The Washington times., 1914-01-11
TROOP OF Y. N. {. A.
HAS NEW SYSTEM
Efficiency Has Increased, and
Recruits Are Joining in Vast
Numbers.

A new system of carrying on Boy
Scout work at the Y. VI. c. A, has
resulted in greatly increased efficiency
among the Boy Scouts of that institu-
ton, and bids fair, it is declared, to
make the troop there not only the
largest in the Washington council, but
one Of the best.
This is the declaration Of Scoutlnaster
George II. Ashley. of the Geological
Survey, who has general charge of the
scout activities at the Y. NJ. c. A
The program for each months work is
laid out carefully, and covers activities
along a variety OF lines. On the Sun
dag evening before the first Friday of
each month. Scoutmaster Ashley calls
a meeting of a number OF the older boys
of the troop, including tha scout Of
fcials, patrol leaders, and assistant pa
troll leaders. The meeting is held at
the scoutmaster's house, before big
open fire.
Matters of program for the month are
discussed freely. and many details u
scout work are worked out carefully.
This gives an incentive to hard work
on the part OF the boys, because they
know they have hal a hand in the
forming of programs through their rep
rcsentatiVes, the officers.
Business Meeting On First Friday.
on the first Friday OF the month,
the business meeting IS held, announce
m6ntS are nude, new scouts are in
itiatcd. enrolment cards are distrit-
uted. service stripes are given out.
badges for the different grade scouts
are presented TO those who have passd
their examinations, and a Generar dis
cGssiou OF the months program is car
ried out. Every boy is thus made IA |
miliar with the work.
For the remainder of the month, the /
FriGay night meetings are devoted TO
special work. On the second and fourth
Friday evenings. the meetings are held
at 7:IJ and I StereOpficon lecture is |
given. Subjects If interest TO lows and !
% special interest - Boy Scouts are |
discussed. These have proved OF great !
value in assisting scouts in their work. |
BY holding the meetings early the,- can |
get away to attend other affairs later |
in the evening If they wish tn do So /
AS far as possible the lectures are Civ |
IN by the heads Of bureaus of the sci !
entiiIc departments Of the Government |
Il the third Friday in the month, an
open meeting IS held and :bc program |
varies, according 20 The circumstances |
or the wishes Of the boys.
The hikes taken ~ the Toys are ar |
ranged for the second and fourth |
of the month. The second !
is devoted to general mass |
hike. the fourth Saturday in individ-
llal troop hik :. On both OF these out
iugs particular attention is given 10 !
outdoor sports. The hO"s study STR
vcl ing, mlp-makin%. athletics sig
Ealing. estimating distances anG the
like and all kinds of games.
Cooking Practice Provided.
The hikes are generally terminated
IN locality where D. camp fire may
-r ruilt and the bows obtain practice
In cooking. Officials Of the organization
are:
George II. Ashlcs'. scoutmaster: W.
p. Phalen. W. :. Sh@w. William c.
Crown and W. Lvn Martin. assistant
'CCutmaster. Afr. Shaw is now absent
IN some special work connected with
he Geological Survey. and his portion
II the BOY Scout work is being car
led on by the other officials.
Finally a special meeting is held or
very wednesday Afternoon at o'clock
IT conference. This work is under the
harge of Assistant Scoutlnaster Brown.
. reorganization of the boys is being
ffcctcd. Tn" patrols are being ar
anged to permit the Loys to study
iffcrent subjects. and there are patrols
evotmg attention prir arii" to first
I'd. nature study and other lines of