Camping

Camping By REV. HOYT E. HENRIQUES THE organization of the Boy Scouts of America does not exist solely for summer rec- reation, however attractive this may be. Its purpose is to prepare its mem- bers to take their places in society as well-rounded units, not of dead- ly uniformity but capable of work- ing harmoniously with others to- wards the advancement of an ideal democracy. To further this end, Scouting has an excellent pro- gram varied enough so that boys of all conditions of mental, physi- cal, social, and financial status can become comrades in the great ad- venture. The Handbook tells of the ways and means of developing such a program, so we need not refer to it at this time save to call atten- tion to the title-page with the word service prominently display- ed. This tells us, better than many words, the great funda- mental ideal of Scouting. Service to God and man, service to the State and its members, is the aim back of all our work. In prep- aration for this life of service, which too few realize in its en- tirety, the program must be di- versified enough to include all the activities of the normal, healthy boy. Among these, perhaps chief of the physical, is camping. A SCOUT must learn many things, which may be classed either as mental or physical. Ad- vancement depends upon his skill in learning and doing. By mental things we mean those which are more or less separated from physi- cal exertion. Among these are such as "The History and Use of the Flag." This is class-work, en- couraging a laudable respect for the flag of our country. It is interesting to note that / do not count the hours I spend In wandering by the sea; The forest is my loyal friend, Like Cod it useth me: Or on the mountain-crest sublime, Or down the oaken glade, O what have I to do with Time? For this the day was made. — Ralph Waldo Emerson. more than half of the merit badges awarded for proficiency, have noth- ing to do with the out-door pro- gram, although not strictly class- work. Blacksmithing, for ex- ample, is not an out-door study, nor is it class-work. Carpentry, music, and textiles likewise are not out-door studies. f*YN the other hand, we note sev- ^ eral badges awarded for physi- cal achievements which are not strictly a part of the out-door pro- gram. Aviation is physical, men- tal and out-doors, but not a part of what we commonly call the out-door life of a Scout Troop. But most of the physical side of Scouting is intimately connected with the out-door world. Living in the "Center of Scenic America" we are particularly for- tunate in having so much of the out-doors right at our very door- steps. Perhaps it is because of this that we do not appreciate our op- portunities, for "familiarity breeds contempt" we are told. The writer came out into the mountains a seeker after health, and finding it here, resolved to do his little in im- planting in others a respect for. aye even better than that, a love of God's great nature world. TN our out-door program, Camp- ing is the goal to which all our Scouts look with longing eyes. Rare indeed is the boy who does not care to get out and imitate the deeds of the great Scouts of by- gone days. Rare is the boy who is not impressed with the power of the Creator when suddenly confronted with some great mas- terpiece of the Great Builder. The boy may not show how much he is impressed, but nevertheless it makes a lasting impression which may change his whole attitude to- wards things in general. Camping begins in the Tender- foot rank with Saturday and week-end hikes under the direction of an advanced Scout or adult leader. In these he receives train- ing in the fundamentals of Scout- ing or Camping. He is impressed with the need of careful prepara- tion. A really successful hike or camp is not the product of a few minutes thinking. In this prepa- ration such commonplace things as shoes and stockings take on a new aspect when seen in connec- tion with a fruitful tramp in a near-by canyon. He also has his first lesson in reverence for prop- erty rights, for he must respect the rights of others or he may be de- nied the privilege of entrance. This may seem selfish, but he is shown that unless he is careful of both public and private property other Scouts may suffer from his lack of consideration and be denied desir- able privileges. TN the Second-class rank he learns the use of signs and symbols as means of conveying messages. A pile of stones now means some- thing to him. His powers of ob- servation are developed so that he can be reasonably sure of his place and direction even if he have no compass. Building a fire with- out waste of time and material is usually a new accomplishment, and his reaction on being shown how little fuel is needed to prepare a palatable meal is gratifying to the leader. Fire-building affords a fine beginning for a study in For-

