Nature Study at Adirondack Camp on Lake George 



Elias G. Brown, A.B., M.D., Director 



From the founding of Adirondack camp, i8 years ago, the Direc- 

 tor has felt that he could do nothing better for or that would 

 afford greater interest and pleasure to his boys than to give them 

 the opporttinity, which camp life in the great out-of-doors should 

 afford, to learn to really know nature, if only the right leader and 

 method is supplied. For several years, under different men, 

 various plans were tried; but little interest was shown by the boys. 

 Analysis of our unsuccessful efforts to create an active nature 

 department convinced us that our difficulty was due to our not 

 having found a leader for that work who had the faculty of arousing^ 

 enthusiasm among and leading boys, our not having a plan of 

 activity under which definite but varied work would be done, 

 and to the fact that the nature department had not been made 

 to fit in or coordinate with our various other departments which 

 were very active — athletics, aquatics, sailing, shooting, shop 

 work, photography, music, scout work and trips. Working to 

 correct these fundamental defects, we finally evolved a nature 

 department which yearly interests such a proportion of our boys 

 as to prove it to be well worth while. 



The following principles are considered by the writer to be the 

 important factors underlying the success of the nature study work 

 in Adirondack Camp : 



Of most importance is an attracting leader. 

 All nature study should be voluntary work. 

 It should be conducted under a definite plan. 

 There should be considerable variety. 



During the season there should be credit given for work done, 

 and at the close of the season special credits or awards. 



The leader of the department must attract boys to the study of 

 nature. Nature is interesting and the study of nature fascinates 

 many boys when they get in it; but boys easily pass it over for 

 the more conspicuous activities of camp life. To successfully 

 draw any number of boys to the study of nature, above everything 

 else one thing is necessary. Other departments or featiires of 

 camp have special attracting feattires. For instance: baseball 

 has its crowd and noise; shop work its things made that can be 

 seen and admired and used ; sailing, the sight of that beautiful 



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