64 Nature in Recreation 



The lantern slides are used by placing a flashlight in the box and slipping 

 one of the lantern slides down over the top. Of course' they must be used 

 after dark. Have someone read a poem about each slide as it is shown, tell 

 a story, or perhaps you may know an appropriate song. 



A NATURE THEATER 



The building of a natural theater out-of-doors would be an excellent 

 project for a nature group and any camp or play ground would welcome 

 such a contribution. If possible, select a level piece of ground for the stage 

 that has a slight slope at one side for the seating of the audience. The dia- 

 gram above suggests a possible arrangement of the trees and shrubs, but the 

 person in charge of dramatics should be consulted for further suggestions. 

 Consult your tree books and decide which trees and shrubs would serve best 

 for the different purposes. If you can find a spot with large trees for the 

 background it would be possible to transplant the other, thus completing the 

 stage in one season. Small spruce trees or any kind of pine make good 

 wings and they should be planted about six feet apart to allow for their 

 growth. Very low shrubs should be planted at the front of the stage to show 

 the audience just where the stage begins so they can seat themselves accord- 

 ingly. The small shrubs would also cover any footlights that are needed 

 in the production. 



A dressing room might also be constructed back of the stage by planting 

 pine trees very close together in the shape of a room, leaving a small open- 

 ing for a door. It can also be made by building a trellis and covering it with 

 vines. 



You might extend the project by building seats for the audience. Several 

 small sticks lashed together make good individual seats, or a series of logs 

 laid in rows can be used. Simpler seats, however, can be made by sawing 

 cross sections of a log about 18 inches in diameter into pieces about one inch 

 thick and placed around for individual seats. 



