A Schedule Of Seasonal Activities

Next, this general list of activities should be broken up into a monthly schedule of seasonal activities. (See charts on last pages of this Chat).

You will find that by deciding upon a definite objective or theme for each month the meetings will almost plan themselves.

In this manner you may link the months with the twelve points of the Scout Law, each month placing special emphasis on one of the points, yet all the time keeping the complete Law before the Scouts. Your imagination need not stop here. The months may be tied in with various Scout Requirements, or special high spots may be decided upon for each of them, as for example—beginning with September as a suitable starting point for a Troop's planning:

Scout planned and built

Scout planned and built. Here is romance, imagination, ingenuity, ability, skill. It is called a Camporee, a grand lesson in programming.

Sept.—"Round-up Month"—Physical Fitness. Oct.—"Pilgrimage Month"—Conservation. Nov.—"Parents' Own Month"—Communications. Dec.—"Good Turn Month"—Kindness to Others. Jan.—"North Pole Month"—Transportation. Feb.—"Anniversary Month"—First Aid, Life Saving and Safety.

Mar.—"Hobby Month" — Mobilization for Emergencies.

Apr.—"World Brotherhood Month"—Gardening, Food and Cooking.

May—"Special Contests Month" — Exploration and Hiking.

June—"Camporee Month"—Camping and Shelters. July—"Camp Fire Month"—Camp Health and Sanitation.

Aug.—"Wilderness Month"—Adventure Camping.

Such a naming of each month of the Troop year in of real help to the leaders in planning the events. It is a hundred times easier to sit down with a Troop Leaders' Council and make plans for "Hobby Month" than to make plans for the month of March. "Hobby Month" at once suggests so many interesting possibilities—dogs, pets of all kinds, stamps, radio, handicrafts, model making, and so on.

With each exciting name should be lined up the general idea of the Troop activities during that month and definitely listed any big events which have been planned, such as Parents' Night, Troop Anniversary, Old-Timers Reunion, Patrol Rally, etc.

With such a yearly program outlined and in the hands of each member of the Troop staff, the more detailed planning for each month becomes comparatively simple.

The Detailed Monthly Program

The detailed programming for each month is appropriately done by the Troop Leaders' Council around the 15th of the month before—not on the basis of assigning five minutes for this and ten for that, but rather of setting up a general scheme for each weekly gathering (the time schedule for which will be decided at the short half-meeting of the Council after the preceding week's Troop Meeting).

Thus during the "Special Contests Month" for example, the meeting on May 3 may feature a Patrol Contest in Scoutcraft; the next on May 10 contests for individual skills of all kinds; May 17, contests in Patrol stunts; and May 24, surprise and mystery contests, with the inter-Patrol camping contest the grand climax on May 27-28. These may be geared into a Patrol Recognition Plan as described in Chat 20.

Some Troops have even found it very effective to give each week or meeting night a name. For example, the names during "Contest Month" might be "Patrol Trial Night," "Blue Ribbon Night," "Amateur Night," "Mystery Night" and "Camp Olympics."

Unquestionably the naming of events adds a lot of interest for the Scouts. Certainly we are all much more interested in a "Haunted House Hike" than we are in "just another hike." The same way with meetings. Won't a boy consider it more fun to go to Troop meeting for "Lewis and Clark Night" than for just another Troop meeting?" Of course he will!

A Few Last Words

Programming is not something that "looks good on paper but doesn't 'pan out' in practice." It must work. It must be made to work, if Scouting is to succeed.

But like everything else, it stands or falls with the Scoutmaster's personality and enthusiasm—and with his ability and willingness to provide for a BOY-PLANNED and BOY-EXECUTED program.

Suggestions For Monthly Scouting Activities. September

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Labor Day School Year Begins

County, City or State Fairs

High Spot

Membership Round-Up—Roll Call

Outdoors

Week-end camps with camp fires. Inter-Patrol contest, Leaf collections and mounting. Outdoor meetings with camp fire. Adventure hike.

