"W. GiBson Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from Microsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/campingforboysOOgibsrich The Heart of the Camp Photograph by Joseph Legg. Have you smelled wood smoke at Iwilighl? Have you heard the birch log burning? Are you quick to read the noises of the night ? You must follow with the others, for the young men's feci arc turning To the camps of proved desire and known delight. From Kipling's "Feet of the Young Men. " CAMPING FOR BOYS H. W. GIBSON ASSOCIATION PRESS New York. 19H ^^' ^u^ fe Copyright, 191 1, by the International Committee of Young Men's Christian Associations / TO THE THOUSAND AND MORE BOYS WHO HAVE BEEN MY CAMP MATES IN CAMPS SHAND, DURRELL AND BECKET 26068? CONTENTS PAGE Foreword 5 General Bibliography 6 I. The Purpose of Camping 7 II. Leadership 13 Bibliography (See General Bibliography) . 6 III. Location and Sanitation 25 Bibliography 36 IV. Camp Equipment 38 V. Personal Check List or Inventory 58 VI. Organization, Administration and Discipline . 66 VII. The Day's Program , 75 Bibliography 85 VIII. Moral and Eeligious Life 87 Bibliography 102 IX. Food 104 X. The Camp Fire 123 Bibliography 133 XI. Tramps, Hikes and Overnight Trips .... 135 XII. Cooking on Hikes 147 Bibliography 153 XIII. Health and Hygiene 155 Bibliography 167 XIV. Simple Eemedies 168 XV. First Aid 175 XVI. Personal Hygiene 201 XVII. Athletics, Campus Games, Aquatics and Water Sports 209 Bibliography 229 XVIII. Nature Study 231 Bibliography 238 XIX. Forecasting the Weather 240 Bibliography 245 XX. Rainy Day Games 247 Bibliography 255 XXI. Educational Activities 257 Bibliography 278 XXII. Honor Emblems and Awards 279 XXIII. Packing Up 289 Index 293 FOREWOED. The author has conducted boys' camps for twenty-three years, so that he is not without expe- rience in the subject. To share with others this ex- perience has been his aim in writing the book. The various chapters have been worked out from a prac- tical viewpoint, the desire being to make a hand- book of suggestions for those in charge of camps for boys and for boys who go camping, rather than a theoretical treatise upon the general subject. Thanks are due to E. M. Robinson, Dr. Elias G. Brown, Charles R. Scott, Irving G. MacColl, J. A. Van Dis, Taylor Statten, W. H. Wones, H. C. Beck- man, W. H. Burger, H. M. Burr, A. B. Wegener, A. D. Murray, and H. M. Allen, for valuable sug- gestions and ideas incorporated in many chapters. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the follow- ing publishers for permission to quote from the books mentioned in the bibliography — Charles Scribner's Sons, Harper Brothers, Outing Pub- lishing Company, Baker & Taylor Company, Loth- rop, Lee & Shepard Company, Penn Publishing Company, Doubleday, Page & Company, Hinds, Noble & Eldredge, Ginn & Company, Sunday School Times Company, G. P. Putnam's Sons, Little, Brown & Company, Moffat, Yard & Company, Houghton, Mifidin Company, Sturgis & Walton, *? .«? A*-*" 6 FOEEWORD Funk & Wagnall's Company, The Manual Arts Press, Frederick Warne & Company, Review and Herald Publishing Company, Health-Education League, Pacific Press Publishing Company. Every leader, before going to camp, should read some book upon boy life, in order, not only that he may refresh his memory regarding his own boy- hood days, but that he may also the more intelli- gently fit himself for the responsibility of leadership. The following books, or similar ones, may be found in any well-equipped library. If this book will help some man to be of greater service to boys, as well as to inspire boys to live the noble life which God's great out-of-doors teaches, the author will feel amply repaid for his labor. Boston, Mass., April, 1911. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Boy-Life and Self-Government — Fiske. Association Press, $1.00. Boy-Training — Symposium. Association Press, $1.00. Youth — Hall. Appleton and Company, $1.50. Winning the Boy — Merrill. Revell and Company, $0.75. The Boy ProbZem— Forbush. Pilgrim Press, $1.00. Up Through Childhood — Hubbell. Putnam and Company, $1.25. Growth and Education — Tyler. Houghton, Mifflin Company, $1.50. Suggestive Articles on "Camping" in "Association Boys": A Course in Camping — Edgar M. Robinson. Feb., 1902. The Sanitary Care of a Boys' Camp — Elias G. Brown, M.D. April and June, 1902. Seventeen Seasons in One Boys* Camp — G. G. Peck. April, 1902. Association Boys' Camps — Edgar M. Robinson. June, 1902. Following Up Camp — Editorial. October, 1902. What Men Think of Camp — Edgar M. Robinson. June, 1903. Fun Making at Camp^C. B. Horton. June, 1903. Educational Possibilities at Camp — F. P. Speare. June, 1903. Bible Study at Camp — Raymond P. Kaighn. June, 1903. Simple Remedies at Camp — Elias G. Brown, M.D. June, 1903. Tuxis System—K. L. Smith. April, 1904. Life at Camp Dudley — Raymond P. Kaighn. June, 1905. Life-Saving Crew — F. H. T. Ritchie. June, 1905. Summer Camps — Frank Streightoff. June, 1905. Wawayanda Camp — Chas. R. Scott. June, 1907. Objectives in Camps for Boya — Walter M. Wood. June, 1907. CHAPTER I THE PURPOSE OF CAMPING VACATION TIME— NEED OF OUTDOOR LIFE— PUR- POSE OF CAMPING— ^^ TOO MUCH HOUSE ^'— A QUERY— APOSTLES OF OUTDOOR LIFE— HEED- ING NATURE'S CALL— CHARACTER BUILDING- CAMP MOTTOES—* ' ROUGH-HOUSE ' ' CAMPS- BOY SCOUTS— INFLUENCE OF CAMP LIFE It is great fun to live in the glorious open air, fragrant with the smell of the woods and flowers; it is fun to swim and fish and hike it over the hills; it is fun to sit about the open fire and spin yarns, or watch in silence the glowing em- bers; but the greatest fun of all is to win the love and con- fidence of some boy who has been a trouble to himself and everybody else, and help him to become a man. — H. M. Burr, The summer time is a period of moral deteriora- tion with most boys. Free from restraint of school and many times of home, boys wander during the vacation time into paths of wrongdoing largely be- cause of a lack of directed play life and a natural outlet for the expenditure of their surplus energy. The vacation problem therefore becomes a serious one for both the boy and his parent. Camping offers a solution. ^^A boy in the process of growing needs the out- doors. He needs room and range. He needs the 7 8 CAMPING FOR BOYS tonic of the hills, the woods and streams. He needs to walk under the great sky, and com- The Need mune with the stars. He needs to place himself where nature can speak to him. He ought to get close to the soil. He ought to be toughened by sun and wind, rain and cold. Noth- ing can take the place, for the boy, of stout phy- sique, robust health, good blood, firm muscles, sound nerves, for these are the conditions of char- acter and efficiency. The early teens are the most important years for the boy physically. . . . Through the ages of thirteen and fifteen the more he can be in the open, free from social engagements and from continuous labor or study, the better. He should fish, swim, row and sail, roam the woods and the waters, get plenty of vigorous action, have in- teresting, healthful things to think about." — Prof, C, W. Votaw, This is the real purpose of camping — ** something to do, something to think about, something to en- joy in the woods, with a view always to character- building'' — this is the way Ernest The Purpose Thompson-Seton, that master wood- craftsman, puts it. Character build- ing! What a great objective! It challenges the best that is in a man or boy. Camping is an experi- ence, not an institution. It is an experience which every live, full-blooded, growing boy longs for, and happy the day of his realization. At the first sign of spring, back yards blossom forth with tents of endless variety. To sleep out, to cook food, to search for nature's fascinating secrets, to make THE PURPOSE OF CAMPING 9 things — all are but the expression of that in- stinct for freedom of living in the great out-of- doors which God created within him. ^^Too much house/' says Jacob Riis; ^^Civilization has been making of the world a hothouse. Man's in- stinct of self-preservation rebels; hence the ap- peal for the return to the simple life that is grow- ing loud." Boys need to get away from the school- room and books, and may 1 say Too Much House the martyrdom of examinations, high marks, promotions and ex- hibitions ! Medical examinations of school children reveal some startling facts. Why should boys suf- fer from nerves? Are we sacrificing bodily vigor for abnormal intellectual growth? Have we been fighting against instead of cooperating with nature? The tide is turning, however^ and the people are living more and more in the open. Apostles of out- door life like Henry D. Thoreau, John Burroughs, William Hamilton Gibson, Howard Henderson, Er- nest Thompson-Seton, Frank Beard, Horace Kep- hart, Edward Breck, Charles Stedman Hanks, Stew- art Edward White, ''Nessmuck," W. C. Gray, and a host of others, have, through their writings, ar- rested the thought of busy people long enough to have them see the error of their ways and are bring- ing them to repentance. Camps for boys are springing up like mushrooms. Literally thousands of boys who have heretofore wasted the glorious summer time loafing on the city streets, or as disastrously at summer hotels or amusement places, are now living during the vaca- 10 CAMPING FOE BOYS tion time under nature's canopy of blue with only enough covering for protection from rain and wind, and absorbing through the pores of their body that vitality which only pure air, sunshine, long hours of sleep, wholesome food, and reasonable discipline can supply. In reading over scores of booklets and prospec- tuses of camps for boys, one is impressed with their unanimity of purpose — that of Character Building character building. These are a few quotations taken from a variety of camp booklets : '*The object of the camp is healthful recreation without temptation. '^ ^'A camp where boys live close to nature, give themselves up to play, acquire skill in sports, eat plenty of wholesome food, and sleep long hours . . . and are taught high ideals for their own lives. *' *^To give boys a de- lightful summer outing under favorable conditions, and to give them every opportunity to become fa- miliar with camp life in all its phases. We believe this contributes much to the upbuilding of a boy's character and enables him to get out of life much enjoyment that would not otherwise be possible." ''A place where older boys, boys of the restless age, may live a happy, care-free, outdoor life, free from the artificialities and pernicious influences of the larger cities"; a place where ^'all the cravings of a real boy are satisfied"; a place ^' where constant association with agreeable companions and the in- fluence of well-bred college men in a clean and THE PURPOSE OF CAMPING 11 healthy moral atmosphere make for noble manhood ; a place where athletic sports harden the muscles, tan the skin, broaden the shoulders, brighten the eye, and send each lad back to his school work in the fall ^as brown as a berry and as hard as nails.' " "A camp of ideals, not a summer hotel nor a sup- planter of the home. The principal reason for its existence is the providing of a safe place for par- ents to send their boys during the summer vacation, where, under the leadership of Christian men, they may be developed physically, mentally, socially, and morally. ' ' AVhether the camp is conducted under church, settlement, Young Men's Christian Association, or private ausprices, the prime purpose of its existence should be that of character building. ^^ Because of natural, physical, social, educational, moral, and religious conditions, the boy is taught those underlying principles which determine char- acter. The harder things a boy does or endures, the stronger man he will become; the more unselfish and noble things he does, the better man he will become." The day of the extreme ^* rough-house" camp has passed. Boys have discovered that real fun does not mean hurting or discom- No Rough-house f orting others, but consists in making others happy. The boy who gets the most out of camp is the boy who puts the most into camp. Many camps build their program of camp activ- 12 CAMPING FOR BOYS ities around a motto such as ''Each for All, and All for Each," ''Help the Other Fellow,'' Mottoes "Do Your Best," "Nothing Without La- bor," "A Gentleman Always," and "I Can and I "Will." Endurance, self-control, self-reliance, and unsel- fishness are taught the "Boy Scouts" through what is called the "Scout Law." (1) A Scout's honor is to be trusted; (2) Be loyal; (3) Do a Scout Law good turn to somebody every day; (4) Be a friend to all; (5) Be courte- ous; (6) Be a friend to animals; (7) Be obedient; (8) Be cheerful; (9) Be thrifty. All these are val- uable, because they contribute to the making of character. In the conduct of a boys' camp there must be a definite clear-cut purpose if satisfactory results are to be obtained. A go-as-you-please or do-as-you- please camp will soon become a place of harm and moral deterioration. Camping should give to the boy that self-reliance which is so essential in the making of a life, that faith in others which is the foundation of society, that spirit of altruism which will make him want to be of service in helping other fellows, that con- sciousness of God as evidenced in His Results handiwork which will give him a basis of morality, enduring and reasonable, and a spirit of reverence for things sacred and eternal. He ought to have a better appreciation of his home after a season away from what should be to him the sweetest place on earth. CHAPTER II LEADERSHIP THE DIRECTOR— ASSISTANT LEADERS— THE TERM LEADER— HOW TO GET LEADERS— VARIETY OF TALENT— SUGGESTIONS TO LEADERS— OPPOR- TUNITY OF LEADERSHIP The success or failure of a boys' camp depends upon leadership rather than upon equipment. Boys are influenced by example rather than by precept. A boys' camp is largely built around a strong per- sonality. Solve the problem of leadership, and you solve the greatest problem of camping. No matter how large or how small the camp, there must be one who is in absolute control. He may be known as the director, superintendent, or leader. His word is final. He should be a man of executive ability and good common sense. He should have a keen appreciation of justice. A desire to be the friend and counsellor of every boy The Director must always govern his action. He will always have the interest and welfare of every individual boy at heart, realizing that parents have literally turned over to his care and keeping, for the time being, the bodies and souls of their boys. To be respected should be his aim. Too often the desire to be popular leads to failure. 13 14 CAMPING FOR BOYS Aim to secure as assistant leaders or counsellors young men of unquestioned character and Leaders moral leadership, college men if possible, men of culture and refinement, who are good athletes, and who understand boy life. ^'They should be strong and sympathetic, com- panionable men. Too much care cannot be exer- cised in choosing assistants. Beware of effeminate men, men who are morbid in sex matters. An alert leader can spot a 'crooked' man by his actions, his glances, and by his choice of favorites. Deal with a man of this type firmly, promptly, and quietly. Let him suddenly be * called home by circumstances which he could not control.' " The leader must have the loyalty of his assistants. They should receive their rank from the leader, and this rank should be recognized by the entire camp. The highest rank- ing leader present at any time should have author- ity over the party. In a boys' camp I prefer the term ''leader" to that of "counsellor." It is more natural for a boy to follow a leader than to listen to wise counsellors. "Come on, fellows, let's " meets with hearty response. "Boys, do this," is an entirely different thing. Leaders should hold frequent councils re- garding the life of the camp and share in deter- mining its policy. The most fruitful source of supply of leaders should be the colleges and preparatory schools. No vacation can be so profitably spent as that given over to the leadership of boy life. Here is a form of altruistic service which should appeal to pur- LEADERSHIP 15 poseful college men. Older high school boys who have been campers make excellent leaders of younger boys. A leader should always receive some remuneration for his services, either carfare and board or a fixed sum of money definitely agreed upon beforehand. The pay should never be so large that he will look upon his position as a *^job.'' Never cover service with the blinding attractive- ness of money. The chief purpose of pay should be to help deepen the sense of responsibility, and prevent laxness and indifference, as well as to gain the services of those who must earn something. Do not take a man as leader simply because he has certificates of recommendation. Know him personally. Find out what he is capable of doing. The following blank I use in securing information: Leader *s Information Blank, Camps Durrell and BecTcet Name Address College or school Class of Do you sing? What part (tenor or bass) ? Do you swim? Do you play baseball? What position? Do you play an instrument? What? Will you bring it (unless piano) and music to camp ? Have you won any athletic or aquatic events ? What ? Will you bring your school or college pennant with you ? Have you ever taken part in minstrel show, dramatics, or any kind of entertainment ; if so, what ? What is your hobby ? (If tennis, baseball, swimming, nature study, hiking, photog- raphy, athletics, etc., whatever it is, kindly tell about it in order to help in planning the camp activities.) a, ^ ^ e •^ ^ I6 LEADEESHIP 17 Leaders should not be chosen in order to secure a baseball team, or an athletic team. Select men of diverse gifts. One should know something about nature study, another about manual training, anoth- er a good story-teller, another a good athlete or baseball player, another a good swimmer, another a musician, etc. Always remember, however, that the chief qualification should be moral worth. Before camp opens it is a wise plan to send each leader a letter explaining in detail the purpose and program of the camp. A letter like the following is sent to the leaders of Camps Durrell and Becket. Suggestions to Camp Leaders. Read and Re-Read. The success of a boys' camp depends upon the hearty cooperation of each leader with the superin- tendent. The boys will imitate you. A smile is always better than a frown. ''Kicking" in the pres- ence of boys breeds discontent. Loyalty to the cam^p and its management is absolutely necessary if there is to be harmony in the camp life. Your per- sonal life will either be a blessing or a hindrance to the boys in your tent. Study each boy Personal in your tent. Win his confidence. De- termine to do your best in being a genu- ine friend of each boy. Remember in prayer daily each boy and your fellow leaders. Emphasize the camp motto, ''Each for all, and all for each." Study the "tests" on pages 8 and 9 of the booklets, and be helpful to the boys in your tent who are 18 CAMPING FOR BOYS ambitious to improve and win the honor emblems. Neatness and cleanliness must be the Tents watchword of each tent. Sweets draw ants. Decayed material breeds disease. Insist upon the observance of sanitary rules. It is unwise to have all the boys from one town or city in one tent. The tendency is to form clans, which destroy camp spirit. Get the fellows together the first thing and choose a tent name and tent yells. Appoint a boy who will be responsible for the boys and the tent when you are not present. Too much attention cannot be given to the matter of ventilation. When it rains, use a forked stick to hold the flaps open in the form of a diamond. In clear weather, tie one flap back at each end (flap toward the feet), allowing a free draft of air at all times. On rainy days encourage the boys to spend their time in the pavillion. Whenever possible, in- sist upon tent and blankets being thoroughly aired each morning. Three inspectors will be appointed for each day; fifteen minutes' notice will be given and boys will not be allowed in or around their tents during the period of inspection. Leaders may suggest but not participate in arranging the tent. The Honor Banner is to be given to the tent showing the best condition and held as long as marks are highest. The U. S. V. L. S. C. crews in boats will patrol whenever the boys are in swimming, and the lead- er of swimming must give the signal before boys LEADERSHIP 19 go into the water. Boys who cannot Swimming swim should be encouraged to learn. The morning dip must be a dip and not a swim. No boats are to be taken unless an order has been issued by the tent leader (or by the super- Boats intendent). The man at the wharf always has power to veto orders at his discretion. It is the leader's part to see that the order of the day is carried out and on time, in- Order of Day eluding the setting up drill. (See Camp Booklet.) '' Follow the leader" is an old game which is still influencing boys. Three tents and their leaders are responsible for the work at camp, and will be expected to Work report to the assistant superintendent after breakfast for assignment of work. These tents are changed each day, so that the boys and leaders come on duty only one day in seven. Each tent is under its respective leader in doing the following work: Tent 1. Sanitary work, such as policing the cam- pus, emptying garbage cans, sweep- ing the pavillion, disinfecting, etc. Tent 2. Preparing vegetables for the cook, dry- ing dishes, pots, pans, cleaning up the kitchen, piazza, etc. Tent 3. Cleaning the boats, supplying wood for the kitchen, putting ice in the refrig- erator, etc. 20 CAMPING FOR BOYS The next day Tents 4, 5, and 6 will come on duty, and so on until each tent has been on duty during the week. Leaders for the day will call the squad together after breakfast and explain the day's plans. En- courage the boys to do this work cheerfully. Lead, do not drive the boys when working. Not more than three hours should be consumed in camp work. Bring rule books on athletics. Study up group games. Bring any old clothes for costumes; tam- bourines and bones for minstrel show, grease paint, and burnt cork — in fact, anything that you think will add to the fun of the Sports and Pastimes camp. Good stories and jokes are always in demand. Bring something interesting to read to your boys on rainy days. Think out some stunt to do at the so- cial gatherings. If you play an instrument, be sure to bring it along with you. Encourage the boys to turn their money Bank and railroad tickets over to the camp banker instead of depositing them with you. Meetings of the leaders will be held at the call of the superintendent. Matters talked over at the council meeting should not be talked over with the boys. All matters of discipline or Camp Council anything that deals with the wel- fare of the camp should be brought up at this meeting. Printed report blanks will be given to each leader to be filled out and handed to the assistant superintendent each Thursday morn- ing. Do not show these reports to the boys. LEADERSHIP 21 Each leader will be expected to read to the boys in his tent a chapter from the Bible and have prayers before ^Haps" each night, also to take his turn in leading the morning devotions Bible Study at breakfast table. Groups of boys will meet for occasional Bible study at sunset under various leaders. Each session will continue twenty minutes — no longer. Sunday morn- ing service will be somewhat formal in character, with an address. The sunset vesper service will be informal. Praying that the camp may prove a place where leaders and boys may grow in the best things of life and anticipating an outing of pleasure and profit to you, I am Your friend. In securing men for leadership, impress upon them the many opportunities for the investment of their lives in the kind of work that Opportunities builds character. In reading over a small folder, written by George II. Hogeman of Orange, N. J., I was so impressed with his excellent presentation of this theme of opportunities of leadership that the following is quoted in preference to anything I could write upon the subject: ''The opportunity of the boys' camp leader is, first, to engage in the service that counts most largely in securing the future welfare of those who will soon be called upon to carry on the work that we are now engaged in. Most people are so busy 22 CAMPING FOE BOYS with their own present enjoyment and future suc- cess that they pay little heed to the future of others. They may give some thought to the present need of those around them because it more or less directly affects themselves, but the work of char- acter building in boys' camps is one that shows its best results in the years to come rather than in the immediate present. *^In the second place, the opportunity comes to the camp leader to know boys as few other people know them, sometimes even better than their own parents know them. When you live, eat, sleep with a boy in the open, free life of camp for a month or so, you come in contact with him at vastly more points than you do in the more restrained home life, and you see sides of his nature that are seldom seen at other times. ^^ Finally, the opportunity is given to the man who spends his vacation in camp to make the time really count for something in his own life and in the lives of others. To how many does vacation really mean a relaxation, a letting down of effort along one line, without the substitution of anything definite in its place ! But he must be a dull soul, indeed, who can come to the right kind of boys' camp and not go away with his muscles harder, his eye brighter, his digestion better, and his spirit more awake to the things that pertain to the Kingdom of God. '*Then again the camp leader must have the abil- ity to forget himself in others. Nowhere can the real play spirit be entered into more completely than in camp life. A watchman is the last thing he LEADEESHIP 23 must be. That spirit of unselfishness which forgets its own personal pleasure in doing the most for the general good, is the ideal camp spirit. As Lowell puts it in the Vision of Sir Launfal, it is Not what we give, but what we share, For the gift without the giver is bare. ^ * The results of all these points which I have men- tioned are some very positive things. One is the very best kind of a vacation that it is possible to have. How frequently we hear in response to the question about enjoying a vacation, 'Oh, yes, I had a good enough time, but I'll never go back there again.' To my mind that indicates either that the person does not know what a really good time is, or that his surroundings made a good time impos- sible. '' Another result of camp is the real friendships that last long after camping days are over. Of these I need not speak. You and I know of many such and what they mean in the development of Christian character in the lives of our men and boys. And, after all, there is the greatest result ^ of all, the sense of confidence in the ultimate out- come that comes with having a share in the work of bringing others to the 'measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. ' ' ' * * The ideal life for a boy is not in the city. He should know of animals, rivers, plants, and that great out-of-door life that lays for him the foundation of his later years.'' — G. Stanley Hall PQ ?i4 S 24 CHAPTER III LOCATION AND SANITATION DIETY DIRT VS. CLEAN DIRT— AVOID SWAMPS— SE- LECTING A SITE— LAYING OUT THE CAMP GROUND — THE LATRINES — GARBAGE — DISH WATER— WASTE BARRELS— WATER SUPPLY— AN INDIAN METHOD— INDIVIDUAL DRINKING CUP- BOARD OF HEALTH— MAXIMS Clean camps are most easily kept by not allowing them to become dirty. '* Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Godliness means a right relation to things spiritual, cleanli- ness a right relation to things material. An old definition says that ^Dirt is merely misplaced mat- ter.' Of all the vehicles of disease, the most im- portant perhaps is dirt. The word dirt in its strict sense comes from the Anglo-Saxon *drit,' or excre- ment. 'Dirt,' then, is not earth or clean sand — not clean dirt, but dirty dirt, that is, matter soiled by some of the excreta of the human or animal body. Cleanliness must be insisted upon in a boys' Dirt camp — not the cleanliness that makes a boy squeamish about working with his hands upon some necessary job, but cleanliness that makes him afraid of sharing his tooth brush or table utensils or his clothes. Cleanliness is not the shunning of good, clean dirt, but a recognition of the fact that 25 26 CAMPING FOR BOYS to pass anything from one mouth to another is a pos- sible source of death and destruction.''^ ** Death to dirt'' should be the watchword of the camp. The camp should be a model of cleanliness. Every boy should be taught the value of good sanitation and encouraged to cooperate in making proper sanita- tion effective. The location chosen for a camp should be away from swamps. Avoid swampy and low places as you would a plague. Damp places where there are mosquitos, should be well drained, Avoid Swamps and open to an abundance of sun- shine. Mosquitos breed only in water, but a very little water is sufficient if it is dirty and stagnant. Two inches of water standing in an old tin can will breed an innumerable horde. These ''diminutive musicians" are not only a nuis- ance, but dangerous, as malaria and typhoid spread- ers by their poisonous stings. In selecting a camp site bear in mind these things : (1) A sandy sub-soil, with good drainage. Avoid very sandy soil; sand provides but little hold for tent pegs, and there is grave risk of damage should there come a gale. (2) An open campus, surrounded by hills or sheltering trees, and facing the water. (3) Plenty of good drinking water and The Site water for swimming. (4) Base from which supplies and provisions are to be drawn should be within convenient distance, not more than four miles away. (5) Camp should be away from civilization, far enough to be free from 1 Dr. Chas. E. A. Winslow — " Camp Conference," p. 58. LOCATION AND SANITATION 27 visitors and the temptation to *^go to town" on the part of the boys. Nothing demoralizes a boys' camp so quickly as proximity to a summer resort. Before opening the camp much thought and care should be given to its sanitary arrangement. First of all, the dryest section of the camp ground should be selected for the erection of the sleeping tents. Locate them where they will have the full benefit of the sunshine. Tents erected under trees are liable to mildew, for the want of sunshine, and the con- tents of the tent will soon get musty. Next in im- portance to the location of '^quarters'' is the loca- tion of the kitchen. This should be near the dining tent, so that the serving of food may be quick, and yet far enough away to insure that disagreeable odors will not destroy the pleasure of eating. If it is very near the sleeping tents the campers will be awakened too early by the chopping Arrangement of wood and the necessary noises made in preparation of the morning meal. It should be near water. This is very essen- tial for cooking and cleaning. In some of the large camps water is carried to the kitchen in pipes from near-by springs or pumped from wells of pure water. The dining quarters naturally should be located near the kitchen so that food may be served warm. Provision should be made for the protection of the boys from cold, wind, rain, and dampness while eating. The toilet should be located rather far away from the camp, and not in the direction from which the prevailing wind comes toward the camp. Make sure that it is on the line of opposite drainage 28 CAMPING FOR BOYS from the water used by the camp. The details of laying out a camp, erection of tents, etc., are given in another chapter. Particular precaution should be exercised in loca- tion and care of the toilets or latrines, even in a one-night camp. Neglect of this will mean disease. When on a one-night camp, dig a small pit which can be filled in again after use. If the camp is to be continued for a week or longer, dig a pit or trench about two or three feet deep and about eighteen inches wide, plant posts on each side of the trench, and eighteen inches above the ground level. Nail shaped seating on these posts. The number of seats will be determined by the size of the camping party. It is desirable to erect a six-foot canvas screen with an opening around the toilet. Dry earth should be sprinkled freely in the trench each time it is used. Also each morning sprinkle plenty of chloride of lime or some good, reliable disinfect- ant in the trench. Do not permit the throwing of paper about the toilet. Have a box in which paper is to be kept. Flies should be excluded by boxing up the sides of the seats and fastening a hinged lid upon the seats (see illustration). It is an advan- tage to admit the direct sunlight about the middle of the day because of its bactericidal action on dis- ease germs. In a permanent camp regular wooden closets should be built, with covered roof for pro- tection from rain and wind. The back of Latrines the closet should be arranged either by a hinged door or some other method so that the contents may be removed as often as LOCATION AND SANITATION 29 once a week. A wooden box on rollers placed be- neath the seats will facilitate removal. The seats should be scrubbed with hot water, sulpho-naphthol, or soap, daily. ^'Springfield Oval" type of toilet paper prevents unnecessary waste. In one camp the w^ater from a near-by brook is dammed and thus by gravity made to flow by a system of modern plumbing through the urinals and flush closets. This is ideal. Insist upon cleanliness. The cutting of initials and names upon the seats and woodwork should be considered a disgrace as well as a misde- meanor. Taboo the taking of books and papers to the toilet to read. It should be an imperative rule that no other place be used. A little carelessness will cause disagreeable as well as dangerous results. By way of reiteration: First, rigid prohibition of the pollution of the surface of the ground by the strictest rules, diligently enforced. Second, the pro- 30 CAMPING FOE BOYS vision of toilets or latrines of adequate size with proper precaution to prevent the dispersal of ex- creta by wind, flies, or other agencies. The latrines should be located a distance from camp but not so far as to offer temptation to pollution of the ground. Third, boys should be educated when on hikes or tramps in the old Mosaic Rule laid down in Deuter- onomy 23 : 12-14. Garbage, consisting chiefly of trimmings of meat and vegetables and the waste from the table, if stored in open buckets soon becomes offensive and is an ideal breeding place in warm weather for flies *'that drink of cesspools, dine at privy vaults, eat sputum and are likely to be the most familiar guests at the dinner table, sampling every article of food upon which they walk, leaving in their tracks dis- ease-producing germs which have adhered to their sticky feet where they have previously dined.'' De- clare war upon the *'fly who won't wipe his feet" by keeping the garbage in a covered Garbage galvanized-iron pail and dispose of it be- fore decomposition takes place. Wash and dry the pail after emptying. If the camp is lo- cated near a farm, give the garbage to the farmer. It is the natural food of swine or poultry. Where this is not possible, the garbage should be buried every day in the earth and covered with three or four inches of dirt. Another and better plan, es- pecially in a large camp, is the burning of the garbage and human excreta in an incinerator, such as the McCall. This is the method of the United States ^rmy. LOCATION AND SANITATION 31 Exercise caution in throwing aside tin cans. The vegetable matter remaining in the cans soon decays and attracts flies. Have a place where these cans may be buried with other refuse each day. Keep the ground surrounding the kitchen free from all kinds of garbage or refuse. Do not throw dirty dish water promiscuously upon the ground. Dig a trench and put the water in this trench. Sprinkle chloride of lime or a disin- fectant upon it each day. In a permanent camp a waste water well should be dug and lined with stone. The drain pipe should be laid from the kitchen to the well. This water soon disappears in the soil and does not become a nuisance. Make sure that the well is not in line with the water supply of the camp. A little potash or some washing soda dis- solved in the sink will help to keep the drain clean. Place barrels in different parts of the camp for refuse and scraps. A coat of whitewash or white paint will make them conspicuous. In one camp the following suggestive bit of verse was painted on the waste barrels: Bavenous Barrel I am all mouth and vacuum I never get enough, So cram me full of fruit peels, Old papers, trash and stuff. Epicurean Barrel O, how sorry I feel for a boy Who litters clean places with trash, Who throws away papers and fruit peels Which form my favorite hash. 32 CAMPING FOR BOYS These barrels should be set upon two strips of wood placed parallel. This per- Waste Barrels mits the air to pass beneath the barrel and keeps its bottom from decaying by contact with the ground. The barrels should be emptied daily and the trash burned. A dirty, carelessly kept, untidy camp will make discipline and order very difficult to attain and the influence will soon be noticed in the careless per- sonal habits of the boys. There is an educational and moral value in cleanliness which is second only to that of good health. Dr. Charles E. A. Winslow, the noted biologist, is authority for the following statement:^ ''The source of danger in water is always human or ani- mal pollution. Occasionally we find water which is bad to drink on account of minerals dissolved on its way through the ground or on account of passage through lead pipes, but the danger is never from ordinary decomposing vegetable matter. If you have to choose between a bright, clear stream which may be polluted at some point above, and a pond full of dead leaves and peaty matter, but which you can inspect all around and find free from contam- ination, choose the pond. Even in the woods it is not easy to find surface waters that are surely pro- tected, and streams particularly are dangerous sources of water supply. We have now got rid of the idea that running water purifies itself. It is standing water which purifies itself, if anything, for in stagnation there is much more chance for the ^ * "Camp Conference," p. 61. _. LOCATION AND SANITATION 33 disease germs to die out. Better than either a pond or stream, unless you can carry out a rather careful exploration of their surroundings, is ground water from a well or spring; though that again is not necessarily safe. If the well is in Water Supply good sandy soil with no cracks or fissures, even water that has been polluted may be well purified and made safe to drink. In a clayey or rocky region, on the other hand, contaminating material may travel for con- siderable distance under ground. Even if your well is protected below, a very important point to look after is the pollution from the surface. I believe more cases of typhoid fever from wells are due to surface pollution than to the character of the water itself. This is a danger which can, of course, be done away with by protection of the well from sur- face drainage, by seeing that the surface wash is not allowed to drain toward it and that it is pro- tected by a tight covering from the entrance of its own waste water. If good water cannot be secured in any of these ways, the water must be puri- fied. It has been said that what we desire in water supply is innocence and not repentance ; but if you cannot get pristine innocence, you can, at least, se- cure works meet for repentance and make the water safe, by filtering through either a Pasteur or a Berkefeld filter — either of those filters will take out bacteria, while no other filters that I know of will — or by various chemical disinfectants, not any of them very satisfactory — or, best of all, by boiling, which will surely destroy all disease germs." 