Nature in Camping 25 



grow up into rings. Tell the children about it and read about it in your 

 nature books. After they have discussed it among themselves and are really 

 interested, suggest they go out some morning and try to find one fairy ring. 



Prepare a check list ahead of time of things in nature that might pertain 

 to fairies and see which group can see the most along the trail. The follow- 

 ing is a suggested list: Frog, Spider Web, Mushroom, Moss, Fairy Cup, 

 Butterfly, Blue Bird, Rabbit. 



At one spot along the trail arrange a dial something like the one shown 

 in Diagram A and have the children follow directions. If it is not yet lunch 

 time they might play some familiar games to which a fairy theme has 

 been applied. 



Of course you will not find a Fairy Ring unless you are fortunate enough 

 to have one growing in your woods and that is where the lunch becomes 

 a part of the hike. Pack the food in large paper bags and when everything 

 is in the bag twist them in the center, spread the tops open and round the 

 edges down to make them look like mushrooms. (Diagram B) Take them 

 to the spot in the woods where you plan to have your lunch and place them 

 around in a circle to resemble a Fairy Ring. They look more realistic if the 

 lower part can be surrounded with grass. Explain to the children that you 

 could not find a Fairy Ring and you didn't want them to be "too dis- 

 appointed" so you were giving them an imitation instead. One Camp used 

 this idea for a Sunday Evening supper and had a fairy play for the evening's 

 entertainment while they were still in the woods. 



THEMES FOR ADVENTURES AFIELD 



Young people often dodge "nature hikes" probably because the term 

 sounds so dull. Why not quicken their curiosity by such enticing themes as 

 these? Add to the novelty by bringing into play senses not often enough 

 used, as: 



a. Feeling. How many separate, distinct, describable can you discover? 



b. Colors. How many colors? 