Indoors

Start the fall work with a stunt night; have Troop Committee members present. Tell what is expected of the Troop in the coming year.

Checkup and reorganization of Troop. Start Patrol Recognition Plan.

Start savings bank immediately for next year's camp.

Special presentation on safety.

Special Activities

Start immediately the training of Patrol Leaders and junior officers at Green Bar Patrol meetings and hikes.

Round Up: Visit homes of boys who have not shown up after the vacation period. Train new members.

Patrol handicraft project: Decoration of Patrol corner in Troop meeting room.

Preparing for the Future

Have meeting of Junior Leaders with Troop Committee present for setting up objectives for fall and winter.

Review the Troop Budget Plan.

Arrange for "Teddy" Roosevelt celebration and Columbus Day activity.

Plan advancement campaign.

The summer ends. Schools get under way. Boys return from vacations. This is the time when your Troop can move into a larger growth. When things are going on in your Troop you'll have plenty of recruits. Fire the imagination of old and new Scouts with live programs. Round them up early. Gather them into Scouting. Make the programs worth while.

Suggestions For October

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Fire Prevention Week Hallowe'en Columbus Day

High Spot

"Teddy" Roosevelt Pilgrimage or "Columbus Hike"

Outdoors

Week-end camp.

"Columbus hike". (Cross-country compass hike Patrol Contest). Nut gathering hike.

Nature Study hike: Fall colors, plaster casting of tracks.

If in the East take part in Roosevelt Pilgrimage—if far from Oyster Bay, special Roosevelt ceremony with planting of Roosevelt Memorial Tree.

Visit neighboring Troop.

Indoors

Inter-Patrol First Aid Contest.

Investiture ceremony.

Special speaker on "Teddy Roosevelt",

"Columbus". Visit water works, fire department and other city departments ("Know your city"). Hallowe'en Troop party.

Special Activities

As Good Turn collect wood from forest (with permission) for distribution among poor.

Kid Brothers' and Cubs' night.

Patrol handicraft project: Making new furniture for Patrol Den.

Preparing for the Future

Prepare program for Parents' Night in November: Have Troop activity slides made, practice sengs and stunts with the boys.

Plan Thanksgiving Good Turn.

Prepare to "Get-oufc-the-vote".

Invite Red Cross First Aid team to Troop meeting in November to give demonstration.

Get the Patrol and Troop out in the fine fall weather. Hike to every place you can think of within hiking distance. One-day hikes, overnight camps, week-end hikes, and you will begin to have the nucleus of a sturdy Troop. Apply outside what they learned inside; make practical use of their knowledge of cooking and camping.

Suggestions For November

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Election Day Red Cross Roll Call

Armistice Day Thanksgiving Book Week

High Spot

Parents Night and Banquet

Outdoors

Armistice Day Exercises. Thanksgiving camp or hike. Star hike with visiting Troop. Signal hike with advanced signaling.

Indoors

Stunt night with teaching of new songs and mock court.

Parents' Night and banquet! Scoutmaster's and Troop Committeemen's report on the life of the Troop—showing lantern slides or movies of summer camps.

Entertainment by the boys.

Special speaker on "The Value of Books".

Armistice celebration.

First Aid Demonstration.

Special Activities

Thanksgiving Good Turn.

Start of Troop library in connection with Book Week.

"BOYS' LIFE" drive.

Establish bird feeding stations and maintain throughout winter.

Patrol handicraft project: Christmas gifts.

Preparing for the Future

Prepare Christmas Good Turn.

Start Christmas toy campaign.

Send invitations to former members of the Troop and plan for Re-union Hike on one of the last days of the year.

Plan for holiday winter camp.

The stars are brighter, the nights are longer. Many Scout Troops keep up their contacts with the outdoors right through the year. Something to think about as the winter closes down in the northern sections and makes it difficult for birds and small animals to find enough food. Here are chances for real Good Turns and they're called "Conservation."