34 CAMPING FOE BOYS Indians had a way of purifying water from a pond or swamp by digging a hole about one foot across and down about six inches below the water level, a few feet from the pond. After it had filled with water, they bailed it out quickly, repeating the bailing process about three times. After the third bailing the hole would fill with filtered water. Try it. Insist upon the boys bringing to camp a supply of inexpensive paper cups or col- Drinking Cups lapsible pocket drinking cups. Filthy and dangerous diseases are not unfrequently transmitted by the use of a com- mon drinking cup. Paper Drinking Cup, Take a piece of clean paper about 6 inches square and fold it on the dotted lines, as shown in Figure 1, so as to make a triangle. Do not use paper hav- ing anything printed on it, as there is danger of poison from the ink. The other folds are made in the dotted lines, as shown in Figure 2. Each pointed end of the triangle is turned over on one side, as shown in Figure 3, then the sheets of the remaining points are separated and each one folded down on its respective side. This practical idea is furnished by R. H. Lufkin in Popular Mechanics for February, 1911. Boys should be encouraged to cooperate in keep- ing the camp clean. A Board of Health may be organized, to be composed of an equal number of boys and camp leaders with the camp physician, or LOCATION AND SANITATION 35 Flo I Fig ^ Fic a Rg 4 S P/^PETi "DniNf^iNc Cu p. director of the camp as chairman. The duties of the board will be to inspect Board of Health daily the toilets, sinks, and drains, the water supply, the garbage disposal and waste barrels; condemn everything that is unsanitary, and correct all sanitary disor- ders. The board will also arrange for a series of talks upon "Sanitation and Health," such as Sunshine and Health Johnnie and the Microbes Dirt and Cleanliness Fresh Air Flies and Filth Health — Its Value and Its Cost 36 CAMPING FOE BOYS Have the boys write essays upon these subjects and give credits or points for original interpreta- tion, accuracy of report of talk given, and observ- ance and correction of sanitary disorders. Maxims Clean up as you go. Sunshine and dryness are great microbe killers. It is better to keep clean, than to get clean. Dirt, dampness and disease can often be avoided by decency, dryness and determination. Uncleanness is at the root of many of the evils which cause suffering and ill health. Fire is the best disinfectant. Typhoid fever and cholera are carried by dirty habits, by dirty water and dirty milk. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Camp Sanitation — Review and Herald Pub. Assn., Washington, D. C, 6 cents. A twelve-page folder of useful hints on what to do and what not to do. Wastes and Their Disposal — Henry J. Barnes, M.D. Health-Education League, Boston, Mass., 4 cents. An authoritative booklet written by the Pro- fessor of Hygiene, Tufts Medical School. This League publishes a num- ber of very valuable and comprehensive booklets on health subjects. Good Health — Francis Gulich Jewett. Ginn and Co., 40 cents. Gives detail instruction in matters of health and hygiene. Prepared especially for younger people. Health — B. Franklin Richards. Pacific Press Pub. Co., $1.00. Written in language easily understood and filled with sensible suggestions. 37 CHAPTER IV CAMP EQUIPMENT ADVANCE PARTY— PLAN OF CAMP GROUNDS— A MEASURING DEVICE— SETTING UP A WALL TENT— GUYING THE TENT— TRENCHING— PEG WISDOM— INTERIOR TENT CONVENIENCES- HOW TO MAKE A TEPEE— TENT WISDOM- SLEEPING ON THE GROUND— A ^^HIP HOLE^^— HOW TO KEEP WARM— MAKING A BED— DOUBLE- DECK BUNKS— BLANKETS— PILLOWS— KITCHEN WARE— TABLE WARE— TABLE TOPS— A ' ' HORSE ' ' IDEA— PERMANENT BUILDINGS— SURVEYING- HOME-MADE INSTRUMENTS— CAMP SURVEY The greatest help after all is to take the children back to the garden that the Lord God planted. A boy must learn to sleep under the open sky and to tramp ten miles through the rain if he wants to be strong. He must learn what sort of men it was who made America, and he must not get into this fuss and flurry of our American civilization and think that patent leather shoes and white kid gloves are necessary for the salvation of his life. — Edward Everett Hale. Selecting a camp site and general directions for the laying out of the camp grounds is treated very fully in the chapter on Camp Sanitation, so that this chapter will be devoted to methods that to the experienced camper may seem trite, but which the novice will appreciate. 38 CAMP EQUIPMENT 39 O DD lAYlwG OUT R CAM'P If the camp is a large one it is usually customary to send an advance party several days ahead to erect the tents and get the camp in readiness for the larger party. The successful Advance Party management of a camp depends very much upon placing the tents in such a position as to give plenty of room and yet be compact. When tents are scattered the difficulty of control is increased. The following is a sug- gestion for the laying out of a camp which provides for room and control. 40 CAMPING FOE BOYS The following hints will help the advance party to lay out the camp in a systematic and scientific man- ner. To find the right angle of the camp square, drive a peg at A, another 3 feet Plan of Grounds distant at B; attach a 5-foot cord from the peg at B, and a 4- foot cord from the peg at A. The point at which the two cords meet at C, where another peg may be driven in, will be the line at right angles to B-A, 5-:.' KlCMT /»NCLE or C/>MP SQUARE. The illustrations below show a device by which a camp, baseball grounds, running track, tennis court or any distance may be quickly and accurately measured. The first thing to do is to get an inch board and cut a round disc (a) about 12 inches in diameter. Cut two of them and tack them together. The diagram ^'b'' is easier to Measuring Device cut out and will serve the pur- pose just as well. When the two are temporarily tacked together, bore a hole through the centre for the axle. The eight spokes should be of light material and not too pointed or CAMP EQUIPMENT 41 they will sink in the ground and prevent accuracy. The spokes are tacked on one disc as shown in ^^c" and then the other disc is nailed on the outside. picuRe fjcore C A Neasorinc Device Paint the end of one spoke red, so that you can count it every time it comes around. By having the points that touch the ground exactly 9 inches apart one revolution of the wheel will measure six feet. For an axle use a small piece of broom handle, and 42 CAMPING FOE BOYS for a handle use a long light pole. By varying the length of the spokes you can make the wheel meas- ure any desired distance. The line of the camp having been laid out, the next thing is the erection of the tents. The best way of setting up a wall tent (either the 12 x Wall Tent 14 or 14 x 16 size), the type used in most of the boys' camps, is the method used by the army and described in Kephart's ^^Book of Camping and Woodcraft.'' Four boys or men proceed as follows: Nos. 1 and 2 procure can- vas, and Nos. 3 and 4 the poles. Nos. 3 and 4 lay the ridge pole on the ground, in the direction that the tent is to stand; then lay the uprights at each end of ridge-pole and at right angles to it, on the side opposite that from which the wind blows. Then drop the tent pins and hammers at their respective ends of the tent ; then drive a pin at each end of the ridge to mark front and rear. Meanwhile Nos. 1 and 2 unroll the tent and spread it out over the ridge-pole and on both sides of it. Nos. 1 and 3 now go to the rear, and Nos. 2 and 4 to the front, and slip the pins of the uprights through the ridge-pole and tent. If a fly is used, it is placed in position over the tent, and the loops of the long guys over the front and rear pole pins. No. 4 secures center (door) loops over center pin in front, and No. 1 in rear. Each goes to his corner, No. 1 right rear. No. 2 right front, No. 3 left rear, No. 4 left front, All draw bottom of tent taut and square, the CAMP EQUIPMENT 43 front and rear at right angles to the ridge, and fasten it with pins through the corner loops, then S%TOH Tepee. TCklT NADS or A"Ft.V " W^tt Tent stepping outward two paces from the corner, and a pace to the front (Nos. 2 and 4) or rear (Nos. 1 and 3) each securely sets a long pin, over which is 44 CAMPIlSrG FOE BOYS passed the extended corner guy rope. Care must be taken that the tent is properly squared and pinned to the ground at the door and four corners before raising it. Nos. 1 and 3 now go to the rear, and Nos. 2 and 4 to the front pole, and raise the tent to a con- venient height from the ground, when Nos. 2 and 3 enter and seize their respective poles, and all to- gether raise the tent until the upright poles are vertical. While Nos. 2 and 3 support the poles, Nos. 1 and 4 tighten the corner guys, beginning on the windward side. The tent being thus tempo- rarily secured, all set the guy pins and fasten the guy ropes, Nos. 1 and 2 to the right, Nos. 3 and 4 left, and then set the wall pins. To prevent the upright poles from sinking in the ground under the pressure of the canvas, place a fiat stone or piece of wood under the pole. One of the troubles with tents is their remarkable proclivity for tightening and slackening with the varying conditions of the weather. This means a constant loosening or tightening of the guy ropes, and the longer the guy ropes Guying the Tent the more they will shrink or stretch according as they are wet or dry. This may be overcome to some extent by using very heavy corner posts securely driven into the ground and spiking a pole across them, and very short guy ropes fastening to this pole. (See il- lustration.) A shower, or even ordinary dew, will cause the canvas to shrink, therefore be sure to CAMP EQUIPMENT 45 slacken the guys, or you may have a torn tent or broken ridge pole. Dig a trench around the tent and do it before you have to. If you have ever gotten Trenching out in the middle of the night when the rain was coming down in torrents, to dig a ditch or trench, you will appreciate this bit of advice. Warn the boys not to touch the roof of the tent on the inside when it is raining, for it will surely leak wherever it is touched. There is a right and a wrong way of driving stakes into the ground. Study the illustrations. In taking down the tent, don't pound loose the tent pins or pegs, but with a looped Peg Wisdom rope and a pull in the direction from which they are driven they can easily be removed. After pitching your tent, put everything in order. Run a stout line, either of rope or rustless wire, between the two upright poles, about a foot below the ridge pole. A very convenient thing to throw clothes over. In some camps they Conveniences have a shelf suspended from the ridge pole, divided into compart- ments, one for each boy in the tent. Nails driven in the upright poles afford convenient pegs to hang things on. Be sure the nails are removed before taking down the tent or a rip in the canvas will be the result. A bundle of elder leaves in a tent will keep away 46 CAMPING FOE BOYS flies. If ants show a desire to creep into your tent, dust cayenne pepper into their holes and they will no longer trouble you. When there is no wooden floor in the tent, strew small hemlock twigs. They make a fine carpet and the odor is both pleasant and healthful. In addition to the different styles of tents shown in the page of illustrations, the following descrip- tion of how to make a ten-foot teepee is given by Charles R. Scott in his Vacation Diary: Sew canvas together making oblong ABCD 20 by 10 feet ; with E as centre and EA as a radius, draw half circle AFD. From remaining canvas cut smoke flaps LKCM and ONBP. Sew piece of canvas at C and B making pocket for ends of smoke poles. Sew ML to HI and PO to GJ on one Making a Teepee large piece of canvas. Sew lash to E to tie teepee to pole. Sew 6 or 7-foot lash to K and N to set smoke flaps with. Make holes in pairs from L to D and to A for lacing pins. Ten poles 12 feet long are needed. Make tripod of nine of these and tie teepee at E to pole two feet from top and place over tripod. In ^^ Recreation," April, 1911, in an article on ''Tent Making Made Easy," H. J. Holden tells how to make ten different tents with but one piece of canvas. The best type of tent to use in a permanent camp is a wall tent, either 12 x 14 or 14 x 16, which will accommodate from four to six fellows. An eight- ounce, mildew-proofed duck, with a ten or twelve- ounce duck fly will give excellent wear. Have a CAMP EQUIPMENT 47 RICMTV/AV |:»ii $««•» So.w ooo»t:: A\ Kt y G K M f TlfV DvrK 1 \ -.6'- > manufactured for hotels and restaurants and of sufficient capacity, is more expen- Kitchen Wajre sive, but will out-wear two outfits of the cheaper type and is really more economical in the long run. In the buying do not omit that most adaptable and convenient of all cooking utensils for camp — a wash boiler. Get one that is copper-lined and made of the heaviest tin. Campers prefer the white enamel ware on ac- 52 CAMPING FOE BOYS count of its appearance and wear. If the imported kind is purchased it will last for at least three long- term seasons. Avoid tin and the cheap gray enamel ware. Each boy should be provided with a large plate of the deep soup pattern, cereal bowl not too large, a saucer for sauce and dessert, a cup, knife, fork, table spoon and tea spoon. In Table Ware a small camp the boy usually brings his own '^eating utensils." When the table is set with white oil cloth, white enamelled dishes, both serving and individual, with decora- tions of ferns, wild flowers or blossoms, the food always seems to taste better and the meal proceeds with that keen enjoyment, which is not only con- ducive to good digestion but promotive of good fel- lowship. A dirty table and dishes and rough-house table manners are a disgrace to a camp even as small as six boys. Cleanliness, courtesy and cheerful con- versation contribute to the making of character while at meals. Table tops should be made of matched boards and battened. Screw the battens to the boards. The tables should be thirty-six inches Table Tops in width. The length must be deter- mined by the number of persons to be seated. The seating of boys in tent groups is con- sidered the best plan. A wooden horse made after the following sketch will support the table top and A *' Horse'' Idea seats. The seat may be a plank about twelve inches wide and one and one-eighth inches thick. CAMP EQUIPMENT 53 Permanent buildings are largely planned accord- ing to the ideas of the director or organization op- erating the camp and this, therefore, is a matter WO.OPEN HORSE TABLE AkJO S cat .SOPPORT which cannot be fully treated in a book of this character. Convenience, harmony with natural sur- roundings, and adaptability are the three things which govern the planning and erection Buildings of permanent camp buildings. ''Wil- derness Homes,'' by Oliver Kemp, con- tains many suggestions for camps of this character. In ''Recreation" for April, 1911, is an excellent article by William D. Brinckle on "Log Cabins." The following practical suggestions on surveying in a boys' camp have been especially prepared by H. M. Allen. Surveying is an impor- Surveying tant subject for study and practice, as it is both interesting and useful and may serve as a stepping-stone in the later educa- tion of the boy. The surveying may be roughly divided into two parts, simple and advanced. The simple work in- 54 CAMPING FOR BOYS eludes that which can be carried on with a few cheap instruments easily secured or made by the boys. The advanced work requires better instru- ments and is adapted to high school boys. Only the simple work will be described. The instruments needed in simple surveying are, compass, measuring tape, draughtsman's scale, pro- tractor, drawing materials and a small home-made transit. The leader should, if possible, become fa- miliar with some good text-book on Home-made surveying, such as Wentworth's Plane Trigonometry and Surveying. He should also get some civil engineer to give him a little instruction in the rudiments. It is well also to get some practice before going to camp. Any va- cant lot or gymnasium floor will be suitable. If the leader is near a small lake that will be especially desirable. The transit is easily made. A flat board should be selected, about twelve inches in diameter, which will not warp. Upon this a circle is marked about ten inches in diameter. For this purpose use a pair of drawing compasses. Then with a protractor lay off the degrees of the circle. A small brass pro- tractor can be bought for 15 cents, a good one, large size, costs 80 cents. A good plan is to mark the circle on bristol board which can be tacked in the board. Then a pointed piece of wood ten inches long should be fastened with a nail in the center of the circle. At the ends of the pointer pins should be placed vertically so that they are in line with the pivot nail. This will form a sight for measuring CAMP EQUIPMENT 55 the angles. The board is then mounted upon a pointed stick or tripod. You will need a hatchet and a half dozen sharpened sticks for markers and TO'»v»P'^/ or TRA^Cir T^o'*^^'''o»^ A SUPP«HT l=-ic 1 a boy for rod man. You are now ready for the survey. To make a map of the location of the camp, the first thing is to locate a base line on a level piece of ground. At the two ends A and B stakes are placed and the length carefully Camp Survey measured with the tape. Then from one end of the line stretch a string about ten feet long, toward the other stake. Under this string place the compass. In this way the di- rection of the line may be learned. In figure 1, the base line runs about 10 degrees west of north. Drive a stake where the tent is to be located. This place will be called C. Then place the transit at A and measure the angle formed by the imaginary lines AC and AB. In the example 56 CAMPING FOE BOYS the angle is about 45 degrees. Then place the transit at B and measure the angle there, formed by the lines AB and BC. Then the angle at C should be measured and the sum of the angles thus meas- ured will be 180 degrees, if the work is correct. Now make a drawing of the survey. Draw on Fi&;2 Fig5 ^•« 0O handles, is good for a short-time camping trip. It should be of the following dimensions : 30 x 18 x 15 inches. A good strong steamer trunk is about the best thing. It is convenient, easy to handle, and takes up very little space. The boys who are mechanically inclined, will want to have the fun of making a camp box. The illustration is a suggestion successfully worked out by a number of boys. The dimensions may be de- termined by the maker. Don't make it too big, or it will be a burden and also occupy too much room in the tent. It stands upright and serves as a PERSONAL CHECK LIST 63 dresser. Boys who spend a summer in camp should have either a steamer trunk or this dresser. If the trunk or box is too small to carry blankets, a good plan is to roll blankets, bedding and such articles in a roll or canvas, the ends and sides of which are doubled inward, so as to prevent articles from dropping out or getting wet. Strap with a good shawl or strong rope. (See illustration.) A dunnage, duffle, or carry-all bag is sometimes used for packing, but there is a possibility of a ''mess" as well as a loss of your good disposition and patience in trying to locate some desired article. Carry your poncho to be used in case of rain en route. Have your expressman deliver your Shipping baggage at the station at least one hour before the train starts. If the baggage is delayed, much annoyance and loss of temper is the result. If the camp is a large one, some one should be designated to look after the baggage arrangements. After checking the bag- gage, this person should receive checks and attend to claiming baggage at destination. Many of the large camps provide mucilaged labels or V* stickers" to paste on the end of the trunk or 64 CAMPING FOE BOYS box making identification easy at railroad baggage room. Initials and camp number should be painted on outside of trunk or box. ''A place for everything and everything in place'' should be the real key to find things in your trunk. Neatness is good discipline for the mind, and should characterize every real Neatness camper. The trunks of some boys in camp look as if a cyclone had struck them. **Full, pressed down, and running over.'' Every old thing in any old way is both slovenly and un-hygienic. About once a week everything should be taken from the trunk or box, and exposed to the sun. Let the sun also get into the trunk or box. Then re- pack neatly. This will prevent mould and damp- ness, and be the means of discovering lost articles. Finally be sure to go over with care your ''check list" or inventory the day before camp breaks. This will prevent rushing around excitedly at the eleventh hour, hunting lost articles. GENERAL HINTS Gray and khaki are the most inconspicuous colors for camping. Shirts should be provided with breast pockets. Each lock should have a duplicate key to be given to the tent leader, or in a large camp, to the camp banker. Have an old laundry bag in which to put soiled clothes. *'Wash day" is a popular day in many PEESOJSTAL CHECK LIST 65 camps. No camper need be dirty when there is abundance of water. There is a luxuriance in a piece of soap and a clean towel that only experienced campers can un- derstand and appreciate. Wet towels, swimming suits or tights should not be placed in the trunk or box, but hung upon a rope, or non-rust wire outside of the tent. The poncho is the camper's friend. It makes a good rubber blanket, a wrap, a cushion, a bag, a sail or a tent. Be sure to take enough bed clothes. You will need them on cold nights. Stamps wiped over the hair of your head will not stick together — the oil of the hair does the trick. Take a self-filler fountain pen — no glass filler to break. A small Williams or Colgate shaving stick box, with screw or hinged cover, makes a good match box. A better one is a water-tight hard rubber box, with screw top. If dropped into a lake or stream it will float, whereas a metal box will sink. Some one has said that **6ood temper is as neces- sary for camping as water is for swimming/' Be sure it is on your ** check list." BAOQAae ROOM QRANO CemitAL STATION N. V. C * H. R. R. CHAPTER VI ORGANIZATION, ADMINISTRATION AND DISCIPLINE A RECOGNIZED LAW — COOPERATIVE SELF - GOV- ERNMENT—COUNCIL MEETINGS— DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION — RULES — DISCIPLINE BY WHISTLE — DISCIPLINE BY CONSCIENCE — SELF IMPOSED DISCIPLINE— SEVEN THINGS WHICH GOD HATES— LIARS AND SNEAKS— A ^'MEDITA- TION LOG'' AND OTHER METHODS— PRIVATE TALKS— PERFECT FREEDOM The heavens themselves, the planets and this centre Observe degree, priority and place, Insisture, course, proportion, season, form, Office and custom, in all lines of order. — Troilus and Cressida. Act 1, Scene 3 It matters very little if the camp be a large or small one, all will agree that system and organiza- tion must prevail if the camp is to be a ** place of known delight and proved desire." Order is said to be Heaven's first law, and a boys' camp should not be operated contrary to this recognized law. What is everybody's business usually becomes Order nobody's business. Much soup has been spoiled by the stirring of too many cooks. A boys' camp becomes a place of discord when 66 ORGANIZATION AND DISCIPLINE 67 everybody takes a hand in *^ running it." There must be one whose word is absolute and final, and who is recognized as the leader or director of the camp; at the same time the campers should have a voice in the government and share in planning and participating in its activities. (See chapter on Leadership.) The follow^ing charting of organization will ex- plain the ^ ' degree, priority and place ' ' of those who are to be responsible for the administration and welfare of the camp. This form of organization recognizes maturity, experience, ability, cooperation, justice and altruis- tic service. Self-government wholly by the boys is unwise. There Cooperative Self-Govemment must always be a paternal guidance of hot, impulsive and indiscriminate youth. Boys de- sire adult leadership and where a wise combination is formed of man and boy working together, there will be found the highest type of efficient, whole- some, happy and purposeful camp life. Frequent council meetings should be held. "When the senior council, composed of the leaders and di- rector, meet for planning and to discuss the work, it should be understood that whatever is said or discussed at the meeting, must Council Meetings not be talked over in the pres- ence of the boys, particularly matters of discipline, awarding of honors and camp policy. Joint meetings of the junior and senior councils should be held weekly. Each ''tent'' is 68 CAMPING FOE BOYS Director IT JSCNIOR COUNCIU 3)gPAWrWK.MT OP JUSTlCK. JUNIOR Council. Cam pWslfar e . law s.Ap^cals. btc DEPARTMENT* SENIOR UEADCRS AS CHAIRMEN. OLDER BOVS /I " I S ME M SEAS CofinissAiiiAr Pood MENU 5CKVINC SUPPLISS DDNlViMlMC OlMiNGHeAH HKAtTH "Water S^tMITATIOM XATniNSt Caa»ace WA»T« HtSPlTAI. NyciKNC ZM5PECn0M I.ECTUReS HlKC» EMrcATAiMncwr BASE BAt.1. athletics watcrSfwitj Camfs TCNNIS PLAt5 Ewren- TAiMHCOTS epwcation iNSTRWtncM (tf riNtTAID ScaurcK/tPr t/FsSA VI iVC TOTOA IMG MUSIC llBRAKV TteAOINC TALKS MoKlkLE 'BIBLE 5Ttl»>( 3u fonx SEirvi(c» Tent- CliATCC TALKS Grace Cam^ 3PIAIT KBit»sen£ rfATCWEj CAriPFiMes RAi»>5TeRM» (WCA-TMCK ^iqmals represented on the junior council by electing one of their tent-mates, who shall present the views of his constituents at council meetings. The director should have the power of appoint- ing the chairmen or heads of departments, and the chairmen the privilege of selecting associates from the two councils. The policy of each department must be ratified by a joint meeting of the councils before it becomes operative. Pre- Depajrtments vent bickering over minor parlia- mentary details. Keep in mind first, last and always, the highest welfare of the camp. Let the *Woice of the people '* be heard, yet see that the legislation introduced is in the interest of the highest good of the campers. The chart suggests the work of the various departments. OEGANIZATION AND DISCIPLINE 69 EXILES In all well-organized and purposeful camps for boys, three rules are considered absolutely essential for the safety and welfare of the campers. These rules are: 1. No fire-arms, air-rifles or explosives of any kind allowed. 2. No one of the party shall enter the water for swimming or bathing, except during the designated period. 3. No tobacco used in any form. Every boy going to camp agrees, in signing his application, to observe whatever rules are decided upon as best for the welfare of all. Boys should be trusted and expected to do as the majority think best. There should be a happy understanding and mutual confidence existing which should make a long list of rules unnecessary. When the boys ar- rive in camp, the director should outline and ex- plain the purpose and policy of the camp in kind but unmistakable terms. A camp of a dozen boys and their school teacher, in the White Mountains, was operated for three de- lightful weeks, upon the following * ^ agreement/ ' which all the boys and their leader signed: We, the members of Camp Be joyful, do hereby subscribe cheerfully to the following rules and regulations and will be governed by them while we are members of this camp. We further agree to pay any penalty the other members of the camp may think fit to impose upon us for breaking these rules or resolutions. We will not lose our tempers. We will not use any language we would not use in the pres- ence of ladies. 70 CAMPING FOE BOYS We will not tell stories we would not tell or want told to our sisters. We will perform cheerfully any duties our Camp Master asks us to perform. We will at all times respect the rights and feelings of others. We will remember that the command to * ' Eemember the Sab- bath day and keep it holy, ' ' is obligatory at all times and in all places. The motto of this camp shall be * * Noblesse oblige. ' ' Unless the camp is conducted under the auspices of the Boys' Brigade or some military organization, where boys prefer the military discipline, it is un- wise to introduce it in a camp for boys. The type of discipline to be used will depend upon the type of leader. Some camps are controlled by the use of a whistle. When the attention of the boys is de- sired, the leader blows a shrill blast The Whistle of the whistle and the boys immedi- ately respond by absolute silence and await the announcement or whatever the leader or director desires to say to them. Never blow the whistle unless necessary. Secure first the attention of the boys if you want their interest. Camp boys become accustomed to continuous blow- ing of the whistle in the same manner that city boys become used to the noise of the street-car gong. Blow your whistle and wait. Cause for a second blast should be considered serious. ''In a camp where through the thoughtlessness of a boy a misdemeanor had been committed, the leader explained at the camp fire how mean the action was and said that he did not believe there was a boy in camp who, if he had realized its con- OEGANIZATION AND DISCIPLINE 71 temptible nature, would for one moment have thought of doing such a thing. He Conscience concluded his remarks by saying, ^If there is any boy here who knows who did this thing, I earnestly request that he will keep it to himself and not breathe the name of the of- fender to any one in camp.' Especially did he re- quest that on no account should the offender's name be told to him. There were a few rather red faces about the camp fire, but the name of the offender was never known and no similar misdemeanor oc- curred while the camp was open. *'In another camp two boys had thoughtlessly violated the understanding regarding swimming and they spent an hour on the hillside with the leader discussing the situation. After the leader had ex- plained to them his responsibility to the parents of each boy in camp and Self-imposed Discipline how insecure parents would feel if they thought their boys were not being properly taken care of, he asked them: *Now, if you were in my place, what would you do with two such fellows?' And they both replied that they thought the two boys should be sent home as an example to the rest of the camp. The leader agreed with them and the two boys, who had pronounced their own sentence, left the next morning for home. That leader has today no better friends among boys than those two particular fellows."^ Solomon in his book of Proverbs says, ^* These 1 E. M. Robinson, Association Boys, June, 1902. 