Outdoor Sports and Games — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Outdoor Sports and Games
John Stuart Mill · en
_Starman_: A scout must have a general knowledge of the nature and
movements of the stars. He must be able to point out and name six
principal constellations. Find the north by means of other stars than
the Pole Star in case of that star being obscured by clouds, etc., and
tell the hour of the night by the stars or moon. He must have a
general knowledge of the positions and movements of the earth, sun
and moon, and of tides, eclipses, meteors, comets, sun spots, planets.
_Surveyor_: A scout must map correctly, from the country itself, the
main features of a half a mile of road, with 440 yards each side,
to a scale of two feet to the mile, and afterward re-draw same map
from memory. Measure the heights of a tree, telegraph pole and church
steeple, describing method adopted. Measure width of a river, and
distance apart of two objects a known distance away and unapproachable.
Be able to measure a gradient, contours, conventional signs of ordnance
survey and scales.
_Swimming and Life Saving_: A scout must be able to dive and swim
fifty yards with clothes on (shirt, trousers, socks as minimum). Able
to fling and use life-line or life-buoy. Able to demonstrate two ways
of rescue of drowning person, and revival of apparently drowned.
THE PATROL
The simplest way to form a patrol of scouts is to call together a
small group of boys over twelve years of age. A simple recital of the
things that scouts do, with perhaps an opportunity to look over the
Manual, will be enough to launch the organization. The selection of a
patrol leader will then follow, and the scouting can begin. It is well
not to attempt too much at the start. Get the boys to start work to
pass the requirements for the tenderfoot.
_The Patrol Leader_: Each patrol should have a patrol
leader—preferably a boy. The choice of this leader has much to do
with the success of the patrol. He should be a recognized leader among
the boys in the group. Do not hesitate to entrust him with details.
Let him feel that he is your right-hand man. Ask his opinion on
matters pertaining to the patrol. Make him feel that the success of
the organization depends largely upon him, being careful, of course,
not to overdo it. You will find that this attitude will enlist the
hearty cooperation of the boy and you will find him an untiring
worker, with the ability to bind the boys closer together than you
could ever hope to do alone.
POINTS OF INTEREST
1. Scouting does not consist in wearing a khaki suit or a lot of
decorations. It is in doing the things that are required for the
tenderfoot, second-class and first-class scout badges and the badges
of merit.
2. Scouts do not wish any one to buy things for them. They buy their
own equipment and pay their own way.
3. Scouts do their best to keep the scout oath and law.
4. The glory of scouting is “_to do a good turn to some one every day
without reward_.”
5. Scouts regard the rights of others, and do not trespass on the
property or feelings of others.