The Improvement Era for June, 1930 565 estry and Conservation. The long- distance runners of the various In- dian tribes have always been an object of awe for the average American lad, and while our Scouts may not hope to rival the Indian lads in this field, they are taught how to cover ground with little effort. Knives or hatchets in the hands of untrained campers are dangerous, even though necessary. The Scout is taught how to lessen this danger by the correct use of these tools. "DEFORE he can become a First- class Scout the boy must have a really intimate acquaintance with nature. Here we see the out-door program of Scouting blossoming into a thing of beauty and a joy forever. Swimming, hiking, map- making, and estimating are rounds in the ladder leading to success. He develops a speaking acquaintance with the flowers on the ground, which now no longer are merely pretty things to look at. He learns how the plants serve both nature and mankind. He observes the animals which scurry through the shrubbery, learning that they have better uses than to serve as targets for the unthoughtful person. Trees now are known by name and are rated according to their importance as servants to man and nature. And lifting his eyes upwards into their tops he discovers that birds are not just birds, but birds of many kinds and purposes. That red streak was in sight but a sec- ond, yet he knows it to be the tanager, or the slight call, un- heard by most, he knows to be the note of the finch. And at night, tired of gazing into the depths of the wonderful camp-fire, he looks up into the starry-decked canopy and discerns the beauty of the heavenly jewel-box. In fancy he travels with the mariners of old, charting his way by the stars, or perchance he stands watch with David on the hills beyond Bethle- hem. A LL this that has gone before is ■*■ *■ by way of preparation for the fitting climax to his course, the Troop camp. Then he puts into practice the lessons he has learned, and as he has learned them he be- comes a real camping Scout or not. If the Scoutmaster has a real place in his life for an out-doors which is something more than a place in which to fish and hunt, he has tried to tell the Scout of this love. "Every boy in camp" is a wise motto. The boy is best served in a Troop camp in which he takes an active part in every duty and every pleasure. The ideal condi- tion is where boys come in con- tact with their own leaders, but because of the complexity of our modern life, it is not always pos- sible for Scoutmasters to go to camp with their boys. It is often difficult to find a proper substitute, and to remedy this condition Local Councils operate camps under ex- pert leadership with fine programs. This is commendatory, and while it is not intended to take the place of the Troop camp, it affords the only opportunity presented to some Scouts. TN my experience I have found camping to have been of value because it develops the boy, or can do so, in the three departments of his being — body, mind and spirit. All camps do not attain to this Jf! A Novel Tug of War height, but it is an ideal for which we strive. A camp which stresses one part to the exclusion of the others is not doing its best for the Scout or for Scouting. A leader who neglects the opportunity to instill a more wholesome regard for the goodness of God has not given the Scout a proper idea of our world. A camp should not have for its slogan "Fishermen." I visited a Troop which conducted its camp on the fishing idea. Not a word about nature and its work- ings, but only about the daily catch ! If the boy is given due part in the preparations for the camp, it develops his foresight. He thinks out in advance what is necessary on such a trip, and hands in a written list of the essentials. He helps to collect the equipment and supplies, to construct the program of study, sports and work. He plans the menus and figures what the com- missary requires. This should be done by all the Scouts, not by the Scoutmaster. Contrast with this well-organized expedition the first overnight hike the Scout made. Too much or too little food, too many or too few blankets, too far or too near the over-night camp. Then he was a Tenderfoot, now he is older in Scouting. CAMPING, in the second place, develops the growing sense of leadership. At this age the boy has a normal desire to lead, and every Scout should be given the right to a certain amount of authority in some definite field of activity. Seasoned Scouts and Scoutmasters recognize the ability of others in particular .lines of work and respect this leadership.