72 CAMPTI^G FOE BOYS six things does the Lord hate : yea, seven are an abomination unto him. A proud look, a lying tongue, and Seven Things Which God Hates hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." (Proverbs; 16:19.) Punish the liar heavily. Help the boy to see that to make a mistake and own up to it, is re- garded in a much more favorable light than to sneak and lie out of it. Have him understand that the lie is the worst part of the Liaxs and Sneaks offence. It is awful to have the reputation of being a liar,, for even when a boy does tell the truth nobody believes him because of his past reputation. Never indulge suspicion. Above all discountenance sneaking; nothing is more harmful than to maintain a feeble discipline through the medium of tale-bearing. Never keep a boy in camp who is out of tune with the camp life or its standards, and whose presence only serves to militate against the real purpose of the camp. * ^ Grouchitis " is a catching disease. The methods of punishment are as varied as the colors of the rainbow. In one camp, a *^ Meditation Log," upon which the boy sits and thinks, and thinks, and thinks, and . No doubt he is a sad- der and wiser boy for his period of meditation. A ''wood pile" where boys saw from one to five or more sticks of cord wood into stove lengths, is an OEGANIZATION AND DISCIPLINE 73 economic mode of punishment, for it not only pro- vides wood for the kitchen stove, Meditation Log but hardens the boys' muscle as well as helps him to remember his mistakes and to avoid repetition. Walking around the campus for a certain length of time carrying an oar over the shoulder, is another method. Curtailing a boy's privileges, such as swimming, boating, taking away his dessert, are other methods in vogue in boys' camps. When a boy swears, if he is a ^^ scout,'' the other ^^ scouts" pour a cup of cold water down the offender's sleeve or back, for each offence. Some boys have been cured of swearing by having their mouths washed out with ^^ Welcome Soap," publicly, along the shore of the lake or stream, with camp-mates as silent spec- tators. Make the *' punishment fit the crime," but always the kind of punishment which the boy will acknowledge is deserved and just. Never punish in anger. A '* heart-to-heart" talk with the boy during a walk in the woods, or in some quiet place of the camp, will do more good to get him Private Talks to see and realize his need of ad- justment to camp life and enlist his willingness to try again and to *^do his best" than any form of physical punishment. When it becomes necessary to send a boy home, always telegraph or write his parents, telling them on what train or boat they may expect him and the reason for sending him home. til «3 I 74 CHAPTER VII THE DAY'S PROGRAM A MOENING PEAYEE— REQUISITES OF A CAMPEE— 7.00, '^EEVEILLE'^— 7.15, THE DIP— 7.30, BEEAK- FAST— 8.30, CAMP DUTIES— 9.30 TO 11, EDUCA- TIONAL EECEEATION— 11, *' BLANKETS IN''— 11.30, SWIMMING TIME— 12, NOON INSPECTION— 12.30, DINNEE— 12.45 TO 2, ^^ SIESTA ''—2 TO 4.30, SPOETS —4.30, PEEPAEATION FOE THE NIGHT— 5, GEN- EEAL INSPECTION— 5.45, ^^COLOES"— 6, SUPPEE —6.45, MEDITATION AND STUDY— 7.15, CAMPUS GAMES— 8, CAMP FIEE AND ENTEETAINMENT —8.45, ^^ TATTOO'' AND HYMN— 9, ''TAPS" AND ''GOOD NIGHT" A Morning Prayer The day returns and brings in the petty round of irritating concerns and duties. Help us to play the man, help us to perform them with laughter and kind faces. Let cheerfulness abound with industry. Give us to go blithely on our busi- ness all the day. Bring us to our resting beds weary and content and undishonored, and grant us in the end the gift of sleep. — Eohert Louis Stevenson. All the major habits of life are formed during the teen period of life. If camping teaches a boy any- thing it teaches him the habit of being systematic. The day\s program should be built Requisites upon a platform calculated not only to keep the camp running smoothly, but 75 76 CAMPING FOR BOYS to develop within the boy and man those qualities requisite for a good camper, viz., truth, sincerity, self-control, courage, energy, skill, mental ca- pacity, justice, patriotism, stamina, efficiency, ex- ecutive power, consideration, kindliness, cheerful- ness, self-reliance, good temper, good manners, tact, promptness, obedience, helpfulness, and coopera- tion. Camping has as good an effect on a boy's character as it has upon his health. It teaches him to be self-reliant, to look after his own wants, and not to be abnormally self-centered. It is marvellous how much more tidy and considerate a boy be- comes after he has had a season in camp, looking after himself and his own belongings, as well as sharing in keeping his tent neat and clean, and hav- ing his part in the day's work. From ^* reveille" at 7 A. M. to **taps" at 9 p. m. the day's program should be definitely planned. In order to make this chapter of practical value the different periods of the day and its activities will be described very fully and enough suggestions given to make the day purposeful, educational, recreational and at- tractive in either a large or small camp. Seven o'clock is usually the hour of beginning the day, although some camps make the rising hour six-thirty o'clock. The first morning in camp boys want to get up around four o'clock, thinking it about three hours later, on account of the sun streaming into their tent. After the first morning boys who wake early should be expected to keep silent and remain in their tent until ''reveille" . THE DAY^S PROGEAM 77 sounds. Consideration should be shown toward those who desire to sleep. When the bugle sounds ** reveille" everybody turns out in pajamas or swimming tights and in- dulges in a brisk ten-minute setting-up exercise. This should be made snappy, giving particular at- tention to correcting stooping shoulders and breath- ing. Boys should not be excused from this exercise unless ill. At the end of the exercise the flag is raised and the campers salute the stars and stripes as they are flung to the morning breeze. A small cannon is fired in some camps when the flag is raised. The honor of raising the flag may be given to the boys of the tent having won the honor tent pennant of the preceding day or to boys specially assigned. The spirit of patriotism is fostered by re- spect to the flag. Flag-raising is followed by a dip in the lake. It should be understood that this is to be a dip or plunge and not a swim. Five minutes is sufficient time to be in the water. Place some respon- 7.15 sible person in charge of the dip. A safe rule is never to permit boys in the water unless supervised. The boys should take soap, towels and tooth brushes with them when they go for the dip. A good morning scrub of the teeth with a brush saves many hours of pain. Boys are woefully neg- ligent (because ignorant) of the care of their teeth. Saturday is ** scrub" day in many of the large camps when all are required to take a *'soap scrub." Marvellous how the *'tan" disappears after this scrubbing period! 78 CAMPING FOR BOYS By this time every fellow is hungry enough to devour whatever food is set before him, whether he is fond of it or not, and there is an alacrity of re- sponse to the Mess Call of the bugle which 7.30 only a camper understands and appreciates. When the campers are seated there is either silent or audible grace before the meal is eaten. Take plenty of time for the eating of the meal. Forty-five minutes is not too long. Encourage wholesome conversation and good natural pleas- antry, but discountenance *^ rough house'' and un- gentlemanliness. The announcements for the day are usually given at the breakfast table followed by the reading of a chapter from the Bible and a short prayer. A boy should be taught that all labor is noble, that '*no one can rise that slights his work" and the *^ grand business in life is not to see what lies dimly at a distance, but to do what lies 8.30 clearly at hand." With this kind of a spirit, blankets are taken out of the tent to be aired and the sides of the tent tied up, the camp is cleaned and put in a sanitary condition, the tents are put in order, and kitchen work, if part of the boys' duties, is attended to. All work should be finished by 9.30. No matter whether the boy pays twenty dollars a week or three dollars a week for the outing, labor of some sort should be a part of his daily life while at camp, for when one gets to love work, his life becomes a happy one. The world despises a shirker but honors a worker. The work of the day is sometimes done by tent THE DAY^S PEOGEAM 79 groups or by boys grouped in alphabetical order, each group being under a leader whose part is as- signed daily by the Camp Director (see chapter on Organization). In the writer's camp, work is considered a great privilege. For instance, if three bushels of peas must be picked from the camp gar- den for dinner, a call is made for volunteers. From forty to fifty hands will go up and after careful choosing, six boys are selected to do this coveted work, much to the disappointment of the others. It is all in the way work is presented to the boys, whether they will look upon it as a privilege or an irksome task. If tutoring is a part of the camp 's plan, the morn- ing will be found a desirable time for tutor and boy to spend an hour together. Manual training, in- struction in woodcraft, field and 9.30 to 11.00 track athletics, boating, life-saving drills, rehearsal for minstrel shows or entertainments, photography, tennis, baseball, are some of the many activities to be engaged in during this period. One day a week, each box or trunk should be aired, and its contents gone over carefully. A sort of ^' clean up'' day. About this time the Life Saving Crew will be get- ting ready for their drill and patrolling of the swim. The other campers w^ll be taking in their blankets and after shaking them well and folding, will 11.00 place them on their beds for the inspection, which usually comes at noon. At 11.20 boys who cannot swim should be given instruction by those who can swim. If this is done before the reg- 80 CAMPING FOR BOYS ular swim there is less danger and greater progress is made. This seems to be the popular hour for swimming in nearly all the camps. It follows the ball game, the tennis match, the camp work, and usu- 11.30 ally the temperature of air and water is just right for a swim. Allow no swimmer to go beyond the line of patrol boats. Have some one on shore who is keen to observe any boy who may be in need of assistance. Twenty minutes is sufficient length of time to be in fresh water. When the boys come out of the water, have a towel drill, teaching the boy how to use the towel so that his back may be dried as well as every other part of his body. This rubbing down induces circulation of the blood and gives that finish to a swim which makes the boy feel like a new being. It is unwise to permit boys to lie around undressed after a swim, for physiological as well as moral reasons. Swimming tights should be wrung out dry, either by hand or by a wringer kept near the swimming place, and hung out on a rope or rustless wire, stretched back of the tent. Do not permit wet clothes to be hung in the tent, on the canvas or tent ropes. Beds or bunks should be made up for inspection. Three men or boys may be appointed as inspectors. Considerable interest and pride is taken by the boys in having their canvas home look neat. 12.00 This training in neatness, order and cleanli- ness is invaluable. (See chapter on Awards.) The inspection should not take over twenty min- utes. While this is going on those who have kitchen THE DAY'S PEOGEAM 81 or table duty will be busily engaged getting tables in readiness for dinner. Mess call for dinner. This meal should be the heartiest meal of the day, and plenty of 12.30 time given to the eating of the food. Mail is usually given out at this meal in camps where there is but one delivery a day. *' Siesta," or rest hour, follows dinner. In the early days of boys' camps this suggestion would have been laughed at, but today it is looked upon as highly hygienic and considered 1.15, * 'Siesta'* one of the best things of camp and strongly to be commended. The boy is advised to lie down flat on his back, in his tent or under the shade of a friendly tree, and be quiet. He may talk if he wishes, but usually some one reads aloud to his fellows. This gives the food a chance to digest, and the whole body a nerve and muscle rest before the active work of the afternoon. These hours will be spent in various ways. Usu- ally it is the time for athletic sports, baseball games, quoit tournaments, tennis tournaments, excursions afield, boat regatta, arch- 2.00 to 4.30 ery, water sports, scouting games and other activities in which most of the campers can engage. The big out-door events should occupy this time of the day. Where daily inspection is a part of the camp plan the boys will begin getting everything in readiness for that important event. A general bustle of 4.30 activity will be in evidence and every boy on the qui vive to have his tent win the coveted honor pennant, usually given for the neatest tent. 82 CAMPING FOE BOYS Inspection is conducted during the absence of the boys. While the inspectors are making the round of tents, the boys should assemble either in the per- manent building of the camp or under some 5.00 big tree, to listen to a practical talk by the camp physician, a demonstration in first aid work, the reading of a story, or to something equally educational in character. This is a valu- able hour when occupied in this manner. (See chapter on inspection, awards, etc.) Eather than depend upon ** sunset" as the time to lower the flag, it is much better to set an hour for ^^ colors." Promptly at this hour the bugler blows ** colors." No matter where a camper may 5.45 be he should stand erect, uncover and remain attentive until after the playing of the *^Star Spangled Banner" and firing of the cannon. The flag is lowered very slowly during the playing of the ''Star Spangled Banner" and camp should be a place of silent patriotism. Those who have wit- nessed this ceremony in a boys' camp will never forget its impressiveness. The flag should never be permitted to touch the ground, and should be care- fully folded and in readiness for hoisting the next morning. Supper hour cannot come too promptly for active boys. The announcement of the day's inspection should be made at the meal and the honor pennant or flag presented to the successful tent, and ac- cepted by one of the boys. This occasion is 6.00 usually a time of rejoicing, also a time of re- solve-making on the part of tent groups to THE DAY^S PEOGEAM 83 "do better to-morrow.'' The record of each tent is read by one of the inspectors, and at the end of the week the tent having the best record gets a special supper or "seconds" on ice cream day. About this time, with the going down of the sun, nature seems to quiet down, and it is the psycho- logical time for serious thought. Many camps de- vote twenty minutes to Bible study (for suggested lessons, see chapter on Eeligion and Moral 6.45 Life). Tent groups under their leader study thoughtfully the meaning of life and the great lessons taught by God through nature. Night after night the boys consciously or unconsciously acquire through this study the requisites of a good camper mentioned in the first part of this chapter. Campus games, boating, preparation for the bon- fire, etc., will occupy the time until dark. 7.15 Every boy should be engaged in some recrea- tive play, working off whatever surplus en- ergy he may have at hand so that when the time for "turning in" comes, he will be physically tired and ready for bed. The evening program varies. Some nights there will be a minstrel show, other nights a camp fire, or mock trial, an illustrated talk, or "village school entertainment," or a play, or a musical even- 8.00 ning or "vo-de-ville." Leave about two nights a week open. The boys prefer to have occasional open evenings when they are free to loaf around, and go to bed early. Plan the evening "stunts" very carefully. The bugler blows "tattoo" which means "all in 84 CAMPING FOR BOYS tents." After the boys have imdressed and 8.45 are ready for bed, the leader reads a chapter from the Bible, and in many camps the boys lead in volunteer prayer, remembering especially the folks at home. From a hill near camp, or from a boat on the lake come the notes of a familiar hymn such as ^^ Abide With Me,'' ^^Lead, Kindly Light,'' ^'The Day is Past and Over," ^^Sun of My Soul," or "Nearer, My God to Thee," played by the bugler. Every boy listens and the ear records a suggestion which helps to make the night's sleep pure and rest- ful. Try it. Taps played slowly, follows the hymn. As the last notes are being echoed upon the still night air the lights are being extinguished in the tents, so that when the final prolonged note ends the camp is in darkness and quiet, and all have en- tered into a nine-hour period of restoration of body and mind. Who knows, but God himself, how many of the boys, and even leaders, while wrapped warmly in their blankets have silently breathed out that old, old prayer so full of faith, which has been handed down from generation to generation: Now I lay me down to sleep I pray Thee Lord my soul to keep. A prayer echoed by the camp director, for now is the only time of the day's program when he begins to breathe freely, and is partially able to lay aside his mantle of responsibility. A cough, a sigh, and even the moaning of the wind disturbs this ever vigilant leader and he thinks of his charges, until finally, weariness conquers and sleep comes. THE DAY^S PEOGKAM 85 THE WELL-ORDERED DAY How shall the day be ordered? To the sage The young man spoke. And this was his reply: A morning prayer. A moment with thy God who sends thee dawn Up from the east; to thank heaven for the care That kept thee through the night; to give thy soul, With faith serene, to his complete control; To ask his guidance still along the way. So starts the day. A busy day. Do with a will the task that lies before. So much there is for every man to do, And soon the night when man can work no more. And none but he to life's behest is true Who works with zeal and pauses only when He stretches forth his hand to help the men Who fail or fall beside him on the way. So runs the day. A merry evening. When toil is done, then banished be the care That frets the soul. With loved ones by the hearth The evening hour belongs to joy and mirth; To lighter things that make life fresh and fair. For honest work has earned its hour of play. So ends the day. — John Clair Minot in the '* Independent * ^ BIBLIOGRAPHY Association Boys' Camps — Edgar M. Robinson. Association Boys, Vol. I., No. 3, 1902. The Day's Program — C. Hanford Henderson. "How to Help Boys," Vol. III., No; 3, 1903. The Camp Conference — Secretary's Report, 1905-06 (out of print). The Camp Conference — "How to Help Boys," July, 1903. •"■" 1 J ■ ..^^iir'^^^HBH i ^. 'h^jsm' i?- .'mf "■1 i- - i m^ jJU mm •f"* ^^^-- ,, Mi BT^' HH il3 ^a J^^ r lO^i ^«. h^' : f Mi k\ ^.■m^ 'J^.^iiipd W I IN V"*"* Hi^K^' ^.jp^ ■ 1 1 U I ! 2Q 6h 86 CHAPTER VIII MORAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE THE EELIGIOUS INSTINCT— NATUKE ^S TEACHINGS- SUNDAY IN CAMP— BIBLE STUDY— HOW AND WHEN TO TEACH THE BIBLE— COURSE OF CAMP BIBLE STUDY— BIBLE STUDY COURSE FOR BOY SCOUTS— DEVOTIONS IN TENT— DAILY BIBLE READINGS— A ' ' NOVEL ' ' BON-FIRE— READING OF STORIES ON SUNDAY— PURPOSEFUL READ- ING—CHAPEL SERVICES— BIBLIOGRAPHY The aspect of nature is devout. Like the figure of Jesus, she stands with bended head and hands folded upon her breast. — Emerson. Camp life should help boys to grow not only phy- sically and mentally, but morally. Religion is the basis of morality. The highest instinct in man is the religious. Man made the city with all its artifi- ciality, but, as some one has said, ^'God made the country. '^ Everything that the city boy comes in contact with is man-made. ^^Even the ground is covered with buildings and paving blocks; the trees are set in rows like telegraph poles ; the sunlight is diluted with smoke from the factory chimneys, the moon and stars are blotted out by the glare of the electric light; and even the so-called lake in the park is a scooped-out basin filled by pumps. Little 87 88 CAMPING FOE BOYS wonder that a boy who grows up under these con- ditions has little reverence for a God whose handi- work he has not seen/' ^ When a boy's soul is open to the influence of na- ture he feels the presence of the divine in the forest. There is an uplift, an inspira- Nature's Teachings tion, a joy that he never ex- periences in the city. He does not know how to express himself, but somehow he feels the spiritual atmosphere pervading the woods which his soul breathes in as really as his nostrils do the pure air, and he is ready to Go forth, under the open sky and Hst to Nature ^s teachings. — Bryant. For as Martin Luther said, ''God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but in trees and flowers and clouds and stars.'' Sunday in a boys' camp should be observed by the holding of a service in the morning, with song, scripture reading, prayer and a short talk. The afternoon is usually occupied by letter- Sunday writing, Bible study, or reading, the day closing with a vesper service in the even- ing just as the sun is setting. Boisterousness should not be encouraged. Unnatural restraint, however, is contrary to the spirit of the day. The day should be different from other days. Many camp boys date their first real awakening to the best and highest things in life from a Sunday spent in camp. Every real camper has experienced a Sunday * Walter M; Wood in Association Boys, June, 1907. MOEAL AND EELIGIOUS LIFE 89 similar to this one described by Howard Henderson. *^A quiet Sunday in the deep woods is a golden day to be remembered for many a year. All nature com- bines to assist the camper in directing his thoughts to the great Author of all the beauty that he be- holds. ^The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.' The trees under which one reclines rear their heads heaven- ward, pointing their spire-like minarets far up toward the blue-vaulted roof. It inspires the very soul to worship in these unbuilt cathedrals with wilderness of aisle and pillars, which for elegance and beauty have never been equalled by the archi- tects of any age. And the music of the trees com- bined with the notes of the bird songsters, give a joy which is unknown in listening to a city choir." The Bible becomes a new book to boys when studied under such an environment. As one boy wrote home to his father after a Sun- Bible Study day spent in a camp where Sunday was observed in this manner, '^Dad, it is so different here, from a Sunday at home; I understood the talk and the Bible study was great; it was a bully day ! ' ' The following Bible course was worked out by the author and has been used in scores of boys' camps. These lessons were taught to groups of boys at eventide when nature seemed to quiet down and the boys were most responsive to good, sensible suggestion. The camp was divided into tent groups, each group being taught by their leader or an ex- change leader, one group occupying a big rock, an- 90 CAMPING FOE BOYS other the '* Crow's Nest,'' or **Tree House," another getting together under a big tree, another in their tent. No leader was permitted to take more than twenty minutes for the lesson. It is unwise to take twenty minutes for what could be said in ten min- utes. The boys all had a chance to take part in the discussion. Each lesson was opened and closed with prayer, many of the boys participating in vol- unteer prayer. In teaching a lesson don't spend too much time in description unless you have the rare gift of being able to make your scene live be- fore your hearers. Talk plainly and to the point. Naturalness should characterize each lesson. Boys hate cant and apologies and lack of definiteness. Your best illustrations will be drawn from the life of the camp and from nature. In some camps these lessons were taught in the morning directly after breakfast, while the boys were seated at the tables. There are ''Sermons in stones, and good in every thing," therefore the purpose of these lessons should be to help boys hear these sermons and learn nature's lessons of purity, strength and character. A Course in Bible Study LESSON 1. The Hills — Prayer Psalm 121. Christ going into the mountains to pray. Matt. 14:23; Mark 6:46; Luke 6:12; Mark 1:35; Matt. 6:6-15. Practical Thoughts Unnatural not to pray. Even Pagans pray, but they pray through fear. MOEAL AND EELIGIOUS LIFE 91 More things are wrought through prayer than this world dreams of. — Tennyson. Pray to Christ as friend to friend. The Lord's Prayer. He prayeth well who loveth well Both man and bird and beast. He prayeth best who loveth best All things both great and small, For the dear God who loveth us He made and loveth all. • — Coleridge ^s ^^ Ancient Mariner,*' Strength received through prayer. A time and place for prayer. LESSON 2. The Birds — Dependence upon God Matt. 6:26; Psa. 147:9; Luke 12:24; Matt. 10:29-31. Practical Thoughts God feeding the birds. How much more does God care for you. Not one forgotten, the most worthless, the most rest- less. God loves the birds. He loves you. Show your love to Him by caring for the birds. Isa. 40:28-31. Abraham Lincoln and the bird fallen from the nest. — ^^Gen- tlemen, I could not have slept tonight if I had not helped that little bird in its trouble, and put it back safe in the nest with its mother.'' LESSON 3. Flowers— Purity Matt. 6:28-30. Beauty of flowers. Isa. 55:10-13. Provision for summer growth and beauty. Practical Thoughts (Bring wild flowers to the class.) Flowers come up out of the dirt yet unsoiled. Possible for boys to keep clean and pure, surrounded by evil. Evil thoughts determine evil deeds. 92 CAMPING FOE BOYS "My strength is as the strength of ten Because my heart is pure/' — Sir Galahad, Purity of character, the lily. Know thyself. Keep thyself pure. 1 Cor. 3:16, 17. White Cross Pledge. Virtue never dwelt long with filth and nastiness. — Count Rumford. LESSON 4. Trees— Growth Psalm 1. (Hold the session under the biggest and best proportioned tree.) Practical Thoughts Cedars of Lebanon — Strong in the Lord. The oaks — From acorns grew. The fruit tree — Living for others. By their fruits ye shall know them. Stunted trees. Crooked trees. Scarred trees. Grafted trees. Matt. 7:16-20; Jer. 17:7, 8. Things that interfere with a boy's growth. LESSON 5. Water — Life (Hold the session along the shore.) Psa. 65:9-13. God's liberality. Isa. 55:1. Freeness of the gospel. John 4:14. Woman at the well. Eev. 22:17. The last invitation in the Bible. Practical Thoughts The joy of living. The fun at camp. Friendship. Temporal life vs. eternal life. Water will only satisfy thirst temporarily. Water revives — Christ satisfies. Eternal life for the asking. LESSON 6. Rocks— Character (Hold the session on or near some big boulder or rock.) Matt. 7:24-27. A good foundation. 1 Cor. 3:9-14. MOEAL AND EELIGIOUS LIFE 93 Practical Thoughts All boys are building character day by day. All builders have a choice of foundation. All foundations will be tried. Only one foundation will stand. Jesus Christ is the Kock of Ages. ** Every thought that weVe ever had Its own little place has filled. Every deed we have done, good or bad Is a stone in the temple we build. ^ ' — Sargant, Character, not reputation, will alone stand the final test. LESSON 7. Storms— Trouble Matt. 8:23-27. Need of help. Phil. 4:6. A strong deliverer. Psa. 107:28-30. A safe place. Practical Thoughts Boys have real troubles, real temptations, real shipwreckG. Difficulties in school life, at home, in camp. Almost ready to give up. Have faith in Christ as a Saviour. * * The inner side of every cloud Is bright and shining, I therefore turn my clouds about, And always wear them inside out To show the lining. '^ "Look ever to Jesus. He '11 carry you through. ^ ' LESSON 8. Sports— Mastery (Teach this lesson after a field day.) 1 Cor. 9:24-27. The race of life. Mastery of self. Heb. 12:1, 2. Run with patience. 1 Tim. 6:12. A good fight. Rev. 2:10. Faithfulness. Eccle. 9:11. Not always to the swift. Eccle. 9 : 10. Wholeheartedness. 94 CAMPING FOE BOYS Practical Thoughts ' * Each victory of self will help you some other to win. ^ ' Self-control. Value of training. You are either master or slave. The Bible, the book of instruction. Solomon's rule of self-defence. Prov. 15:1. LESSON 9. ■ Night— Sin Psa. 19. Night unto night. John 3:19-20. Evil deeds. Rom. 13:11-14. Awake out of sin. Practical Thoughts Bad thoughts come to us in the dark. Dark places productive of crime. Mischief at camp during the night. Darkness cannot hide us from God. "Thou God seest me.'' North star a guide for sailors — Jesus Christ a safe guide. "Character is what a man is in the dark." — D. L. Moody LESSON 10. Chums — Friendship 1 Sam. 18:1-4. True friendship. 1 John 4:11. Love one another. 1 Cor. 13:4-7. To the end. Practical Thoughts Chum means "to abide with," to share the same tent. Camp chums. David and Jonathan. The genuine article. Helping each other. The Friend — Jesus Christ. LESSON 11. Camp Fires Build a camp fire along the shore. Read alternately the twenty-first chapter of the gospel of St. John. The fire on the beach. John 21:9. Practical Thoughts Jesus was there — Jesus is here. Peter confessed Him there. John 21:15-17. MORAL AXD RELIGIOUS LIFE 95 Who will confess Him here? Peter denied Him by another fire. Luke 22:54-62. "Will you deny Him here? P. S. Make this a decision meeting. LESSON 12. Fishing— Personal Work Luke 5:1-11. Fishers of men. Practical Thoughts Sometimes fish are caught and used as bait to catch others. When a boy becomes a Christian he should bring to others the same blessing. Patience is essential in fishing — same in winning boys to Christ. Every fisherman expects to catch fish. To lead others to Christ is the noblest work in the world. Dan. 12:3. In some camps a bit of Scripture is read each night in the tent just before retir- Tent Devotions ing. The following readings hav- ing been prepared by W. H. Wones, C. C. Robinson. Arthur Wilson and Charles E. Scott for use at Camp Wawayanda. Just before taps, if you have a good cornetist, have him go a short distance frdm the camp and play a well- known hymn, like ''Abide With Me,'' ''Nearer, My God, to Thee," "Lead, Kindly Light,'' then play "taps." The effect is wonderful, and prevents all inclination toward noise or "rough house." JULY Topic: Vacation 1. Personal Work on a Journey. John 4:5-15. 2. Its Results. John 4:27-30, 39, 42. 3. The Disciples' Trip for Service. Mark 6:7-13. 96 CAMPING FOE BOYS 4. Their Interrupted Vacation. Mark 6:30-42. 5. A Night on the Lake. Mark 6:45-56. 6. A Foolish Journey. Luke 15:11-17. 7. A Wise Eeturn. Luke 15:18-24. 8. The Welcome Guest. John 12:1-9. 9. A Fishing Experience. John 21:1-14. 10. Spending a Night on a Mountain. Luke 9:28-36. 11. Vacation Suggestion: '*Keep Sweet. ^' Psalm 34:8-15. 12. Vacation Suggestion: ** Stick to Principle.'' Psalm 119:25-32. 13. Vacation Suggestion: ** Confess Christ.'' Matthew 10:24-33. 14. Vacation Suggestion: *'Keep up Bible Study." Psalm 119:1-8. 15. Vacation Suggestion: ''Write Good Letters." 1 Corinthians 16:3-13. 16. Speaking for Christ While Traveling. Acts 8:26-39. 17. A Queen's Visit. 1 Kings 10:1-10. 18. An Adventurous Voyage. Acts 27:1-13. 19. Shipwreck. Acts 27:14-26. 20. All Saved. Acts 27:27-44. 21. Praying for a Prosperous Journey. Komans 1:8-16. 22. A Traveler's Adventures. 2 Corinthians 11:23-33. 23. A Merry Heart Desirable. Proverbs 15:13-17. 24. Keeping from Sin. Romans 6:16-23. 25. Meeting a Stranger. Luke 24:13-27. 26. A Delightful Surprise. Luke 24:28-35. 27. Jacob's Bivouac. Genesis 28:10-22. 28. David's Prayer in the Cave. Psalm 142:1-7. 29. Avoiding Sinful Pleasure. Hebrews 11:23-27. 30. Peter 's Counsel. 1 Peter 4:1-10. 31. The Greatest Pleasure. Psalm 16:1-11. AUGUST Topic: Nature 1. The Story of Nature's Creation. Genesis 1:11-22. 2. The First Garden. Genesis 2:8-17. 3. God's Care for His Creation. Matthew 6:25-34. 4. The Symbol of Peace. Genesis 8:1-11. MOEAL AND EELIGIOUS LIFE 97 5. The Sign of God's Promise. Genesis 9:8-17. 6. The Burning Bush. Exodus 3 : 1-6. 7. The Accompaniment of God's Presence. Exodus 19: Nature Halts to Accomplish God 's Purpose. Joshua 10 : 16-25. 8. 5-14. 9. Nature's Tribute to God's Glory. Psalm 97:1-12. 10. The Midnight Hymn. Psalm 8:1-9. 11. The Sunrise Hymn. Psalm 19:1-14. 12. The Thunder-storm Hymn. Psalm 29:1-11. 13. The God of Storm. Matthew 8:23-33. 14. Nature has no perils for the God-fearing Man. Job 5: 8-27. 15. The Full Ear. Matthew 13:1-9, 18, 23. 16. Harmful Weeds. Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43. 17. The God of Nature Protects Us. Psalm 121:1-8. 18. He Cares for Us. Psalm 147:1-20. 19. God's Voice After the Storm. 1 Kings 19: 5-13. 20. The Tree of Life. Proverbs 3:13-21. 21. The Trees Desire a King. Judges 9 :8-15; Joshua 24:15. 22. The Boot Out of Dry Ground. Isaiah 53:1-12. 23. Water Without Price. Isaiah 55:1-13. 24. The Perfect Vine. John 15:1-14. 25. The Light Brighter than the Sun. Acts 9 :l-20. 26. A Wonderful Star. Matthew 2:1-11. 27. Sand or Rock? Matthew 7:24-27. 28. Broken Branches. Matthew 21 : 1-11. 29. The Unprofitable Tree. Matthew 7 : 15-21. 30. The Profitable Tree. Psalm 1:1-6. 31. Do Good in all Seasons. Ecclesiastes 3:1-12. BOY SCOUT COUESE For a Boy Scout Camp, the following course, *' Boy's Scout Guide Book Study," was prepared by W. S. Dillon: The Scout's Oath Lesson 1. To Do My Duty to God and My Country. Dan- iel 1:8; 6:4-10. 98 CAMPING FOB BOYS Lesson 2. To Help Other People at All Times. Exodus 3:1-11. Lesson 3. To Obey the Scout Law. Exodus 20:3-17; Luke 10:26, 27; Matthew 7:12. The Scout Salute and Sign Lesson 4. Judges 12:6; Acts 4:12; Galatians 6:14. Three Classes of Scouts The Tenderfoot Lesson 5. Luke 5:1-11. The Second Class Scout Lesson 6. Have at Least One Month ^s Service as a Tender- foot. 2 Samuel 15:1-6. Lesson 7. Signalling. 1 Samuel 20:20-22; 35-39. Lesson 8. Lay and Light a Fire. Fire Lighting Contest. 1 Kings 18:22-24. First Class Scout Lesson 8. Signalling. Daniel 5:1-31. Lesson 9. Go on Foot to a Given Point and Return and Give a Report of the Trip. Numbers 13:1-3; 17-21; 23-33. Lesson .10. Produce an Article of Carpentry, Joinery or Metal Work. 2 Chronicles 2 : 11-16. Lesson 11. Bring a Tenderfoot Trained in the Points Re- quired for a Tenderfoot. John 1:40-42. The Scout Lav^t Lesson 12. A Scout's Honor is to be Trusted. Genesis 39:7-10. Lesson 13. Loyalty. Esther 4:8-16. Lesson 14. A Scout is a Friend to All, and Must NEVER BE A SNOB. Luke 9 : 46-48. Lesson 15. A Friend to Animals. 