Ready for a Hike into the Woods, 

 the boys carry blanket roll and kit and are equipped for camping over night. the scout master is in 



the front row. 



BOY SCOUTS AND FORESTS 



By K. W. Woodward 



ROBIN HOOD is the prototype 

 and patron saint of the Boy 

 Scout. What Scout of today 

 would not give his most precious 

 possession for the privilege of spending 

 a day with the Merry Men of Sherwood 

 Forest? Astir with the earliest dawn 

 in order to shoot with bow and arrow 

 the deer that formed their main food 

 their whole day was a round of outdoor 

 activity in which any healthy boy 

 would be glad to share. And at night 

 around the blazing camp fire would be 

 told tales of daring in the hunt and the 

 meting of rough justice to tyrannous 

 knight, grasping bishop, or thieving serf 

 which would thrill him with eager desire 

 for emulation. The mere mention of 

 Robin Hood calls up visions of green 

 forest and deeds of valor chivalrously 

 undertaken to right some wrong. For- 



tunately, too, our own American history 

 is full of names that carry down to the 

 present the traditions of the Merry Men 

 of Sherwood Forest. Daniel Boone, 

 Davy Crockett, Andrew Jackson and 

 Abraham Lincoln were all men of the 

 woods. 



It is the lives of these frontier heroes 

 that Boy Scouts seek to emulate in their 

 hikes in the woods. 



Even a short trip may be made replete 

 with inspiration to fuller knowledge and 

 that self expression which leads to 

 better self control. There are grasses, 

 herbs, shrubs and trees to become 

 acquainted with, each one with its 

 individuality and uses. If he is per- 

 mitted to hunt he learns the habits of a 

 few game birds and animals, but if a 

 camera or pair of field glasses are his 

 weapons his interest is broadened and 



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