Organized Play (Woodcraft) under Ernest Thompson Seton
The boy of to-day is at a real disadvantage in his struggle for health and happiness. He is always a primitive at heart, surging in the direction of direct physical expression, showing almost on the surface the simplicity of savage instincts, to live close to the earth, be outdoors, perform feats of strength and skill, hunt, fish, camp and play at doing the essential acts of life. Through succeeding generations society has perfected a veneer of convention which glosses over the crudities of childish abandon, and as they (children) grow, the polish becomes thicker and more lasting, even so as to make the individual a "ready-to-wear" being. But at intervals, even in adults, one finds the periodic plunge into camp and field. That vacations do not always supply the benefit which doctors would, but cannot, is rather the fault of brevity than of the outings themselves. Boys can, as a rule, enjoy vacations without responsibilities, they can have ample scope for the close acquaintanceship with the simplicities of outdoor living. One of the first true signs of summer is the tents and crude shelters in backyards of our suburban villages. It is the nearest approach to a normal, sane existence the child can make. No proper child omits to play "Indian" or "hunter" in his early years, and no youth ever quite outgrows the keen pleasure of sleeping in the open, companioned by the sighing of the night. One recent experience of the writer, camping among the giant redwoods of California, where one could before going to sleep have a last look at the stars framed by the wondrous trees, and drift to unconsciousness to water music in the gorge way down below, was a time never to be forgotten. It is such experiences as these in the open which both keep and restore one's mental balance; they breed cheerfulness and optimism, develop friendships. And the boy is not so very particular about the place, provided there is water and woods, some companions, and things to do. He loves to swim and should learn. He wants to be of some account and have a part in the camp, learn how to make camp, protect things, prepare for weather, engineer the routine of camp life. Probably no institution outside formal educational institutions is likely to have more vital influence on boys of the future than the Boy Scouts, already mentioned, a marvelous scheme to organize this play spirit. It takes hold of the most primitive instincts in child life, develops them to the highest pitch of efficiency, and turns the enormous energy generated thereby into useful channels by the simplest of devices—service. But be it noted, service for which the need is perfectly plain. The boy gets the finest of physical training imaginable and readily cultivates moral virtues which have been the despair of teachers and parents.
More Woodcraft. Has the Boy had a Chance at this kind of Experience?