1 Samuel 17:12-16. Lesson 16. Obey Orders. Jonah 1:1-3. Lesson 17. Cheerfulness and Willingness. Acts 16:25; Phil- lippians 4:11-13. Lesson 18. Thrift. Matthew 6:19-21. The Great Scout Master Lesson 19. Matthew 23:10. The author experienced something very unusual one Sunday afternoon in a camp where he was in- MOEAL AND EELIGIOUS LIFE 99 vited to speak. The talk was on ** Trees or Growth/^ one of the studies of the course described. During the talk a number of things were referred to that enter into the growth of a tree which either mar or hinder it from becoming a symmetrical, beautiful tree and a similar comparison was made regarding a boy's growth. The question was asked of the boys, *'What are some of the things which interfere with a boy's growth physically, mentally and morally?" A number of things, such as smok- ing, swearing, impurity, etc., were given, and finally one of the small boys piped up ^^ reading dime nov- els." His answer was received with howls of deri- sion, especially from the older boys. *'Hold on," I said, ^^ let's discuss the matter; if dime novels are good for a boy's growth mentally, we want to know about it, but if they are detrimental to this particu- lar kind of desired growth, of course, we want to cut it out." The discussion brought out the fact that a number of the boys had smuggled a lot of this kind of literature into camp and were just loaf- ing through their time in the woods, gloating over the wonderful and daring escapades of Wild West heroes. The boys finally decided Novel Bonfire that their mental growth, was re- tarded by such reading. Then came the question, ^^What are you going to do about it?" **We don't usually have a bonfire on Sunday," I said. ^'I am inclined, however, to ask your leader for a special dispensation and we will have one. You are to furnish the fuel, your leader the kero- sene oil and I will provide the match. The fuel is 100 CAMPING FOE BOYS to consist of all the dime novels in the camp/' '*Whew!'' ''I know it will take grit to do this, but it is a test of your sincerity and determination to progress along right lines." **We're game!'' yelled the boys, *'and we mean business." The start was made for the place where the bon- fires were usually held. By the time I reached the spot, the boys were coming from their tents with bundles of novels. Every boy was requested to tear each novel in half and throw it upon the heap. When everything was ready, the boys uncovered and in the silence that came upon the group, the match was struck and the flames began to leap up- ward, until finally, all that remained was the small piles of ashes. For the majority of the boys it meant the burning up of the dross and the begin- ning of better and nobler thinking. I shall always remember this novel bonfire. This is what I mean by making Bible study and camp talks ef- fective. Sunday afternoon is the time for reading good, wholesome stories. Take the boys out into the woods where they can squat under a big tree, or if the day is warm seek the cool shelter of the tent and while the boys are lying down read a short story or several chapters of a story like *'Dr. Gren- f ell's Parish," by Norman Duncan, ''Just Boys," by Mary Buell Wood, ''Some Boys Stjory Reading I Know," "Chapel Talks," or "The Story of Good Will Farm," by George W. Hinckley. If the group is made up of older boys who like to discuss life problems, read MOEAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE 101 a chapter or two from Robert Speer's excellent books, ^'A Young Man's Questions" and ''Young Men Who Overcame." Make sure that whatever you read has the uplift note. The real purpose of the afternoon's reading should be that of instilling in the boys' minds some of the cardinal virtues of Christian character. Don't moralize; let the story do its own moral- izing. Boys are hero worshippers. If the hero or the heroic appeal of the story is of a sane type and not abnormal there will be created naturally with- in the boy a desire to emulate the good deeds of the hero in the everyday life of the camp, which is much better than the parrot-like vocalization unfor- tunately many times encouraged by well-meaning men. A pile of stones made to serve as an altar or pulpit, a chapel having the branches of a friendly pine as its roof and under which are built a reading desk and seats of white birch, a cathedral Chapel with towering columns of pine and cush- ions of pine needles, a rocky shore along the ocean — all are places where boys have heard the appeal for right living and responded with an earnest decision that marked an advance step in their moral and religious growth. Make much of the music at these outdoor serv^ ices on Sunday. A choir of men and boys respond- ing in the distance to the hymns of the camp boys, in antiphonal manner, a cornetist playing a hymn in the distance, make an impression never to be for- gotten. 102 CAMPING FOR BOYS The great test of camp life is not the fun the boy had, or his gain in weight, height or lung capacity, or the friendships formed, or his increased knowl- edge in woodcraft, but his advancement in charac- ter-making and gain in spiritual vigor. BIBLIOGRAPHY Books Helpful in the Preparation of Bible Study Lessons: Lessons from Life (Animal and Human) — Thomas Whittaker. Macmillan, $2.50. Sermons in Stones — Amos R. Wells. Doubleday, Page & Company, $L00. Parables from Nature — Mrs. Gatty. Colportage Library, 15 cents. A Good Bible Dictionary and Concordance. ■ Books upon the Religious Life of Boys: The Boy and the Church — Eugene C. Foster. The Sunday School Times Co., 75 cents net. Starting to Teach — Eugene C. Foster. Association Press, 40 cents. The Child and His Religion — George E. Dawson. University of Chicago, 75 centg net. Religion in Boyhood — Ernest B. Layard. E. P. Button and Company, 75 cents net. CHAPTER IX FOOD— ITS FUNCTION, PURCHASE, PREPARA- TION, COOKING, SERVING GOOD COOKING— FOOD CHAETS— DIGESTION CHARTS —TABLE OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES— PUR- CHASE OF FOOD— GROCERY LIST— THE STEWARD —COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT— THE. COOK— LIST OF FOODS— WEEK OF MENUS— A FEW HINTS- TABLE ETIQUETTE— GRACE AT MEALS— SERV- ING— DISH WASHING We may live without friends, we may live without books, But civilized man cannot live without cooks. The normal boy sums up life in two words of three letters each: ''F-u-n'' and ''E-a-f As long as there is plenty of fun and plenty to eat, he thinks life is worth living, and he is not so far from the truth, for it is only when the fun of living dies with- in us, and our digestive apparatus refuses to do its function that we *^ become of all men most miser- able." A boy will put up with all sorts of incon- venience but rebels at once at poor food and bad cooking. The good nature, congenial atmosphere, and contentedness of camp life is largely due to good cooking. Economize in every other way, but think twice before cheap cooks are Good Cooking employed or a cheap grade of food purchased. A good cook will econ- 103 5i fe 104 FOOD 105 omize, he knows what to do with left-overs and how to prepare menus of variety. The quantity of swill soon reveals the worth of the cook. In a large camp a hundred dollars may easily find its way into the garbage can because of cheap cooks and poor food. A growing boy demands relatively more of the tissue-building kind of food than a grown person, because the body is being built up. When the full stature is reached the tissue-building part of the food is only required to take the place of that worn out each day. Professor Atwater has told us that the boy of fifteen or sixteen requires ninety per cent of the food ration of the adult man engaged in moderate muscular work. Boys at twelve require seventy per cent. Vegetables, fruits, cereals, bread, nuts and meats furnish the essentials. Sugar and fat have only part of them. Coffee and tea have no food values except for the milk and sugar added. They tend to check certain normal secretion in the body and should not be used during growth. The United States Department of Agriculture publishes a series of fifteen food charts of excep- tional value. Leaders and cooks will find them helpful in providing and planning the food for the boys. Boys will be interested in the Food Charts information given and the attractive form of presentation. The set costs $1.00. Send to Superintendent of Documents, Wash- ington, D. C. The following table is a condensa- tion of the facts given on the charts, and will help in planning menus : 106 CAMPIXG FOR BOYS ChaH 1 Protein Whole milk 3.3 Skim " 3.4 Buttermilk 3.0 Cream 2.5 Chart 2 Whole egg 14.8 Egg, white 13.0 ** yolk 16.1 Cream cheese 25 . 9 Cottage " 20.9 Chart 3 Lamb chop (edible portion) 17.6 Pork " " " 16.9 Smoked ham " " 16.1 Beefsteak " " 18.6 Dried beef " " 30.0 Chart 4 Cod, lean fish 15.8 Cod, salt 21.5 Oyster 6.2 Smoked herring 36 .4 Mackerel, fat fish 18.3 Chart 5 Olive OU Bacon 9.4 Beef suet 4.7 Butter 1.0 Lard Chart 6 Corn 10.0 Wheat 12.2 Buckwheat 10.0 Oat 11.8 Rice 8.0 Rye 12.2 Chart 7 White bread 9.2 Whole wheat bread 9.7 Oat breakfast food (cooked) . . 2.8 Toasted bread 11.5 Corn bread 7.9 Macaroni (cooked) 3.0 Chart 8 Sugar, granulated Molasses 2.4 Stick candy Maple sugar Honey 0.4 Chart 9 Parsnip 1.6 Onion 1.6 Potato 2.2 Celery 1.1 Prepared by C. F. Lang worthy, Exi>ert in charge of Nutrition Carhohy- Investigation. Fuel Value I Fat drates Ash 1 Water Calories 4.0 5.0 0.7 87.0 310 0.3 5.1 0.7 90.5 165 0.5 4.8 0.7 91.0 160 18.5 4.5 2.5 74.0 865 10.5 1.0 73.7 700 0.2 0.6 86.2 265 33.3 1.1 49.5 1608 33.7 2.4 3.8 34.2 1950 1.0 4.3 1.8 72.0 510 28.3 1.0 53.1 1540 30.1 1.0 52.0 1580 38.8 4.8 40.3 1940 18.5 1.0 61.9 1130 6.6 9.1 54.3 840 0.4 1.2 82.6 325 0.3 24.7 53.5 410 1.2 3.7 2.0 86.9 235 15.8 13.2 34.6 1355 7.1 1.2 73.4 645 100.0 4080 67.4 4.4 18.8 3030 81.8 0.3 13.2 3510 85.0 3.0 11.0 3410 100.0 4080 4.3 73.4 1.5 10.8 1800 1.7 73.7 1.8 10.6 1750 2.2 73.2 2.0 12.6 1600 5.0 69.2 3.0 11.0 1720 2.0 77.0 1.0 12.0 1720 1.5 73.9 1.9 10.5 1750 1.3 53.1 1.1 35.3 1215 0.9 49.7 1.3 38.4 1140 0.5 11.5 0.7 84.5 285 1.6 81.2 1.7 24.0 1420 4.7 46.3 2.2 38.9 1205 1.5 15.8 100.0 1.3 78.4 415 1860 69.3 3.2 25.1 1290 96.5 0.5 3.0 1785 82.8 0.9 16.3 1540 81.2 0.2 18.2 1520 0.5 13.5 1.4 83.0 230 0.3 9.9 0.6 87.6 225 0.1 18.4 1.0 78.3 385 3.4 1.0 94.5 85 FOOD 107 Carbohy- Fuel Value Chart 10 Protein Fat drates Ash Water Calories per Shelled beans, fresh 9.4 0.6 29.1 2.0 58.9 740 Navy beans, dry 22 . 5 1.8 59.6 3.5 12.6 1600 String beans, green 2.3 0.3 7.4 0.8 89.2 195 Corn, green 3.1 1.1 19.7 0.7 75.4 500 Chart 11 Apple (edible portion) . 4 0.5 14.2 0.3 84.6 290 Fried fig " " 4.3 0.3 74.2 2.4 18.8 1475 Strawberry " " 1.0 0.6 7.4 0.6 90.4 180 Banana " " 1.3 0.6 22.0 0.8 75.3 460 Chart 12 Grapes (edible portion) 1 . 3 1.6 19.2 0.5 77.4 450 Raisins " " 2.6 3.3 76.1 3.4 14.6 1605 Canned fruit 1.1 0.1 21.1 78.3 0.5 0.7 77.2 21.0 415 Kruit jelly 1455 Grape juice (unfermented) ... 0.2 7.4 0.2 92.2 150 Chart 13 Walnut 16.6 63.4 16.1 1.4 2.5 3285 Chestnut 10.7 7.0 74.2 2.2 5.9 1875 Peanut 25.8 38.6 22.4 2.0 9.2 2500 Peanut butter 29 . 3 46.5 17.1 5.0 2.1 2825 Cocoanut, desiccated 6.3 57.4 31.5 1.3 3.5 3121 Chart 14 Functions and Uses of Food Constituents of Food ' Edible Portion "1 ^Protein Flesh of meat. Water Fats Food as yolk and white >■ ^ Carbohydrates purchasedj of eggs, wheat Nutrients Mineral matter or ash contains 't flour, etc. J . Refuse Bones, entrails, [^ shells, bran, etc. Use of Food in the Body Protein builds and repairs tissue White (albumen) of eggs Curd (casein) of milk Lean meat, gluten of wheat, etc. All serve as fuel to yield energy Fats - in the forms of heat and mus- Fat of meat, butter, olive oil, oils of cular power com and wheat, etc Carbohydrates are transferred into fat, sugar. starch, etc Mineral Matter or Ash share in forming" bone, assist in digestion, etc. Phosphate of lime. Potash, soda, etc. Food is that which, taken into the body, buil ds tissue or yields energy. Chart 15 DIETARY STANDARD FOR MAN IN Fl [JLL VIC lOR / iT MODERATE MUSCULAR W DRK Protein Energy Condition Considered Grams Calories Food as purchased 115 3,800 Food eaten 100 3,500 Food digested 95 3,200 108 CAMPING FOE BOYS ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF MINERAL MATTER REQUIRED PER MAN PER DAY Grams Grams Phosphoric acid (P2O5) 3 to 4 Calcium oxid 0.7 to 1 . Sulphuric acid (SO3) 2 to 3 . 5 Magnesium oxid . 3 to . 5 Potassium oxid 2 to 3 Iron 0.006 to 0.012 Sodium oxid 4 to 6 Clorin 6 to 8 Time required for Digestion of various Foods: Hrs. Min. Apples, sweet 1 30 Apples, sour 2 Beans, pod, boiled 2 30 Beef, fresh, rare roasted 3 Beef, dried 3 30 Beets, boiled 3 45 Bread, wheat, fresh 3 40 Bread corn 3 15 Butter (melted) 3 30 Cabbage, raw, with vinegar 2 Cabbage, boiled 4 30 Cheese 3 30 Codfish 2 Custard, baked 2 45 Ducks, wild, roasted 4 30 Eggs, fresh, soft boiled 3 Eggs, fresh, hard boiled 3 30 Eggs, fresh, fried 3 30 Lamb, fresh, boiled 2 30 Milk, raw 2 15 Milk, boiled 2 Parsnips, boiled 2 30 Mutton, roast 3 15 Mutton, boiled 3 Mutton, broiled 3 Pork, roast 5 15 Potato, boiled 3 30 Potato, baked 2 30 Rice, boiled 1 Sago, boiled 1 45 Salmon, boiled 4 FOOD 109 Hrs. Min^ Soup, beef, vegetable 4 Soup, chicken 3 Tapioca, boiled 2 Trout, boiled or fried 1 30 Turnips, boiled 3 30 Veal, fresh, boiled 4 Food naturally falls into four classes. Potatoes and grains furnish starches. The starchy foods are heat and force producers. Eggs, meats, nuts, milk, dried beans, peas and lentils furnish nitrogen, and are flesh and muscle producers. Butter, oil, lard, and fatty meats supply fats. Sugar, molasses, honey, fruit, etc., furnish sugar. Starchy foods should be cooked at a high temper- ature and either boiled or baked; nitrogenous and fatty foods at lower temperature, prolonging the time. Meats are much better broiled, roasted, or stewed than fried. Vegetables should be steamed or baked so that the juices may not be wasted. Veal and pork (except ham and bacon) should have no place in the menu of a boys' summer camp. Both require from four to five hours and fifteen minutes to digest. Study carefully the above tables and then plan your meals intelligently. Table of Approximate Weights and Measures Three teaspoonfuls=one tablespoon. Four tablespoonfuls=one wine glass. Two wine glasses=:one gill. Two gills:=one tumbler or cup. Two cupfuls=one pint. One quart sifted flourmone pound. One quart granulated sugar=one pound, nine ounces. 110 CAMPING FOE BOYS One pint closely packed butterzr=one pound. Three cupfuls sugar=one pound. Five cupfuls sifted flour=one pound. One tablespoonful salt^one ounce. Seven tablespoonfuls granulated sugar=:one half pint. Twelve tablespoonfuls flourz=one pint. Three coffee cupfuls^one quart. Ten eggs=one pound. The purchase of food is an important item of ex- pense in operating a boys' camp, large or small. If the camp is a large one, one hundred or more boys, and you have a good-sized refrigerator and storehouse, always purchase in bulk form from a wholesale firm. Canned goods, such as peas, to- matoes, corn, and apples, buy in gallon cans in case lots and save cost of extra tin and labels. Cocoa may be purchased in five-pound cans. Condensed milk (unsweetened) in 20-ounce cans. Flour and sugar by the barrel. Beans by the Buying Food bushel. Butter by the firkin. For instance, a good heavy 200-pound hind quarter of beef will furnish a roast beef din- ner, a steak breakfast, a meat stew supper, a meat hash breakfast, and a good thick soup full of nour- ishment from the bones. The suet may be rendered into lard. There will be no waste, and you get the very best of meat. Buy lamb whole and fowl cleaned, and eggs by the crate. Keep an accurate inventory, also the cost of foods. It will be found interesting to make a resume of food at the end of each season, listing quantities, costs, and amounts used each day and ascertain the actual cost per day for each boy. FOOD 111 The following '^Grocery List'' is for a large camp, but it will serve also to form the basis of providing for small camps: Cocoa Coffee Sugar (granulated) BeanSj yellow Beans, red kidney Tapioca Eice Oatmeal (in bulk) Cornmeal Toasted Corn Flakes Cream of Wheat Shredded Wheat Salt (table) Salt (rock) Pepper, black Ginger Cloves Soda Cinnamon Baking Powder Cream of Tartar Magic yeast Raisins (seeded) Currants Flour Graham flour Corn starch Gelatin Figs Prunes Evaporated fruits Codfish cakes Macaroni Crackers Ginger Snaps Pilot Biscuits Extracts : Vanilla Lemon Kitchen Boquet (for gravy) Chocolate (cake) Lemons Olive Oil Vinegar Lard Butter Eggs Onions Potatoes Sapolio Gold Dust Laundry soap Mustard (dry) Mustard (prepared in mugs) Chow Chow Pickles Piccalilli Chili Sauce Bacon Ham Dried beef Salt pork Cheese Matches Candles Kerosene oil Lantern wicks Chloride of Lime 112 CAMPING FOR BOYS CANNED GOODS Corn Sliced peaches Tomatoes Shredded pineapple Peas Strawberries Lima beans Clams (for chowder) Beets Condensed milk (unsweetened) Apples Salmon Plums A reliable person should be in charge of the food supplies. In some camps he is called the Steward. He will see that the supply is sufficient, arrange the menus in consultation with the The Steward Chef, keep his storeroom neat and scrupulously clean. As a matter of record and for the purpose of ascertaining cost of feeding the boys, a number of camps keep a daily record like the illustrated form. The cook is the keynote of happiness or unhappi- ness. Get a good cook, professionally and morally, one who understands that he is not in camp for a vacation. A capable cook will take care of fifty boys without any assistance, except what help the boys may render in the preparation of vegetables. For years two cooks have looked after the meals of 175 to 200 boys in the camps conducted each season by the writer. The wages of the head The Cook cook or chef range from two to three dollars and fifty cents a day. Some camps secure cooks from the hotels and restaurants, others from the lumber camps. No matter where he is secured, be sure that he is clean, in person, in habits, and in speech. Do not permit boys to loaf FOOD 113 about the kitchen. In the planning of menus, food value and variety must be considered. The follow- COMMISSARY DEPARTMENT CAMP BECKET BREAKFAST Cost DINNER Cost SDPPER Com Number Number Number ^ lbs Sugar lbs. Sugar '. lbs. Sugar lbs. Butter lbs. Butter loaves Bread qts Milk qts. Milk . . : qts. Milk Total-. Total Total -MENU MENU MENU ORDER LIST 114 campi:n'g foe boys ing represents the staple articles of food for a boys' camp : Suggested List of Dishes for Boys' Camps Breakfast Fruit: Bananas, raspberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, apples, stewed prunes, apple sauce, baked apples, stewed apples, stewed apricots, stewed figs. Cereals: Oatmeal, Shredded Wheat, Cream of Wheat, Toasted Corn Flakes; corn meal mush and milk. Hominy Grits, Puffed Kice, Wheatlets. Eggs: Fried, boiled, scrambled, omelette, poached on toast. Meats Bacon, meat hash, meat stew, chopped meat on and Fish: toast, codfish cakes, creamed codfish, fried fresh fish, creamed dried beef, fresh sausage. Vegetables: Potatoes — Baked, creamed, mashed, browned, German fried; baked beans. Drinlcs: Cocoa, milk, coffee (only occasionally), pure water. Bread: Toasted bread, corn bread, muffins, biscuits, hot cakes. Dinner Soups: Old-fashioned vegetable soup, bean soup, clam or fish chowder, corn chowder. Thick soups are pref- erable for camps. Meats: Eoasts — beef, lamb, chicken. Stews — beef, lamb. Steak — Fricassee of chicken, fricassee of lamb, haricot of lamb, pot roast of beef, Hamburg steak, corned beef, boiled ham, meat pie. Fish: Baked, fried, boiled; escalloped salmon, salmon croquettes. Vegetables: Potatoes — mashed, boiled, French fried, browned. Cabbage. Corn — stewed, escalloped, corn pie, corn on cob. Peas — creamed with carrots. Lima beans. Summer squash. Tomatoes — stewed, es- calloped, au gratin with tomatoes. Apple sauce FOOD 115 creamed onions; cabbage slaw. Greens — spinach, beet tops. Desserts: Ice Cream — vanilla, chocolate, strawberry (pre- served), raspberry, lemon, coffee, caramel, peach, pineapple (shredded), orange, lemon. Sherbet — lemon, orange, pineapple, raspberry. Eice pud- ding, plain with fruit sauce, rice with raisins. Tapioca pudding with apples or fruit. Bread pudding. Cottage pudding, lemon sauce or fruit sauce. Banana pudding. Sliced peaches with cream. Pie — apple, blueberry, blackberry. Corn- starch pudding. Supper Cereals : Cream of Wheat, mush and milk. Shredded Wheat. Cold Dishes '.Sliced beef, ham, corned beef, potato salad, cab- bage slaw, pressed meats. Hot Dishes : Irish stew, meat croquettes, frankfurters, potato cakes, baked beans, thick soups, stewed kidney beans. Potatoes — baked, fried, creamed. Creamed salmon with peas; codfish; macaroni and cheese; potato hash. Desserts: Prunes, stewed apples, stewed apricots, fresh fruits, stewed pears, stewed figs. Calces: Gingerbread, sweetbread, cookies. Relishes: Pickles beets, chow chow, piccalilli, watermelon spiced. Drinks: Lemonade, iced tea, cocoa, hot milk. Local geographical conditions will suggest a va- riety of dishes. There should be plenty of milk to drink, and good bread and butter. Cake and fancy dishes are not necessary. The bill of fare should be an elastic one. When the day is cold and dreary, hot chowders, soups, cocoa, etc., should be served. On a warm day, lemonade and cold dishes are de- sirable. Every camp should, if possible, have its own ice-cream freezer, as ice-creams, sherbets, and 116 CAMPING FOE BOYS water ices are not only healthy but inexpensive. An occasional delicacy is desirable. Canned shredded pineapple, strawberries and sliced peaches make excellent sherbets and ice cream. In one camp chicken and ice cream are served every Sun- day dinner. A Sample Weelc of Menus BREAKFAST Oatmeal Fried potatoes Cocoa Cream of tartar biscuits Toasted Cornflakes Fish cakes Corn bread Cocoa Cream of Wheat Meat hash Cocoa Bread and butter Shredded Wheat Baked potatoes Creamed codfish Bread and butter Cocoa Oatmeal Codfish cakes Bread and butter Cocoa Puffed Riae Fried eggs Cocoa Bread and butter Cream of Wheat Bananas Fried mush and maple syrup Coffee DINNER MONDAY Irish stew Boiled potatoes Green corn on cob Apple tapioca Bread and butter TUESDAY Beef steak Mashed potatoes Peas Corn starch pudding Bread and butter WEDNESDAY Roast lamb Tomato sauce Boiled potatoes Lemon sherbet Bread and butter THURSDAY Boiled beef Mashed potatoes Corn starch pudding with strawberry sauce Bread and butter FRIDAY Fried weak fish Stewed tomatoes Boiled potatoes Vanilla ice cream SATURDAY Escalloped salmon Rice Boiled potatoes Cucumbers Bread and butter SUNDAY Roast chicken Creamed onions Mashed potatoes Pineapple sherbet Bread and butter SUPPER Fried eggs Prunes Sweet cake Bread and butter Cocoa Vegetable soup Stewed figs Gingerbread Bread and butter Creamed fish Apple sauce Sweet cake Bread and butter Creamed dried beef Apple sauce Gingerbread Bread and Butter Vegetable soup Bread and butter Sweet cake Boston baked beans Tomato catsup Sweetbread Cold beef Apple sauce Sweet cake Bread and butter FOOD 117 Each table is provided with meat platter, vege- table dishes, bread plate, butter dish, sugar bowl, milk pitcher, water pitcher, salt and pepper shakers, etc. The only need of a waiter is to bring the food to the tables and replenish the dishes. Each boy takes his turn at waiting. If there are seven boys in a tent, a boy serves one day in seven. Serving He usually sits at the right side of the leader and eats his meal with the others. This does away with a second or ** waiter" table. By this system you avoid the tendency to smartness and roughness. Each leader is careful to see that food is not wasted at his table, that decency and order is preserved, and wholesome conversation and pleasantries indulged in during the meal, as an aid to good digestion. Somje camps pay for all work done and give boys more freedom, but experience has clearly proven that the successful camp is the one where boys all have responsibility and definite duties to perform. Dish-washing is never attractive. It .may be made less irksome by carefully systematizing the work. There are several ways. One way is that of having each boy wash his own dishes, working a tent at a time. A number of tubs of hot, soapy water are provided for washing, and several extra tubs filled with very hot water for rinsing. At a signal from the Camp Director or person in Dish-washing charge, each table of boys by ro- tation passes from the dining room with the dishes to these tubs and each boy proceeds to do his own dish-washing and rinsing 118 CAMPING FOE BOYS and drying. Another way is to provide two good- sized dish-pans for each table, and assign two boys to do the dish-washing for the day. The dishes are washed at the tables and stowed away in a closet, each table having its own closet. Another way is to purchase a good dish-washing machine, like that Camp Hayo-Went-Ha made by the Fearless Dishwashing Co., Rochester, N. Y. (Cost, $100), and install it in the kitchen. This plan is in operation at Camp Dudley and Camp Hayo-Went-Ha. Cleanliness must be insisted upon. Never leave anything unwashed until it is used again. The eat- ing from dirty and greasy plates, forks, knives,, and spoons will result in disease. No matter what sys- tem you use, do not let down on dirty dishes. FOOD 119 A FEW HINTS ''Soup makes the soldier," said Napoleon I. Bones should never be throAvn away, but Soup cracked and placed in stock pot, covered with water and let simmer. This makes ''stock" which is the foundation of all soup. All green vegetables should be washed well in cold water and put in boiling salted water, and boiled slowly until tender. All white and under- ground vegetables should be cooked in boiling U7i- salted water, the salt being added at the last mo- ment. Potatoes take from twenty to thirty minutes to boil. In boiling and roasting allow about a quarter of an hour for every pound of meat. The fire should be medium hot. Boiled fish should be cooked ten minutes to each pound. Water is the only true beverage. Forming as it does three-quarters of the weight of the Water human body, it is of next importance to the air we breathe. Milk is a food and not a beverage. Onions Peel or slice onions in water and you will not shed tears. To test the freshness of an egg, drop into cold water. If the egg sinks quickly it is Egg Test fresh, if it stands on end it is doubtful, and quite bad if it floats. The shell of a fresh egg looks dull ; a stale one is glossy. 120 CAMPING FOE BOYS A pot may be mended by mak- Mending Pots ing a paste of flour, salt and fine wood ashes. Plaster it on where the leak is and let it dry before using. A mother complained that her boy, after being in camp for two weeks, returned home speaking a new language, particularly at the dining table. If he wanted milk, he called for *'cow,'' butter was *'goat,'' biscuits were *^ sinkers,'' meat was *^ corpse," and there were several other terms and phrases peculiar to camp life. He Table Etiquette had to learn all over the ways of decency and reasonable table re- finement. There is no plausible reason why this should be so in a boys' camp. Grabbing of food, yelling for food, upsetting of liquids, and table ^^rough-house" will be largely prevented by the sys- tem of seating and of serving. The most satisfac- tory way is to seat by tent groups. Have as many tables as you have tents. Let each tent leader preside at the head of his table, and serve the food in family style. The leader serves the food, and sees that the boys observe the same delightful table life in camp as at home. Grace should be said before each meal, either silently or audibly. In the morn- Grace at Meals ing the hymn on the following page is sung by the boys at Camp Becket, followed with bowed heads in silent prayer : FOOD 121 MORNING PRAYER HYMN FOR BOYS' CAMPS To be snng at morning meal Words and Music by 11. W. Gibson. (Boys) Fa-lher,we thank Thee for life.strength and health, for friends and food. Bless us this day, (Men) Fa-ther,we thank Thee for lifc,8treiiglh and friends and food. n -M -«2- #- -•- '^—^ =t=t: ?^^ ?±: ^^fe^^^^^p^^ Keep k m^ us from harm. Protect our lov'd ones, thro' Je-sus Christ.our Lord. A ^ 4diM m Ij^- ^^^ f 'I Morning Gracious Giver of all good, Thee we thank for rest and food. Grant that all we do or say- In Thy service be this day. "Noon Father for this noonday meal We would speak the praise we feel, Health and strength we have from Thee, Help "s, Lord, to faithful be. Night Tireless guardian of our way, Thou hast kept us well this day. While we thank Thee, we request Care continued, pardon, rest. — Camp Wawayanda Go abroad upon the paths of Nature, And when all its voices whisper, and its silent things Are breathing the deep beauty of the world — Kneel at its ample altar. — Bryant. 122 CHAPTER X THE CAMP FIRE HOW TO BUILD A CAMP FIEE— PEEVENT SPEEAD OF FIEE-^FOEEST FIEE LAWS— HOW TO LIGHT A FIEE— STOEY TELLING— MAESHMALLOW TOASTS AND COEN EOASTS— A STOEY, ^^HOW MEN FOUND THE GEEAT SPIEIT^^ There is an impalpable, invisible, softly stepping delight in the camp fire which escapes analysis. Enumerate all its charms, and still there is something missing in your cata- logue. — W. C. Gray in *^Camp Fire Musings.'* ^'I cannot conceive of a camp that does not have a big fire ! Our city houses do not have it, not even a fireplace. The fireplace is one of the greatest schools the imagination has ever had or ever can have. It is moral, and it always gives a tremendous stimulus to the imagination, and that is why stories and fire go together. You cannot tell a good story unless you tell it before a fire. You cannot have a complete fire unless you have a good story-teller along. "1 Any one who has witnessed a real camp fire and participated in its fun, as well as seriousness, will never forget it. The huge fire shooting up its tongue of flame into the darkness of the night, the perfect shower of golden rain, the company of happy boys, and great, dark background of piney woods, 1 Dr. G. Stanley Hall, " Camp Conference Report," p. 40. 123 124 CAMPIXG FOR BOYS the weird light over all, the singing, the yells, the stories, the fun, then the serious word at the close, is a happy experience long to be remembered. There are ways and ways of building camp fires. An old Indian saying runs, ** White man heap fool, make um big fire — can't git near! Injun make um little fire — git close! Uh! good!'' Make it a serv- ice privilege for a tent of boys to gather wood and build the fire. This should be done during the afternoon. Two things are es- To Build a Fire sential in the building of a fire — kindling and air. A fire must be built systematically. First, get dry, small dead branches, twigs, fir branches and other inflammable material. Place these upon the ground. Be sure that air can draw under the pile and up through it. Next place some heavier branches in tripod form over the kindling, then good-sized sticks, and so on until you have built the camp fire the required size. In many camps it is considered an honor to light the fire. Kerosene oil may be poured upon the kindling, or old newspapers used in lighting the fire. An interesting account of ''How to Build a Fire by Rubbing Sticks," by Ernest Thompson-Seton, will be found in ''Boy Scouts of America," page 84. Be sure to use every precaution to prevent the spreading of fire. This may be done by building a circle of stone around the fire, or by dig- Gaution ging up the earth, or by wetting a space around the fire. Always have buckets of water near at hand. THE CAMP FIRE 125 Things to remember: First, It is criminal to leave a hurdling fire; second, Always put out the fire with water or earth. Be sure to get a copy of the law of State Laws your State regarding Forest Fires, and if a permit is necessary, secure it be- fore building a fire. Kephart, in his book on ''Camping and Wood- craft" (page 88), says, ''When there is nothing dry to strike it on, jerk the head of the match forward through the teeth. Face the To Light a Match wind. Cup your hands, backs toward wind. Remove right hand just long enough to strike match on something very close by, then instantly resume former posi- tion. Flame of match will run up the stick instead of blowing away from it." The camp fire is a golden opportunity for the tell- ing of stories — good stories told well. Indian leg- ends, war stories, ghost stories, de- Story-Telling tective stories, stories of heroism, the history of fire, a talk about the stars. Don't drag out the telling of a story. Talk it in boy language. Avoid technical terms. Make the story live. College songs always appeal to boys. Let some leader start up a song in a natural way, and soon you will have a chorus of unexpected melody and harmony. As the fire dies down, let the songs be of a more quiet type, like "My Old Kentucky Home," and ballads of similar nature. When the embers are glowing is the time for 126 CAMPING FOR BOYS toasting marshmallows. Get a long stick sharpened to a point, fasten a marshmallow on the end, hold it over the embers, not in the blaze, until the marsh- mallow expands. Oh, the deliciousness of it! Ever tasted one ? Before roasting corn on the cob, tie the end of each husk firmly with string. Roast Delight Soak in water for about an hour. Then put into the hot embers. The water prevents the corn from burning and the firmly tied husks enable the corn to be steamed and the real corn flavor is retained. In about twenty min- utes the corn may be taken from the fire and eaten. Have a bowl of melted butter and salt on hand. Also a pastry brush to spread the melted butter upon the corn. Try it. For an example of a good story to be told around the camp fire, this Indian tale by Professor H. M. Burr, of the Springfield Training School, is given : HOW MEN FOUND THE GREAT SPIRIT *'In the olden time, when woods covered all the earth except the deserts and the river bottoms, and men lived on the fruits and berries they found and the wild animals which they could A Good Story shoot or snare; when they dressed in skins and lived in caves, there was little time for thought. But as men grew stronger and more cunning and learned how to live together, they had more time to think and more mind to think with. ' ' Men had learned many things. They had learned THE CAMP FIRE 127 that cold weather followed hot, and spring followed winter, and that the sun got up in the morning and went to bed at night. They saw that the great water was kindly when the sun shone, but when the sun hid its face and the wind blew upon it, it grew black and angry and upset their canoes. They found that knocking flints together or rubbing dry sticks would light the dry moss and that the flames, which would bring back summer in the midst of winter and day in the midst of night, were hungry and must be fed, and when they escaped devoured the woods and only the water could stop them. ^' These and many other things men learned, but no one knew why it all was or how it came to be. Men began to wonder — and that was the beginning of the path which led to the Great Spirit. ''In the ages when men began to wonder there was born a boy whose name was 'Wo,' which meant in the language of his time 'Whence.' As he lay in his mother's arms, she loved him and wondered, 'His body is of my body, but from whence comes the life — the spirit which is like mine and yet not like it?' And his father, seeing the wonder in the mother's eyes, said: 'W^hence came he from?' And there was no one to answer, and so they called him 'Wo,' to remind them that they knew not from whence he came. "As Wo grew up, he was stronger and swifter of foot than any of his tribe. He became a mighty hunter. He knew the ways of all the wild things, and could read the signs of the season. As he grew older they made him a chief, and listened while he 128 CAMPING FOE BOYS spoke at the council board, but Wo was not satis- fied. His name was a question, and questioning filled his mind. ''From whence did he come? Whither was he going? Why did the sun rise and set? Why did life burst into leaf and flower with the coming of the spring? Why did the child become a man and the man grow old and die? ''The mystery grew upon him as he pondered. In the morning he stood on a mountain top and, stretching out his hands, cried: 'Whence?' At night he cried to the moon: 'Whither?' He listened to the soughing of the trees and the song of the brook and tried to learn their language. He peered eagerly into the eyes of little children, and tried to read the mystery of life. He listened at the still lips of the dead, waiting for them to tell him whither they had gone. "He went about among his fellows silent and absorbed, always looking for the unseen and listen- ing for the unspoken. He sat so long silent at the council board that the elders questioned him. To their questioning he replied, like one awakening from a dream : " 'Our fathers since the beginning have trailed the beasts of the woods. There is none so cunning as the fox, but we can trail him to his lair. Though we are weaker than the great bear and buffalo, yet by our wisdom we overcome them. The deer is more swift of foot, but by craft we overtake him. We cannot fly like a bird, but we snare the winged one with a hair. We have made ourselves many THE CAMP FIRE 129 cunning inventions by which the beasts, the trees, the wind, the water, and the fire become our serv- ants. ^^ 