On Trek

Source text

Make a trek through Central Africa—each scout carrying his kit and food packed in a bundle on his head; walk in single file with scout 200 yards out in front and find the way; he makes scout signs as to the road to follow; make bridge over stream or raft over lake: corduroy or faggots in boggy ground: leave signs and notes for any parties who may follow by day or night.

To teach your scouts, individually, ideas of time and distance, send each out in a different direction on some such order as this. “Go two miles to North-north-east. Write a report to show exactly where you are (with sketch map if possible, to explain it.) Bring in your report as quickly as possible.”

Then test by ordnance maps or otherwise to see how far he was out of the distance and direction ordered.

Send out Scouts in pairs, to compete each pair against the other. Each pair to be started by a different route to gain the same spot, finding the way by map, and to reach the goal without being seen by the others on the way.

This develops map reading, eye for country, concealment, look-out, etc.

For judging time. Send out scouts in different directions, each with a slip of paper, to say how long he is to be away, say seven minutes for one, ten for another, and so on.

Note down his exact time of starting, and take it again on his return. Scouts must be put on their honour not to consult watches or clocks.

N.B.—Many of these games and practices can be carried out in town just as well as in the country.

Metadata

• Type: game
• Traits: Not stated in the source
• Source: Robert Baden-Powell, Scouting for Boys (1908)
• Printed pages: 374–375
• Digital edition: Digital edition · Source record
• Open the edition at the relevant page: p. 374
• Read the automatic translation: sfb-051