Evening star., 1939-07-15
BY a STAFF Correspondent of The Star.

6y Stau CORRESPONDENT OF The Star.
CAMP THEODORE ROOSEVELT
Md, July 14.-To the sharp blast
OF a shiny, brass bugle, Boy Scouts
OF the District are tumbling out o1
their hunks these sticky mornings
and strolling through cool, deer
woods to an early breakfast while
their elders swelter in discomfort ir
the city.
And about the time the unfor-
tunate elders are getting up, the ap.
proximately 225 youngsters already
have assembled their 225 ravenous
appetites before the mess hall anc
are ready to start on their daily
routine, which ends with the sound
ing of Taps" each night at 9::3C.
For 10 weeks each summer Boy
Scouts from the District, from six
counties in Southern Maryland anc
| from II counties in Northern Vir.
ginia converge on Camp Roosevelt
for a taste of life in the open-bu1
luckily not all at once. Most of the
youngsters stay for two weeks, at $&
per week per boy, but some stay the
duration. Average population is 8
little more than 200.
Cool bay breezes, fine woods ano
plenty of boating and swimming are
the main attractions, which are
enough for any one. let alone q
regiment of lively boys, and for 81
years Camp Roosevelt has had its
quota of youngsters, usually about
1000 season.
Present for King.
Located about four miles south OF
Chesapeake Beach, the camp has a
quarter-mile strip of bay beach
hemmed in on each side by steer
bluffs, from which nature STU
dents among the Scouts already
have salvaged the bones of long
dead animals of a forgotten period
From these bluffs came the age-old
sharks tooth presented to King
George vi of England on his recent
trip here.
A Scouts day is pretty well
planned, and naturally includes
work for advancement in the organ
ization-for metal, leather and
woodworking, for nature study, and
for work on merit badges. But
there's much fun, too.
For example, today 13 staff men,
bers were being initiated into the
Clan Of the Mystic Oak, and one
OF the restrictions called for a day S
VOW Of silence on the part of each
of the initiates.
Most of them resorted to sign
language. The camp bugler, how
ever, who is 13-year-old Calvert
Williams of 1864 Columbia road
NV, found he could blow off steam
via his horn, and thus relieve lungs
bursting with boy noises. His bugle
has been his constant companion
and when not blowing regular calls
he makes continual squeaks with
bugle mouthpiece. pianissimo style
Must Follow Rules.
Under the camp rules, the boys
can swim whenever they choose
just as long as they abide by rules
of good health and safety. Camp
Director George G. Freeman sale
the system works better that way
and the boys like it lot better
Mr.. Freeman's assistant is Robert
(Spike) Bailey, a veteran at thu
camps. and with an able staff they
keep everything going in order.
Yesterday the boys had a swim.
ming meet, and the inhabitants o1
San Juan Ranch appeared to have
won the largest share of the honors
Instead of living in this house, OF
that house, the campers sleep ir
San Juan Ranch, and Chimney
Butte Ranch, Santiago Ranch. ane
Big Horn Ranch. In most case.
other names have come to fit thu
ranches, such as Ely Palace" ane
Mosquito Lodge" and other de-
scriptiye and revealing tags.
Philip Winter, activities director
and George Burnside, water from
director at the camp, were in charge
OF the races held for boys Of pint
size" and the older youths In tht
camp.
Winners Ia swimming races yes.
terday got nothing but glory, but
that's usually enough for these boys
Pete Snyder of 6 Lanhardt road
Hyattsville, Md, Troop 221, led hi
field to the finish line in the so.
yard free style swim, as did B. H
McCeney, jr., in the backstroke race
Young McCeney is in Troop 5 anc
lives at 3106 Thirty-third place NV
when he's home and at Chimney
Butte Ranch here.
Camp Goes Modern.
Bob Burns, a San Juan Ranch
veteran, who lives at 7099 Georgis
avenue NV, won the breaststroks
race, while the plunge for distance
| was taken by Charles c. Seller o.
S47o Thirty-drst street NV, An.