'Then we speak great swelling words: How great and wise we are ! There is none like us in the air, in the wood, or in the water ! '* 'But the words are false. Our pride is like that of a partridge drumming on his log in the wood before the fox leaps upon him. Our sight is like that of the mole burrowing under the ground. Our wisdom is like a drop of dew upon the grass. Our ignorance is like the great water which no eye can measure. '' 'Our life is like a bird coming out of the dark, fluttering for a heart-beat in the tepee and then going forth into the dark again. No one can tell us whence it comes or whither it goes. I have asked the wise men, and they cannot answer; I have lis- tened to the voice of the trees and wind and water, but I do not know their tongue; I have questioned the sun and the moon and the stars, but they are silent. " 'But to-day, in the silence before the darkness gives place to light, I seemed to hear a still small voice within my breast, saying to me: "Wo, the questioner, rise up like the stag from his lair ; away, alone, to the mountain of the sun. There thou shalt find that which thou seekest." " 'I go, but if I fall by the trail another will take it up. If I find the answer I will return.' "Waiting for none, Wo left the council of his tribe and went his way toward the mountain of the 130 CAMPING FOE BOYS sun. For six days he made his way through the trackless woods, guided by the sun by day and the stars by night. On the seventh he came to the great mountain — the mountain of the sun — on whose top, acording to the tradition of his tribe, the sun rested each night. All day long he climbed, saying to himself: ^I will sleep to-night in the tepee of the sun and he will tell me whence I come and whither I go.' *'But as he climbed the sun seemed to climb higher and higher. As he neared the top a cold cloud settled like a night bird on the mountain. Chilled and faint with hunger and fatigue. Wo struggled on. Just at sunset he reached the top of the mountain, but it was not the mountain of the sun, for many days' journey to the west the sun was sinking in the Great Water. **A bitter cry broke from Wo's parched lips. His long trail was useless. There was no answer to his questions. The sun journeyed farther and faster than men dreamed, and of wood and waste and water there was no end. Overcome with misery and weakness, he fell upon a bed of moss with his back toward the sunset and the unknown. ^^And Wo slept, although it was unlike any sleep he had ever known before, and as he slept he dreamed. He was alone upon the mountain waiting for the answer. A cloud covered the mountain, but all was silent. A mighty wind rent the cloud and rushed roaring through the crags, but thfere was no voice in the wind. Thunder pealed, lightning flashed, but he whom Wo sought was not there. THE CAMP FIEE 131 *'In the hush that followed the storm Wo heard a voice low and quiet, but in it all the sounds of earth and sky seemed to mingle — the song of the bird, the whispering of the trees, and the murmur- ing of the brook. '' 'Wo, I am He whom thou seekest; I am the Great Spirit; I am the All-Father. Ever since I made man of the dust of the earth and so child of the earth and brother to all living, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, thus making him My son, I have waited for a seeker who should find Me. In the fullness of time thou hast come, Wo, the questioner, to the Answerer. *' 'Thy body is of the earth and to earth returns; thy spirit is Mine; it is given thee for a space to make according to thy will; then it returns to Me better or worse for thy making. '' 'Thou hast found Me because thy heart was pure and thy search for Me tireless. Go back to thy tribe and be to them the voice of the Great Spirit. From henceforth I will speak to thee and the seekers that come after thee, in a thousand voices and appear in a thousand shapes. I will speak in the voices of the wood and streams and of those you love. I will appear to you in the sun by day and the stars by night. When thy people and Mine are in need and wish for the will of the Great Spirit, then shall My spirit brood over thine and the words that thou shalt speak shall be My words. ' "And Wo awoke, facing the east and the rising sun. His body was warmed by its rays. A great 132 CAMPING FOR BOYS gladness filled his soul. He had sought and found, and prayer came to him like the song to the bird: ** *0 Great Spirit, Father of my spirit, the sun is Thy messenger, but Thou art brighter than the sun. Drive Thou the darkness before me. Be Thou the light of my spirit.' **As Wo went down the mountain and took the journey back to the home of his people his face shone, and the light never seemed to leave it, so that men called him 'He of the shining face.' ''When Wo came back to his tribe, all who saw his face knew that he had found the answer, and they gathered again about the council fire to hear. As Wo stood up and looked into the eager faces in the circle of the fire, he remembered that the Great Spirit had given him no message, and for a moment he was dumb. Then the words of the Great Spirit came to him again: 'When thy people and Mine shall need to know My will. My spirit shall brood over thine and the words that thou shalt speak shall be My words.' Looking into the eager faces of longing and questioning, his spirit moved within him and he spoke: " 'I went, I sought, I found the Great Spirit, who dwells in the earth as your spirits dwell in your bodies. It is from Him the spirit comes. We are His children. He cares for us more than a mother for the child at her breast, or the father for the son that is his pride. His love is like the air we breathe : it is about us; it is within us. " 'The sun is the sign of His brightness, the sky of His greatness, and mother-love and father-love. THE CAMP FIRE 133 and the love of man and woman are the signs of His love. We are but children; we cannot enter into the council of the Great Chief until we have been proved, but this is His will, that we love one an- other as He loves us; that we bury forever the hatchet of hate ; that no man shall take what is not his own and the strong shall help the weak.' **The chiefs did not wholly understand the words of Wo, but they took a hatchet and buried it by the fire, saying: 'Thus bury we hate between man and his brother,' and they took an acorn and put it in the earth, saying: 'Thus plant we the love of the strong for the weak. ' And it became the custom of the tribe that the great council in the spring should bury the hatchet and plant the acorn. ''Every morning the tribe gathered to greet the rising sun, and, with right hands raised and left hands upon their hearts, prayed : ' Great Spirit, hear us; guide us to-day; make our wills Thy will, our ways Thy way.' "And the tribe grew stronger and greater and wiser than all the other tribes — but that is another story." — Association Seminar, December, 1910. BIBLIOGRAPHY Camp-Fire Musings — William C. Gray. Fleming H. Revell Company, $1.00 net. A book full of the spirit of the woods and of camp life. Camp-Fire Stories. In Camp with Boys — G. W. Hinckley. Central Maine Pub. Co., $1.00. The Shadowless Man — Adelbert Von Chamisso. Frederick Warne & Co., $1.00 net. Mystery and Detective Stories, six volumes. Review of Reviews Co. ^^He ■ 134 CHAPTER XI TRAMPS, HIKES, AND OVER-NIGHT TRIPS AN OLD TRAMPER^S ADVICE— MAP READING— SHOE WISDOM— THE PACK— THE ^^ LEAN-TO'' OR SHACK— BED MAKING— A HOT STONE WRINKLE —NIGHT WATCHERS— OBSERVATION PRACTICE- CAMERA SNAP SHOTS— CAMP LAMP— HANDY THINGS TO MAKE. Afoot and light-hearted I take to the open road Healthy, free, the world before me, The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose. — Whitman. It is an excellent thing for the boys to get away from the camp routine for a few days, and walk '^the long brown path," stopping overnight, doing their own cooking, building their ^4ean-to'' or shelter, and roughing it. Walking is probably one of the best all-round cures for the ills of civilization. Several things should be remembered when one goes on a hike; First, avoid long distances. A foot-weary, muscle-tired, and temper-tried, hun- gry group of boys surely is not desirable. There are a lot of false notions about An Old courage, and bravery, and Tramper's Advice grit, that read well in print but fail miserably in practice, and long hikes for boys is one of the most 135 136 CAMPING FOE BOYS glaring of these notions. Second, have a leader who will set a good, easy pace, say about three miles an hour, prevent the boys from exces- sive water drinking, and assign the duties of pitch- ing camp, etc. Third, observe these two rules given by an old woodsman: (1) Never walk over anything you can walk around; (2) Never step on anything that you can step over. Every time you step on anything you lift the weight of your body. Why lift extra weight when tramping? Fourth, carry with you only the things absolutely needed, and roll in blanket and poncho, army style. Before starting on a hike, study carefully the road maps. The best maps are those of the United States Geological Survey, made on Map Reading a scale of two inches to the mile, and costing five cents each. The map is published in atlas sheets, each sheet repre- senting a small quadrangular district. Send to the Superintendent of Documents, at Washington, D. C, for a list. A mountaineer in Tennessee said: **We measure miles with a coonskin, and throw in the tail for good measure." A better way is to purchase the Universal Map Measure, costing $1.50 (imported TRAMPS AND HIKES 137 and sold by Dame, Stoddard Co., 374 Washington Street,. Boston, Mass.), which accurately measures the distance upon the Government Survey Maps. For tramping the boy needs the right kind of a shoe, or the trip will be a miserable failure. A light-soled or light-built shoe is not suited for moun- tain work, or even for an ordinary hike. The feet will blister and become ^^ road-weary. '^ They must be neither too big nor too small nor Shoe Wisdom too heavy, and be amply broad to give the toes plenty of room. The shoe should be water-tight. A medium weight, high- topped lace shoe is about right. Bathing the feet at the springs and streams along the road will be refreshing, if not indulged in too frequently. (See chapter on ^'Health and Hygiene" for care of the., feet and proper way of walking.) It is well to carry a spare shirt hanging down the back with the sleeves tied round the neck. Change when the shirt you are wearing becomes too wet with perspiration. The most practical and inexpensive pack is the one manufactured for the Boy Scouts of America. Price, sixty cents. It is about 14 by 20 The Pack inches square, and 6 inches thick, made of water-proof canvas, with shoulder straps, and will easily hold everything needed for a tramping trip. A few simple remedies for bruises, cuts, etc., should be taken along by the leader (see chapter on ** Simple Eemedies''). You may not need them, and some may poke fun at them, but as the old lady 138 CAMPING FOR BOYS said: **You can't always sometimes tell." Amount and kind of provisions must be determined by the locality and habitation. Reach the place where you are going to spend the night in plenty of time to build your " lean-to, '* and make your bed for the night. Select your camping spot, with reference to water, wood, drainage, and material for your ''lean-to." Choose a dry, level place, the ground just sloping enough to insure the water running away from your '' lean-to" in case of rain. In building your ''lean-to," look for a couple of good trees standing from eight to ten feet apart with branches from six to eight feet above the ground. By studying the il- The ** Lean-to" lustration below, you will be able to build a very serviceable shack, TEAMPS AND HIKES 139 affording protection from the dews and rain. While two or more boys are building the shack, another should be gathering firewood, and preparing the meal, while another should be cutting and bringing in as many soft, thick tips of hemlock or balsam boughs as possible, for the roof of the shack and the beds. How to thatch the ** lean-to" is shown in this illustration. If the camp site is to be used for several days, two ^Uean-tos" may be built facing each other, about six feet apart. This will make a very com- fortable camp, as a small fire can be built between the two, thus giving warmth and light. On the floor of your ^Uean-to'' lay a thick layer of the *^fans" or branches of balsam fir or hemlock, with the convex side up, and the butts of the stems toward the foot of the bed. Now thatch this over with more ^^fans" by thrusting the butt ends through the first layer at a slight angle toward the head of the bed, so that the soft tips will The Bed curve toward the foot of the bed, and be sure to make the head of your bed away from the opening of the ''lean-to'' and the foot toward the opening. Over this bed spread your rubber blanket with rubber side down, your sleep- ing blanket on top, and you will be surprised how 140 CAMPING FOR BOYS soft, springy, and fragrant a bed you have, upon which to rest your ** weary frame," and sing with the poet: Then the pine boughs croon me a lullaby, And trickle the white moonbeams To my face on the balsam where I lie While the owl hoots at my dreams. — J. George Fredericlc. What God puts in the blood is eliminated slowly and we are all impregnated with a love for the natural life which is irresistible. That was a great saying of the boy who was taken from the city for the first time on an all-night outing. Snugly tucked up in his blankets he heard the wind singing in the pines overhead. As the boy looked up, he asked, ** Wasn't God blowing His breath down at usf — Dr. Lilburn. If the night bids fair to be cold, place a number of stones about six or eight inches in diameter next the fire, so they will get hot. These can then be placed at the feet, back, etc., as Hot Stones needed, and will be found good **bed warmers.'' When a stone loses its heat it is replaced near the fire and a hot one is taken. If too hot, wrap the stone in a shirt or sweater or wait for it to cool off. Boys desire adventure. This desire may be grati- fied by the establishment of night watchers, in re- lays of two boys every two hours. Night Watchers Their imaginations will be stirred by the resistless attraction of the camp-fire and the sound of the creatures that creep 9.t night. TRAMPS AND HIKES 141 Many boys have excellent eyes but see not, and good ears but hear not, all because they have not been trained to observe or to be quick to hear. A good method of teaching observation while on a hike or tramp is to have each boy jot Observation down in a small notebook or diary of the trip the different kinds of trees, birds, animals, tracks; nature of roads, fences; peculiar rock formation, smells of plants, etc., and thus be able to tell what he saw or heard to the boys upon his return to the permanent camp or to his home. One of the party should take a Brownie No. 2 or small folding kodak. Photos of the trip are always a great pleasure and a memory reviver. A prac- tical and convenient method of carrying small fold- ing cameras is described in ''Forest and Stream." A strap with a buckle having been at- Cameras tached to an ordinary leather belt is run through the loops at the back of the camera-case. The camera may be pushed around the belt to the point where it will be least in the way. A very convenient lamp to use on a hike is the Baldwin Camp Lamp, made by John Simmons Co., 13 Franklin Street, New York City. (Price, $1.00.) It weighs only five ounces when fully Lamps charged with carbide, and is but 4% inches high. It projects a strong light 150 feet through the woods. A stiff wind will not blow it out. It can be worn comfortably in your hat or belt. 142 CAMPING FOR BOYS The ''Rocky Mountain Searchlight," made of a discarded tomato can, a candle, and a bit of wire for a handle, is a camp product that will be found to be very useful in an emergency. The can is rn Mote roit CAnolk. ■Rocky Mountain Lantern carried lengthwise, with the wire handle run through a hole in the closed end on through the entire length of the can and out the open end. Do TEAMPS AND HIKES 143 not wrap the handle wire around the can. It will slip off. Two cuts, crossing each other, make the candle opening, with the cut edges bent inward. The candle is pushed upward as it burns down, the flame being kept in the middle of the can. The cut edges prevent it from falling out until the last hold is melted away. The *^ Searchlight '* gives good service when hung in the tent or on a nearby tree, but is especially valuable in lighting up a rough path on a rainy, windy night. The camp hanger shown in the illustration can be hung from the ridgepole of the Camp Hanger tent, and is particularly useful when from two to four persons oc- cupy the tent. It can be raised and lowered at 144 CAMPUSTG FOR BOYS will by attaching the hanger to a pulley arrange- ment. The hanger may be made of wood in any length. Ordinary coat hooks are fastened to the side with screws. A common screw-eye is used for the line at the top. A snap hook attached to the rope facilitates its removal at will. A boy of ingenuity can make a number of con- venient things. A good drinking cup may be made from a piece of birch bark cut in parallelogram shape, and twisted into pyramid form, and fas- tened with a split stick. (See illustrations on fol- lowing page.) A flat piece of bark may serve as a plate. A pot lifter may be made from a green stick about 18 inches long, allowing a few inches of a stout branch to remain. By reversing the same kind of stick and driving a small nail near the other end or cutting a notch, it may be used to suspend kettles over a fire. A novel candlestick is made by opening the blade of a knife and jabbing it into a tree, and upon the other upturned blade putting a candle- A green stick having a split end which will hold a piece of bread or meat makes an excellent broiler. Don't pierce the bread or meat. Driving a good-sized green stake into the ground at an angle of 45 degrees and cutting a notch in which may be suspended a kettle over the fire, will provide a way of boiling water quickly. For suggestions in building a camp-fire and cook- ing on hikes, see chapter on ** Cooking o;i Hikes.'' The bibliography for the whole subject of Hikes, including cooking, is on page 153. TRAMPS AND HIKES 145 C*»fp Fine Tbwc*. Cai^p 3rt«fi ' ^t^ /* Novet CftNOLCSr/cfc' T3A»?,f TLAXG n ^ ?»r "Lifn-etx ^o-Ooic w^irffrr qomk^V I I 146 CHAPTER XII COOKING ON HIKES BUILDING A COOKING FIEE— FIEE BY SUN GLASS— GEIDDLE CAKES— BEOILED BACON— CEEAMED SALMON— SALMON ON TOAST— BAKED POTATOES —BAKED FISH— FEOGS' LEGS— EGGS— COFFEE— COCOA-SAMPLE MENU— EATION LIST— DISH WASHING Take two or three stones to build a fireplace; a stick first shaved and then whittled into shavings ; a lighted match, a little blaze, some bark, dry twigs and a few small sticks added; then with the griddle placed over the fire, you are ready to cook the most appetizing griddle cakes. The Fireplace After the cakes are cooked, fry strips of bacon upon the griddle ; in the surplus fat fry slices of bread, then some thinly sliced raw potatoes done to a delicious brown and you have a breakfast capable of making the mouth of a camper water. Another way of building a fire : Place two green logs side by side, closer together at one end than the other. Build fire between. On the logs over the fire you can rest frying pan, kettle, etc. To 147 148 CAMPING FOE BOYS start fire have some light, dry wood split up fine. When sticks begin to blaze add a few more of larger size and continue until you have a good fire. When the sun shines a fire may be started by means of a small pocket sun or magnifying glass. Fine scrapings from dry wood or ' ^ punk Sun Glass tinder'' will easily ignite by the focus- ing of the sun dial upon it, and by fan- ning the fire and by adding additional fuel, the fire- builder will soon have a great blaze. COOKING RECEIPTS Beat together one ^gg, tablespoonful of sugar, cup of new milk, or condensed milk di- Griddle Calces luted one-half. Mix in enough self- raising flour to make a thick cream batter. Grease the griddle with rind or slices of bacon for each batch of cakes. Slice bacon thin. Remove the rind which makes the slices curl up. Or, gash the rind with a sharp knife if the boys like ^ ^ cracklings. ' ' Fry on griddle or put on the sharp end of a stick Broiled Bacon and hold over the hot coals, or, better yet, remove the griddle and put a clean fiat rock in its place. When the rock is hot lay the slices of bacon on it and broil. Keep turning the bacon so as to brown it on both sides. Cut into dice. Heat about a Creamed Salmon pint of salmon in one-half pint milk, season with salt and pep- per and a half teaspoonful of butter. COOKING ON HIKES 149 Drop slices of stale bread into smoking-hot lard. They will brown at once. Drain them. Heat a pint of salmon, picked into flakes, Salmon on Toast season with salt and pepper and put into it a tablespoonful of butter. Stir in one egg, beaten light, with three tablespoonfuls evaporated milk not thinned. Pour mixture on the fried bread. Wash potatoes and dry well ; bury them deep in a good bed of live coals, cover them with hot coals until well done. They will take about forty minutes to bake. When you can pass a sharpened hardwood sliver through them, they are done, and Potatoes should be raked out at once. Run the sliver through them from end to end, and let the steam escape and use immediately, as a roast potato quickly becomes soggy and bitter. Dig a hole one foot and a half deep. Build a fire in it, heaping up dry sticks until there is an abun- dance of fuel. After an hour, take out the coals, clear the hole of ashes, lay green corn husks on the hot bottom of the hole. Soak brown Baked Fish paper in water and wrap around the fish. Lay it in the hole, cover with green corn husks, covered in turn with half an inch of earth. Build a fire over it and keep burning for an hour. Then remove and you have something de- licious and worth the time taken to prepare. Clean fish well. Small fish should be fried whole, with the backbone severed to prevent curling up; large fish should be cut into pieces, and ribs cut loose from backbone so as to lie flat in pan. Rub 150 CAMPING FOE BOYS the pieces in corn meal or powdered bread crumbs, thinly and evenly (that browns them). Fried Fish Fry in plenty of very hot fat to a golden brown, sprinkling lightly with pepper and salt just as the color turns. If fish has not been wiped dry, it will absorb too much grease. If the frying fat is not very hot when fish are put in they will be soggy with it. After skinning frogs, soak them an hour in cold water, to which vinegar has been added, or put them for two minutes into scalding water that has vinegar in it. Drain, wipe dry, and cook. To fry: Roll in flour seasoned with salt and pepper, and fry, not too rapidly, preferably in butter Frogs' Legs or oil. Water cress is a good relish with them. To grill: Prepare three tablespoonfuls melted butter, one-half teaspoonful salt, and a pinch or two of pepper, into which dip the frog legs, then roll in fresh bread crumbs and broil for three minutes on each side. EGGS Raise water to boiling point. Place eggs in care- fully. Boil steadily for three minutes if Boiled you prefer them soft. If you want them hard-boiled, put them in cold water, bring to a boil, and keep it up for twenty minutes. The j^olk will then be mealy and wholesome. Melt some butter or fat in frying pan, Fried when it hisses drop in eggs carefully. Fry them three minutes. COOKING ON HIKES 151 First stir the eggs up with a little condensed cream and a pinch of salt and after Scrambled putting some butter in the frying pan, stir the eggs in it, being careful not to cook them too long. First put in the frying pan sufficient diluted con- densed milk which has been thinned Poached with enough water to float the eggs when the milk is hot; drop in the care- fully opened eggs and let them simmer three or four minutes. Serve the eggs on slices of buttered toast, pouring on enough of the milk to moisten the toast. For every cup of water allow a tablespoonful of ground coffee, and one extra for the pot. Heat water to boiling point first, add coffee, boil Cofifee five minutes, settle with one-fourth cup cold water and serve. Some prefer to put the coffee in a small muslin bag, tied loose, and boil for five minutes longer. Allow a teaspoonful of cocoa for every cup of boiling water. Mix the powdered cocoa Cocoa with hot water or hot milk to a creamy paste. Add equal parts of boiling water and boiled milk, and sugar to taste. Boil two or three minutes. SAMPLE MENU FOR AN OVER-NIGHT AND A DAY HIKE OR TRAMP Breakfast Griddle cakes with Karo Syrup or brown sugar and butter Fried bacon and potatoes Bread Coffee Preserves 152 CAMPING FOR BOYS Dinner Creamed salmon on toast Baked potatoes Bread Pickles Fruit Supper Fried eggs Creamed or chipped beef Cheese Bread Cocoa These recipes have been tried out. Biscuit and bread-making have been purposely omitted. Take bread and crackers with you from the camp. '^Ama- teur" biscuits are not conducive to good digestion or happiness. Pack butter in small jar. Cocoa, sugar and coffee in small cans or heavy paper, also salt and pepper. Wrap bread in a moist cloth to prevent drying up. Bacon and dried or chipped beef in wax paper. Pickles can be purchased put up in small bottles. Use the empty bottle as a candle- stick. Bation List for six hoys, three meals 2 lbs. bacon (sliced thin), 1 lb. butter, 1 doz. eggs, % lb. cocoa, 1/^ lb. coffee, 1 lb. sugar, 3 cans salmon, 24 potatoes, 2 cans condensed milk, 1 small package self-raising flour, Salt and pepper. COOKING ON HIKES 153 Utensils Small griddle or tin ^*pie plate'' (5 cents each), Small stew pan, Small coffee pot, Small cake turner. Large spoon, Teaspoons, Knives and forks, Plates and cups, Matches and candles. First fill the frying pan with water, place over fire and let it boil. Pour out water and you will find that it has practically cleaned itself. Clean the griddle with sand and water. Dish Washing Greasy knives and forks may be cleaned by jabbing a couple of times into the ground. After all grease is gotten rid of, wash in hot water and dry with cloth. Don't use the cloth first and get it greasy. Be sure to purchase Horace Kephart's excellent book on *'Camp Cookery,'' $1.00, Outing Publishing Co., or Association Press. It is filled with practical suggestions, BIBLIOGRAPHY *'Camp and Trail" — Stewart Edward White. Doubleday, Page & Company, $1 .25 net. Full of common sense and of special value to those contemplating long tramps and wilderness travel. Several chapters on "Horseback Travel." *'Out-of-Doors" — M. Ellsworth Olsen, Ph.D. Pacific Press Publishing Co., 60 cents. A book permeated with a wholesome outdoor spirit. The Field and Forest Book — Dan Beard. Charles Scribner's Sons, $2.00. Written in "Beardesque" style, filled with his inimitable illustrations and crammed with ideas. The Way of the Woods — Edward Breck. G. P. Putnam's Sons, $1.75 net. Simple, terse, free from technical terms, and calculated to give the novice a mass of information. Written for Northeastern United States and Can- ada, but of interest for every camper. 544 1^ 154 CHAPTER XIII HEALTH AND HYGIENE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION — HOSPITAL TENT AND EQUIPMENT — PHYSIOLOGICAL FACTS — PULSE EATE — THE TONGUE — TEMPEKATUEE — PAIN -^ SUEGICAL SUPPLIES— MEDICAL STOEES— SIMPLE EEMEDIES— FIEST AID TO THE INJUEED— DEILLS —HEALTH TALKS— EED CEOSS SOCIETY— PEE- VENTION FEOM DEOWNING— PEESONAL HY- GIENE— BIBLIOGEAPHY Better to hunt on fields for health unbought Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught. The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work for man to mend. — Dryden A boy should be examined by his family physi- cian before going to camp in order that he may receive the greatest good from the camp life and be safeguarded from physical excess. An examina- tion blank like Illustration No. 1 is used in many of the large camps. When the boy arrives in camp the physician or physical director examines the boy. Take his height, weight, lung capacity, condition of heart, lungs, condition of muscles, whether hard, medium or soft, and state of digestion. For this purpose you will need a wet spirometer, measuring rod, stethoscope and platform scales. A second 155 156 CAMPING FOR BOYS WISCONSIN BOYS' CAMP '"^«<=;'iS;S"<*^o~ LUNO Cafaoity - - CONDITION or LUNOS • CONDITION or HBAUT - CONDITION OF MU»Ct*S - DIOCSTION . . • . AMNIVAi. NCMAimS CAMP DURRELL PHYSICAL EXAMINATION BLANK It irrlirfni. inT~"'V»<~>. «>*fn~tvnrt|i>r«hltttllff'*~Tn«t(HiT'f4Mt, 100 at 50 cents per C. One tablet every four hours. For headache and intestinal anti- sepsis. Dangerous as a depressant to heart. Dover's Powders, gr. 5, 100 at 50 cents per C. Two tablets at bedtime, in hot water or lemonade, in acute colds. One after each meal may be added. DobelVs Solution Tablets, 200 at 25 cents per C. One as a gargle in one-half glass hot water every two to four hours in tonsilitis and pharyngitis. Potassium Bromide, gr. 10, 100 at 25 cents per C. For head- ache. Best given in solution after meals. May irritate an empty stomach. Aspirin, gr. 5, 100 at $1.25 per C. One or two every four hours for rheumatism, headache, or general pains and aches. Compound cathartic pills, 100 at 21 cents per C. Two at night for constipation. HEALTH AND HYGIENE 167 Epsom Salts, four ounces, 5 cents. Two to four teaspoonfuls in hot water before breakfast. Compound tincture of opium (Squibb), 4 ounces 50 cents Teaspoonful after meals for summer diarrhea. Baking soda. Teaspoonful after meals for ^ ' distress. * ' Morphine Sulphate, gr. i/4 ; Strychnine Sulphate, gr. 1-30 ; for hypodermics, used by physicians only. In addition to the above every one has a stock of ** old-fashioned ' ' home remedies. Some of these are described under '^Simple Remedies." BIBLIOGRAPHY *'Backwoods Surgery and Medicine" — Charles Stuart Moody, M. D. Outing Publishing Co., New York, 75 cents net. A commonsense book written from experience. It is invaluable to campers. "Home Treatment and Care of the Sick" — A. Temple Lovering, M.D. Otis Clapp & Son, Boston, $1.50. Full of helpful suggestions. American Red Cross Abridged Text Book on First Aid (General Edition). Amer- ican Red Cross Society, Washington, D. C, 30 cents net. Reliable and comprehensive. Annual Report of the United States Volunteer Life Saving Corps (Free) . Office, World Building, New York City. Contains many hints and suggestions. Boys' Drill Regulations. National First Aid Association, 6 Beacon Street, Boston, Mass., 25 cents. A mass of information concerning setting-up drills, litter drills, swimming drill on land, rescue and resuscitation drills, etc. The Medicine of Outdoor Work — Camp Wawayanda, cJCt^^ ^-^S>^ •"^ CHAPTER XIV SIMPLE REMEDIES BITES— BLEEDING — BUKNS — EAES — EYES — FEET —HEADACHE — SUNSTKOKE — STOMACHACHE- TOOTHACHE In a small camp a physician is unnecessary, though one should be within call. The camp leader should have a knowledge of the ordinary ailments of growing boys and simple remedies for relief. No camp of fifty or more boys should be without a physician or some upper class medical student of high moral character. Don't run risks. 'When in doubt call in a physician. The treatment of local disorders described is largely from nature's medi- cine chest, and simple in application. Put on salt and water, or make Bites and Stings a paste of soda and water, or rub the wound with aromatic am- monia, camphor, or tar soap. Common salt is ex- cellent. Do not blow the nose. Hold a wet handkerchief at the back of the neck and wash Bleeding Nose the face in hot water, or place a wad of paper under the upper lip, or crowd some fine gauze or cotton into the nostrils and make a plug. Raise the injured part as high as you can above the heart, press very firmly with sterile pad under thumb or fingers on or into the wound. Blood from 168 SIMPLE EEMEDIES 169 a vein will be dark red or purplish and will flow in a steady stream. Press upon the vein below the wound. Put on a clean pad and bind it upon the wound firmly enough to stop bleeding. Blood from an artery will be bright red and will probably spurt in jets. Press very hard above To Check Bleeding the wound. Tie a strong band- age (handkerchief, belt, sus- penders, rope, strip of clothing) around the wounded member, and between the wound and the heart. Under it and directly over the artery place a smooth pebble, piece of stick, or other hard lump. Then thrust a stout stick under the bandage and twist until the wound stops bleeding. A tourniquet should not remain over twenty-four hours. Wash blistered feet in hot water and then in alcohol or in cold water with a little bak- Blisters ing powder or soda added. Wipe them dry and then rub them with a tallow candle or some fat. Apply compresses of hot or cold water Bruises to keep down swelling and discoloration. Also apply witch hazel. Use vaseline, baking soda, bread, the white of an egg, flour and water, butter, grease, or fat; or mix flour and soda with fat, or soap with sugar and make into a paste, or put a teaspoonful of baking powder into a pint of warm water and pour Bums it on a piece of gauze and put this on the burn or scald, covering it with cotton and a bandage. Never let a burn be exposed to the air, but cover it at once if the pain is intense. 