Nature in Camping u 



By indicating where to look for the different constellations the circle can 

 be made into a chart to represent the sky. Drive stakes or sticks into the 

 ground on which tin arrows are attached at the top. Twist the end of the 

 arrow around a nail and drive it into the top of the stick as shown in the 

 diagram. Have the arrow point to the part of the sky in which the con- 

 stellation printed on the side can be found. The arrows will have to be 

 moved as the seasons change, or according to the time of evening you do 

 your star gazing. 



A large star box might be kept in the circle for teaching purposes while 

 the group is waiting for the stars to appear. An ordinary wooden box with 

 a coat of paint will be attractive. Decorate it with gummed stars. Cut as 

 many pieces of cardboard as there are constellations you wish to study, 

 making them the same size as the opening of your box. Cut stars about half 

 an inch in diameter. They are spaced to form a constellation. Paint both 

 sides of the cardboard with black paint and shellac. 



When using the star box place a flashlight or candle inside and cover with 

 one of the star charts. The light will come through the stars, thus showing 

 the general shape of the constellation. 



Still another project that might be added to the star circle is a sun dial. 

 A simple sun dial can be made by cutting a strip of tin two inches wide and 

 25 inches long. 



Mark off a half inch at each end for overlapping and divide the rest into 

 twenty-four one inch spaces to represent the twenty-four hours in one day. 

 Make the lines with black asphaltum paint, but do not put in the numbers 

 until later. 



Next get a strip of metal 13 inches long and bend it in a semi-circle as 

 shown in the diagram. Part of a barrel hoop will serve equally well. Drill 

 a hole in each end and one in the center, to which the other piece of tin is 

 attached so it will form a circle. Run a wire down through the center and 

 fasten to each end of the semi-circular piece. The wire will cast a shadow 

 onto the large hoop. Fasten the bottom of the semi-circle to a large board 

 or the trunk of a tree. Observe the sun dial and see where the shadow 

 falls at twelve o'clock noon and mark it in the circle; the other hours should 



