252 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



July, 1907 





■ 









The Indian Canoe Fitted with Lateen Sail and Lee Boards 



heat at one time. Fifteen minutes in the hot ashes brought 

 the corn to the feast, after the first course of meat and 

 vegetables — and such tempting corn as it proved to be! 



A bag of potatoes, a basket of tomatoes and apples, a 

 ham, from which smooth slices were neatly cut; a covered 

 bread box, and well-kept shelves of other supplies, displayed 

 intelligence in making purchases as well as care in keeping 

 them. 



Brought near to nature's heart, not only did the boys 

 learn to take care of themselves, but they absorbed more 

 than a little information from their surroundings. No bet- 

 ter opportunity could have been afforded for botanical and 

 geological research and general study of nature. The boys 

 were quick to see the advantages, spending many hours in 

 careful investigation among the wild flowers and plants and 

 the rocks. Moreover, books were by no means neglected, 

 a portion of each day being spent with them. 



For a number of years "camping schools" have been in 

 vogue. They may be found in the mountains and along the 

 lake and river shores from Pennsylvania to Maine. Some 

 of the more ambitious and costly of these expeditions wind 

 up with coaching trips through the hills, and with visits to 

 various points of interest. Many such outings continue for 

 as long as eight weeks, or even throughout the entire vacation 

 season. A more or less 



doubtless of more lasting profit to 

 the boy. The lack of tutoring is 

 more than compensated by what the 

 boys acquire in varied and prac- 

 tical knowledge while assuming the 

 many responsibilities included in 

 the details of camp life. 



The cost of camp life for six 

 boys, on the co-operative plan, will 

 vary according to the situation. 

 When the tents and furnishings are 

 owned by the boys, this will prove 

 the greatest item of expense ; and 

 this will not be large when the boys 

 join in and purchase everything in 

 quantities. Good roomy, tents may 

 be bought at prices ranging from 

 five to fifteen dollars; and the small 

 "A" tents for sheltering supplies, 

 or for individual camping, may be 

 had sometimes for less than five dol- 

 lars. With the light portable canvas cot beds, no mattresses 

 will be required. Some of our boys preferred a hammock 

 for sleeping, but the cot beds which average about the same 

 in price — from one dollar up — are more comfortable, and 

 do not add greatly to the baggage. The plan of sleeping 

 on the ground rolled in blankets, or on beds of straw or pine 

 needles or other much-lauded camp-bed material, sounds in 

 the telling much better than it feels in the testing, and while 

 satisfactory for a few nights of camp life, is seldom desir- 

 able for a good long vacation camp. Comfortable camp 

 beds that are raised above the damp ground in times of storm 

 are well worth the extra expense in the end. 



After choosing the tents and the cots, each boy secured the 

 extra furnishings from the home supply; the mothers decid- 

 ing upon the amount of necessary bedding, etc., and after 

 each had selected a supply of dishes the plates, cups, saucers, 

 etc. (all being in the light, durable agate ware), each sup- 

 plied his share toward the pots, pans and kettles for camp 

 cookery. This supply included one big iron frying pan for 

 cooking generous supplies of the fresh fish caught by the 

 campers, one small frying pan for the ham, bacon and po- 

 tatoes, an agate pot large enough for rabbit and chicken 

 stews, and three agate pans for vegetables. A steamer was 

 selected to fit closely within the top of the stewing pot, and 



extensive system of tu- 

 toring goes on in most 

 of the camps. Last 

 s u m m e r there was a 

 large camp under ex- 

 perienced chaperons, on 

 the shores of a moun- 

 tain lake in the North, 

 where regular instruc- 

 tion was carried on. 

 Such outings, however, 

 involve considerable ex- 

 pense upon the parents. 

 Then, too, the camps 

 are more or less under 

 discipline, from which, 

 above all else, the boys 

 desire to escape during 

 vacation time. A "reg- 

 ular boys' camp," like 

 the one described, is not 

 only less expensive, but 

 decidedly more enjoy- 

 able in every way, and 



A Wall Tent Set Up In the Woods 