170 CAMPING FOR BOYS Mix a good dash of pepper with a little ginger in sweetened hot water and drink it. Get Chills into bed at once. Cover with blankets and put hot water bottle at feet. Force yourself to swallow pieces of dry Choking bread or drink some water. Let some one slap the back. Pour boiling water over two heads of elder blos- soms, brew for twenty minutes, and drink Colds a small cup hot on going to bed. Or drink hot lemonade or hot ginger tea. In any case keep warm and out of a draft. Use cathartic pills, or castor oil. Constipation Eat plenty of prunes or fruit. Drink plenty of water. Always clean thoroughly all open wounds to pre- vent infection, and accelerate healing. Carbolic, left on a wound for any time at all may result in carbolic poisoning or in gangrene. Use pure alco- hol (not wood or denatured, as both are poisonous), or a teaspoonful of sulphur-naphthol to a basin of water, or 1 :1000 corrosive sublimate solution (wad with flexible collodion). Do not use vaseline Cuts or any other substance on a freshly abrased surface. After a scab has formed, vaseline may be applied to keep this scab soft. Never close a wound with court plaster. The only legitimate uses for sticking or adhesive plaster are to hold dressings in place where bandaging is difficult, or in case of a cut to keep edges closed without sewing the skin. Take the heart of an onion, heat it in an oven, SIMPLE EEMEDIES 171 and put it in the ear when hot, but not Earache so hot as to burn the ear. This not only relieves the earache, but helps to send the sufferer to sleep. Hold hot water bag to ear. Wring a towel in water hot as the Inflamed Eye hands will bear ; lay on the eyes and change frequently. Bathe with sat- urated solution of boric acid crystals. Great relief is felt by opening the eyes in tepid or very warm boracic solution. Even if it is strong enough to smart, no harm will result. If inflammation is caused by a foreign substance, rub the other eye, in order to make both eyes water. If the speck can be seen, it can generally be taken out by twisting a small piece of gauze or cloth around a toothpick and drawing it over the speck, or by twisting up a piece of paper like a lamp lighter and, after wetting the tip of it, wiping it against the speck. If it is uhder the upper lid, pull the lid away from the eyeball, and push the under lid up underneath the upper one. In this way the eyelashes of the lower lid will generally clean the inside of the upper one. An eye-tweezers for re- moving a piece of grit from the eye is made by folding a piece of paper in two. With a sharp knife cut it to a point at an angle of 30 degrees and slightly moisten the point in clean water. It is a good thing to dry-soap your feet and the inside of your socks before putting them on for a hike or tramp. This is an old army trick. Feet If your feet perspire freely, powder them with boric acid powder, starch, and oxide of 172 CAMPING FOE BOYS zinc in equal parts. Wash the feet every day, best on turning in at night. To prevent the nail growing into the toe, take a bit of broken glass and scrape down the top of the nail until it is quite thin, and in time the corners begin to grow out, and no longer hurt the toe. Toe- nails should be cut square and not encouraged to grow in by side trimming. A good plan is to make a *'V'' shape notch on the middle of the top of each toenail, which will close up naturally, and, in so doing, draw the sides up and inward. Headache comes from indigestion or from the sun. A boy will overeat and then play under the hot sun — result, headache. Have the boy lie down and sleep, if possible, using cloths Headache dipped in cold water to drive the blood away from the head. A remedy recom- mended by the great John Wesley is to lay very thin slices of lemon rind on either temple. Hiccouffh Take a deep breath and hold it as long as possible, or make yourself sneeze. Mix some baking powder with Ivy Poisoning water, or rub on wood ashes. Wash with alcohol. Be careful not to spread by scratching. Better call a physician. Punctures with nails and such things, especially if rusty, should be squeezed and washed with sulphur-naphthol or hot water poured into, the hole. If too small. Rusty Nail this may be slightly enlarged. Cau- terize with carbolic acid, then with pure alcohol. Keep the wound open for a few days. SIMPLE EEMEDIES 173 Run no risk with a rusty nail wound. Attend to it immediately. Bathe a sprain in as hot water as you can bear, to which has been added a small quantity Sprains of vinegar and salt. Slight sprains (as of finger) may be painted with iodine. The first symptom is a headache followed by a heavy feeling in the pit of the stomach, dimmed eye- sight, difficulty in breathing, and a fever. If insen- sibility follows, lay the person on his Sunstroke back in a cool, shady place, with his head slightly raised. Loosen his cloth- ing, keep his head cold with wet cloths, and pour cold water on his face and chest, until the tempera- ture of his body is lowered and the face becomes pale. Get used to sun gradually. Use pow- Sunburn dered boric acid or ointment. Cocoa butter is also a good preventive. Gargle the throat with warm water and some salt added, and then bind a woolen sock around it. Keep the sock on until the soreness is gone. Put teaspoonful of chlorate of potash in Sore Throat a cup of water and gargle. Diluted alcohol is also good for a gargle, or tincture of iron diluted. Fat bacon or pork may be tied around the neck with a dry sock. Swab the throat. Caused by undigested food in the intestines. Put the boy on a diet, also give him Stomachache plenty of warm water to drink, or a cup of hot ginger tea. 174 CAMPING FOR BOYS Heat will always help to soothe the sufferer. A seeded raisin, toasted before the fire, Toothache makes a useful poultice for an aching tooth, pressed into the hollow. A bag of hot salt, pressed on the face, relieves pain. iMWi«i1Kiwiali''.4|lli|riM .i£rfi.-i .1* Drill in First Aid CHAPTER XV FIRST AID TO THE INJURED First aid should teach every boy how to render temporary assistance by improvised means for the relief of the injured one, and the methods by which he can be removed to a place of safety. With this in view, the information given in this chapter in- corporates what every camper should know. Before going to camp, boys should be taught the use of the Triangular Bandage. This bandage is used by the United States Government, and is well suited for an emergency bandage. It can be easily made from a handkerchief or a piece of linen. The Amer- ican Red Cross First Aid Outfit contains a triangu- lar bandage, with methods of application printed thereon. The gauze or roller bandage is more dif- ficult to handle. This, however, is the bandage to control bleeding, etc. Any reliable book on First Aid gives information as to its manipulation. A dislocation of the finger or toe can generally be reduced by pulling strongly and at the same time pressing where the dislocation is. If the hip, shoulder, or elbow is dislocated, do not meddle with the joint, but make the boy as comfortable as pos- 175 176 CAMPING FOR BOYS \ \ ._\c A >A '" "a. >..dSl I2^< Jftlked ofjold'uiij iPi'a>,fuU, bmtdtift j.„ /Oat*(/a^ts ^Atufif u/\/ve,uj ta sitcurra ^f *i^»aMi «^/J 4 ft mid CLly/VCiUS FIEST AID TO INJURED 177 sible by surrounding the joint with flannel cloths wrung out in hot water; support with Dislocation soft pads, and send for a doctor at once. If the spine is dislocated, lay the boy on his back. Never put him on his side or face, it may be fatal. If he is cold, apply hot blan- kets to his body, hot water bottle or hot salt bag to the seat of pain. Do not try to reduce the fracture if a physician can be secured, for unskilled handling will do more harm than good. The thing to do is to make the boy comfortable by placing him in a comfortable position with the injured part rest- Broken Bones ing on a pad, keeping him per- fectly quiet. If there is an open wound, cover it with cheesecloth or gauze which has been dipped in boiling water, to which baking soda has been added. Then wrap absorbent cotton around it. If the boy has a fever, put wet cloths on his head, swinging them in the air to cool for changing. THE FOLLOV^ING PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS ARE GIVEN IN '^CAMP KITS AND CAMP LIFE,^' BY CHARLES STEDMAN HANKS. Nose If the nose is broken, plug with gauze to stop bleeding. If the jaw is broken, push the bone gently into place, and if there is an open wound, cover it Jaw with gauze or cotton, made antiseptically, and then put a bandage around the jaw. 178 CAMPING FOE BOYS If the collar bone is broken, it will be known by the pain in the shoulder and the shoulder dropping. Holding the elbow up will relieve Collar Bone the weight from the collar bone. Lay the boy on his back. Put a cot- ton wad in his armpit and bandage the arm to the side of the body and put the arm in a sling. If the shoulder blade is broken, Shoulder Blade put the forearm across the chest with the fingers on the shoulder and then bandage the arm to the body. If a rib is broken it will pain the patient when he takes a long breath. Put him on his back, resting a little on the uninjured side, so that he will breathe easily. If it is necessary to move him, bandage strips of adhesive plaster around the body. Rib beginning at the lowest rib and working up- ward, having each strip lap over the one below it. If you have no adhesive plaster, use a wide strip of cotton cloth. After you have put his coat on, pin it as tightly as you can in the back. If the leg is broken above the knee, lay shoulders slightly back, with the head and shoulders slightly raised. Draw the leg out straight, Leg Above Knee and, after padding it with cotton or towels, cut a small sapling long enough to reach from the foot to the armpit, and fasten it at the ankle, knee, and waist. If it is nec- essary to move the boy, bind both legs firmly to- gether. If the leg is broken below the knee, lay the boy on his back and put a pillow or a bag stuffed with FIEST AID TO INJUEED 179 grass lengthwise under it. Then Leg Below Knee put a board or a hewed sapling on the under side of the pillow to stiffen it, and bandage the pillow and the board or sapling firmly to the leg. If the boy has to be moved, bind both legs together. If the knee pan is broken, put the boy on his back and straighten out the leg on a padded splint which reaches from the heel to the hip, put- Knee Pan ting some cotton or a folded towel un- der the knee and the heel. Then bandage the splint on at the ankle, at the upper part of the leg, and above and below the knee pan. If the foot is broken, make a splint of two pieces of wood held together at right angles, and. Foot after padding the foot with cotton, bind the splint to the side of the foot and the leg. If the upper arm is broken, make three splints, lAifit >»"" s/'«? »« • i-//"^r'"'** '^"'•""■ itrf, firm S/i.^ «, . to^/.^f^rrk, F/ty ■ one long enough to reach from the shoulder to the elbow to go on the outside of the arm, one to go on 180 CAMPING FOE BOYS the inner side of the arm, and one on Upper Arm the back of the arm. Pad the arm from the armpit to the elbow with cotton, towels, or newspapers wrapped in cloth, and, after bandaging on the splints, put the forearm in a sling and bind the arm to the body. If the forearm is broken, make a cotton pad long enough to reach from the fingers well up Forearm to the forearm, and rest the palm of the hand on it. Put a similar pad on the back of the hand, and, after bandaging in a splint, put the arm in a sling. If the hand is broken, put a cotton pad on the palm and over it a thin splint long enough Hand to reach from the tips of the fingers to the forearm. After binding the splint in place, put the arm in a sling with the hand higher than the elbow. If a finger is broken, make a splint of cardboard or a thin piece of wood long enough to Finger reach from the tip of the finger to the wrist. Cover the finger with gauze or cot- ton, and, after binding on the splint, support the hand in a sling. Fainting comes from too little blood in the head. Lay the boy on his back with feet higher than his head. Loosen tight clothing and let him Fainting have plenty of fresh air. Sprinkle his face with cold water and rub his arms with it. For an attack of dizziness, bend the head down firmly between the knees. If his face is flushed, raise the head. FIEST AID TO INJUEED 181 Lay the boy on his back with head somewhat raised. Apply heat, such as bottles of hot water, hot plates or stones wrapped in towels to Stunned the extremities and over the stomach, but keep the head cool with wet cloths. Do not give any stimulant; it would drive blood to the brain. StrGtcher ^ stretcher may be improvised in one of the following ways: (a) A shutter, door, or gate covered well with straw, hay, clothing, or burlap bagging. (b) A piece of carpet, blanket, sacking, tarlatan, spread out, and two stout poles rolled up in the sides. Put clothes for a pillow. (c) A coat with the two sleeves turned inside out; pass two poles through the sleeves, button the coat over them. (See illustration.) Patient sits on coat and rests against the back of the first bearer. (d) Two poles passed through a couple of bags, through holes at bottom corners of each. Carry a patient by walking out of step, and take short paces, about 18 inches apart. Usually carry the patient feet first, but in going up hill the posi- tion is reversed, and the patient is carried head first. H t i^^^^^M t^^^^^HPn^^^^^^^^H 1 1 ''^^V J 1 '^Bm 1 1 ..C-J^fl' 1 .dilr' ^ 182 FIEST AID TO INJUEED 183 The following illustrations explain the process of carrying a patient without a stretcher: ToyR.H».f pep itw PREVENTION FROM DROWNING Every summer records its hundreds of drowning accidents, many of which might have been pre- vented if methods of rescue had been generally taught. No boy should be per- Learn to Swim mitted to enter a boat, particu- larly a canoe, until he has learned to swim. The movement to teach swimming to every boy and young man in North America who does not know how to swim is both commendable and practical. The text-book used largely is ''At Home in the Water," by George H. Corsan, issued by the publishers of this book. Summer camps provide a special opportunity for giving such instruction. To each individual who is actually taught to swim in camp a silver-oxidized button is given by the Associa- Button Awards tion's International Committee, 124 East 28th St., New York, pro- vided the test is made under the supervision of a 184 CAMPING FOB BOYS committee of three men. Those who, teach others to swim receive a gold oxidized leader 's button. Write to the Physical Department at the above address for information. An Auxiliary Division of the U. S. Volunteer Life Saving Corps should be established to patrol the water during swimming periods. Any camper may qualify for member- U. S. V. Life Saving Corps ship by taking the following examina- tions : the boy to receive not less than 6 points in 10 point subjects, and not less than 3 points on 5 point subjects, with a total of 75 points. Those receiving less than 75 points may become members of auxili- ary crews. FIEST AID TO INJUEED 185 HOW TO QUALIFY. 1 Swimming not less than 100 yards and 25 yards on back 10 points 2 Diving, plunging, floating, fetching 10 points 3 Eescue drill on land and water 10 points 4 Eelease drill on land and in water 10 points 5 Eesuscitation 10 points 6 Names of parts of a row boat 5 points . 7 Eowing and boat handling 10 points 8 Use of life saving appliances 10 points 9 First aid work and remedies 10 points 10 Written examination on work in water 5 points 11 Written examination on work in boats 5 points 12 Written examination on work on land 5 points To organize at camps, officials will proceed by- conducting the above-mentioned ex- Organization aminations. Should there be five or more successful competitors, crews can be organized as follows, the regular form of enrollment being employed and no enlistments re- quired : Five men constitute a crew entitling one of the five to the rank of acting third lieutenant. Ten men constitute two crews with acting second and third lieutenants. Fifteen men constitute three crews with acting first, second, and third lieutenants. Twenty men constitute four crews (or a division) with acting captain, first, second, and third lieuten- ants, lieutenant surgeon, quartermaster, boatswain, and one coxswain for each crew or three coxswains. Auxiliary members over eighteen years of age 186 CAMPINa FOE BOYS may become active members after leaving camps and receive active membership commissions, pro- vided they affiliate with some active permanent crew in their home district. Auxiliary members holding our certificates shall be entitled to auxiliary membership buttons, but active members only are entitled to wear the offi- cial badge of membership of the corps. Summer camps will be equipped, at the discretion of headquarters, on the following conditions : That they shall pay all express on supplies to and from camps. That they shall report at the end of each season the exact condition of the supplies and make pro- vision for the safekeeping of same for future sea- sons, or return same. Medicine chests must be returned. Instructors will be sent to the various camps, at the discretion of headquarters, whenever possible. All expenses, traveling, board, etc., but not serv- ices, must be covered by the camps. Examination questions will be found in our book, ** Instruction on Subjects for Examination for Mem- bership." If desired, camp officials can make ex- aminations more rigid than outlined by us. Examination papers furnished on request. The above information was furnished by K. F. Mehrtens, Assistant Secretary, United States Vol- unteer Life Saving Corps, 63-65 Park Row, New York City. Efficient life saving comes from thorough experi- FIRST AID TO INJURED 187 ence and training, not from a Training Course theory. These subjects for in- struction may be taught pre- paratory to the summer camp, as well as during the camping season. Swimming to include straight-away, swimming with clothes on, floating, diving, fetching: strokes — perfect breast stroke, side stroke, overhead stroke, crawl stroke. Rescue Methods to include rescuing a supposedly drowning person. Use of life saving apparatus. Methods of Release to include grasping by the wrist, clutch around the neck and grasp around the body. Resuscitation of the apparently drowned, includ- ing the Sylvester method described on page 194, and the simple ** first aid'' rules. Boat Handling to include rowing a boat, taking a person into a boat from the water, clinging to a boat without capsizing it, etc. Knot Tying to include all kinds of knots and their value in connection with life-saving work, and the use of them on life-saving appliances. Wig-wagging to include the committing to mem- ory of the U. S. Naval Wig- Wag Signal Code. The following is used at Camp Wawayanda, New Jersey Boys. WIG- WAG CODE Signalling by wig-wag is carried on by waving a flag in cer- tain ways, represented by the figures 1, 2 and 3, and thus let- ters are made and words spelled. 188 CAMPING FOR BOYS Two wig-wag flags are used, one a square white flag with a red square in the center, and the other a square red flag with a white square in the center. Only one flag is used in signalling, and that one is selected which can best be seen against the boy^s background. U. S. NAVAL WIG-WAG SIGNAL CODE. ALPHABET. A. B. C. D. E. F. 22 2112 121 222 12 2221 G. H. I. J. K. L. M. 2211 122 1 1122 2121 221 1221 N. O. P. Q. R. S. T. 11 21 1212 1211 211 212 U. V. w. X. Y. Z. 112 1222 1121 2122 111 2222 Tion. 1112 I. N. Y. 1 11 111 ALPHABET CLASSIFIED. E. 12 H. 122 V. 1222 U. 112 J. 1122 C. 121 Q. 1211 M. 1221 P. 1212 W. 1121 T. 2 A. 22 D. 222 R. 2222 O. 21 R. 211 L. 221 G. 2211 F. 2221 S. 212 X. 2122 B. 2112 K. 2121 Numerals 1. 1111 2. 2222 3. 1112 4. 2221 5. 1122 6. 2211 7. 1222 8. 2111 9. 1221 0. 2112 FIEST AID TO INJUEED 189 Conventional Signals End of word, 3 End of sentence, 33 ^nd of message, 333 I understand, A.A. 3 Cease signalling, A. A. A. 333 Eepeat last word, C.C. 3 Repeat last message, C.C.C. 3 I have made an error, E.E. 3 WIG-WAG RULES 1. The boy should face the person to whom he is signalling, and should hold the flag-staff verti- cally in front of the centre of his body, with the butt at the height of his waist. 2. The motion represented by the Figure 1 is made by waving the flag down to the right; 2, by waving it down to the left; and 3, by waving it down in front of the sender. 3. Each motion should embrace an arc of ninety degrees, starting from and returning to the verti- cal without a pause. 4. When two or more motions are required to make a letter, there should be no pause between the motions. 5. At the end of each letter there should be a slight pause at the vertical. 6. At the end of each word, one front motion (3) should be made; at the end of a sentence, two fronts (33) ; and at the end of a message, three fronts (333). 7. To call a boat, signal the initial letter of her 190 CAMPING FOR BOYS name until answered. To answer a call, signal A.A. 3 (I understand). 8. If the sender makes an error he should im- mediately signal E.E. 3 (I have made an error), and resume the message, beginning with the last word sent correctly. 9. If the receiver does not understand a signal lie should signal C.C. 3 (Repeat last word) ; the sender should then repeat the last word and pro- ceed with the message. EXAMINATIONS USED BY THE U. S. V. L. S. C, CAMP BECKET Y. M. C. A. AUXILIARY COEPS, AUGUST 24, 1910 A— Boat WorTc 10 Points 1. With what knot should you tie a boat? 2. Define amidships, thole-pin, painter. 3. Define port, starboard, aft. 4. Explain briefly a rescue from the bow. 5. Explain briefly a rescue from the stern. B — Water WorTc ' 10 Foints 1. Describe breakaway Number 3. 2. ''Before jumping into water for rescue, be sure to do '' what? 3. Give two ways to locate a body. 4. If you are seized and cannot break away, what should you do? 5. ''If in a strong outsetting tide, it is advisable when rescuing to " do what? C — General First Aid 10 Foints 1. How and where do you apply a tourniquet? 2. Give the treatment for fainting. 3. Give the treatment for sun-stroke. 4. Give the treatment for wounds. 5. Give the treatment for and symptoms of shock. FIRST AID TO INJURED 191 D — Wig-Wag 10 points Translate into code ''Go send them help quick/ ^ Translate into English ''1121-12-3-1121-22-11-2-3-22-3- 2112-21-22-2-333.'' E — Write an essay on general methods, precautions, etc., for rescuing. 20 Points F — Write an essay on how you would restore an apparently drowned man to consciousness 20 Points G — Practical First Aid (Make appointment with the doctor.) GENERAL HINTS If you work your hands like paddles and kick your feet, you can stay above water for Kick! several hours, even with your clothes on. It requires a little courage and enough strength of mind not to lose your head. Many boy swimmers make the mistake of going into the water too soon after eating. The stomach and digestive organs are busy preparing the food for the blood and body. Suddenly they Cramps are called upon to care for the work of the swimmer. The change is too quick for the organs, the process of digestion stops. Conges- tion is apt to follow, and then- the paralyzing cramps. The Indians have a method of protecting them- selves from cramps. Coming to a bathing pool, an Indian swimmer, after stripping off and before en- tering the water, vigorously rubs the pit of his stomach with the dry palms of Indian Method his hands. This rubbing probably takes a minute ; then he dashes cold water all over his stomach and continues the 192 CAMPING FOE BOYS rubbing for another minute, and after that he is ready for his plunge. If the water in which you are going to swim is cold, try this Indian method of getting ready before plunging into the water. The rule for entering the water, in most camps, is as follows: *'No one of the party shall enter Rule the water for swimming or bathing except at time and place designated. ' ' Laxity in the observance of this rule will result disastrously. RESCUE FROM DROWNING To rescue a drowning person from the water, al- ways try to pull him out with an oar, a rope, a coat 1j9^^^^K^5?^^^a\ ^-^ CROiS SECTION HF TAKC-UFP ^^ jl«9<^ar« Vj |^rac« ^ 10- -> (hoI Holt ^"5% If yumpinc SVanoaros Boys who like to make things may be put to work making various pieces of athletic apparatus. A Take-Off may be made of a plank or board, 8 inches wide and 36 inches long, sunk Apparatus flush with the earth. The outer edge 214 CAMPING FOE BOYS of this plank is considered the scratch line. Remove the earth to a depth of three inches and width of twelve inches. To make a pair of jumping standards, first saw out the bottom blocks, each being 10 x 10 inches and 2 inches thick. In the center of each block chisel out a hole 2x2 inches and about 1 inch in depth. Into these holes fit the ends of the upright pieces, which should be 5 feet long and 2 inches square. Before securing the upright pieces, bore holes an inch apart, into which may be inserted a piece of heavy wire or large wire nail to hold up the cross piece or jumping stick. Be sure to space the holes alike on both uprights, so the cross- piece will set level when the standard is in use. Four 5-inch braces are fastened in at the lower part of the upright. Study the diagram arid you will succeed in making a pretty good pair of standards. After supper is usually a period in the camp life rather difficult of occupation. Campus Games ''Campus Games" appeal to most boys. These games are designed especially for the after-supper hour, although they may be played at any time. Stand the boys in a circle with all hands clasped. One of the crowd lies down in the center with a rope as long as one-half the diameter of the circle. To the end of the rope is tied a small weight like a sand bag. He whirls the weight Circle Jumping around with the full length of rope revolving with increasing rapidity. As it approaches the players, they hop ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 215 up and let it pass under their feet. The one whose foot is touched is out of the game and the boy who keeps out of the way of the rope the longest is the winner. Here is a Japanese game full of fun and action. Place a dozen or more boys in line, and have each fellow place his hands firmly on the shoulders of the boy in front of him. Choose one of the fellows for the ^^Wolf.'' The first boy at the head of the line is called the ''Head'' of the Serpent, and the last fellow is the ''Tail.'' The "AVolf " stands near the head of the Serpent until a signal is given. Then he tries to catch the "Tail" without Wolf touching any other part of the snake. The boys who form the body of the Serpent pro- tect the "Tail" by wreathing about in all sorts of twists to prevent the "Wolf" from catching the "Tail." This must be done without breaking the line. When the "Tail" is caught, the "Wolf" be- comes the "Head," and the "Tail" becomes the "Wolf." The last boy in line is the "Tail." The game can be continued until every boy has been the "Wolf." A line is marked dividing the campus. All the boys gather on one side. One boy in the center en- deavors to have them step over the line by calling out, "Rover, Rover, all come over!" Rover, All At the word "over" everybody is ex- Come Over pected to run and cross the line, while the center man endeavors to catch one. The one caught must help him catch the others. If any one runs over before the center man calls 216 ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 217 **over/' he has to go to the aid of the catcher. When all are caught the game begins again. The game of ^^ Indian and White Man" is inter- esting. A circle is drawn on the campus. It is sup- posed that the white people are travelling over the prairie, and at night time they prepare to camp. The circle represents their camp. The Whites lie down to sleep and sentries are posted. The Indians discover the camp and endeavor to Indian and capture the Whites. Then comes the White Man battle royal. Every Indian captured in the white man's circle counts one, and every white man captured by the Indians out- side the circle counts one for their side. The game continues until all of either side are captured. The players are divided into two groups. The Indians are concealed in the bushes or some place unseen by the Whites and they make the attack. Such games as ''Three Deep," ''Bull in the Ring," "Tag Game," "Leap Frog," will be found to interest the boys during the after-supper period. The following are campus games requiring ap- paratus : Plant in the ground two posts, leaving at least 15 feet above ground. Spike a 10-foot piece across the top (see page 218). An ordinary ball used in bowling is used by plugging shut the holes and in- serting a screw eye in one of the plugged holes. Tie tightly to this screw eye a German Bowling strong piece of rope. A good- sized screw eye is fastened in the cross piece of the frame, and to this tie the ball. 218 CAMPING FOR BOYS Nine bowling pins are used. The score is the same as bowling. The pins are knocked off by the return of the ball, as shown in the diagram. Cam^u* 3owi.im<; The upright pole should be standing ten feet out of the ground and firmly imbedded in the earth so as not to vibrate. The pole should be 7I/2 inches in TeTMER & circumference at the ground and tapering toward the upper end. Paint a black or white 2-inch band around the pole 6 feet above the ground. Draw a ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 219 circle about the pole on the ground having a 3-foot radius. A 20-foot line must bisect the Tether Ball circle. Use a tennis ball having a netted or tightly fitting linen cover. The ball is fastened to a string with a ring and suspended from the top of the pole by a piece of heavy braided fish line. The cord should allow the ball to hang 7% feet. Tennis racquets are used. The two players stand at point marked with an X in the diagram. In the toss-up for courts the loser is the server. The ball may be struck in any man- ner with the racquet, the endeavor being to wind the string upon the pole above the painted band. Stretch a tennis net across the campus and mark a court fifty feet long, to be divided equally by the net. The play consists in keeping in Volley Ball motion the ball over the net from one side to the other, until one fails to return it, which counts as an out. The ball used is similar to a football, only smaller. The game con- sists of twenty-one points. Many of the camps have tennis courts and hold tournaments. This game is so universal and fa- miliar that no description will be made. AQUATIC SPORTS AND WATER GAMES Aquatic sports may be arranged so that active in- terest will be taken by all the boys, or they may be simply an exhibition of the swimming abilities of several boys. The former is decidedly preferable. Events should be arranged for the small as well as M p Eh 220 ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 221 the large boys. The program of events shoul-d in- clude a short dash, swimming under water, diving for form, fancy swimming and special stunts, rib- bon awards or inexpensive cups to be given the win- ners. The Life Saving Corps will have an oppor- tunity to give an exhibition of their skill and alert- ness, as well as patrol the swimming beach. Good reliable fellows should be appointed to watch each swimmer when in the water. Run no chances at any time that boys are in the water. The following water games have been suggested by A. B. Wegener. 1. Three-legged swimming. 2. Tug of War. 3. Bobbing for Corks. 4. Plunging through hoops for height or distance. 5. Diving for objects. 6. Egg Race ; holding the egg in a spoon either in the mouth or hand. 7. Tag games. 8. Potato race; using corks instead of potatoes. 9. Candle race; candles are lighted and must be kept lighted. 10. Various land games may be adapted for water use, such as ball passing (using a water polo ball), relay race, etc. Two peach baskets, or rope baskets, or two iron rings are hung upon poles five feet above the water and forty feet apart. The game is played similarly to basket ball, except that the Water Basket Ball players are allowed to ad- vance with the ball. Tackling and ducking are fouls and penalized by allowing a free throw for goal from a point fifteen feet away. There is no out of bounds, and a basket may be thrown from any place in the water. A field goal counts two points, and a goal from a foul one point. 222 CAMPING FOR BOYS The outfit required is a tennis ball, a broom stick and four rafts — one large and three small. The batsman and catcher stand on the big raft. On a small raft, ten yards away, stands Water Baseball the pitcher and the other two rafts are placed at easy swim- ming distance for bases. In striking, everything counts — bunt, swat or foul tip. The moment bat and ball come in contact the batsman starts for first base. There are five men on a side. Lots of fun. Avoid remaining in fresh water too long as it has a tendency to weaken vitality. The contestants are dressed in a full suit of old clothes. At the word **go" Old Clothes Race they dive into the water and swim to a float placed at a cer- tain distance away, undress and return. This is a very funny race. Two boats manned by four boys each. One boy is the spearman and is armed with a light pole about eight or ten feet long, having a soft pad of rags, or better yet, of water-proof canvas duck to keep it from getting wet and soggy. If a flat-bot- tom boat is used, the spearman stands on Tilting one of the end seats. A quarter-deck or raised platform should be built on an or- dinary boat or canoe. The battle is fought in rounds and by points. If you put your opponent back into the boat with one foot it counts you 5 ; two feet, 10. If he loses his spear you count 5 (ex- cept when he is put overboard). If you put him down on one knee on the *^ fighting deck,'' you count ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 223 5 ; two knees, 10. If you put him overboard it counts 25. One hundred points is a round. A bat- tle is for one or more rounds as agreed upon. It is forbidden to strike below the belt. The umpire may dock for fouls. Any number of canoes or boats may engage in this water game. A rubber football is Canoe Tag used. The game is to tag the other canoe or boat by throwing this into it. The rules are as in ordinary cross tag. The *^ whale'' is made of a big log of wood with a rough-shaped head and tail to represent a whale. Two boats are used, each manned by the boys of one tent — the leader acting as captain, a boy as bowman or harpooner, the others as oarsmen. Each boat belongs to a different harbor, the two harbors being some distance apart. The umpire takes the ^^ whale" and lets it loose Whale Hunt about half-way between the two har- bors and on a signal the two boats race out to see who can get to the *^ whale" first. The harpooner who first arrives within range of the *^ whale" drives his harpoon into it and the boat promptly turns around and tows the ^' whale" to its harbor. The second boat pursues and when it overtakes the other, also harpoons the ''whale," turns around and endeavors to tow the ''whale" to its harbor. In this way the two boats have a tug- of-war and eventually the better boat tows the "whale" and possibly the opposing boat into its harbor. A "Shoot-the-Chute" is great fun and one should 224 CAMPING FOE BOYS .^lAO^AM F-o« 'ChOTE* be built in every permanent camp and ** Swimming Hole." The one described is by A. D. Murray and has stood the test of several years in a number of eamps. The plan drawn is for a chute 40 feet long, 3 feet wide and 18 feet high. These dimensions can be changed in length and height, but not in width. The chute is built of %-inch matched pine boards, to the same width as sheet zinc, usually 3 feet; the boards being firmly cleated together on the under side by 2 X 6-inch cleats 5 feet apart, throughout the length of the chute. Boards should be screwed to the cleats from the face of the chute with 1%- incli screws, the heads being counter sunk. The several lengths of zinc are soldered into one piece, the joints being on the under Shoot-the-Chute side (as shingles on a roof) fast- ened to the boards with 8-oz. tacks ; set in from the edge about 1 inch and about ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 225 6 inches apart. The side strips of maple (soft wood will not do on account of the danger of splintering) 2 inches wide and 3 inches high, rounded slightly on upper edge, are placed directly over the edge of the zinc and covering the tacks. Screw the strips firmly to the chute with 2-inch screws from the under side. These ought to be placed not more than 2 feet apart. Probably each will have two or more strips in making a piece of sufficient length. If so, care should be taken to have the pieces joined on a bevel with a slant from outer edge toward bot- tom of chute so as to leave no edge. The utmost care should be used to have a perfectly smooth sur- face on the inside of the chute. A pump or bucket is needed at the top of the chute to wet the surface before the swimmer starts his slide. The supports A, B, C, should be firmly braced with 2 x 4-inch timber, D, and lower end of chute should extend over the pier at least 1 foot and not nearer the sur- face of the water than 3 feet perpendicularly, al- lowing the swimmer to enter the water as in a dive. The chute can be fastened to the supporting braces through timbers E, F, into maple side strips with a good heavy log screw. A platform 3 feet wide and 4 feet long near the top of chute, and set just waist deep from the top of chute will make starting easy. Richard the Lion-hearted, of England, said the five essential points of archery — stand- Archery ing, nocking, drawing, holding, and loosing — ''honestly represented all the principles of life.'' 226 CAMPING FOR BOYS Archery develops the muscles in all-round fash- ion, particularly those of the shoulder, arm and wrist. A target can be made of a burlap sack, or oil cloth, about five feet square. Stuff this with hay or straw. It may be flattened by a few quilting stitches put right through with a long packing needle. On this the target is painted. The Target In scoring, the centre is 9, the next circle 7, the next 5, the next 3 and the last circle 1. The shortest match range for the target is forty yards. The bow may be made from any of the following woods — mulberry, sassafras, southern cedar, black locust, black walnut, apple, slippery elm or hickory. In making a bow, select wood with straight grain. The length of the bow should be about The Bow the height of the boy using it, or if the boy is between ten and fifteen years of age, his bow should not be less than four feet in length and not more than five feet. When buying a bow get one of lancewood backed with hickory. The making of the bow and arrow is described by A. Neeley Hall, as follows : ' * Cut your piece of wood five feet long, and, after placing it in a bench vise to hold it in position, shape it down with a draw- knife or plane until it is one inch wide by one-half inch thick at the handle, and three- Making a Bow quarters inch wide by one-quarter inch thick at the ends. The bow can be made round or flat on the face toward the archer. Cut a notch in the bow two inches from ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 22? ^UortdiFof*. ©©V4- STRING »/flrH OP sow S"' •^3^'x/v' ^I'x)!