Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-27
valley Scouts $4,000 Camp
On Arroyo Nedys Completion
BY TOM MURRAY
Valley Boy Scout Executive

nature in her own back yard. The
Boy Scouts of America recognized
this tendency many years ago, and
has capitalized il in what is con-
ceded By educators to be the great
est contribution TO u educational
system during the past 100 years.
Due very largely to the influence Of
the Boy Scout movement, America
has taken to the hills and valleys,
and camping has become a national
pastime. Since three-fourths OF
scouting is "oufing." scout officials
have made a special study Of camp
housing and sanitation, diet, swim
ming and safety, and programs, and
the national council maintains a
camping department which has made
a tremendous contribution to the
facts about life is the open.
The Lower Rio Grande Valley
council, in order TO provide an OPP
p~ortunity for every scout in the VAL
ley. not only TO camp out under
proper conditions, but also to ac-
quire a wider knowledge of citizen
ship and a real growth in character
and ability while camping. is build
ing, on the banks Of the Arroyo Col
orado near Rio Hondo, a camp which
will be second to none in the south.
L. L. Mcdonald, nationally recog-
nizsd authority on camps and Camp
Of camping Of the National Scout
.n..-T - ~-wo 81. r1--- r.
Camp Perry and has stated in a let
ter TO local officials that il more
nearly meets the ideal than any 9TH
err camp in the southwest.
The land was donated to the
Gil by Charles +. Perry Of Harlin-
gen. Materials have been donated by
numerous firms and individuals in
and out Of the Valley, and skilled
labor has been furnished by the la
Dor organizations. About $4,000 in
money will be required to complete
the camp, which will be worth. con-
servatively estimated, 100000 when
completed.
The site is a beautiful one, on the
high banks Of the arroyo, and GOV
cred with ebony. brasil, mesquite and
other native trees and shrubs. The
approach from the arroyo is espe-
cially beautiful. There is a concrete
howl" seating 400, in the bank,
thanked by two immense concrete
eagles. Immediately behind the
bowl is the main building. two So
ries in height and 26x75 feet. The
lower floor is divided into a lodge
room, with a great stone fireplace.
and a kitchen and store room. a
mess hall, So by so feet and seating
300. adjoins the kitchen.
The second floor will contain the
office c~aretaker's room, and a large
work room for handicraft projects,
such as basketry, bow and arrow
making. leatherwork, w~oodcarvinz,
taxidermy, metal work, plaster casts
Of leaves, tracks. etc. A separate
building will contain Mushroom,
showers. toilets and there will later
be a blacksmith shop where farm
blaeksmithing and repairing will be
taught.
There Is a 4.OO0-gallon water tank.
a l5-horsepower oil engine, and a
water pump. The camp will be light
Cd b a ll0-volt generator. Engine.
pump and generator will have sep
arate housing.
Plans are being made now to COM
plete the main building, shower
house and engine room by the first
Of May. so the camp will he in read
mess for hordes Of junior citizens
who are planning 70 attend the sum-
me- session. IL is expected that be-
tween 400 and 500 hoys will attend
this years camp. With their leaders,
the camp will have a daily popula-
tion Of about $50 people, which Is
quite a village.
Instruction in outdoor cooking.
judging distances. tracking. nature
study, including trees and plants.
birds, reptiles and bugs. taxidermv.
swimming, life saving. canoeing. and
the various other crafts and skills
which scouting has to offer. In ad-
dition to these. scouts are learning
% run their own affairs, to live with
other folks TO make their own de-
cisions, to care for their own things,
TO prepare their own food and to
wash their WI dishes and clothes.
Vast quantities of wholesome food
will be consumed. Careful watch OF
each boys physical condition is kept.
and every %precaution taken TO guard
the health OF every camper Scouts
TO whom camping is a new experience
will be coached By their more expe-
rieneed brothers.
In addition TO its use during the
summer a permanent caretaker II re-
be employed and the camp will be
available for troops Of scouts every
day Of the year. With this ~alI-vear
camp and the citizenship training
program Of scouting. the movement
VIII soon be n Of the most i'm
portant factors in the development
OF character. good citizenship and yo-
e%ationai guidance in the Valley, in
the opinion Of many Valley citizens.
IL Is because Of this belief tia.
nearly $50 OF the outstanding busi-
ness and professional men Of the
Valley are giving leadership to the
development Of the movement.
The Officers for 1929 are:
o. r. Van Berg. Mercedes. presi-
dent; F. G. Ludden. San Benito. John
icholson. Weslaco: W. n. Moon. Nc
Allen, and f II. Poteet. Mercedes.
vice presidents: Julian Ashheim.
Harlinren. treasurer. and q. VI. Hol-
land, Harrington, commissioner.
MEXICO WOULD TEACH
YOUTH TEMPERANCE