Scouting, Volume 15, Number 7-8, July-August 1927, [Part 1] Page: 7
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July-August 1927
Scouting
Page 7
BY WILLIAM H. CARR, ASSISTANT CURATOR, DEPT. OF EDUCATION
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, N. Y.
N excellent story is often improved by good illustrations.
These help to portray the scenes of action and aid in giving
a graphic picture of some of the principal characters. A motion
picture story resolves itself into a series of illustrations explained
by written captions. In the world out-of-doors, Nature has
many stories to tell. She has ample illustrations for each one.
Most of these stories, however, are lost to the public, in the
open, unless there be some means devised to call attention to
various interesting things. In other words,
the story that has been previously illus-
trated must be written. The cart is before
the horse. Mere labels, upon the plants,
rocks and other things along the walks and
paths are not enough in themselves. In
order to appeal to the growing army of
people who seek the open air during the
Spring and Summer months, Nature Trails
have' been developed in many sections of
the country. It is a powerful method of
educating the public, telling them what there
is to be learned and seen. It is an idea and
an experiment that teaches, without seeming
to teach.
In many Boy Scout Camps, throughout
the country, Nature Trails are being de-
veloped to help in the teaching of various
phases of Nature Study and Conservation.
Some of the Merit Badges, such as :—Bird
Study, Forestry, Botany, Insect Life, Min-
ing and several others may be illustrated to
the very best advantages by this means. The
boys, themselves, do the work; learn while
they are doing; and what is still better,
they pave the way to knowledge for other
Scouts who come along later in the season
to gain by the experience of others.
At Bear Mountain, on the Hudson, in the Harriman section
of the Palisades Inter-State Park, where tens of thousands of
people spend their week-ends during the holidays, an experi-
mental Nature Trail is being built on rather a large scale.
Many Boy Scouts will walk its paths during the Summer. The
largest Scout Camp in the world, at Kanohwahke Lakes, is
situated not many miles away. At the beginning of this Trail
is the following label—"How many of us are able to read,
unaided, the 'Signs' of Nature? Let the guiding labels take
the place of a Naturalist friend who has an interesting story to
tell you as you follow the trail." This introductory label really
explains the nurpose of the project and tells the aim of the
series of "signs" that
follow along the path.
Attention is called to the
various phases of Nature.
including the principal
geological features of the
region; the story of the
birds, reptiles, mammals
and amphibia. Flowers
and trees are also ex-
plained. What better
teacher could a Scout
have than this Trail to
aid him in the passing of
his Merit Badge Tests?
He would have but to
follow the Trail — read
the labels—observe some
of the various exhibits
and many of his ques-
tions would thus be an-
swered at first hand.
How much better would
it be if he could build
his own Trail in his own
camp ?
The expenses connected
*
I
Labels Add Interest
M
Bridge Across the Trail
with the building of a Nature Trail amount to very little. The
principal things needed are, water-proof tags, India ink and pens.
The objects to be labeled are first studied. Then the label is
written to tell several interesting facts about the specimen. An
attempt should be made throughout to have the labels not too
long. In order to prevent lengthy wording, a series of two or
more labels are sometimes used to explain certain facts. The
labeling of the Poison Ivy Plant may be taken as an example.
The first label may call attention to the
character of the plant, telling the story of
the three leaves by which it may be recog-
nized. The second label may then tell some
other facts. Thus, tag number one may
read—'A little plant with leaves just three.
Look at it but let it be!" Tag number two
may say—"Baking Soda relieves the inflam-
mation caused by Poison Ivy."
In the labeling of trees, with an idea to
teach identification, plans should be made to
tell outstanding characteristics of each tree
selected for tagging. Some typical tree
labels follow—"The White Oaks have leaves
with rounded edges. How do they differ
from the leaves of the Black Oaks?"—
"Your arms are opposite to each other, so
are the branches of the White Ash Tree.
Do you know any other trees with opposite
branching?"—"The Chestnut Oak has leaves
that are quite different from the American
Chestnut. How do they differ ?"—"Pitch
Pine has three needles in a bundle. How
many needles does the White Pine have?"
In making your "signs," always bear in
mind that the subject material would be
about the same as your conversation, if you
were walking with a Scout, telling him various things and ask-
ing questions now and then. Remember, that fifty well written
labels placed along the Trail, in good places, will do more to
help the Scout with his work, than almost anything else that
you might do for him in the way of Nature Education.
Simple cages, built by the Scouts themselves, might very well
be placed out-of-doors to help in telling the story of the snakes.
Only non-poisonous species should be kept and fed. An attrac-
tive turtle pen may also be constructed. Boys go to camp to
be in the ofien. Why then, should not their instruction be in
the open as well? A labeled flower, growing beside the Trail,
is better than a pressed flower in a notebook.
In order to keep the Trail narrow, and to avoid straying off
the path, tags should be
so placed that they are
clearly visible from the
walk itself. Plants that
grow several feet from
the Trail may be labeled
on a stick driven into the
ground beside the path.
A string may then be
run back to the plant to
call attention to its leaves
or blossoms. Not only is
the Trail kept narrow,
but the plant is protected
from being trampled.
Let your Scouts experi-
ment with labels and out-
door exhibits this Sum-
mer. As they study for
their advancement, let
them do something to
help the other fellow.
There should be at least
one Scout Naturalist in
every camp and in every
Troop. Make the Nature
Trail your means of "put-
ting over" the Nature
Study!
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 15, Number 7-8, July-August 1927, [Part 1], periodical, July 1927; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth310842/m1/7/: accessed May 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.