SCOUT CRAFT HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS

SCOUT CRAFT

HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS

Instruction in scouting should be given as far as possible through practices, games, and

competitions.

Games should be organized mainly as team matches, where the patrol forms the team, and every

boy is playing, none merely looking on.

Strict obedience to the rules to be at all times insisted on as instruction in discipline.

The rules given as the games start may be altered by Scout-masters where necessary to suit

local conditions.

The ideas given here are merely offered as suggestions, upon which it is hoped that instructors

will develop further games, competitions, and displays.

Several of the games given here are founded on those in Mr. Thompson Seton’s “Book of

Woodcraft”, called “Spearing the Sturgeon” (Whale Hunt), “Quick Sight” (Spotty Face), “Spot

the Rabbit”, “Bang the Bear”, “Hostile Spy” (Stop Thief), etc.

A number of non-scouting games are quoted from other sources.

The following is a suggestion for the distribution of the work for the first few weeks.

It is merely

a Suggestion and in no sense binding.

Remember that the newly boy joining, wants to begin “Scouting” right away; so

don’t dull his keenness, as is so often done, by too much preliminary explanation

at first.

Meet what he wants by games and scouting practices, and instil elementary

details bit by bit afterwards as you go along.

N.B.—The previous paragraph was in the former editions of this book, but it was in some cases

ignored by Scoutmasters, with the result that their training was a failure.

Remember also to start small. Six or eight carefully chosen boys will be enough to begin with,

and after they have received Scout training for a month or two, they will be fit to lead and

instruct fresh recruits as they are admitted.

FIRST EVENING

Indoors

Address the boys on ‘Scoutcraft”, giving a summary of the whole scheme, as in this chapter, with

demonstrations or lantern slides, etc.

Form Patrols, and give shoulder-knots.

FOLLOWING DAYS

Practical work, outdoors if possible, from the following:

— Alternatives according to whether in

town or country, indoors or out.

Parade,

break National Flag

and

salute it.

Scouting game: e.g.,

“Scout Meets Scout”

Practise salutes,

signs,

patrol calls,

scouts’ chorus, etc.

Practise making scout-signs on ground.

Tie knots.

Make ration bags, leather buttons, etc

Self-measurement by each Scout of span, cubit, finger, joint, stride, etc.

Send out scouts independently or in pairs to do a “good turn”, to return and

report how they have done it.

March out the Patrol to see the neighbourhood.

Make them note direction of starting by ‘compass, wind, and sun.

Notice and question them on details seen, explain “land marks”, etc.

Practise Scout’s pace.

Judge distances.

Play a Scouting Wide Game.

Or indoors if wet—”Ju Jitsu”, “Scouts’ War Dance”, Boxing, Scouts’ Chorus

and Rally, etc.

Camp Fire Yarns recommended.

Or rehearse a Scout play, or hold Debate, Kim’s Game, etc.

Patrols to continue practice in these throughout the week in their own time or under the

Scoutmaster, with final games or exercises on the following Saturday afternoon.

If more evenings than one are available in the week one of the subjects might be taken in turn

more fully each evening and rehearsals carried out of a display.