signalling, manual skill in wood or metal working. And he must enroll and train a tenderfoot.
All this involves indoor and outdoor work, text-book study and outdoor practice. As quickly as possible a patrol should take the trail into an open field, an orchard or a park, and each time with some definite object in view. But that object should be accomplished in a variety of ways. The boys should be given their heads, although always accompanied by an adult leader, and should be encouraged to invent sports and to carry out their ideas with spirit.
To a boy a pond or lagoon easily becomes the high seas, a clump of trees Robin Hood’s forest. An open space is a prairie covered with buffalo. Through an orchard boys will steal, single file like Cooper’s Indians. To find their way by the stars, by landmarks and signs, adds both to their knowledge and to their pleasure.
HOW THE HONOR BADGES ARE WON
The rank of First-class Scout is the highest in Scouting, but a boy can go in for various merit badges and honors, for which there are specific requirements outlined in the boys’ Handbook or Manual. He can win badges for Agriculture, Architecture, Astronomy, Carpentry, Civics, Firemanship, Life Saving, Photography, Seamanship, Surveying, or as an Electrician or Musician. Each one involves study, practice and examinations. Signaling alone involves a study of telegraphy or reading signals by sound, of the semaphore and heliograph, and of the different smoke and fire signals.
The Official Handbook of the Boy Scouts of America gives requirements for 57 different merit badges and outlines the study and work. There is a special handbook upon the methods of passing these requirements, and the exact knowledge which is necessary therefor. Also, as part of the boys’ Handbook, there are several chapters of general knowledge, by Mr. Seton on Woodlore; by Dr. Dall on Shellfish; Dr. Smith on Fishes and Angling; Dr. Corbett on Flowers; Mr. Gibson on Campcrafts and Hiking; Mr. Seton on Trailing and Signaling; Dr. Fisher on Health; Mr. Alexander on Chivalry; Mr. Sherman and Col. Roosevelt on Patriotism and Citizenship; Majors Lynch and Longfellow on First Aid and Life Saving, besides a number of other contributions by well-known authors.
Many of these things are learned and practiced in games that have been invented to copy the real work of the Indian, the pioneer
