188 NA TURE-STUD Y RE VIEW [17:4— April, 1921 



with children in groups, and acquire experiences that will be of 

 value in later teaching. It often aids the student to secure a 

 superior teaching position at the end of the normal school course. 



Normal school students furnish summer camps with leaders 

 who are young and inexperienced, but who are interested in chil- 

 dren and who have had experience in working with them. Their 

 whole course has fitted them for this leadership. Add to this an 

 enthusiastic working knowledge of subject matter and an open and 

 receptive mind, and the right personality should make an ideal 

 combination. 



The best time for beginning summer camp work is before the 

 senior year. Pupils either have secured positions by June of the 

 senior year, or must hold themselves in readiness to meet superin- 

 tendents dtiring the summer vacation. Under these conditions 

 they hesitate to undertake new work, feeling the need for rest 

 before the fall teaching. If, however, camp work has been done 

 the previous simimer the student may be willing to continue it. 



The enthusiastic and fresh outlook on nature which the coun- 

 cillor can hardly fail to bring back from a well conducted summer 

 camp should not only make the work in the normal school more 

 vital, but through the normal school should vitalize all nature 

 study work in the public schools. 



Nature Study at Quanset, the Cape Cod Camp for Girls 



Mary L. Hammatt 



Quanset began in 1905. In those early years we studied birds, 

 had the Audubon pictures, and gave honors and prizes for the best 

 lists. We mounted and named all the wild flowers of the neigh- 

 borhood. Almost from the start we learned the poison Amanitas, 

 as we did the poison ivy, so as to avoid them. On long mushroom 

 hunts we gathered and named the more common edible mush- 

 rooms. I find that little mushroom suppers over the open fire 

 appeal to the girl's imagination as well as to her palate. I always 

 pass on every mushroom before it goes into the pan. Spore prints 

 are interesting. Government bulletins, ' ' Atkinson 's Mushrooms' ' , 

 and later " Mcllvaine" are aids to the beginner. The compound 

 and the dissecting microscope are helpful always. 



We used to chase butterflies with a net; we collected more or 

 less; but many girls cringe at pinning an insect, and I am glad they 



