Page Ten 



!Mr. Hyde was originalh- invited by the Interstate Park Commission, 

 and later by the Boy Scout organization, to develop a i)ermanent local 

 natural history museinn for the Scouts of the encampment at Kohana- 

 wake Lakes, near Bear Mountain. 



The object of the movement is to stinmlate among the Scouts an 

 intelligent love of nature, and to impress upon them the fact that they 

 do not need to make long hikes to find natural history specimens of 

 interest. Building accommodation has been provided for the purpose bj'" 

 the Bear Mountain authorities, and the Museum has loaned collections 

 of mounted birds and other specimens, while the Zoological Park has 

 loaned examples of the poisonous snakes of the locality'. This was done 

 in order to give the work a start. The boys themselves, however, will 

 collect the specimens for permanent exhibition in their museum. 



There are eighteen camps situated on the three lakes, averaging 

 about one hundred boys to a camp. About one-tenth of the boys stay 

 in camp for the summer, but tlie personnel of the other nine tenths 

 changes about every two weeks. On the basis of these figures, it is 

 estimated that some 10,000 boys attend the camps each summer. These 

 boys are now receiving talks and practical training in field collecting, 

 the preparation, mounting and exhibiting of natural history specimens. 



Work has already been commenced in organizing groups of Scouts, 

 each with its curator, assistant curator and chief collector. A library 

 has been provided, and to one group, which became interested in dis- 

 secting, a microscope was given for use in its obser^^ations. 



The program for next year includes at least four additional scientific 

 workers, and six assisting instructors chosen from among the boys them- 

 selves. Work in the collection, study and preparation of specimens will 

 without doubt be added to the list of Boy Scout requirements, and credit 

 will be given for it. The boys have responded with great enthusiasm 

 to the new appeal. 



Nor did the return from the camps jnit an end to their interest. 

 Winter hikes to the Scout Museum have already been planned. And the 

 number of Scouts to be seen about our own halls and laboratories testi- 

 fies to a lively present interest. 



Among other members of the Museum's staff to take part in the 

 movement, are Messrs. Lutz, Chapin and Noble, who during the ten- 

 day conference of Scout Executives held in September conferred with 

 the Scout leaders on methods of presentation, and led hikes for the 