566 The Improvement Era for June, 1930 I visited another Troop in camp, and was amused, and pained, to see the Scoutmaster cooking hot- cakes for twenty boys. This in- dicated a one-man camp and re- sulted in a group of Scouts each waiting for the Scoutmaster to do the work. Had each Scout taken part in the preliminary plans there would have been more than one small frying pan in that camp. Camps are zones of discovery, for latent skill and talent is found in both leader and boy. Utiliza- tion of these heretofore unknown abilities makes a happy and har- monious camp. The making of little contrivances around the mess to shorten labor, and to dispose of waste, all call for ingenuity and inventiveness. The Troop which undertook to square a number of pine logs that it might have a real kitchen table little knew the labor involved, but when finished had accumulated a store of experience (and blisters) . PATIENCE and sympathy should be a part of the normal make-up of every person, particu- larly in camp. Man and boy must each have patience over the short- comings of the other and a ready sympathy extended when it will help. Poor little hiker, burdened with a heavy pack, bravely stum- bling onward without a whimper! A real Patrol Leader notices how he silently suffers and without a word to attract the attention of others relieves him of part of the load. A real Camp educates in social- mindedness, for we live for a while in a large area in a restricted man- ner. Six, eight, ten sleeping in a space too small to make a real clothes closet at home. Beds on a pile of pine boughs, personal pos- sessions on the bed or in a flour sack. The respect of property rights learned in the earlier hiking days now comes in full play. The Scout must learn to adjust himself to the group, each member being the equal of every other member. He has certain rights and so has the other fellow, but the rights of either are not those of the home. What a camp was that where Scouts were always on the lookout for thoughtless transgressions of individual and community rights. The Scoutmaster looks back on that week as seven days of con- stant intervention between warring lads. "^n^HAT though the wind blew cold, the wood was damp, and fingers were numb for a good part of the stay in camp, the days will always be remembered as joy- ous when Master and Scouts all played the game fairly and square- ly. Then, tired but happy, he re- turns to his home the gainer after his days in the open. His body is strengthened and can better meet the tasks of the following weeks. Health reigns supreme, he is charg- ed with vitality. His mind is en- larged through learning of many new things, and his spirit should appreciate more than ever the good- ness of God in giving such an op- portunity to re-create the body for better service. Briefer 's Indian Wife Dies (Continued on page 563) "After some days waiting he decided that his leg, which seemed to have been broken, was hardly likely to carry him for some weeks; so he thought it well to begin his journey by crawling. Fort Kiowa, (South Dakota) the nearest post on the Missouri, was over a hundred miles away. After weeks of well-nigh incredible hardships, he had succeeded in reaching the post." A detailed account of this story, in fact, a complete book, is given in a narrative poem by Neihardt, "The Song of Hugh Glass." Glass followed Bridger's companion, fully expecting to avenge himself, but upon meeting the trapper whom he had known before the experience, forgave him, as he did Jim. The story is also briefly told on pages 86, 87 of "Ashley-Smith Explorations," by Dale. It is given again by Chitten- den, "American Fur Trade," Vol. 2, p. 698. Another story of Bridger and Ashley follows: Beckwourth says that at Fort Lookout the trap- pers met Joshua Pilcher, who man- ifested his good will toward Ash- ley by making him a present of a large "grizzly bear for a play thing. And a pretty plaything we found him before we were done with him. He was made fast with a chain to the cargo box on deck, and seemed to think himself cap- tain; at any rate, he was more im- perious in his orders than a Com- modore on a foreign station. He would suffer no one on deck, and seemed literally to apply the poet's words to himself, '1 am monarch of all I survey, My right there is none to dispute.' " L,ATER, upon reach- ing St. Louis, Beckwourth adds: "After the peltry was all landed and scored, the bear still occupied his station. Hundreds were yet gazing at him, many of whom had never seen one of the kind before. The general said to me, 'James, how, under the sun, are we to get that animal off the boat?' I, having a few glasses of 'artificial courage' to back me, felt exceedingly valorous, and thought myself able to throw a mill- stone across the Mississippi. Accordingly, I volun- teered to bring him ashore. I procured a light stick, walked straight up to the bear, and, speaking very sharply to him (as he had to us all the way down the river) , deliberately unfastened his chain. He looked me in the eyes for a moment, and, giving a low whine, dropped his head. I led him off the boat along a staging prepared for the purpose, the crowd instantly falling back to a respect- able distance. Landing him without ac- cident, the general wished me to lead him to the residence of Major Biddle, distant a quarter of a mile from the landing. Courageous as ever, I led him on, though some of the time he would lead his leader, Bruin often looked around at the crowd that was following up at a prudent distance behind. I arrived safely at the residence and made Grizzly fast to an apple tree that stood there. I had scarcely got to the length of the chain, when he made a furious spring at me; the chain, very fortunately, was a strong one, and held him fast. "I then called at the major's house, and, delivering our general's compliments to him, informed him he had sent a pet for his acceptance. He inquired what kind of a pet and, taking him to the tree where I had made fast the bear, I showed the huge beast to him. The major almost quaked with fear. While we stood look- ing at him, a small pig happened to pass near the bear, when Grizzly dealt him such a blow with his paw that he left him not a whole bone in his body, and piggy fell dead out of the bear's reach. "The Major invited me in, and, setting out some of his best, I drank his health according to the custom of those days, and left to rejoin my companions." Harrison Clifford Dale, who quotes Beckwourth, was Professor of Political Science in the Univer- sity of Wyoming, located at Lara- mie. He gives the story without comment. There is little doubt but what Beckwourth, filled with liquor, may have performed just such a fool-hardy feat.