Suggestions For December

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Christmas Holidays New Year's Eve

High Spot

Troop Christmas Tree— Troop Christmas Good Turn

Outdoors

Christmas holidays camp. Star Study continued. Tracking and Trailing hike and demonstration.

Re-union Hike one of the last days of December for Old Boys, Troop Committeemen and members of Troop Leaders' Patrol—start with church attendance, then hike out in the country, lunch at country inn, and hike home.

Indoors

Inter-Patrol Handicraft contest. Special speaker on "The Christmas Spirit".

Troop Christmas Tree and Yule Log ceremony. Ice safety and rescue demonstration.

Special Activities

Making of Christmas gifts.

Christmas Good Turn to poor and sick.

Patrol handicraft project: Toy making and toy repairing.

Christmas party for less-chance children.

Bird feeding station—Bird Christmas tree with suet and bird-seed.

Preparing for the Future

Plan New Year ceremony.

Arrange with minister for Boy Scout

Week church service and make other arrangements for week. Take stock of Scout advancement.

Troop Tradition is the backbone of some fine Troop activity. Some Troops have perfected a program, which bears fruit each year in increasing measure.

Good Turns on a Troop basis do the Scouts a lot of good while they are doing good to others. The end of the calendar year offers plenty of chances to work out Good Turns on all sides.

Suggestions For January

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: New Year's Day Thrift Week

High Spot

"North Pole Camp"— New Year Ceremony

Outdoors

Tracking and trailing contest.

"North Pole Camp" snow or no snow

(using sleds for transportation where possible).

Ice Regatta with inter-Patrol skating contest. Winter "Olympics". Camporees in warmer climates.

Indoors

New Year's Day ceremony in Troop meeting room—Troop Committee and parents present. Chairman delivers New Year message to the boys, and afterwards the Troop as a whole takes part in the church service.

Patrol stunts at Troop meeting.

Special speaker on thrift.

Knotting, splices and lashings demonstrated.

Special Activities

Good Turns suitable for the Winter months such as snow shoveling, strewing of sand or ashes on slippery streets and sidewalks, feeding birds and other wild life.

Patrol handicraft project: Pack Making. Stimulate use of Camp Savings Plan.

Preparing for the Future

Complete preparations for the celebration of Boy Scout Week.

Secure First Aid instructor.

Work out Mobilization Plan.

Check up on Merit Badge advancement plans.

Plan patriotic pilgrimage.

North or South, East or West, the mid-season holiday camp holds thrills for the experienced camper. Here are opportunities to put into hard service practice, the methods learned on hikes and in the summer camps. To be comfortable in camp with the thermometer skidding downhill is to have learned some of the fundamentals of camping.

Suggestions For February

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Boy Scout Week Washington's Birthday Lincoln's Birthday

High Spot

Boy Scout Week

Outdoors

Boy Scout Week: Mobilization or weekend outing.

Patriotic Pilgrimage (Tradition hike) to historic spot.

Skiing, sled or snow shoe hike.

Winter nature hike—trees, tracks, bird's nests.

Indoors

Celebration of Boy Scout Week. Special meeting on February 8th when

Troop re-pledges itself to the Scout

Oath.

Patriotic Troop meeting with talk on history of our Country or anecdotes from lives of Lincoln and Washington.

Bird Talk.

Special Activities

Take part in special Church services on

Sunday of Boy Scout Week. Special Good Turn days: To Home, to

Church, to School, to Community. Take part in the Council's Merit Badge

Exposition and other Boy Scout Week features.

Patrol handicraft project: Bird houses.

Preparing for the Future

Have camp equipment looked over and repaired.

Plan and send invitations for Parents' Night in March.

Start preparations for Troop Entertainment in April to raise camp funds.

Prepare for Inter-Troop Rally.

