Scouting for Boys

by Robert Baden-Powell

  Several Kinds of Fires

  A great thing for a cooking fire is to get a good pile of red-hot wood embers, and if you use three large fogs, they shouldbe placed on the ground, star-shaped, like the spokes of a wheel, with their ends centred in the fire. A fire made in this way need never go out, for as the logs burn away you keep pushing them towards the centre of the fire, always making fresh red-hot embers there. This makes a fire which gives very little flame or smoke.

  The “star fire” consists of logs placed like the spokes of a wheel.

  If you want to keep a fire flaming during the night for light or to warm you, use the star fire with one long log

  reaching to your hand, so that you can push it in from time to time to the centre without trouble of getting up to stoke the fire.

  To keep your fire smouldering overnight, cover it over with a heap of ashes. It will then be ready for early use in the morning, when you can easily blow it into a glow.

  Here is a way they use in North America for making a fire for heating your tent:

  Drive two stout stakes into the ground about four feet apart, both leaning a bit backwards. Cut down a young tree with a trunk some six inches thick; chop it into four-foot lengths. Lay three or more logs, one on top of another, leaning against the upright stakes. This “reflector” forms the back of your fireplace. Two short logs are then laid as fire-dogs, with a log across them as front

  bar of the fire. Inside this “grate” you build a pyramid-shaped fire, which then gives out great heat. The “grate” must, of course, be built so that it faces the wind.

  Putting Out the Fire

  A Scout is very careful about fires. When he uses one he sees that it is well out before he leaves the place. The fire should be doused with water and earth,

  and stamped down well, so that there is not a spark left that might later start a fire. Finally the original turf—which was

  put on one side before you made the fire—is put back so that hardly a trace is left.

  Tongs are useful about a camp fire. They can be made from

  a rod of beech or other tough wood, about four feet long and one inch thick. Shave it away in the middle to about half its

  The “reflector fire” is used in North America for heating your tent, especially when you go camping in the winter time.

  proper thickness; put this part into the hot embers of the fire for a few moments, and bend the stick over till the two ends come together. Then flatten away the inside edges of the ends so that they have a better grip—and there are your tongs.

  Notch the middle of the stick before bending it into fire tongs.

  Making Fire without Matches

  What would you do if you needed a fire and had no matches?

  A Zulu boy’s way of getting over the difficulty is to find a piece of hard stick and drill a hole with it in a piece of soft wood. By twirling it rapidly between his hands he manages to make embers which then set light to dry grass or the lining of the bark of trees, and from this he makes his fire.

  It is a long way from South Africa to Australia—across thousands of miles of ocean. Yet, when you get to Australia, you find that the natives there had many of the same customs and many of the same dodges that were practised by the savages of South Africa.

  The Zulu boys light a fire by twirling a stick in softer wood.

  The Red Indians of North America also have their method of fire-lighting, which is very much used by the Boy Scouts there.

  In this case, the boy takes the spindle of hard wood and holding it upright with one hand, the palm of which is protected by a wood or stone hand piece, he twists it rapidly round by means of a bow whose string is twisted round the spindle.

  The point of the spindle then works its way into a board of soft wood, which the boy holds in place with his foot.

  The Borneo natives make fire by sawing a log with a whippy cane.

  The Red Indian and Scout method of fire-lighting uses bow and drill.

  A little slit at the side of the board leads to the hole made by the spindle, and the hot ember which comes away from the wood falls into this small opening and sets fire to the tinder which the boy has placed under it.

  So a fellow who has once learnt this way of making fire, and knows which kind of wood to use (for not all kinds are suitable), can go out into the backwoods, without having to carry a match-box with him and can keep himself warm or cook his grub at any time he would wish by lighting his fire in the backwoods way.

  Drying Clothes

  You sometimes get wet in camp, and you will see tenderfoots remaining in their wet clothes until they get dry again. No old Scout would do so, as that is the way to catch cold.

  When you are wet, take the first opportunity of getting your wet clothes off and drying them, even though you may not have other clothes to put on, as happened to me many a time. I have sat naked under a waggon while my one suit of clothes was drying over a fire.

  The way to dry clothes is to make a fire of hot embers, and then build a small beehive-shaped cage of sticks over it. Hang your clothes all over this cage, and they will very quickly dry.

  In hot weather it is dangerous to sit in your clothes when they have become wet from your perspiration. On the West Coast of Africa I always carried a spare shirt hanging down my back, with the sleeves tied round my neck. As soon as I halted I would take off the wet shirt I was wearing, and put on the dry, which had been hanging out in the sun on my back. By this means I never got sick when almost everyone else did.

