CAMPING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 47, 18 November 1937, Page 15

CAMPING

"BIG SMOKE." >

This part of Scouting is the most important of all our activities and yet it is one which is far too often forgotten, or lct slide. No Troop should, if it can help it, ever pass by a summer without some camps; if its own Scouters cannot get away it is quite likely that the Scouter of some other Troop will be willing to take the boys with his owh chaps. Tliis is eertainly not n early so good as if the Scouter took this own boys, but unfortunately it is not always possible for him to get away while the Scouts are having thcir school holidays. Also, when a Troop is having a chnip, there are too many boys who do not take advantage of it, but make all sorts of excuses not to attend. No Scout should consider hiniself a Scout if he does not attend every camp that his Troops holds. So important is the eamping section of Scouting that, in this district, I will not pass a Scout for the First-Clasig Badge until he has been to some Scout camps so that he has the experience to 'pass on to ocher Scouts as they join up. Also a First-Class Scout is one who can look after himself and others at any time, and how can a Scout look after himself, let alone others, if he has not had the experience of living in camp for at least a weelc or ten days. You will be having to get your things ready for camp now, so as to save a rusli at the last moinent, so I am giving you a list of the things that you will have to take with you if it is the ordinary standing camp that you will be attending. Of conrse, if it is a hilce that you are going on you will not want r.II these artieles, but 1 should't go on a hike if J. wero vou uutil you have speut soine time in a standing camp. Also . don't go on a hike uhtil you are bif

enough to carry your kit without gcttiug too tired out at the eud of the day. List of things to take to camp: — Groundsheet, 2 blankets, pyjamas, handkerchiefs, spare shirt, towel, spare shorts, soap, toothbrush and paste, bathing togs, hairbrush or comb, jersey, tennis, shoes, overcoat or mackintosli, mending material for clothes, two deep enamel plates, mug, knife, fork, spoon. The groundsheet is very important and must be taken even if a Scout intends making a camp mattress or bunk or some kind or other. Coloured blankets are best, white ones will get rather dirty if thc weather decides to give the camp some rain as is usually the casc. It is also a good idea to make some sort of special kit for the camp-fire sing-songs. Remember, rain will not hurt a chap if he does not wander around in w'ct clothes, "if you get wet change into some dry things at onee, that is wihy yon want to take a spare shirt and pair of shorts along. Also don't wear shoes ahd stocking for they will get wet and give you a cold that way. Go about in tennis shoes and you will be alright,' however miich it mav rain. — Good

eamping to - you all.