- ^S^gHw^ WlffCNAIL WIXH 7 N- 5tlP KNOT each end, as shown in the illustration, from which to attach the bow-string. A cord with as little elasticity as possible should be used for this. A good string can be purchased for twenty-five 228 CAMPING FOR BOYS cents. With a home-made bow-string, a loop should be made in one end and bound with thread, as shown in illustration, p. 227. Slip the loop over the upper notch, bend the bow until the center of the string is about five inches away from the handle, and attach the loose end to the lower notch by means of a slip-knot similar to that shown in the drawing. The bow should then be sandpapered un- til smooth, and thoroughly oiled with linseed oil. Glue a piece of velvet about three inches wide around the center for a handle.'' Arrows are divided into three parts: the head, sometimes called the pile, the shaft and the feath- ers. The shaft is generally made of hickory, ash, elm or pine, and its length is dependent upon that of the bow. For a five-foot bow, make the length two feet and the width and thick- Making Arrows ness about one-half inch. For target practice a wire nail driven into the end of the pile, as shown on page 227, with the head of the nail filed off and pointed, makes an excellent head. Feathering is the next operation. Turkey and goose feathers are gen- erally used. Strip off the broader side of the vane of three feathers and glue them to the shaft one inch and a quarter from the notch, spacing them equally from each other. One feather should be placed at right angles to the notch. This is known as the cock feather and should always point away from the bow when the arrow is shot. The rules for the five essential points are these : ATHLETICS AND WATER SPORTS 229 Standing: In taking position to draw the bow, the heels must be seven to eight inches apart, feet firm on the ground, yet easy and springy, not rigid. Nocking: This is manipulating the bow string. Hold the string with two fingers and the arrow be- tween the first and second fingers. Grip firmly, but not so as to give awkwardness to any finger. Drawing: In drawing stand with the left shoul- der toward the target, turning the head Archery only from the neck and looking over the left shoulder. Then raise the bow with the left hand, keeping the upper end inclined one or two degrees from the body. With the right hand draw the arrow to chin-level and below the ear. Holding : Steady the aim a moment and keep the point of aim directly in view, looking along the whole length of the arrow. Loosing: In letting the arrow go, do not jerk, but loose smoothly, and be certain your bow arm does not move when loosing. To get a clean, sharp loose is more than half way to hitting the target. BIBLIOGRAPHY Indoor and Outdoor Games {\^S) — A. M. Chesley. American Sports PublishingiCo. An Athletic Primer, Group XII., No. 87 — J. E. Sullivan. American Sports Publishing Co. Official Handbook Y. M. C. A. Athletic League, Group XII., No. 302. American Sports Publishing Co. Tether Tennis, Volley Ball, Etc., No. 188. American Sports Publishing Co. The above booklets are published at 10 cents each, and should be in the hands of every camp leader, also the latest guides in Baseball and Tennis. At Home in the Water — George H. Corsan. Association Press, 75 cents. Twenty pages of this excellent book are devoted to water sports, and it also con- tains complete rules for Water Polo, a splendid game for adults, but un- wise to play in a boys* camp. The Birch Bark Roll — Ernest Thompson-Seton. Doubleday, Page & Co., 25 cents. Two Little Savages — Ernest Thompson-Seton. Doubleday, Page & Co., $1.75. These books give valuable hints on Archery, which is peculiarly adapted for camp life and sport. -tw -^ The Witchery of Archery — Maurice Thompson. Charles Scribner's Sons, $1.50. Fascinating and entertaining. o 230 CHAPTER XVIII NATURE STUDY THE OUT-DOOR INSTINCT— ANTIQUITY OF NATURE STUDY— THE MODERN IDEA— BOY COLLECTORS- AROUSING INTEREST — HERBARIUMS — HOME- MADE PRESS — EQUIPMENT — NEW KIND OF HUNTING— WALKS AFIELD— NIGHT SOUNDS— ' ' FISHOLOGY ' ^—PURPOSEFUL TRIPS— OUTDOOR TALKS ON NATURE— BIBLIOGRAPHY If nature is to be a resource in a man's life, one's relation to her must not be too exact and formal, but more that of a lover and friend. — John Burroughs *'The boy is always nearer to the heart of nature than the grown man. He has a passionate love of the open air and of the fields and woods; he is never really happy indoors. Na- Outdoor Instinct ture has planted this outdoor in- stinct in the boy's heart for the good of the race." Day and night teach him their lessons. The boy will absorb much that is interest- ing and ^Iso much that will be of real value in giv- ing him a broader outlook upon life. Camping gives abundant opportunity for the study of nature. Nature study is not a fad of modern times. 231 232 CAMPING FOE BOYS Nearly three hundred and fifty years before Christ, Alexander the Great placed at the disposal of his tutor, Aristotle, the services of one thousand men throughout Asia and Greece with instructions to collect and report details concerning the life, con- ditions and habits of fishes, birds, beasts and in- sects. To this magnificent equipment of assistants, Alexander added fifteen thousand dollars in gold for books and laboratory supplies. Prof. L. H. Bailey says, *'The modern idea of Nature Study is, to put the boy in a sympathetic at- titude toward nature for the purpose of increasing the joy of living. Nature study is not science. It is not knowledge. It is spirit. It is concerned with the boy's outlook on the world. . . . This Na- ture spirit is growing, and there are many ways of knowing the fields and woods. A new literature has been born. It is the literature of the out-of- doors.'' Boys are natural born collectors. They are in- terrogation points, full of curiosity, like the ''man from Missouri," they want to know. The wise leader will say, ''Let us find out some- Collectors thing about this tree, or plant, or bird, or whatever it may be, and together we will be learners." The text-book method will not work in a boys' camp. "Go find me a flower" is the true method, and let us see what it is. Nature study books and leaflets should be used merely as guides, not as texts. Arouse interest by encouraging the boys to make collections of leaves, flowers, etc., found in the vi- NATtJEE STUDY 233 cinity of the camp. Leaves and flowers may be pressed in a home-made press Arousing Interest and mounted upon heavy paper or card-board. The following suggestions are given by Dan Beard and quoted by permission of Charles Scribner's Sons from his book, '^The Field and Forest Handy Book.'' ''The illustration shows how the press is made. In using the press, first place the plants or leaves, enclosed in their wrappers and dryers of news- papers, on the bottom board, put the top board over them, bring the hinged lever down and bind the whole together with a stout strap put around the end of the lever and the handle of Herbarium the bottom board. As this strap is drawn tight the lever bends, and so keeps a constant pressure on the plants and leaves even when they shrink in drying. Dryers should be changed at least every day. Mount specimens on separate herbarium sheets of standard size (li/^ X 161/2 ). Each specimen should be mounted with name (common and botanical), where found, date and any other facts of interest. This label is usu- ally pasted in the lower right-hand corner of the herbarium sheet." 234 CAMPING FOR BOYS If the camp has a permanent building, these specimens make a most attractive decoration as well as help to recall the happy days of 'Hhe hunt." The material equipment for nature study should consist of a good loose leaf note-book, some- thing that will stand the out-door wear. Get quad- rille ruled sheets. They will simplify Equipment sketching in the matter of proportion and scale. A pocket magnifying glass will serve for identification of the specimens. An in- expensive combination tweezer and magnifying glass is made by Asher Kleinman, 250 Eighth Ave- nue, New York (50 cents). Best of all is a high- power microscope, especially where the camp has a permanent building with suitable room, having a good light and table facilities. A camera will help in securing permanent records of trees, ferns, flow- ers, birds, freaks of nature and scenes other than the usual camp groups. A few reliable books on nature study are needed to complete the outfit. A ''bird hunt" was a popular sport in one of. my camps. We started off early one morning, a group of boys, each ''loaded" with a big lunch- box crammed with good things, a note-book, a book on bird-life, and a "gun." The "gun" we used was a powerful pair of field glasses. On the way we counted the number of bird-homes we saw. Just as we were thinking about stopping and Hunting having breakfast we heard a most ec- static song. Creeping close to the place where the sound came from, we discovered the songster to be a song-sparrow. Focussing our NATUEE STUDY 235 ^'gun" upon the bird we made note of its coloring and marking, making sure that if we heard or saw another we would recognize it at once. While we were eating our breakfast, there was a dash of white, yellow, and grayish-brown, a whirring sound and, as the bird lighted upon the low bushes nearby, a clear, piercing whistle came from its throat. Our '^gun'' revealed to us a meadow lark. By this time the boys were as much excited over the bird hunt as over a game of ball. A ^* flower walk,'' observing the wild flowers; a *^fern walk," discerning the delicate tracery of the fern in its cool haunts; a ^^tree Walks Afield walk", noting the different trees — all are natural ways of interesting boys in nature study. G. B. Affleck in the April, 1910, number of Physi- cal Training tells his experience in studying na- ture with several groups of boys. ^^The night sounds surrounding a camp in north- ern Minnesota were a puzzle to boys and to the counsellor of the tent at the end of the row. This problem continued unsolved for more than a week, despite all attempts both by day and night. Fi- nally, one moist, warm night, Ned, after stealthily approaching the sound, satisfied himself of its lo- cation in a certain tree and in the morning was re- warded by the discovery of the Night Sounds Hoad' camped on a branch near the source whence the sound had is- sued. Replacing the frog so that the coarse tuber- cles of its back corresponded to the bark, Ned en- 236 CAMPING FOR BOYS joyed a merited reward at the expense of his tent mates who, though often 'hot,' required some min- utes to find the hidden treasure. Then came the wonder of the stick toes and fingers, the feeding with flies, and the result was — a new pet for the tent. In the next letters written to the folks this find was the central theme. How much better this discovery and the examination of the peculiar col- ors and structures, also the conclusions, based upon observed structure, as to the life and habits of the tree frog than would have been a scientifically learned discussion of the family Hylidae! *'In a camp of fifty boys the writer remembers three who had special delight in collecting pebbles, and they made several all-day trips to distant brooks and beaches in the search for new speci- mens. Another group became so fascinated with the study of the food of fish that they begged the * privilege' of cleaning the catch of each returning party. Proud was that lad who incidentally lo- cated the heart of a pickerel, and because of his school knowledge of physiology he could not be con- vinced that the fish breathed without lungs till he had spent many hours in the vain endeavor to lo- cate said organs. Then he knew that his former idea had been inadequate. ** Fortunately , nature is so interrelated in her various phases that an attempt at exploration in one direction soon opens other fields, Fishology until with the growth of experience there comes a corresponding expansion of interest. Thus the lads, searching for pebbles, NATUEE STUDY 237 were perforce attracted by the plant and insect life of the brook, and the one delving into the mys- tery of breathing oxygen without lungs developed a new interest in the physics of fluids, while those who located the tree frog enlarged their sphere by the knowledge that their pet rejected some of the ^ bugs' offered it. ''The leader, commencing thus with the limited or special interest of each group, may evolve in his own mind the plan which most naturally will lead the boys not only into a wider field of concrete facts, but also into the habit of seeing relationships, of drawing conclusions and of raising questions for further investigation. *'A group of boys interested in a study of fish may well be organized for an all-day trip to the foot of the rapids or the bay of springs; others with geological preferences may spend a night on the top of the distant hill which offers outcroppings of interest; the embryo botanists cannot do better than to take a bog trot for the rare orchid, anoma- lous pitcher plant, or glistening sun dew; lovers of the deep shade may paddle to the inlet of the creek and there enjoy a side trip on the fragrant carpet of hemlock and pine needles; thus it will be found that by anticipating the probable findings in which the particular group is interested the leader gives a point and purpose, adding not only to the enjoy- ment of the outing, but imparting, in addition, some satisfactory knowledge of the vicinity.'' Longfellow said that a ''strong evidence of goodly character was the thoughtfulness one dis- 238 CAMPING FOE BOYS played in caring for a tree.'' One of the best things at Camp Becket was a series of out-door talks on nature given by Silas H. Berry. Seated on a huge rock, he told the boys about the shaping and clothing of the earth, foundation stones, moun- tains and hills, lakes, ponds, and rivers, the begin- ning of vegetable life, the variation and place of the freak, the forest and its place in the world's progress, the alternation of the forest crop, man and his neighbors. Another afternoon the boys went into the woods and while they squatted on Na- ture's mattress of fragrant pine needles (see illus- tration, page 230), he told about leaves and their work, cells and their place, roots and their ar- rangement, tendrils and their mechanism, flowers and their devices, seeds and their travels. The third talk was upon the evolution of plant life, law and logic of creation, perpetuation of life in the lower forms, edible and poisonous mushrooms, and the perpetuation of life in the higher forms. The boys had a different conception of life thereafter and they possessed that nature-love which always tends toward naturalness and simplicity of living. They could sing with feeling. I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills. BIBLIOGRAPHY How Nature Study Should be Taught — Edward F. Bigelow, Ph.D. Hinds, Noble and Eldridge, $1.00. A book of inspiration. Many practical suggestions are given for arousing interest among boys in Nature Study. The Nature Study Idea — Liberty H. Bailey. Macmillan Co., $1.25 net. An interpretation of the new movement to put the boy in sympathy with Nature. NATURE STUDY 239 Field and Forest Handy Book — Dan Beard. Charles Scribner's Sons, $2.00. Nothing better published for the benefit of those having permanent camps. It should be placed in the hands of every boy. Outdoors, Indoors, and Up the Chimney — Charles Mcllvaine. Sunday School Times Co., 75 cents net. A series of interesting stories about common- place things. Just the kind of information to give a boy on rainy days. Dan Beard's Animal Book. Moffat, Yard & Company, $1.75 net. Filled with the kind of incidents about animals that boys delight to hear, including the famous bear stories. Also tells about the Camp-fire Club of Animals. How to Study Birds — Herbert K. Job. Outing Publishing Co., $L50 net. Takes up the practical side of bird study. Describes the outfit necessary for studying the birds in the open. A valuable book. Manual of Common American Insects — William Beautenmuller. 25 cents. Manual of Common Butterflies and Moths — William Beautenmuller. Funk & Wagnalls Co., 25 cents. Two pocket manuals in which the insects, butterflies and moths are reproduced in natural colors with their common and scientific names. Wilderness Pets at Camp BucksHaw — Edward Breck. Houghton, Miffiin Com- pany, $1.50 net. True tales of wilderness pets written by an experienced woodsman. Intensely interesting. Young Folks' Nature Field Book — J. Alden Loring. Dana, Estes & Co., $1.00. Contains a seasonable hint for every day in the year. The alternate pages are left blank for notes or record of things seen. *'How to Know the Wild Flowers" — F. T. Parsons. Charles Scribner's Sons, $2.00 net. "How to Know the Ferns" — F. T. Parsons. Charles Scribner's Sons, $1.50 net. *' Familiar Trees and Their Leaves" — F. D. Matthews. Appleton and Com- pany, $1.75 net. These reliable handbooks written in popular style. An Out-of-Door Diary — Marion Miller. Sturgis and Walton Co., $1.25 net. Suitable for very young boys. Making a Walk to the Beach — Camp Wawayanda CHAPTER XIX FORECASTING THE WEATHER WEATHEE TABLE— CLOUDS— EAIN—CLEAE WEATHEE WINDS— HOW TO TELL DIEECTION OF WIND- SIGNALS LOST ON A CLOUDY DAY— POINTS OF COMPASS — HOME-MADE WEATHEE PEOPHET ■— PLANT BAEOMETEE— BIBLIOGRAPHY Sunshine is delicious. Eain is refreshing. Wind braces up. Snow is exhilarating. There is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather. — Euslcin It is said that this weather table by Buzzaeott is so near the truth as seldom or never to be found to fail. FORECASTING THE WEATHER If the New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, or Last Quarter, comes Between midnight and 2 o'clock " 2 and 4 morning 4 " 6 6 " 8 8 " 10 10 12 2 8 10 12 2 afternoon 4 6 8 10 midnight In Summer Fair Cold and showers Rain Wind and rain Changeable Frequent showers Very rainy Changeable Fair Fair if wind N.W. Rainy if S. or S. W. Fair 240 In Winter Frost, unless wind S. W. Snow and stormy Rain Stormy Cold rain if wind W. Snow if E. Cold and high wind Snow or rain Fair and mild Fair Fair and frosty if wind N. or N. E. Rain or snow if S. or S.W. Fair and frosty FOEECASTING THE WEATHEE 241 Every cloud is a weather sign. Low clouds swiftly moving indicate coolness and rain. Soft clouds, moderate winds, fine weather. Clouds Hard-edged clouds, wind. Rolled or ragged clouds, strong wind. ''Mackerel" sky, twelve hours dry. Look out for rain when The tree frog cries. Fish swim near the surface. Walls are unusually damp. P . Flies are troublesome and sting sharply. *^ A slack rope tightens. Smoke beats downward. Sun is red in the morning. There is a pale yellow sunset. Rain with East wind is lengthy. A sudden shower is soon over. A slow rain lasts long. Rain before seven, clear before eleven. Sun drawing water, sure sign of rain. A circle round the moon means *' storm. '* '*When the grass is dry at night Look for rain before the light ; When the grass is dry at morning light Look for rain before the night. ' ' "When the dew is on the grass Rain will never come to pass. ' ' Fog in the morning, bright sunny day. Swallow flying high means clearing weather. If the sun goes down cloudy Friday, sure of a clear Sunday. Busy spiders mean fine weather. 242 CAMPING FOR BOYS THE WINDS East wind brings rain. West wind brings clear, bright, cool weather. North wind brings cold. South wind brings heat. Birds fly high when the barometer is high, and low when the barometer is low. The way to find which way the wind is blowing, if there is only very light breeze, is to throw up little bits of dry grass, or to Direction of Wind hold up a handful of light dust and let it fall, or to suck your thumb and wet it all round and let the wind blow over it, and the cold side of it will then tell you which way the wind is blowing. The U. S. Department of Agriculture Weather Bureau publishes a '^Classification of clouds," in colors which may be had for the Weather Bureau asking. If you are near one of the weather signal stations daily bulletins will be sent to camp upon request, also the weather map. A set of flag signals run up each day will create interest. The flags are easily made, or may be purchased. Keep a daily record of temperature. A boy in charge of the ** Weather Bureau'' will find it to be full of interest, as well as to offer an opportunity to render the camp a real service. He will make a weather vane, post a daily bulletin board, keep a FOEECASTIlSra THE WEATHEE 243 record of temperature, measure velocity of wind and rainfall. If you have lost your bearings and it is a cloudy day, put the point of your knife blade on your thumb nail, and turn the blade around until the full shadow of the blade is on the nail. This will tell you where the sun is, and decide in which di- rection the camp is. Face the sun in the morning, spread out your arms straight from body. Be- Points of Compass fore you is the east; behind you is the west; to your right hand is the south ; to the left hand is the north. For a home-made barometer you need a clear, clear glass bottle. Take one drachm each of cam- phor gum, saltpetre and ammonia salts, and dis- solve them in thirteen drachms of pure alcohol. Shake till dissolved. Then pour in bottle and cork tightly. Hang the bottle of mixture against the wall facing north, and it will prove a perfect weather prophet. When the liquid is clear it prom- ises fair weather. When it is muddy or cloudy it is a sign of rain. A Home-made Weather Prophet AYhen little white flakes settle in the bottom it means that the weather is growing colder, and the thicker the deposit the colder it becomes. Fine, starry flakes foretell a storm, and large flakes are signs of snow. When the liquid seems full of little, threadlike forms that gradually rise to the top, it means wind and sudden storm. The dandelion is an excellent barometer, one of U, S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE WEATHER BUREAU, EXPLANATION OF FLAG SIGNALS. No.f, White Fltig, D Clear or Fair. No. 2. Blue Flag. Bain or Snow^ No. 3. White and, Blue Flag. Local Baint« No. 4. Black Triam gular Flag. Temperature. No. 5. White Flag. Black Center, I® CoW Wave. Ko. t, alone, indicates fair weatli- er, stationary temperature. Ko.2»alone,indicates rain or snow, stationary temperature. Ko. 3, alone, indicates local rain, stationary temperature.^ Ko. l,with Ko. 4 above It.indlcates fftir weather, warmer. . If o. 1, with No. 4 below it, indicates fair weather, colder. Ko.2,with Ko.4 above it, indicates warmer weather, rain or snow. Ko. 2, with Ko.4 below it, indicates colder weather, rain or snow. Ko.3, with Ko. 4 above it, indicates warmer weatherwith local rains. Ko. 3, with Ko. 4 below it, indicates colder weather with local rains. Ko. l,with Ko.&above it,indicates fair weather, cold wave. Ko.2,with Ko. 6 above it, indicates wet weatiier, cold wave. Forecasts made at 10 a.m., and displayed between 12 and 1 p.m., forecast the weather for the foir lowing day until 8 p.m. 244 FOEECASTIlSrG THE WEATHER 245 the commonest and most reliable. It is when the blooms have seeded and are in the fluffy, feathery- condition that its weather Plant Barometers prophet facilities come to the fore. In fine weather the ball extends to the full, but when rain approaches, it shuts like an umbrella. If the weather is inclined to be showery it keeps shut all the time, only open- ing when the danger from the wet is past. The ordinary clover and all its varieties, includ- ing the trefoil and the shamrock, are barometers. When rain is coming, the leaves shut together like the shells of an oyster and do not open again until fine weather is assured. For a day or two before rain comes their stems swell to an appreciable ex- tent and stiffen so that the leaves are borne more upright than usual. This stem swelling when rain is expected is a feature of many towering grasses. The fingers of which the leaves of the horse chest- nut are made up keep flat and fanlike so long as fine weather is likely to continue. With the coming of rain, however, they droop, as if to offer less re- sistance to the weather. The scarlet pimpernel, nicknamed the '^poor man's weather glass,'' or wind cope, opens its flowers only to fine weather. As soon as rain is in the air it shuts up and re- mains closed until the shower or storm is over. BIBLIOGRAPHY. Talks About the Weather — Charles Barnard. Funk & Wagnalls Co., 75 cents. A little book of valuable hints and suggestions about the weather and the philosophy of temperature and rainfall in their relation to living things. Woodcraft — Jones and Woodward. C. Arthur Pearson, Ltd., 35 cents. Con- tains an excellent chapter on weather lore in addition to a mass of valuable information on woodcraft. Bulletins of the U. S. Weather Bureau, Washington, D. C. 246 CHAPTER XX RAINY DAY GAMES AND SUGGESTIONS DELIGHTS OF A EAINY DAY— ACCUMULATED ENERGY — HANDKERCHIEF TUSSLE — POTATO JOUST — TERRIER FIGHT— CIRCLE BALL— LEG WRESTLE- HAND WRESTLING— ROOSTER FIGHT— SHOE AND SWEATER RACE— PEANUT RELAY RACE— INTER- ESTING TESTS— BIBLIOGRAPHY We knew it would rain for the poplars showed The white of their leaves, and amber grain Shrunk in the wind and the lightning now Is tangled in tremulous skeins of rain. — Aldrich Rainy days break the monotony of continuous sunshiny days. There is nothing that is so fasci- nating to a boy in carap as listening to the patter of the rain drops upon the roof of his canvas house, especially at night, if he is snug and warm in his blankets and the tent is waterproof. A rainy day is the kind of a day when the chess and checker en- thusiasts get together. Games are rescued from the bottom of the trunk or box. Ponchos and rubber boots are now in popular favor. Thunder and lightning but add to the boys' enjoyment. What indescribable excitement there is in the shivers and shudders caused by an extra flash of lightning or a double fortissimo roll of thunder! There is also 247 248 CAMPING FOE BOYS the delight of playing in the puddles of water and wearing a bathing suit and enjoying a real shower bath. To some boys it is repair day, rips are sewed up, buttons sewed on clothing, and for the initiated, the darning of socks. In camps with permanent buildings a big log fire roars in the fireplace, the boys sprawl on the floor with their faces toward the fire, and while the rain plays a tattoo upon the roof some one reads aloud an interesting story, such as *' Treasure Island," '*The Shadowless Man,*' *'The Bishop's Shadow,'' or the chapters on ''The Beneficent Rain" and ''When the Dew Falls," from Jean M. Thompson's book, "Water Wonders." It all depends upon one's viewpoint whether rainy days are delightful or disagreeable. Boys are barometers. Restlessness is usually a sign of an approaching storm. The wise leader senses the situation and begins preparing his plans. If the rain is from the east and comes drizzling down, better plan a several day program, for after the excitement of the first few hours' rain, the boys begin to loll around, lie on the cots, or hang around the kitchen and develop a disease Surplus Energy known as " Grouchitis. " During the first stages of the disease the boys are inactive and accumulate an over-supply of energy, which must find an outlet. Here is where the leader plays an important part in handling the case; he provides an outlet for the expenditure of this surplus energy by planning games demanding use of muscle and the expenditure of energy and EAINY DAY GAMES 249 noise. The big mess tent, or dining hall, is cleared and romping games are organized. The games suggested are adapted for rainy days and selected from a catalogue of several hundred games. RAINY DAY GAMES Few sports are better calculated than a potato joust to amuse boys on rainy days. It has all the joys of a combat, and yet, try as he will, there is no possibility for any boy to become rough. In the potato joust each warrior is armed with a fork, on the end of which is a potato. The com- batants take their position in the center of the play- room, facing each other. They should be separated by not less than three feet. Each must lift a leg from the floor (see illustration, next page). The fighters may use their own discretion as to which leg shall be lifted from the floor and may hold it up with either hand they prefer. A small cushion placed under the knee will add materially to the comfort of the contestants. The battle is decided by one of the warriors knocking the potato from his opponent's fork. Top- pling over three times is also counted as defeat. If one of the knights is obliged to let go of his foot in order to keep his balance it is Potato Joust counted as a fall. Every time the battle is interrupted in this way, either of the contestants is at liberty to change the foot he is resting upon. If one of the warriors falls against the other and upsets him, it is counted against the one who is responsible for the tumble. 250 CAMPIISra FOE BOYS You are not likely to realize on your first intro- duction to a potato joust the amount of skill and practice required to really become expert in hand- ling the fork. A slight turn of the wrist, a quick push and the practised knight will defeat the nov- ice so deftly, so easily that you are amazed. Move your fork as little as possible ; long sweep- ing strokes are more likely to throw off your own potato than to interfere with that of your opponent. The most dangerous stroke is one from under- neath; always maneuver to keep your potato below that of your antagonist. Study the illustration and see if you can dis- cover a way for the boys to get apart. To make it really exciting, a number of couples should be set going at once, and a ** second" on ice cream offered to the pair who get apart A Handkerchief Tussle first. To separate, the boys have only to push the center of one of the handkerchiefs under the loop made by the other handkerchief when it was tied about the wrist, and then carry the loop over the hand. RAINY DAY GAMES 251 Rough-house is the expression used by the boy of to-day when he is describing a general scuffle, and he always smacks his lips over the word. But rough-house has its disadvantages, as many sprains and bruises can testify, and if the same amount of fun may be had from less trying amusement, an amusement, say, which is quite as energetic and quite as exciting, the boy of to-day will certainly adopt it in preference to rough-house. A terrier fight is exciting, and it is funny — it is also energetic — and victory depends quite as much upon the skill of the fighter as upon his strength. Furthermore a terrier fight is not brutal. No boy will hurt himself while engaged in this sport. Two boys are placed facing each A Terrier Fight other in the center of the room, hands clasped beneath the knees and a stick just under the elbows, as shown. Each contestant endeavors to push the other over ; but as it requires considerable attention to keep the bal- ance at all when in this position, the attack is no easy matter. To give way suddenly is a maneuver almost sure 252 CAMPING FOE BOYS to upset your adversary, but unfortunately it is very apt to upset you at the same time and only after considerable practice will you be able to over- come a man in this way. The pivot, a sudden swing to the right or left is safer, though not quite as effective. Always remember that the best terrier fighter invariably makes his opponent throw him- self. Give way at some unexpected point, and unless he is a skilful man, he is sure to go over. Never try a hard push except in the last extremity when everything else has failed. A terrier fight consists of three one-minute rounds, with thirty seconds' rest between each round. The one scoring the largest number of falls during the time set is accounted the winner. A large circle of players throw a lawn tennis ball at one in the center. The object of the play in the center is to remain *'in" as long as possible without being hit. If he catches the Circle Ball ball in his hands it does not count as a hit. Whoever hits him with the ball takes his place. The player who remains ''in'' longest wins. Lie down on the back, side by side, by twos, the feet of each boy of a two being beside the other boy's head. At the word Leg Wrestle ''Go!" each brings the leg nearest his opponent at right angles with his body and then lowers it. This may be done twice or three times, but the last time the leg is raised he should catch his opponent's and endeavor to roll him over, which is a defeat. RAINY DAY GAMES 253 Take hold of each other's right or left hand and spread the feet so as to get a good base. At the word ''Go!" each one endeavors to force his op- ponent to lose his balance, so as to move one of his feet. This constitutes a throw. Hand Wrestling The opponent's arm is forced quickly down or backward and then drawn out to the side directly away from him, thus making him lose his balance. The one moving his foot or touching his hand or any part of his body to the floor, so as to get a better base, is thrown. The throw must be made with the hand. It is thus not rulable to push with the head, shoul- der or elbow. The combatants are arranged facing each other in two front, open ranks. The first two ''oppo- sites'' at either or both ends, or if the floor is large enough all the opposites, may combat at the same time. The boys should fold their arms forward, and hop toward each other on one leg. The but- ting is done with the shoulder and Raoster Fight upper arm, and never with the el- bow, and the arm must remain folded throughout the combat. When the two ad- versaries meet, each attempts to push the other over, or make him touch to the floor the foot that is raised. When all have fought, the winners arrange themselves in two opposing ranks and renew the combat. This is done, until but one remains, and he is declared the victor. The sweaters are placed at the opposite ends of the room. The boys start with their shoes (or 254 CAMPING FOE BOYS sneakers) on (laces out). Shoe and Sweater Race A line is drawn in the middle of the room; here the contestants sit down and pull off their shoes (or sneakers), run to the sweaters and put them on. On the return trip they put their shoes on and finish with both shoes and sweaters on. Boys are lined up in two columns, as in ordinary relay races. For each column two chairs are placed a convenient distance apart, facing one another, with a knife and a bowl half full of peanuts on one, and an empty bowl on the other. At the proper word of command the first boy on each side takes the knife, picks up a Peanut Relay Race peanut with it, and carries the peanut on the knife to the farther bowl; upon his return the second boy does the same and so on. The second boy cannot leave until the first has deposited his peanut in the empty bowl, and has returned with the knife. Peanuts dropped must be picked up with the knife. Fingers must not be used either in putting the peanut on the knife or holding it there. The side, every mem- ber of which first makes the round, wins. A FEW INTERESTING TESTS You can't stand for five minutes without moving, if you are blindfolded. You can't stand at the side of a room with both of your feet touching the wainscoting lengthwise. You can't get out of a chair without bending EAINY DAY GAMES 255 your body forward or putting your feet under it, that is, if you are sitting squarely on the chair and not on the edge of it. You can't crush an egg when placed lengthwise between your hands, that is, if the egg is sound and has the ordinary shell of a hen's egg. You can't break a match if the match is laid across the nail of the middle finger of either hand and pressed upon by the first and third fingers of that hand, despite its seeming so easy at first sight. BIBLIOGRAPHY Social Activities for Men and Boys — A. M. Chesley. Association Press, $1.00. 