, and the mode of transportation.  For helpful suggestions on camp equipment see Handbook for
Scoutmasters, page 380; for menus, see same book, page 399-403.

                                      Daily Program
 6:00         Reveille, flag raising, wake        up drill, morning wash up.
 6:30- 8:00              —
              Breakfast air blankets.
 8:00- 8:30   Assembly, pledge   to flag, scout promise, prayer, instructions
              for the day.
 8:30- 9:00   Sanitary and health inspection.
 9:00-11:00   Games, hikes, fishing.
11:00-11:30   Bed-making and camp cleanup.
11:30-12:00   Swimming    —20 minutes.
12:00- 1:00   Dinner and camp inspection.
 1:00- 2:00   Quiet hour.
 2:00- 4:00   Scout games, hikes, exploring trips.
 4:00- 6:00               —
              Swimming 20 minutes preparation for supper.
 6:00- 7:00   Supper and clean-up.          Evening   colors.
 7:00- 8:00   Preparation for night.
 8:00- 9:00   Campfire     stories,    stunts,   community   singing,   Scout promise,
              prayer.
 9:45         Tattoo.     Taps music.
10:00         Taps.     All lights out and quietness.

    Rules and regulations have their place. If the rights of all are to be
respected and the camp made safe, there must be certain stated limits to
the campers' freedom on certain occasions. Conduct in boats, absence from
camp, regular hours for swimming, canoes, firearms, and fire, must be
regulated by stated rules about which there can be no misunderstanding
and from which there will be no variation.

                         Suggestions on Daily Program.
      First bugle call, 6 a. m., fire makers out; 6:15 a. m., everybody out,
no   exceptions except for sickness. Setting up exercises and short run at

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732                           IMPROVEMENT ERA
 scouts pace, alternating about fifty running and fifty walking steps.
      Do the cooking right. Don't be sloppy about it, just because you are
camping out. Camp sanitation is outlined in Scoutmasters' Handbook, pages
 391-393.  This is important. Be up-to-date. Be clean!
     The success of outing depends so much upon the recreation program
that you can't afford to wait until you get to camp to work it out. Take
balls, nets, and bats, etc., along.    Provide a variety of games. For suggestions see Handbook for Boys and Scoutmasters; Spaulding Indoor and
Outdoor Games; see M. I. A. Boy Scout Bulletin, page 45. Select leaders for this committee who are familiar with games and know how to put
them over.
     For assemble and evening colors see M. I. A. Scout Bulletin, pages 35.>
This part of the program is the only formal part of the outing and will
aid very materially in the discipline of the camp and make this part of the
day's exercise very impressive.     Stories and jokes should be of the cleanest type.   Don't permit even a suggestion of anything else. Arrange for
the preparation of these beforehand as well as for songs and other music.
To wait until you get there indicates lack of preparation. There will be
plenty of time to use the unassigned good things that members of the camp
are prepared to give as a voluntary contribution.
     Divide the work of the camp among all and when much manual labor
is required, change the personnel often.                  ,

                            Take Pictures for the "Era"
       Do you want a picture of your stake outing in the Era?      This year we
are going to have a contest in write-ups and pictures of the Fathers and
Sons' Outings. The best ten pictures and "write-ups," and many more as we
can find place for, in each division, will appear in the Era. As its contribution, each stake will send us at least four pictures and a description of
about 100 words of its outing. At least ten of the best will be printed, and
others will be mentioned in the honor list.
     Here's what to photograph:
       A picture showing:
    1.  Group of the whole company, going or coming, or in camps. Another group of fathers who have sons present with them, might be taken.
    2.  The best artistic group, such as around the campfire, the story
hour, taps, morning and evening devotion.
    3.  Best unique camping picture, such as cooking, hiking, boating,
swimming, etc.
        Best scenic picture, with at least one-half of the camp people in it.
       4.
    Take pictures that show good action. In taking groups, make as closeup as possible so that each person can be recognized. Remember that the
pictures have to be reproduced, which requires well defined outlines. All
the pictures must be taken enroute or in and around camp of this year's outing, or where groups are taken, the members must be participants in at
least a three-days' outing.

                                 Sub mission
                 I   bowed in humble grief to kiss my Cross,
                  But when in calm submission
                     Raised my head,
                 I   found my Cross had vanished,
                 And in a glorious halo
                 Shining bright,
                 I saw a Crown instead.
Bear River City, Utah                                     Orelia   May Hanson
