The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1915-04-08
This was Demonstrated East Week
When sSy Scout. Of keokuk
Went into Camp Near
Sugar Creek.
HAD A "BULLY' TIME
campfires, Cooking Without Regular
Utensils, sigaai Drill, Star
Gazing and Hikes Made
up tho Program.

The attractions OF camping in the
winter time were tasted by several
Of the boy scouts from Keokuk last
week, who spent part OF their vaca-
tion in camp near Sugar Creek. The
following story, written by one OF the
leaders gives some idea of the way
the boys lived and of the benefits Of
such camps:
One OF the aims OF the boy scout
training is to teach the boys how to
camp out properly. BY means of this
training, they should be able to camp
in the woods at any time Of the year
and In almost any kind OF weather.
The boy scouts of Keokuk had their
first cold weather camp last week
with the thermometer below freezing
at night and cool, northwest wind
blowing the first two days.
The boys left town Thursday morn
ing about $3.50 O'Clock. carrying
bedding rolls, knapsacks, pouches.
etc, everything to be used on the
hike. There were six in all and after
a long walk OF nine miles out the
Johnson steret road, they arrived
about noon at the camping place on
the Des Moines river, about mile
and three-quarters beyond Sugar
Creek. Here in beautiful strip OF
oak and hard maple woodland, they
went into camp. 1t was an ideal
place. To the northeast was an al
most vertical bluff rising to height
Of about fifty feet. on the other side
was the river. and all about them the
woods and birds and the great out-of-
doors
AS soon as dinner was over prepare
tions we're made for the night. TVS
trees were found at a convenient dis
lance apart and rope was stretched
between them about three feet from
the ground. This formed the ridge
rope Of the tent. Next, two army rub
her ponchos were fastened together
and used as room for the tent, the
northwest side being staked close to
the ground, against the wind. The
other side was fastened foot and a
half from the ground, facing toward
the camp fire. Pieces OF canvass
were used to close up the southwest
side Of the tent and the side next the
bluff was left open, A campfire was
kept up continually day and night
and more comfortable arrangement
summer.
Bedding Rolls Spread Out.
AS soon as this was done, the boys
gathered a large pile of dry leaves III
the tent and all of the bedding rolls
were spread out upon these leaves in
one bed. large enough for eight, with
the head toward the closed side Of the
tent. Next, enough --drewood was
gathered to last=all night and a little
exploring was done before supper.
Water was secured from a spring
short distance from the camp. After
supper, a campfire program was en-
joyed with couple of neighbor farm
er boys as visitors. These boys were
Charlie and Berton Sweet. Their
father owned the land on which the
camp was located. In honor of the
kindness which these people showed
the scouts throughout their stay. the
camp was named Camp Sweet" AS
the boys were leaving, they were
given . cordial invitation to return
again Friday and stay all night with
the scouts which they did. The first
night was 50 successful that they de-
cided to stay until Sunday noon, al
though three OF the boys had to re-
turn home on Saturday because Of
other arrangements, while five others
came out during the day. Hence, eleV-
en- scouts altogether. attended the
camp.
Signal Practice.
A good deal of time was spent on
signal practice so that one scout.
Gilbert Sargent, reached speed rec
ord of thirty-four letters per minute,
sending and receiving by semaphore
code. Since he has only known the