Laurel outlook., 1950-02-08
STORY OF BOY SCOUTS.
IS TOLD K|NAN|S CLUB

illlS dC d MEETING OIL Ine hlWdn
club. William Barnett, chairman
of the local troop committee, spoke
or scouting by sketching its his.
tory and outlining its aims ano
accomplishments. Ted Dolecheck
a Life Scout with 90 merit badges
told something of what he and
others r doing as Scouts who
seek to improve themselves as in
d%ividuals and as contributors to the
welfare of the community. Charles
Rodgers, a second-class Scout,
which means he is in the beginning
stages, demonstrated pack boards
and packing.
Just 40 years ago, Feb. g., 1910,
the Boy Scout organization was
launched in the United States,
Barnett told the Kiwanians. The
real purpose Of the anniversary
celebration is to call each COM
mUnity's attention to it's Scout
troops and what they do.
The boys learn early to meet
ard work together and are given
opportunities to cultivate self re-
lance through conducting their
meetings and performing the es-
sential tasks of hikes and camp
outs. Detectives are represented
by several sub-titles: citizenship,
character building, good compan-
iorship, reverence. The program
is & means to combat juvenile de-
llnouency by providing an outlet
fer youthful energy, imagination
and the urge to do. A survey
reveals that few boys who have
beer Scouts get into trouble that
brings them to the attention of the
police.
Barnett attributed a share of
this record to the Scout oath, which
he repeated and briefly analysed.
Nearly all the boys remember and
practice it; every part contributes
to character building.
The Laurel troop, a member Of
the Yellowstone Valley council, is
now several years old. It's his
tory has been up and down, de
pending on finding a group to
sponsor it and on finding leader
ship material.
The council embraces 81 south
and eastern Montana coun-
Ties in which there are $3.50 Scouts
registered. This does not include
tlt younger Cubs. Assisting are
700 volunteer men, about one for
every four Scouts, who are aided
~ four full-time professional
Scout executives whose office is
Billings.
Local sponsoring co e es
awe to follow laid-down rules,
provide suitable meeting places,
transportation when needed, and
lbove all find and keep a scout
raster. The Importance of the
icoutmaster was stressed. e
Barnett remarked in passing that
sirl Scouts r a part of the 2
'cuth movement and are as nu-
berous as boys. They have their y
eparate organizational set-ups CT
peal, state and national levels, ,
nd they too go in strongly for c
amping. 7
In regard to camping, Laurel !:
nd other towns of the region l
re fortunate in having excellent ,
ABILITIES. One location that is "
frequently used is at Red Lodge. =,
'thers are on the Rosebud river, y
new one is near Bozeman and +
mother is the Water Front camp ?
Fort Peck. Z
In Laurel the giving of a swim q
ing test has always been diff ?
Ilt, and 10 Scouts are now wait l
g to pass this test. 1t is ex- n
pcted the situation will be reliev- g
| when the city's new swimming q
Dol is put in operation.
Minnesota has an attractive and 1
usual arrangement. Scouts from L
lywhere in the United States y
I'd Canada may go there for a b
moe trip of eight to 10 days u
ross a series of seven lakes in a
rgin wilderness. The speaker re- n
'mmended that two Laurel Scouts
!, chosen and sent there for the II
;perience. u
A Lost Hunter test was recently a
ven here in the area known as
ed and King gulch. A stake was /
'lven and it's location exactly de-
rmined. Groups of Scouts equip
ID with compasses and given
earrings were told to find the
arker, which they did. 1t was
nsidered as a somewhat diff
lit feat. &c
Other recent tests and outings d.
ere mentioned. Not long ago pl
ere was a winter camp-out near p;
ed Lodge in the snow. Another al
as in the snow south of Park fc
ty at Fossil cliff. Both demon d,
rated the ability of the boys to al
Ike care of themselves in diff w
1t situations. They spent a night tt
o on top of Square butte, where ec
ey again protected themselves 81
til shelters constructed of mater. L,