X. Campercraft or The Summer 

 Camp 



Camping Out 



EVERY boy looks forward to camping out. Then 

 it is that he gets the best chance to practise the 

 things that are peculiar to scouting; and camping 

 out is the only complete outdoor life. 



When a boy, I was of course eager for a chance to camp 

 out, but I had a very wrong idea about it. I believed that 

 one must undergo all sorts of hardships, in order to be really 

 "doing it"; such as, sleep on the ground with one blanket, 

 go without proper food, etc. I know some boys that were 

 injured for life by such practices. 



It is well, then, to keep in mind that camping out offers 

 a number of priceless benefits, and is also beset by one or 

 two dangers. Let us aim to get all the good and avoid all the 

 ill. 



The good things are: The pure air, especially at night; 

 the bracing and lung-healing power of the woods; the sun 

 bath; the tonic exercise; and the nerve rest. 



The bad things are: The danger of rheumatism from 

 sleeping on the ground, or in damp clothes; the exhaustion 

 from bad nights, through insufficient bed-clothes or an 

 uncomfortable bed; and the dangers arising from irregular 

 meals and badly cooked food. 



I have seen boys go back from an ill-run camp, tired out 

 and but little benefitted; whereas, if properly guided, every 



2S6 



