Scouting, Volume 3, Number 5, July 1, 1915 Page: 1
8 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
SCOUTING
Published semi-monthly by National Headquarters, Boy Scouts of America
For Scout Officials and Others Interested In Work for Boys
Vol III.
NEW YORK, N. Y., JULY 1, 1915
No. 5
A CHAIN OF CAMP SITES
ON FARMS AROUND CITY
Philadelphia Officials Get Four for the
Scouts and Expect to Add
More.
REALIZING that unless the boys have
a chance to get out in the open the
Scout program is not accomplishing
the greatest possible good, the officials of
the Philadelphia Scout Council, under the
leadership of Walter S. Cowing, Scout Ex-
ecutive, are making an earnest endeavor to
secure for the use of the boys as many out-
lying camps as possible. Not a few of the
troops have had tracts offered to them for
their_ own use; but, naturally, these are
restricted. The headquarters officials have
arranged for four farms near the city, and
it is hoped that by the end of next summer
they will have about a dozen places, each
equipped with a few tents and cooking
utensils and such other camping equipment
as may be necessary.
The first of these farms, at Torresdale,
where Camp Morrell was established sev-
eral years ago, has a fine Scout cabin.
The second, the Bodine Farm, was
turned over to the Scouts by Mr. George
I. Bodine, a member of the Executive
Council of Philadelphia, with the under-
standing that the Boy Scouts of that place
might camp there at any time. Mr. Bodine
stated that he desired to raise not only
good crops on his farm, but good citizens
as well. It is situated at Cwynedd, just
north of the city.
The third, at Rocky Spring Farm, near
Media, on the Crump Creek, is located on
the property of Mr. Clarke Thomson.
There is considerable excellent woodland
there, and the creek offers facilities for
swimming. Tents, cooking utensils and
even food have been furnished by Mr.
Thomson, so that the scouts may go there
for several days at virtually no expense ex-
cept carfare.
The fourth camp is the tract used for the
Philadelphia annual encampment, at Had-
donfield, May 29, 30 and 31. This ground
was rented by the officials for the year.
In publishing notices about these farms
in the local newspapers, the scout officials
gave in explicit detail the routes to the
camp sites from various parts of the city.
More Than 2,250 in Memorial Day Camp.
The Memorial Day camp, referred to
above, was one of the largest Boy Scout
camps ever held. In all 2,250 Scouts and
Scoutmasters were accommodated in five
miles of tents, numbering 500, which were
arranged in divisions by troops.
VIEW OF PART OF PHILADELPHIA'S BIG
MEMORIAL DAY CAMP.
HOW TO AVOID DELAYS
AND SAVE EXPENSE
What Has Been Done To Economize Time-
and Funds—How Every Scout
Man Can Help.
THE development of the Boy Scout
idea throughout the country has been
systematically promoted by National
Headquarters for almost five years. The
services of many persons are required in
order to properly dispose of the increasing
volume of work incident to caring for the
needs of the movement. Every effort, how-
ever, is made to reduce to a minimum the
details of this work and to eliminate un-
necessary correspondence or other items.
In accordance with this policy a letter has
recently been sent to a number of the
more active Scout Executives and Commis-
sioners as follows:
In an effort to reduce to a minimum current
correspondence, we have decided to do away
with all letters of transmittal and formal notifi-
cations to men like yourself. In other words,
when the action taken manifests itself by the
receipt of certificates, etc., I do not see the value
of a separate letter, stating the transmittal has
been made.
Especially is this true since we have within
the last few months so thoroughly systematized
the methods of transmittal and record as to give
us all that is needed for our office records without
the carbon of a letter of transmittal.
If for any reason this practice will not be
acceptable to you because of your methods of work,
we shall be glad to respect your wishes.
Possibly you might be able to give us the
benefit of a suggestion as to some other feature
of our work which might be curtailed or entirely
eliminated. We want to keep ever vigilant in
our effort to reduce to a minimum clerical work
and the expense involved, saving our time and
resources only for things which are essential.
Please give us the benefit of a personal letter,
suggesting anything which occurs to you along
this line.
During the first 24 days of June (21
working days) 17,196 communications were
received at the National Headquarters, or
an average of 819 daily. It takes very
careful supervision to see that all com-
munications receive prompt and full atten-
tion, and it is with much satisfaction that
we are able to advise the field that a re-
(Continued on page 2, col. 2)
LIFE, STAR AND EAGLE
REQUIREMENTS CHANGED
Important Modifications Are Made in Ath-
letic and Physical Development
Tests.
AFTER careful consideration the Com-
mittee on Badges, Awards and Scout
Requirements, with the approval of
the Executive Board of the National Coun-
cil, has made important changes in the re-
quirements for Life, Star and Eagle Scout
Badges.
This action has resulted from the many
requests from the field addressed to the
Committee that some relief be granted with
reference to the severe requirements of the
Athletic Merit Badge. In some quarters it
has been claimed that the athletic require-
ments were so severe as to require not only
special training, but unusual physical de-
velopment and ability, and therefore placed
this much coveted badge beyond the reach
of the average boy. Some scout officials
have claimed it to be unfair to require
both the Physical Development and Athletic
Merit Badges in the list of 21 required for
an Eagle Scout.
The changes which have been made, it
is sincerely hoped, will be found equitable
and satisfactory to the field. The new re-
quirements will beMncluded in the next edi-
tion of the Handbook for Boys. Mean-
while, however, local scout officials may use
the new_ requirements from the date of the
publication of this announcement in Scout-
ing.
The changes are as follows:
First—That test number four of the
Physical Development Merit Badge require-
ments be changed to read as follows:
"Pass three of the tests, according to his
weight, in the Athletic Schedule. (See page thir-
ty-five, 13th edition, Handbook for Boys."
Second—That test number six of the
Physical Development Merit Badge re-
quirements be changed to read as follows:
"Make up a daily drill of ten exercises for
Scouts, giving proper exercise for whole body;
present evidence of having practiced this daily
for- six months and having taught the same to
two or more boys for a period of three months.
(See chapter on Health and Endurance.)"
Third—That test number seven of the
Physical De.. '--ment Merit Badge require-
ments be cha:;A,;„ to read:
"Demonstrate reasonable efficiency in two out-
door games requiring physical development and
give evidence of having taught at least ten Scout
games to a group of boys and know ten more.
(See Chapter VIII.)"
Fourth—That the requirements for a
Life Scout badge be changed by giving
Athletics as an alternate for Physical De-
velopment, as follows:
"The Life Scout badge is awarded to all First
Class Scouts who have qualified for the Merit
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 3, Number 5, July 1, 1915, periodical, July 1, 1915; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth282751/m1/1/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.