152 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [15:4— Apr., 191& 



are inadvisable, and this distance is best accomplished by frequent 

 stops, — perhaps every 20 minutes. The very spirit of good nature- 

 study work requires frequent stops for the purpose of examining 

 wayside trees, plants, topographic features, etc. We definitely 

 planned and used these resting periods educationally, so that at 

 every stop someone would have some interesting material to 

 present, questions to ask and answer, and suggestions for observa- 

 tions along the way. 



Our plan in general, was as follows : We would go by trolley or 

 boat (Lake Chautauqua) to within three to five miles of our camp- 

 ing place; proceed afoot to the camp site, in the leisurely manner 

 indicated; make camp, eat supper and arrange sleeping places. 

 During the remaining hour or so of daylight the party would break 

 up into small groups and wander in various directions for bird 

 study, collecting, etc., returning at nightfall. We would then 

 build a fine big camp-fire, and sit round it until bedtime (ten 

 o'clock). In the morning everyone awakened early; by seven- 

 thirty breakfast was concluded, and we had the day before us for 

 tramping, nature-study, and returning home. We endeavored to 

 plan the homeward journey in such a way as to avoid walking 

 during the heat of the day. 



The practice of taking some good woodsy book, — the "Pocket 

 R. L. S.," Walt Whitman's "Leaves of Grass," Jeffries, "The Story 

 of My Heart," Van Dyke's "The Blue Flower," Burroughs' "Songs 

 of Nature," Thoreau's "Walden," or some similar volume, — and 

 reading aloud from it, either at the camp-fire, or during some rest 

 period on the day's tramp, is delightful. It elevates the tone and 

 thought of the entire trip, and assists to make the episode a 

 memorable one. 



The itinerary should not be too rigid or too detailed. Flexibility 

 and freedom are requisites of successful nature-study. People do 

 not enjoy tramping under the pall of a railway-like schedule. A 

 good trip is a series of unexpected diversions, and a good leader will 

 give each of these its full educational value. Nature is large and 

 leisurely, abounding in the unforeseeable, and not addicted to 

 itemized schedules. Some of the finest products of a good trip are 

 by-products. All is game that comes to the nature lover's net. 

 A trip that has been planned chiefly in terms of tree study may turn 

 out to be the most successful bird study outing of the summer. 



