Scouting, Volume 20, Number 8, August 1932 Page: 229
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Singing
in •
Camp
By E. H. BAKKEN,
Scout Executive, Minot Area Council
I EMERGED one day last summer from a Council camp
leader's coma far enough to write some figures on the
back of an envelope. They convinced me that each of the
forty yelling Scouts outside would be in contact with camp
officials during their one week's stay exactly ninety-eight wak-
ing hours or the equivalent of one whole year of Troop meet-
ings, giving credit for perfect attendance.
This startling realization made me wonder what we were
doing with our great opportunity. I examined our program
from top to bottom and found no positive failings of it.
Heavy doubt, however, was thrown upon the camp's choice
of songs and stories. So many camp song leaders (we all
have known them) use the easiest way of realizing pep and
spirit in their gang and literally brand the eager group of first
year lads on the first evening of camp life with such fiery
rhythms as "Cheer, cheer the Gang's all here," "Dummy
Line," "Darky Sunday School," the galloping curse of
"Horses," and musical jingles gathered impartially from more
or less doubtful sources. And that, some say, is a character
training camp.
Because of thoughts in the vein listed above, Camp Game-
haven officials determined to experiment with song and stunt
values.
The second period at camp 40 fine new Scouts were used
for our experiment. As campers, most of them were new and
waiting for developments. After the first mess we started
them out with a couple of gags, then blustered into the painful
rhythm of the "Billboard Song." At the first camp fire we
found a comedian who knew such impressive" limericks as
"Who'll take care of the bumblebee," which were rendered
amid boisterous applause. A fellow troopster realizing his
advantage spo<ke a piece about a cow preparing for the night,
and a pal, thinking he had at last struck the keynote of camp
life nearly completed a story picked up from I don't know'
where. We sounded taps early.
During the week those forty boys learned "Horses"
from beginning to end. They absorbed "Dummy Line,"
"Grandpa's Whiskers," and "My Fifty Cents," like sponges.
The only time during the week that we felt ashamed of our
experiment was on visitors' night.
THE next experimental period, so my notes say, started with
a staff conference. The two Scouts who remained were
carefully instructed and song sheets were issued. The first
meal began with a stirring bugle march and "America."
Day after day new songs were hummed and whistled
in the workshop and around the ground. "Boy Scouts of
America," "Trail the Eagle," "Never Say Fail," "Hiking
Song," "Jolly Good Fellows," "Three Good Turns," and
others changed from novel thrills to coveted memories. A
large crowd, mostly parents attracted by their boys' letters
home witnessed the final camp fire.
Out of the comparison of the two periods above mentioned
we were able to definitely tabulate only a few impressions and
comparative results. They follow:
First Test Period Second Test Period
Boys in camp 38 41
Boys staying additional week ... 2 17
Visitors at last camp fire 10 40
Number of individual tests passed 61 112
Camjbers completing craft projects 8 31
Scout progress as rated by camp
staff 2nd place 1st place
Discipline as rated by leaders.... 2nd place 1st place
Adverse criticisms brought by par-
ents to Scout Leaders 3 0
EVIDENCE in the above experiment is far too meager to
warrant a positive statement. But it is at least an ob-
jective effort to determine values of types of songs and stories
commonly used in Troop and small Council Camps.
Think it over, Scouter friend, and if you are one of those
who are fortunate enough to work with boys in camp, don't
underestimate your character moulding opportunities with
boys.
AUGUST, 1932
The Challenge of the Ten Year Program—Page 216
Page 229
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Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 20, Number 8, August 1932, periodical, August 1932; New York, New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth313171/m1/9/: accessed May 12, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.