AMERICANS NEED OUTINGS 33 



And there are other aspects of the forest even less obvious, little known, 

 but vastly important. Viewed at a given moment in its natural state, any 

 forest appears fixed, unchanging, static. But the status of the moment is 

 the end result of an age-long conflict of each class, type, species, and indi- 

 vidual form of vegetation with the whole environment of soil, temperature, 

 moisture; of each species and individual with the exact environment of 

 particular spots in the whole; between neighboring individuals to capture 

 growing space, light, moisture; between every rooted tree or plant and such 

 parasitic and destructive biotic forms as fungi, mistletoe, and insects that 

 draw life from the life of the plant; and finally with the catastrophic forces — ■ 

 lightning, wind, fire, flood — that may annihilate individuals, species, or 

 whole forest societies. 



This process of struggle and competition is never ceasing, though usu- 

 ally invisible. It is as fervently and ruthlessly fought as the most savage of 

 human wars. In it, individuals, species, and whole forest societies win or 

 lose often on relatively trivial and insignificant changes in the alignment 

 of forces. Slightly more or less moisture, an increase of tree-killing insects, 

 the deposition of silt by a flood; any one or all of these may have a decisive 

 effect on the changing tides of battle. Inwardly the forest is powerfully 

 dynamic, never static. 



Modern man in general is a timid adventurer outside of his accustomed 

 haunts. The very young may hunt or elude wild Indians in city parks in 

 fearless imitation of grown-up Indian fighters, but the great number of 

 adults who lack any personal experience in the friendly forest of today have 

 a deeply founded suspicion based upon the forest's ancient hostility to man. 

 The only way in which these inexperienced urbanites may overcome this 

 suspicion and learn the values native to the forest, a feeling of safety in it, a 

 capacity to enjoy it, is by gradual adventuring for pleasure. 



As the frontiers pushed westward, as the forest was subjugated, as order, 

 safety, and the rule of law were established, as men escaped from the never- 

 ending labor of the pioneer and acquired leisure and means, forest recrea- 

 tion began its growth. First, hunting and fishing for sport rather than 

 sustenance. Later, the festival, the camping party, the picnic as a brief 

 escape from the congestion of the city or the chores of the farm. Still later, 