Spring is not far away as Boy Scout Week marks another year of Scouting completed; and a new one beginning. Here we are on parade or rather standing up to let the world see what Scouting stands for in our church, school and home life and just what it is. Then we go forward into a new year of outdoor experiences with our fellow Scouts.

Suggestions For March

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Arbor Day

High Spot

Inter-Troop Rally

Outdoors

Mobilization plan tried out.

Visit Troop in neighboring town.

Hike for purpose of exterminating tent caterpillar egg clusters. Training for fourteen mile hike. Mapping and judging hike.

Indoors

Training for Scout Circus. Parents' Night.

Neighboring Troops on visit for an indoor contest evening of fun.

Visit museum or art gallery.

Special speaker on the "Good Turn Habit".

Special Activities

Erect bird houses in suitable places. Garden planning if the Troop has interests in that direction. Merit Badge activity. Patrol handicraft project: Tent making. Tree Planting and tree repair.

Preparing for the Future

Complete check-up on camp equipment.

Prepare week-end camp in April.

Tickets and programs for Scout Circus distributed.

Collecting material for exhibition in connection with circus.

Continue preparation for entertainment.

Like the sap rising in the sugar trees, Scouting breaks out in the spring with new equipment prepared during the winter. Tents, packs, cooking gear and all the completed projects are now in active use. Rallies, circuses, camps and Merit Badge Shows break out in the districts and Councils. Scouting is on the march and marching on.

Suggestions For April

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Kind to Animals Week Spring Recess Forestry Week International Scout Day, April 23rd

High Spot

Troop Entertainment for Camp Funds— International Scout Day

Outdoors

Treasure Hunt or Mystery Hike with a neighboring Troop. Spring week-end camp.

Exploration hike—for new camp sites, nature, etc.

Indoors

Troop entertainment and exhibition.

Inter-Patrol contests in the different Requirements.

Special speaker on "Scouting around the World".

Talk on Trees with suggestions for planting and protection.

Visit a Neighboring Troop and contribute some stunt to their program.

Special Activities

Tree planting and tree surgery. Good Turn gardening, weeding, planting.

Green Bar Patrol camp training. Patrol handicraft project: Making of

Patrol cooking kits and other camp equipment. Local Council Scout Circus.

Preparing for the Future

Plan Father-and-Son Hike.

Prepare Inter-Patrol Rally in May with Patrol Leaders and Assistants—Secure judges.

Start planning for summer camp.

The frost has heaved itself out of the ground and the last patches of snow are disappearing. Again Scouts have a chance to plant seedlings for future American forests.

If your camp fund needs a few more dollars to help finance Troop Camp, produce your entertainments before it gets too hot for comfortable indoor activities.

Suggestions For May

Seasonal Events, affecting Program Development: Boys' Week Memorial Day

Mother's Day

High Spot

Inter-Patrol Camping Contest

Outdoors

Celebrate Boys' Week with Father-and-Son Hike closing with camp fire.

Inter-Patrol camping contest—semi-final for Council Camporee.

Week-end camps.

Memorial Day activities.

Bird study camp—early to bed, up at dawn.

"Jack Knife Cookery" hike. Demonstration of axemanship.

Indoors

Special speaker on Camping. Agitation for summer camp. Start Troop Museum.

Special Activities

Have the boys celebrate Mother's Day in their homes. Collect green branches and flowers for distribution to sick and aged. Help Veterans on Memorial Day. Patrol handicraft project: Knot boards or plane table for map making.

Preparing for the Future

Prepare for three-days' camp in June.

Arrange with owner of swimming place (or pool) to have Troop start on swimming instruction.

Secure a nature study expert and a swimming instructor.

Plan for participation in Council Camporee.

Continue effort to get all the boys to summer camp by contacting parents.

Mother's Day, Memorial Day, week-end camps, dawn bird hikes all push themselves to the forefront. Moccasins for the summer camp, leather note books for hikes all have to be completed. Axe sheaths and knife sheaths and camera cases will keep the leather workers busy. Indoors will be too confining so outdoors it will have to be.