[Ill.u.s.tration: Striking the Colors]
CHAPTER XXIII--PACKING UP
THE LAST NIGHT PACKING UP INSTRUCTIONS TO LEADERS THE LAST WORD
Farewell, wild hearth where many logs have burned; Among your stones the fireweed may grow.
The brant[1] are flown, the maple-leaves have turned, The goldenrod is brown--and we must go.
-Arthur Guiterman.
[Transcriber"s Footnote 1: brant: Dark wild goose of the Arctic having a black neck and head.]
The Last Night
The last night in a boys" camp should be the best of all the nights. It is usually a night of reminiscence. Around the camp fire or log fire in the "Lodge," all the campers gather and rehea.r.s.e the good times of the days that have pa.s.sed all too quickly--those days of close intimacy of tent life, where boys of different tastes, temperaments and dispositions were thrown together, where life"s great lessons of give and take were learned and where character was put to the test! Friendships have been formed which will last through life. The same group of fellows will never come together again. The director, perhaps as no other person, realizes the importance of making this night one of permanent impression, and his "good-by" talk to the fellows will reiterate the "why" of camping and emphasize the taking home of the spirit of good which has prevailed and the making it count for the best things in home, school, factory and church life of those boys who enjoyed the benefits of the camp.
All the favorite songs of the camp are sung, the leaders make "speeches,"
and the boys have an opportunity of telling what camp life has done for them. As the fire dies down the bugler off in the distance plays "G.o.d Be With You Till We Meet Again"; silence--and then "taps."
Packing Up
There is just as much need of system and care in breaking camp and packing up, as in opening camp. Chas. R. Scott at Camp Wawayanda issues to each leader the following letter of instructions, which may be of help to those in charge of large camps.
LETTER OF INSTRUCTION TO LEADERS
DEAR FRIEND--Will you kindly help me break camp by carrying out the following instructions:
1. Have all your boys return all books to the librarian not later than Thursday morning, and tools to the shop by the same time.
2. Encourage your helpers to loosen the side walls of tent early Friday morning, if clear, and fasten guy ropes so that canvas will dry if damp.
3. Take out all the pegs which fasten the side walls, clean off dirt and place in boxes at boat house.
4. Take down the board in your tent, take out all nails; straighten them and place in proper boxes in shop. Then take board to the boat house.
Leave the rope over the ridge pole untied.
5. Take out all nails and screws in the upright poles of your tent and bunks, and place in boxes in shop.
6. Empty the oil and clean lantern and return to the boat house. Take bunks to the lodge and let us know the condition of each.
7. See that all paper and old things in and around the tent are picked up and placed on the fire for that purpose.
8. After Bible study we will take down all tents. We should like you to delegate one fellow to each upright pole, one to each of the four corner guy ropes, and then follow instructions as the bugle blows.
9. Take all rope on the trees to headquarters.
10. Kindly answer the following questions regarding your tent: a. Are all the poles properly marked with tent number?
b. Does tent leak? If so, where?
c. Is the ridge pole in good condition?
d. Does front and rear of tent close securely?
e. Does it need new fasteners for tying up?
Anything else you have noticed during the time you have been in the tent; please make a memorandum of same on back of this sheet.
11. Return camp keys, if you have them, to headquarters before leaving.
We would be pleased to have you write on the back of this sheet any suggestions you have for the improvement of camp for next season. Thanking you personally for your help and trusting to have your cooperation and that of your boys until the close of camp, I remain, Sincerely yours,
Last Words
The day before camp breaks, each boy should pack his trunk or box neatly, leaving at the top the things needed to make the homeward journey, with room for his blankets. If the packing is left until the last day, confusion will result and temper be sorely tried.
Permanent buildings should be securely safeguarded against the severity of the winter and the breaking in of thieves. All kitchen utensils should be thoroughly cleaned and dried. If they are put away moist rust will eat holes. Give the stove a good coat of old grease and cover with burlap or old canvas. Hang the tents in bags where the squirrels and rats cannot get at them. When camp is closed it should be in such condition that it would require but a few hours to reopen and make ready for the next outing.