CAMPING AND SCOUTING Chapter I WHERE TO CAMP UMMER and outdoor life in the middle of the nine SUMME teenth century and later consisted very largely of visits to summer hotels. Very fortunately now, although too many of our houses and public buildings are overheated and badly ventilated in winter, the virtues of fresh air and outdoor life are generally recognized. We see pictures of outdoor schools with the children studying in a snowstorm. It is no uncommon thing to find sleeping-pavilions arranged on the roofs or extensions of city houses, and loggias, or sleeping-porches, are constantly in use in country houses. These and a hundred other manifestations of the fresh-air spirit are good, but for the boy or man, girl or woman who has never known genuine camp life the fullest enjoyment is yet to come. Camping near Home For the great majority of boys and girls camping is a question of a month or two in summer. Obviously, very few need to be guided to autumn camps in the North in pur AMA suit of moose, or winter camps in Florida or California, or such long journeys as that which begins at the mouth of the Misstassini and includes the southern shore of Hudson Bay, or the old Telegraph Trail to Alaska. For some, camp life may mean simply a tent-perhaps home-made-pitched within easy reach of home comforts. Home camping is explained at length in later chapters. Of camping on farm lands or in the neighborhood of houses there is this to be said: First make sure of the permission and approval of the owner of the land. Secondly, respect his rights in every way. Cut no trees without his consent. Don't knock down fences or walls, or trample growing crops. If you let down bars or open gates, close them after you. Never take fruit or corn without permission. Watch your fire with the utmost care. Keep your camp clean and dispose of all rubbish before leaving. Every summer there is much damage done and much hostility aroused by campers regardless of the rights of others. With a little thought and trouble all this can be avoided and the next camper will be sure of a welcome. Unfortunately, there are boys who seem to feel that camping means license and rowdyism. On the contrary, camp life is the test of the gentleman. The camper has a responsibility to the owner of the land and to those who come after him. One primary obligation wherever the camp may be is not to spoil natural beauties. Camping in Maine As to camping-places farther afield, in a section which retains more or less of the wilderness character, the State. of |