  Tidiness

  The camp ground should at all times be kept clean and tidy, not only (as I have pointed out) to keep flies away, but also because Scouts are always tidy, whether in camp or not, as a matter of habit. If you are not tidy at home, you won’t be tidy in camp; and if you’re not tidy in camp, you will be only a tenderfoot and no Scout.’

  A broom is useful for keeping the camp clean, and can easily be made with a few sprigs of birch bound tightly round a stake.

  A Scout is tidy also in his tent, bunk, or room, because he may be suddenly called upon to go off on an alarm, or something unexpected. If he does not know exactly where to lay his hand on his things, he will be a long time in turning out, especially if called up in the middle of the night.

  So on going to bed, even when at home, practise the habit of folding up your clothes and putting them where you can find them at once in the dark and get into them quickly.

  Camp Fires

  Songs, recitations and small plays can be performed round the camp fire, and every Scout should be made to contribute something to the programme, whether he thinks he is a performer or not.

  A different Patrol may be responsible for each night of the week to provide for the performance. The Patrols can then prepare beforehand for the camp fire.

  Camp fire is one of the happiest hours of camp. Songs, recitations and small plays follow each other on the programme.

  Cleaning Camp Ground

  Never forget that the state of an old camp ground, after the camp has finished, tells exactly whether the Patrol or Troop which has used it was a smart one or not. No Scouts who are any good ever leave a camp ground dirty.

  They sweep up and bury or burn every scrap of rubbish. Farmers then don’t have the trouble of having to clean their ground after you leave, and they are, therefore, all the more willing to let you use it again.

  It is a big disgrace for any Troop or Patrol or lone camper to leave the camp ground dirty and untidy.

  Remember the only two things you leave behind you on breaking up camp:

  1. Nothing.

  2. Your thanks to the owner of the ground.

  Payment

  Another point to remember is that when you use a farmer’s ground you ought to repay him for the use of it. If you do not do this with money you can do it in other ways. You can—and ought to—do jobs that are useful for him. You can mend his fences or gates, or dig up weeds, and so on.

  You should always be doing goo
d turns both to the farmer and to the people living near your camp, so that they will be glad to have you there.

  PATROL PRACTICES IN CAMPING

  The best practice in camping is camping whenever possible—single nights , weekends, and longer camps.

  ———

  In going to camp with the Troop it is essential to have a few “Standing Orders”, which can be added to from time to time, if necessary. The Patrol Leaders are held fully responsible that their Scouts carry them out exactly.

  Such orders will contain the camp routine and might point out that each Patrol will camp separately from the others, and that there will be a comparison between the respective cleanliness and good order of tents and surrounding ground.

  Each Patrol usually has its tents grouped together, well away from the other Patrol, but within call of the Scoutmaster’s tent which generally is in the center.

  ———

  Bathing in camp is under strict supervision to prevent non-swimmers getting into dangerous water. The following rules should be strictly followed:

  (1) No Scout shall be allowed to bathe except under the personal supervision of the Scouter in charge of the party or some responsible adult appointed by him for the purpose. The safety of the place must have been previously ascertained and all reasonable precautions must be taken, including the provision of a life line.

  (2) A picket of two good swimmers , preferably trained swimmers and life savers, must be on duty, undressed, in a boat or on shore as the circumstances may demand, ready to help any boy in distress. The picket itself may not bathe until the others have left the water.

  In the Boy Scouts of America, a so-called “buddy-system” is used. In this system, the Scouts are divided into pairs, or buddies. The two boys of the buddy team are of about equal swimming ability. When in the water, each buddy is responsible for the safety of the other, under the general supervision of the Scouter in charge of the whole party.

  ———

  Making a Camp Loom—Plant a row (No. 1 row) of five stakes, 2 ft. 6 in., firmly in the ground.

  Opposite to them, at a distance of 6 to 7 ft., drive in a row (No. 2 row) of two stakes and a crossbar (or of five stakes). Fasten a cord or twine to the head of each stake in No. 1 row and stretch it to the corresponding stake in No. 2 row and make it fast here. Then carry the continuation of the cord back over No. 1 row for some 5 ft. extra, and fasten it to a loose crossbar or “beam”.

  Fasten other cords from the other stakes in No. I row to the stakes of No. 2 row, and then to the beam, tying them here the same distance apart that the stakes are apart.

  The beam is now moved up and down at slow intervals by one Scout, while another Scout lays bundles of fern or straw in layers alternately under and over the stretched strings. The bundles are thus bound in by the rising or lowering of the cords attached to the

  beam.