295 ideas, games, socials and helpful suggestions. A gold mine for one dollar. Games for Everybody — May C. Hofman. Dodge Publishing Co., 50 cents. 203 pages of rare fun. Education by Play and Games — G. E. Johnson. Ginn and Company, 90 cents. A discussion of the meaning of play. Contains also a number of good games, graded according to ages or periods of child life. Play — Emmett D. Angell. Little, Brown and Company, $1.50 net. A very ii practical book, containing instruction for planning more than one hundred games, including eight games in the water. ^^S^^H^^^H ft^ Q O PQ e § « s 256 CHAPTER XXI EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES RECEEATIVE AND CONSTEUCTIVE EDUCATION— WHITTLERS^ CLUB— PYROGRAPHY— BOAT BUILD- ING — PLAYS — LANTERN TALKS — LIBRARY —TUTORING— PHOTOGRAPHY — AGRICULTURE- FORESTRY — SCOUTCRAFT — CAMP PAPER — RECORD OF PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT— KITE MAKING AND FLYING— MODEL AEROPLANE- PARACHUTE IDEA — BOX FURNITURE — CAMP CLOCK— HOW TO MAKE A MOCCASIN— HOW TO MAKE A ^ TROUGH AND READY ^^ HAMMOCK— A HOME-MADE TOBOGGAN— HANDY FUNNEL— INK FOR SCOUTING GAMES— BIBLIOGRAPHY. 'Tis education forms the common mind; Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined. — Pope A boy is better unborn than untaught. — Gascoigne Camping should not be merely a time of loafing or *^ having fun.'' The boy who has returned from a camp, having learned some definite thing, whether it be different from the school curriculum or sup- plementary to his school work, has accomplished something and his outing has been of use to him. All play and no work makes Jack a dull boy, as well as ''all work and no play." Recreative and constructive education forms a combination which 257 258 CAMPING FOR BOYS appeals strongly to a boy. He would call it, *' do- ing things," and in the doing would have fun ga- lore. In addition to nature study, woodcraft, first-aid instruction and similar types of educational activi- ties in vogue in boy's camps, there are many other forms of educational activities which boys can en- gage in during the camping season. A **Whittlers' Club," organized to meet one hour several mornings a week, proved attractive to a group of boys in one camp. Under the leader- ship of a man who understood ^^Sloyd" work the boys were taught how to handle a knife, and it is surprising how few boys really know how to handle this useful article found in every boy's pocket. They were also taught to know Whittlers' Club the different kinds of wood, bark, grain, and method of cutting and sawing wood for building and furniture purposes, etc. A popular model was a paper knife made of wild cherry. The bark was permitted to remain on the handle, while the other end was whittled evenly and smoothly for cutting leaves of books or maga- zines. With the aid of a pyrography set the name of the camp and that of the owner of the knife was burned on the handle. Carved paddles, war clubs, hiking sticks, etc., were used to display the artistic ability of the boys who brought to camp pyrography sets. The camp name, date of hikes, miles trav- Pyrography elled, and other interesting informa- tion was burned on these souvenirs. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES 259 Shields containing the athletic records and names of honor boys were made and hung upon the walls of the permanent building. Boat Building at Camp Durrell In one large camp an experienced boatman was engaged, and under his direction three large dories were built by the boys. Plans were carefully worked out, lumber purchased, and details of boat construction explicitly explained. It took three weeks to build the boats, but no boats of the fleet were used and appreciated as much Boat Building by the boys as these which repre- sented so much of their own labor and time. (See illustration.) Working plans and ''knocked down" material for building boats may 260 EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES 261 be purchased from a number of firms. Building a boat during the winter by boys who are contemplat- ing going camping, adds to the anticipation of the delightful summer time. '^The Player's Scene/' from ''Midsummer Night's Dream, ' ' has been given several times outdoors with great success in the camps conducted by the writer. The boys were coached by a graduate of a School of Oratory, costumes were made by the boys out of all sorts of material, make-up was bought from a theatrical supply house and the scenery supplied by nature. Footlights were lanterns set in Plays front of reflectors made from old tomato cans. The path leading to the natural am- phitheatre was lighted by Japanese lanterns and the guests were seated on the ground. In the words of Hamlet, ''The Play's the Thing," and boys and visitors are always enthusiastic over the presenta- tion, while the players get a new conception of Shakespeare's plays and writings. "Hiawatha" was given with equal enthusiasm and success. Since the invention of the inexpensive Reflecto- scope, illustrated talks in camp are now possible. Travel talks, using postal cards from different parts of the world, postals telling the "Story of the Flag," "State Seals and their Mottoes," etc., are now published in series, and will Lantern Talks be found to be very interesting and instructive. A number of the large camps have stereopticons. Lantern slides with ac- companying lecture may be rented at reasonable rates, such as "The True Sportsman," and "Per- 262 CAMPIN^G FOR BOYS sonal and National Thrift/' sent out by the Moral- Education League, Baltimore, Md., for the East. Any first-class firm dealing in lantern slides can furnish a number of valuable lectures with slides. A sheet hung between two trees on a dark night makes an excellent screen on which to show pic- tures. Every camp should have a library or at least a small collection of good books. In most cases arrangements can be made with a near-by library or with the State Library for the loan of books for a certain period of time. Camps having permanent buildings should *^grow" a library. The excellent library of 1,200 books in the camp of the writer was Jrrsfg Vo^b' (Hamp at tii9 fating Men's « IAL OR Hunter'^ Clock outline of foot. Turn same and make pattern for other foot. Fig. 2. Distance GB equals length of foot plus one inch; distance AC equals width across instep plus one-half inch ; cut DF halfway between B and G; cut EG halfway between A and C. Cut piece reverse of this for other moccasin. Place B of Fig. 2 to B of Fig. 1, and sew overhand with wax cord the edges from B to A and B to C, bringing A and 276 CAMPING FOR BOYS C of Fig. 2 together at A of Fig. 1. Sew AG to CG. Fig. 3 is the tongue and DF of Fig. 3 is sewed to DF of Fig. 2. Cut pairs of half-inch slits a, b, c, d in Fig. 2, and run lace through. For the afternoon ^* siesta" make a ** rough-and- ready" hammock, by taking apart a flour barrel or sugar barrel, and in the end of each stave bore a three-quarter inch hole with a Hammock-Making heated poker, or bit and auger. Then lace thin rope (clothes line is good) through the holes. This can be ac- complished easily by noting method of lacing in I^OUCH »M» KkAVV HAMMTOrK The stay-blocks **B" should be 12 Figure **C" shows hammock ready figure *'A." inches long, for use. Get a cheese box. Knock in the end very care- fully, so as not to split it, pull out all the nails and lay it flat, and you have a piece of very thin board about 41^ feet long and 11 inches wide. Next take EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES 277 a piece of inch plank of same width as the cheese box, and three feet in length, and to this fasten the unrolled cheese box by using small A Toboggan lath nails, letting one end curl up over the plank. To the edge of this protruding piece of cheese box tack a narrow strip of wood. Tie a heavy cord to its ends, run the cord f40Mt: MAOETOOOC&AW. through the two hooks screwed into the planks and draw down the end until it is curved just right. The illustration shows how it is made. A UMtn't rwMMr4. A funnel may be made by taking an ordinary en- velope and cutting off the part shown in dotted lines 278 CAMPING FOE BOYS as in the illustration. Then clip a little off the point, open out, and you have an excellent funnel. Dip a pen in an onion and press until the juice comes; then, with plenty of juice on Onion Ink the pen, write your message. To read it warm it over the fire, when the writ- ing will stand out clearly. BIBLIOGRAPHY List op Books on Handcraft and Construction: Field and Forest Handy Book — D. C. Beard. Charles Scribner'a Sons, $2.00. Jack of All Trades — D. C. Beard. Charles Scribner's Sons, $2.00. The Boy Pioneers — D. C. Beard. Charles Scribner's Sons, $2.00 net. The Boy Craftsman — A. Neely Hall. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., $2.00. Woodworking for Beginners— -C. G. Wheeler. Putnam and Company, $2.50. Amateur Mechanics, Nos. 1 and 2. Popular Mechanics. 25 cents each. How to Build a Biplane Glider — A. P. Morgan. Spon & Chamberlain, 50 cents net. Problems in Furniture Making — Fred D. Crawshaw. Manual Arts Press, $1.20. Box Furniture — Louise Brigham. Century Co., $1.60 net. The Boys' Book of Model Aeroplanes — Francis A. Collins. Century Co., $1.20 net. Postage extra. CHAPTER XXII HONOR EMBLEMS AND AWARDS NON-COIVIPETITIVE AWAEDS — DUDLEY PLAN — ^^THE ORDER OF THE ADIRONDACK CAMP EAGLE ' ^—^ ' ORDER OF THE PHANTOM SQUARE '^ —FLAG OF HONOR— ^^ GREEN RAG'^ SOCIETY— DURRELL AND BECKET PLAN— PROFICIENCY CUP— HALL OF FAME Honour is purchased by the deeds we do; * * * honour is not won, Until some honourable deed be done. — Marlowe Achievement and cooperation based upon altru- ism, should be the underlying principles in deter- mining the giving of emblems and awards. To give every boy an opportunity to do his best to measure up to the camp standard, is the thing desired in the awarding of emblems. Non-Competitive Awards Non-competitive tests are being recognized as the best lever of uplift and the most effective spur 279 280 CAMPING FOE BOYS in arousing the latent ability of boys. The desire to down the other fellow is the reason for much of the prevailing demoralization of athletics and com- petitive games. Prizes should not be confused with *' honors." An honor emblem should be represen- tative of the best gift the camp can bestow and the recipient should be made to feel its worth. The emblem cannot be bought, it must be won. Camp Dudley has the distinction of introducing the honor system in boys' camps. Boys pass tests which include rowing, swimming, athletics, moun- tain climbing, nature study, carpen- Dudley Plan ter work, manual labor, participa- tion in entertainments, ^* unknown'' point (unknown to the camp, given secretly to the boy) and securing the approval of the leaders, in order to win the **C D." After winning this em- blem, the boys try to win the camp pennant, the tests for which are graded higher. ''The Order of the Adirondack Camp Eagle" is established at Camp Adirondack for boys who qual- ify in the following tests: ''Obedience is required to the few camp rules; promptness is required at the regular bugle calls — ^reveille, assembly for ex- ercise, mess call, and tattoo and taps — and erect posture is required at meals. In addition to this there is a 'general personal' standard Camp Eagle (embracing neatness at meals and courtesy, etc.). Boys coming up to the standard are initiated into the order and receive the emblem — the bronze eagle button. Boys who reach an especially high standard receive the silver HONOE EMBLEMS AND AWAEDS 281 eagle. Boys reaching this higher degree may com- pete for the golden eagle, the highest camp honor. To obtain this it is necessary for a boy to swim a hundred yards, do the high dive (about 12 feet), be able to row well and paddle a canoe skilfully, rec- ognize and name twenty-five trees, and pass a prac- tical examination in other nature work and in prac- tical camping and woodcraft, and answer questions in physical training and care of the body along lines covered in camp-fire talks.'' ''The Order of the Phantom Square" was or- ganized at the Wisconsin State Boys' Camp for boys who succeed in qualifying in the tests named below : ORDER OF THE PHANTOM SQUARE Phantom Square Honor Emblem Bronze, Silver and Gold Pins are awarded as follows: Bronze 60 points, 15 in each division. Silver 80 points, 20 in each division. Gold 100 points, 25 in each division. PHYSICAL. 30 Points Possible. * 1. Run 50 or 100 yards in given time (A class, 100 yards in 12 seconds; B, 100 in 13 seconds; C, 50 -yards in 7 1-5 sec- onds) 1 point. * 2. Run 440 yards in given time (A, 1 minute 13 seconds; B, 1 minute 25 seconds; C, 1 minute 34 seconds) 1 point. * 3. Make running broad jump given distance (A, 14 feet; B, 13 feet; C, 11 feet) 1 point. * 4. Make running high jump given height (A, 4 feet; B, 3 feet 10 inches; C, 3 feet 6 inches) 1 point. * 5. Put 8 lb. shot given distance (A, 30 feet; B, 25 feet; C, 20 feet) 1 point. * 6. Swim 25 yards in given time (A, 19 seconds; B, 22 seconds; C, 25 seconds) 1 point. * 7. Swim 25 yards on back 1 point. 282 CAMPING FOE BOYS * 8. Swim 100 yards 1 point. * 9. Make a dive in acceptable form 1 point. *10. Row one mile in given time (A, 4 minutes 20 seconds; B, 4 minutes 25 seconds; C, 5 minutes 10 seconds) 1 point. *11. Pass practical test in life-saving with grade, 70-79, 80-89, 90-100 3 to 5 points. tl2. Take morning calisthenic drill, 8, 11 or 14 times 1 to 3 points. tl3. Take early morning plunge into lake, 8, 11 or 14 times ... 1 to 3 points. *14. Walk ten miles continuously in one day 2 points. tl5. Cleanliness and proper eating 1 to 5 points. SOCIAL. 30 Points Possible. *16. Teach other boys in aquatics, athletics or mental tests 1 to 5 points. ♦17. Perform other good turns to individuals 1 to 5 points. tl8. Congeniality with camp mates 1 to 4 points. tl9. Neatness in care of personal property, tent and table 1 to 5 points. t20. Promptness in responding to bugle calls, signals and camp duties 1 to 3 points. ♦21. Participating acceptably in evening entertainments 1 to 5 points. *22. Participating acceptably in camp orchestra or glee club. . . 3 points. MENTAL. 30 Points Possible. ♦23. Pass written test in life-saving examination with grade of 70-79, 80-89, or 90-100 3 to 5 points. ♦24. Name and describe different kinds of trees and birds 1 to 5 points. *25. Name and point out star groups 1 to 3 points. *26. Answer questions on camp-fire talks 1 to 4 points. *27. Read and orally answer questions on "Youth to Manhood" 1 to 5 points. *28. Read and tell story of other acceptable books 1 to 3 points. *29. Compose an acceptable song or yell for camp 5 points. MORAL. 30 Points Possible. *30. Daily Bible reading with written answers to questions .... 1 to 5 points. t31. Reverence at Religious exercises * 1 to 3 points. t32. Attendance at Church on Sundays during camp 3 points. t33. Cheerful and faithful performance of camp duties 1 to 5 points. t34. Extra volunteer service at camp 1 to 5 points. t35. Self-control 1 to 4 points. t36. General conduct and disposition lto5 points. Tests marked thus (*) are judged by certain leaders delegated for the pur- pose. Tests marked thus (f) are judged by all tent leaders for boys in their tents. A Class consists of boys 16 to 17 years old. B Class consists of boys 14 to 15 years old. C Class consists of boys 12 to 13 years old. After a candidate has won the requisite number of points for the first degree, a unanimous vote of all leaders in council assembled, is necessary, after which, a solemn ceremony of initiation is conducted. The Honor Emblem is given to all who win a total of at least thirty points covering all the tests. Camp Couchiching spirit is developed through the *'Flag of Honor," which is awarded each day to HONOR EMBLEMS AND AWARDS 283 the tent scoring the highest number of points, as follows: Every boy up and in line Flag of Honor at 3 minutes after 7, scores 5 points for his tent; the morning dip, 5 points; tent inspection, 100 points for per- fect; winning in athletic and aquatic meet, 25 points; second, 20; third, 15; fourth, 10; and fifth, 5. On a winning baseball team, 5 points and ama- teur stunt, 10 points. Camp Eberhart has the following elaborate plan: The camp emblem itself represents the first degree and the camper must be in camp for one full week before he can wear it. The emblem is a brown tri- angle with a large E placed upon it with a green background. A green bar is added for each year spent in camp. The second, Green Rag Society third and fourth degrees are indicated by a small green star, to be placed at the points of the triangle, be- ginning at the lowest point, then the upper left, then the upper right. The second degree will be awarded by the first star, the third degree by the second star, also entitling the winner to member- ship in the *' Brown Rag'' Society. The fourth de- gree will be awarded by the third star and the win- ner be entitled to membership in the ** Green Rag'' Society. Membership in the *^ Green Rag" Society is the highest honor the camp can bestow. The following are the requirements for the higher degrees. 284 CAMPING FOE BOYS REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SECOND DEGREE. 1. To catch a one-pound fish from Corey Lake. 2. To catch a one-pound fish from any other lake while at camp, 3. To row a boat (passing the rowing test). 4. To be able to swim 50 yards. 5. To be able to walk one mile in 1 1 minutes. 6. To be able to run 100 yards in 14 seconds. 7. To be able to start three consecutive fires with three consecutive matches in the woods, with fuel found in the woods; one of the fires to be built in a damp place. If one fire fails, the entire test must be repeated. 8. To bring in mounted five different butterflies. 9. To bring in mounted five different moths. 10. To bring in mounted five different beetles. 11. To collect and press 25 different wild flowers. 12. To jump 6 feet in standing broad jump. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE THIRD DEGREE. 1. To be able to start a fire with a fire drill, the fuel and material used to be found in the woods. 2. To be able to tell the correct time by the sun at least twice a day. Sun time. 3. To be able to swim 200 yards. 4. To be able to row a boat one mile in ten minutes. 6. To measure the correct height of a tree without climbing it. 6. To be able to tie and untie eight different standard knots. 7. To catch a two-pound fish. 8. To be able to know and name fifteen different trees in the woods. 9. To be able to perform on a stunt night acceptably. 10. To be able to know and name 25 different birds as seen around the camp. 11. To lead in the Evening Devotions at least twice. 12. To run 100 yards in 13 seconds. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE FOURTH DEGREE. 1. To catch a three-pound fish. 2. To be able to run 100 yards in 11 seconds. 3. To be able to run 100 yards in 12 seconds. 4. To conduct Evening Devotions. 5. To teach one boy how to swim (test one hundred feet). 6. To influence one boy into the Christian life. 7. To know and to name 25 different trees as found in the woods. 8. To be able to make twelve standard knots in a rope. 9. To conquer one bad habit while at camp. 10. To accomplish at least one definite piece of service as prescribed by the camp. 11. To become a member of the camp council. 12. To be able to jump 16 feet in the running broad jump. The tests in Camps Durrell and Becket are based upon Baden-Poweirs book, ''Scouting for Boys," and have proven very suecessfuL They are as fol- lows ; HOJSTOE EMBLEMS AND AWAEDS 285 HONOR PLAN DISCIPLINE. 1. Doing camp duty promptly, efficiently and cheerfully. (5 points 2. Participating promptly in preparing tents, baggage and beds for in- spection. (4 points.) 3. Loyalty to captain in all games. (5 points.) OBSERVATION. 1. Observe the ways of birds, animals and people and jot down a sketch of them in a note-book. (3 points.) 2. Take a walk and upon return to the camp write upon the following six Subjects. (a) Nature of by-ways of paths. (6) Different kinds of trees you noticed. (c) People you met. (d) Peculiar smells of plants. (e) Kind of fences you saw. (/) Sounds you heard. (3 points.) 3. Observe sanitary and hygienic disorder and correct the same. (5 points.) 4. After the reading aloud of a story write an account of it. (3 points.) WOODCRAFT. 1. Observe the tracks of birds and animals and distinguish them. (2 points.) 2. Identify fifteen birds, or fifteen trees, or fifteen flowers, or fifteen min- erals. (2 points.) 3. Tie a square knot, a weaver's knot, a slip knot, a flemish coop, a bow- line, a half, timber clove, boom hitches, stevedore and wall end knots, blackwall and catspaw turn and hitch hook hitches. (2 points.) 4. Make a "star" fire and cook a meal upon it for the boys of your tent. (3 points.) 5. Find the south at any time of day by the sun with the aid of a watch. f- (1 point.) 6. Estimate the distance across water. (1 point.) 7. Judge the time of day by the sun. (1 point.) 8. Read the signs of the weather by the sun, wind and clouds. (2 points.) 9. Make something useful for the camp. (5 points.) HEALTH. 1. Promptness, erect carriage and earnestness in setting up drill. (3 points.) 2. Gain made in physical development during the time in camp. (2 points.) 3. Essay upon the camp-fire talks on "Personal Hygiene." (3 points.) 4. Care of tent, clothing and baggage, in dry and wet weather. (3 points.) 5. Cleanliness of person. (3 points). 6. Proper eating at meals. (5 points.) 7. Win first place in the athletic or aquatic events. (2 points.) CHIVALRY. (Among the laws of the Knights was this: "Chivalry requireth that youth should be trained to perform the most laborious and hum- ble offices with cheerfulness and grace: and to do good unto others.") 1. Do a good turn to somebody every day. (3 points.) 2. Control tongue and temper. (5 points.) 3. Participate in some entertainment. (2 points.) 4. Secure the approval of the leaders. (2 points.) 5. Promptness in attending Chapel services. (2 points.) 286 CAMPING FOR BOYS SAVING LIFE. 1. Be able to swim fifty yards and return without stopping. (1 point.) 2. Pass the examinations in Life Saving and First Aid Work by written and demonstration work. (5 points.) 3. Row from wharf to a given point and back in a given time. (1 point.) PATRIOTISM. 1. Respect for the United States flag at raising and colors. (5 points.) 2. Memorize "America" and "Star Spangled Banner." (1 point.) 3. Write an essay explaining the plan of governing your own town and city. (2 points.) 4. Write in your own words what you think citizenship means. (2 points.) 5. Describe upon paper some historic spot or building neaj- your home and its connection with the making of America. (1 point.) Note. — Each boy must win 90 points out of a possible 100 to secure the honor emblem. Leaders will be appointed to take charge of the different tests, to whom the boys will report when they qualify in the tests and receive their points. The final decision in the giving of the honor emblem is made at a full meeting of the Camp Council. The honor emblem consists of a white ** swastika'* cross with garnet felt D for Durrell and B for Becket. Boys who fail to secure the emblem in one season are credited with points which hold good the next season. The Honor Pennant is awarded only to those who render special service to the camp. L i 1 i m Honof Cavtp Leader The camp emblem is a garnet solid triangle with the initial of the camp in white felt upon it. A white bar placed above the triangle represents the attendance, one bar is given for each year. The Senior leader's emblem is a white felt disc with a garnet felt triangle, and the Junior leader's em- blem, a garnet felt disc with a wyte felt triangle. HOJ^OR EMBLEMS AND AWAEDS 287 Campers will find enough suggestions in these outlines to develop systems of their own which will help in the all-round development of the boy. Some camps prefer the awarding of what may be called *' proficiency cups.'* At Camp Kineo a silver cup is awarded to the boy in each division who is the best all-round fellow, con- Camp Kineo Cup sidering manly qualities, loyalty to camp, deportment, behavior under all conditions, skill in athletics, aquatics, ten- nis, baseball, and all other sports, self-control, tem- perament, popularity with boys and good standing with councilors. The judges are the Director and Camp Council, whose decision counts for 60 per cent toward the final award, the boys not competing de- ciding the other 40 per cent toward the final award. At Camp Wildmere there is a ''Hall of Fame.'' Votes are taken for the most respected leader and the most respected boy; the most popular leader and boy; the boy who has done the .most for the camp and the boys ; the most courte- Hall of Fame ous boy, neatest boy, best-built boy, brightest boy, favorite in games; neatest in tent; best all-round camper; boy who talks least about himself; the one with the best table manners; the quietest boy, most generous boy, handsomest boy, best-natured boy and the camp humorist. 288 CHAPTER XXIII PACKING UP THE LAST NIGHT— PACKING UP— INSTEUCTIONS TO LEADEKS— THE LAST WOED Farewell, wild hearth where many logs have burned; Among your stones the fireweed may grow. The brant are flown, the maple-leaves have turned, The goldenrod is brown — and we must go. — Arthur Guiterman The last night in a boys' camp should be the best of all the nights. It is usually a night of remi- niscence. Around the camp fire or log fire in the ''Lodge," all the campers gather and rehearse the good times of the days that have The Last Night passed all too quickly — those days of close intimacy of tent life, where boys of different tastes, temperaments and dispositions were thrown together, where life's great lessons of give and take were learned and where character was put to the test! Friendships have been formed which will last through life. The same group of fellows will never come together again. The director, perhaps as no other person, realizes the importance of making this night one of permanent impression, and his ''good-by" talk to 289 290 CAMPING FOR BOYS the fellows will reiterate the ''why" of camping and emphasize the taking home of the spirit of good which has prevailed and the making it count for the best things in home, school, factory and church life of those boys who enjoyed the benefits of the camp. All the favorite songs of the camp are sung, the leaders make ''speeches," and the boys have an opportunity of telling what camp life has done for them. As the fire dies down the bugler off in the distance plays "God Be With You Till We Meet Again"; silence — and then "taps." There is just as much need of system and care in breaking camp and packing up, as Packing Up in opening camp. Chas. R. Scott at Camp Wawayanda issues to each leader the following letter of instructions, which may be of help to those in charge of large camps. LETTER OF INSTRUCTION TO LEADERS Dear Friend — ^Will you kindly help me break camp by carry- ing out the following instructions: 1. Have all your boys return all books to the librarian not later than Thursday morning, and tools to the shop by the same time. 2. Encourage your helpers to loosen the side walls of tent early Friday morning, if clear, and fasten guy ropes so that canvas will dry if damp. 3. Take out all the pegs which fasten the side walls, clean off dirt and place in boxes at boat house. 4. Take down the board in your tent, take out all nails, straighten them and place in proper boxes in shop. Then take board to the boat house. Leave the rope over the ridge pole untied. PACKING UP 291 5. Take out all nails and screws in the upright poles of your tent and bunks, and place in boxes in shop. 6. Empty the oil and clean lantern and return to the boat house. Take bunks to the lodge and let us know the condi- tion of each. 7. See that all paper and old things in and around the tent are picked up and placed on the fire for that purpose. 8. After Bible study we will take down all tents. We should like you to delegate one fellow to each upright pole, one to each of the four corner guy ropes, and then follow instructions as the bugle blows. 9. Take all rope on the trees to headquarters. 10. Kindly answer the following questions regarding your tent: a. Are all the poles properly marked with tent number! b. Does tent leak? . If so, where? c. Is the ridge pole in good condition? d. Does front and rear of tent close securely? Does it need new fasteners for tying up? Anything else you have noticed during the time you have been in the tent; please make a memorandum of same on back of this sheet. 11. Eeturn camp keys, if you have them, to headquarters before leaving. We would be pleased to have you write on the back of this sheet any suggestions you have for the improvement of camp for next season. Thanking you personally for your help and trusting to have your cooperation and that of your boys until the close of camp, I remain, Sincerely yours, The day before camp breaks, each boy should pack his trunk or box neatly, leaving Last Words at the top the things needed to make the homeward journey, with room for his blankets. If the packing is left until the last 292 CAMPING FOR BOYS day, confusion will result and temper be sorely tried. Permanent buildings should be securely safe- guarded against the severity of the winter and the breaking in of thieves. All kitchen utensils should be thoroughly cleaned and dried. If they are put away moist rust will eat holes. Give the stove a good coat of old grease and cover with burlap or old canvas. Hang the tents in bags where the squirrels and rats cannot get at them. When camp is closed it should be in such condition that it would require but a few hours to reopen and make ready for the next outing. INDEX PAGE Advance Party 40 Aeroplanes 271 Agriculture 267 Aquatic Sports 219, 221 Archery 208, 225-29 Athletic Events and Awards .. . 212 Athletic Grouping 211 Bacon 148, 149 Bandages 175, 176 Bank 20 Barometer, Homemade 243 Barometers, Plant 245 Baseball League 210 Baseball, Water 222 Basket Ball, Water 221 Beds 48-51,139 Bible Study 21, 83, 89-98 Bites and Stings 168 Blanket Roll 63 Bleeding 168, 169 Boats and Boat Building 19, 259 Books, Rainy Day 248 Bow and Arrows 226, 228 Box Furniture 273 Box Trunk 62 Broken Bones 177-180 Bruises and Burns 169 Buildings 53 Camp, Plan of 39, 40 Cleaning 78 Location of 27 Camp Fire 124 Camping, Arguments for S-12 Canoe Tag 223 Chapel 101 Character Building 10 Check List 59, 60 Chills 170 Choking 170 Circle Jumping 214 Clothing 205, 206 Clouds 241 Cocoa 151 Coffee 151 Colds 170 Commissary Blank 113 Cooks 112 Council , 20, 67 Cramps. 191 Cups, Drinking 34 Cuts 170 Departments 68 Digestion, Time of 109 Director 13 Dirt 25 Discipline 71-73 PAQB Dish Washing 118, 119, 153 Dislocation 175, 176 Drains 31 Dramas, Outdoor 256, 260, 261 Drowning, Rescue from 192 Eggs 150,151 Egg Test 119 Earache 171 Evening Program , 83 Eyes ..171,203 Fainting 180 Feet 171, 172, 204 Field Glasses 234 Fireplace 147 First Aid 175, 198 Fish (Receipts) 149, 150 Fish, Study of 236 Flag Raising and Striking 77, 82 Food Charts 105-108 Food, How to Buy 108 Forestry 267, 268 Frog's Legs 150 Funnel 277 Games and Stunts, Indoor . ,253-255 Games, Outdoor 214 Games, Their Purpose 210 Garbage 30 German Bowling 217, 218, 222 Grace at Meals 120 Green Rag Society 283, 284 Griddle Cakes 148 Grocery List Ill, 112 Hall of Fame 287 Hamniocks 276 Hands 202 Hand Wrestling 253 Handy Devices 144, 145 Hanger 143 Headache 172 Health Board 35 Health Charts 200 Health Maxims 206, 207 Health Talks 199 Herbarium 233 Hiccough 272 Honor Awards 279-281 Honor Cup 287 Honor Flag 282, 283 Honor Plan 285, 286 Hospital Tent 158 "How Men Found the Great Spirit" 126 Indian and White Man 217 Ink, Onion 278 Inspection 79-82 Internal Organs 204 293 294 INDEX PAGE Jumping Standards 213 Kites 268-271 Lamps 141, 142 Lantern Talks 261 Leaders or Counsellors 14 Blanks for 15 Letter to 289 Opportunities of 21 Pay of 15 Suggestions to 17 Lean-to 138 Library 246, 262, 263 Life Saving 79, 184-187, 190, 221 Map Reading 136 Matches, Lighting 125 Measuring Device 40, 41 Medical Stores 166, 167 Mending Pots 120 Menu (for hike) 151, 152 Menus 114, 116 Moccasins 274-276 Morning Hymn 121 Mottoes 12 Music 101 Nature Study 232 Nature Study Equipment 234 Nature Study Walks 235 Nature Talks 238 Nose 203 Novel Bonfire 99 Old Clothes Race 222 Order of Day 19 Organization Chart 68 Packing Up 289 Packs 137 Pain and Pain Chart '...'.'.'.'. i60-163 Paper (Camp Journal) 266 Parachute 272, 273 Peanut Relay Race 254 Phantom Square 281, 282 Photography 141, 264-266 Physical Record Blanks 156 Physical Types, Average 157 Poison Ivy 172 Potatoes 149 Pulse 159 Pyrography 259 Ration List 152, 153 Records 268, 269 Resuscitation 194-197 Roast Corn 126 Rooster Fight 254 Rough-house 11 Rover, All Come over 215 Rusty Nail 172 Scoutcraft 268 Scout Law 12 Self Government 67 Serving 117 Shipping 63, 64 PAGE Shoes 137 Shoot the Chutes 224, 225 Sleep 205 Sore Throat 173 Soup 119 Sports 20, 81 Sprains 173 Stories 101, 125 Story, A Good Example of ... . 126 Stretcher 181 Stunned 181 Steward 112 Stomachache 173 Sun Dial and Camp Clock . . 273-275 Sun Glass 148 Sunday 88 Sunday Talks 99 Sunstroke 173 Surgical Supplies 165 Surveying 53-57 Swamps 26 Swimming and Bathing 18, 80, 183, 205 Table and Kitchen Ware 51, 52 Table Etiquette 120 Tables and Seats 52, 53 Take-off 213 Talks, to Individuals 73 To groups, evening 83 To groups, Sunday 99 Taps 84 Tattoo , 83 Teeth 164, 174, 202 Tents, Arrangement of 27 Tents and Tepees 42-48 Tether Ball 218,219 Thatching 139 Thermometer, Clinical 160 Tilting 222 Toboggans 276, 277 Toilets 27-29 Tongue 160 Tutoring 79, 263-265 Tramper's Advice 135 Typhoid 164 Volley Ball 219 Vreeland Press 233 Waste Barrels 31, 32 Water Supply 27, 32, 33 Weather Bureau 242 Weather Forecast 240 Weather Signals, U. S. Bureau. 244 Weights and Measures, Table. 110 Whale Hunt 223 Whistle Signal 70 Whittler's Club 258 Wigwag Code and Rules. . . .188, 189 Winds 242 Wolf 215 Work, Assignment of 19, 79 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBR BERKELEY Return to desk from which borrowed This book is DUE on the last date stamper ^-t5 HJlay57K\C RECD l-^ APR 30 1957 MAY 25 ^970 8 9 r ^snttNQ) TO MAY 8 1970 lOAM OirAltrM0