A College Scout Camp

A College Scout Camp By George Stewart, Field Investigation* , Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Scoutmaster Troop No. 13, Logan A forest camp at college is unique. That, however, is the latest and one of the best additions to the equipment of the Utah Agricultural College. Unique as is a camp at college, it is equally unique — if not more so — to turn the building of a forest camp into a college course. This is just what the Boy Scout Council of Cache Valley has just done for their scout- masters. There is probably no place with a better corps of scoutmasters than Cache Valley, but as they are not yet perfect the council makes it a business each year to do one or more things that will add to the train- Ii. Ij. McDonald, National Camp Director, B. S. A., lecturing to the Scout leaders on Camp Sanitation. In the center of the picture, the Council or Ceremonial fire pit can be seen; to the right of the picture a Cooper's vice and several other objects of Camp Craft. Mr. McDonald lectured to the Scout leaders during the forenoon session while the afternoon was actively spent in constructing the camp material dis- cussed. ing of the men in charge of troops. By uniting with the Summer School of the Utah Agricultural College, the council succeeded in obtaining Mr. L. L. McDonald of National Boy Scout Headquarters. Mr. McDonald is National Camp Director of the Boy Scouts of America and goes about the United States helping with a camping program. The two men most in- strumental in bringing this camping school to Logan are Dr. George R. Hill, Dean of the School of Agriculture at the Agricultural College, and Victor Lindblad, Scout Executive for the Cache Valley Council. Dr. Hill is one of the best scout men in the whole mountain region.

IMPROVEMENT ERA v'^>£ l* - ■ ■.#-. ■•-■!. ■. '-'far-' '-:.'-:V::I 1 .' ^3H: tut- f i-^4^-- :tr^F^^^-l? 1: 1 " r f ' 1 if SIHS 1' Lo^k-rtd r.P^ot! ' ^ ■ - •»- ' VHpv"f:- /.*:; Adarondack or open-faced type of log cabin under construction. This cabin is tbe regular Patrol Cabin, built to accomodate eiglit Scouts. To the left of the picture can be seen L. L. McDonald, National Camp Di- rector, B. S. A.; working; in tbe Cabin, Ivan Burgoyne, Assistant Scout- master Troop 5 (Logan District); handling; the saw to the left, Dr. Geo. It. Hill, Scoutmaster Troop 5 (Logan District); to right, Scoutmaster attending the Course; Working on top of Cabin, Scout Holmes Smith. He became scoutmaster of Troop No. 5, in 1915, and has held that position ever since, being one of the first men in Utah to lead a scout troop. He was the first to organize a college course in scoutmastership ; his present course at the Agricultural College is the largest and best course in the whole country. During the last two years he has trained about two hun- dred students for scout leadership. Hereafter these young men will have the added advantage of the camp just established. Victor Lindblad is also a "live wire" in scouting. Last year in Sep- tember he and Dr. Hill attended the Regional Convention at Blue Ridge, North Carolina, where they saw Mr. McDonald build a camp. At once they began a campaign to get him. Correspondence throughout the year did not give promising results, but as soon as it was learned that a Regional Convention was to be held at the Yosemite National Park efforts were re- doubled and about April the camp school at Logan was assured. Scouting is not dependent on a camp, but campcraft is one of the big things in scouting. Is not the building of an actual camp and its accessories the superlative in camping? Fortunately, not even the background is lack- ing, for just east of the general campus of the college is a fine grove of trees in which the camp is located. Now the fifteen scout troops of Logan can have an evening camp with council fire, openffaced cabin, bridge, totem pole, camp table, and benches. Camp sanitation, even, is not neglected, for rubbish disposal is provided for and even human wastes. These ser- viceable structures will last for years, help to entertain boys — young and old, and serve as suggestive to other scout centers of the state. It is prob- able that three thousand people will see this camp during the Summer Encampment at the College from July 31 to August 3.

A COLLEGE SCOUT CAMP 933 On Saturday, June 2, Mr. McDonald, arrived in Logan and was shown the cabin camps in Logan Canyon. He said they were the finest log structures in the United States. On Monday work began. He lectured mornings to the Summer School and afternoons showed scout leaders, busi- ness men, faculty, and students how to build a camp. One patrol made a cabin, another a bridge, a third an entrance gate, another a totem pole, and still other groups a council pit, a table and benches, a set of fireplaces, a cooper's vise, an incinerator, and a latrine. Of these, the cabin, the council pit, and the fireplaces will serve as illustrations. During pioneer days the open-faced cabin was the type in the Ap- Top: — The Adarondack Cabin. Note the low baek, open front, en- closed ends. Home-made seats are in front of the cabin. Bottom: — Left foreground, stone bake oven; center, reflecting fire- place; center back, a platform on which to build a camp fire. This per- mits standing up to cook. ♦ «

934 IMPROVEMENT ERA / palachian and Ohio River country. The cabin, known as the Adirondack cabin, is low at the back, closed at the ends, and open in front. Every school boy and gixl will remember that the Lincolns spent a winter in such a cabin. This must have been a trying experience, for they are not at all adapted for protection against cold, driving storms; for summer camping they are not only pleasant but romantic. The interior is dark and logs stick out at the end; the front faces the council pit where the evening fire is built. A shallow pit is lined with rock. Just beyond the heat line, a row of logs is set around for the men and boys. Personal affairs no longer selfishly occupy the mind; individuals forget about themselves at the council pit. Imagine a moonless, starlit night with pines looming in the dark. Here are the burning embers in the council pit. All about sit the boys wrapt in elemental sublimity; the light flickers, the flame burns down, darkness creeps in. A story of courage is told, then one of honor followed by cleanli- ness and chastity. Finally comes song and prayer; the people go home- ward in silent thought that in nature God is near. Such was camp meeting Wednesday evening, June 6, when Logan's scouts brought their fathers to hear Mr. McDonald at the council pit. In daylight, numerous fire places may be seen. Here is the kettle standard, here the bake oven all of rock, there is the barbecue grate, yonder the frying stove, and this elevated platform is for a permanent fireplace to avoid constant crouching. All are made of rock, saplings, or sod. Will you have your meat brown or rare? As you say; it is merely a matter of piling or scattering the coals. Even marshmallows toast as nowhere else. That carved and painted statue there of many forms is the totem pole. All tribes of nature's men have a totem for memory's sake. This one bears memory of the time when Chief McDonald came to Logan. He had us build the cabin, the council pit, the bridge (just in front, there), and helped us plan for the rest which were added a bit at a time. No, they are not hard to make. It is merely a matter of wanting to, and ever after of worshiping better because you have. Camping is a great school. The roughest men are not irreligious in the mountains — at least not around the evening fire. Logan has a camp right in town. Education does not make the man, it merely causes him to de- velop. Learning how at college gives the finest touch to the evening bon- fire service. That is camping a la mode, for everyone will know what he wants when he sees the place to which Cache Valley scouts are invited for an occasional evening. They may camp or may visit to learn how to camp. There is no teacher of clean thought and action like an evening bon- fire in the council pit with hymn and prayer for "good-night." It stimu- lates a nerve center that needs to glow more brightly, and in the words of President Grant, "That which we persist in doing becomes easy to do * * *." Logaii, Utah "M" Men Pins Have Arrived The supply of "M" Men pins has arrived at the general office, and all who desire these are invited to send in their orders to the General Secre- tary, Y. M. M. I. A., 67 East So. Temple St. The price for each pin is 25c.