  On a camp loom it is easy to weave a comfor table mattress

  out of bracken, fer ns, heather, straw or grass.

  If you move the beam first slightly to the right and then to the left so that the strings fall first on one side and then on the other side of he stretched strings it will twist the cords and make the binding much more secure.

  HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS

  Camp Orders

  In going into camp it is essential to have a few “Standing Orders” published, which can be added to from time to time, if necessary. These should be carefully explained to Patrol Leaders, who should then be held fully responsible that their Scouts carry them out exactly.

  Such orders might point out that each Patrol will camp separately from the others, and there will be a comparison between the respective cleanliness and good order of tents and surrounding ground.

  Each Patrol usually has a tent to itself, well away from any others, but within call of the Scoutmaster’s tent.

  Patrol Leaders to report on the good work or otherwise of their Scouts, which will be recorded in the Scoutmaster’s book.

  Rest time for one hour in middle of day.

  Bathing under strict supervision to prevent non-swimmers getting into dangerous water.

  “Life Guards will be on duty while swimming is going on, and ready to help any boy in distress. These guards will be on shore or in a boat (undressed). They may only swim when the general swimming is over, and the last of the swimmers has left the water. A life-line must be available.” The observance of this rule has saved the life of more than one Scout already.

  Orders as to what is to be done in case of fire alarm.

  Orders as to boundaries of grounds to be worked over, damages to fences, property, good drinking-water, etc.

  CAMP FIRE YARN NO. 10

  CAMP COOKING

  Cooking- Hay-Box Cooking - Bread Making

  - Cleanliness

  HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS

  Practise mixing dough and baking; it is useful. if possible, get a baker to give a lesson. But let each Scout mix his own dough with the amount of water be thinks right. Let him make his mistakes at first to get experience.

  A visit to an abattoir and butcher’s shop to see the cutting up is useful for boys. Get Scouts to make their own linen ration bags.

  Issue raw rations, and let each Scout make his own fire and cook his own meal.

  EVERY SCOUT MUST, OF COURSE, know how to cook his own meat and vegetables, and to make bread for himself, without regular cooking utensils.

  Cooking Meat

  Meat may be cooked by sticking it on sharp sticks and hanging it close to the fire, so that it gets broiled. Or use the lid of an old cake tin as a kind of frying-pan. Put grease in it to prevent the meat from sticking.

  Or make Kabobs: Cut your meat up into a slice about half or three-quarters of an inch thick. Cut this up into small pieces about one to one and a half inches across. String a lot of these chunks on to a stick or iron rod, and plant it in front of the fire, or suspend it over the hot embers for a few minutes till the meat is roasted.

  Meat can also be wrapped in a few sheets of wet paper, or in a coating of clay, and put in the red-hot embers of the fire, where it will cook by itself.

  Hunter’s Stew—Cut lean meat or game into small chunks about an inch or one and a half inch square. Mix some flour, salt, and pepper together, and rub your meat well in it. Brown it in a little fat in the pot, shuffling the pot so as to sear, but not burn the surfaces of the meat. Add clean water, and hang pot high over the fire. It is important that the water should not boil hard, but merely simmer. Later add cut up vegetables, such as potatoes, carrots and onions. The water should just cover the food—no more. Cook until tender.

  Cooking Birds and Fish

  Birds and fish can be cooked in the same manner. A bird is most easily plucked immediately after being killed. But there is no need to pluck it before cooking it in clay, as the feathers will stick to the clay when it hardens in the heat, and when you break it open the bird will come out cooked, without its feathers, like the kernel out of a nutshell.

  Another way is to clean out the inside of a bird, get a stone about the size of its inside, and heat it till nearly red hot. Place it inside the bird, and put the bird on a gridiron, or on a wooden spit over the fire.

  Fire Places

  Usually a Scout has his own pot or “billy” or camp kettle. In that you can boil water or cook your vegetables or stew your meat.

  To cook in your pot, you can either stand it on the ends of the logs of a star fire (where it may fall over unless care is taken), or, better, stand it on the ground among the hot embers of the fire. Or rig up a tripod of three green poles over the fire, tying them together at the top, and hanging the pot by a wire or chain from the poles.

  Even better, make a fire place of two lines of sods, bricks, thick logs, or stones. The lines should be flat at the top and about six feet long, four inches apart at one end and eight inches at the other—the big end toward the wind.

  A fire place may be made of two lines of sods, bricks, thick logs,
or stones. Place or hang your pots over it.

  Then you should make your own pot hooks and hangers for holding your cooking pots over the fire. The sketch shows some of the ways of doing this.