LET'S GO TROOP CAMPING

[Music] hey there Susie out of bed on your toes this is the big day sun is shining and your Girl Scout troop is going camping for the first time the fun starts right after school but how does the troop leader feel about it mrs. Lawrence is up early too looks like a nice day later on her husband and son are going off by themselves going on a long-planned fishing trip [Music] let's see now there's lots to be done what's first breakfast dishes breaking up the house oh yes finish packing the bedroom while she works mrs. Lawrence wanders troop camping go alright they remember everything and cakes syrup first aid kit she's not really worried she and a troop have come far since that day only a couple of months ago when the girls first decided to go camping mrs. Lawrence remembers the compass started the whole thing Susie brought one to the meeting her big brother had lent it to her she proudly showed it to the leaders while the patrols were getting together she could tell him just how it worked she thought it might be fun to make a map with the help of the compass Susie wanted to show it off to her patrol to show her friends how to read it [Music] that didn't think much of it copper's was only good in the woods the patrol leader had to call for order mrs. Lyons going to see what the fuss was all about got there just as Betsy had a bright idea let's go camping camping mrs. Lyons knew nothing about camping the girls knew nothing about it either but they weren't going to let that stop them after the first shock mrs. Lawrence managed to appear quite calm the Court of Honor would discuss the idea [Music] as she and the patrol leaders met she secretly hoped there was some way out but there wasn't betsy thought invented camping the others thought it was a wonderful idea to the Court of Honor approved the plan in no time at all mrs. Lawrence suggested that they needed to learn a few things first betsy took notes I should talk the whole idea over in patrols maybe wait a few weeks before going on the trip then they can do some real plan planning the troop minutes at a record of all the plants what do eat but to take costs things the girls wanted to learn miss Warner the assistant leader that come over for the evening to discuss troop camping she and mrs. Lyons had decided they better do some planning of their own one of the first steps was phoning the troop committee chairman the committee could be a big help getting a third adult to go on the trip arranging transportation that night the leaders looked into safety wise yet then the troop camp book seemed to have all the answers were a couple of beginners [Music] but the trip committee meet next Wednesday evening good they'll do it well the groundwork was laid but how about learning some of those skills know anything about outdoor cooking making bed rolls using knives knives there's an easy one to start on housewives use them everyday know these two don't seem to know a thing about Jack knives want to try it no you do it oh come now it isn't bad hard the Girl Scout Handbook might help some sure enough there was everything they needed to know how to open and close knives out of care for them how to use them the girls were going to learn too and at the very next meeting it's that expert mrs. Lawrence teaching the troop the first steps of using a knife [Music] I really there was nothing to it it's easy to open with just a little practice [Music] girls who had their own knives shared them with their friends everyone learned quickly together mrs. Lawrence showed how to sharpen a knife - she'd been surprised to learn that a dull knife is more dangerous to use than a sharp one well how do you use the knife the handbook had been a big help there and the leaders had practiced a lot at home before showing the girls out who Whittle [Music] leave plenty of room always cut away from yourself it takes plenty of practice to do it right most of the girls caught on pretty well but Advil held her stick so that the knife might have cut her knee miss Warner showed her the safe way to do it [Music] there weren't going to be any accidents in this troop [Music] from using knives to making fires is a small and simple step miss Warner had already taught the patrol leaders how to build a fire now they were going to teach their patrols all of them working pretty much on their own that day though the leaders were near to help out if needed Jeanne had made a fuzz stick she was new in the troop it was nice to have her take an active part in the Patrol how does it go you start with an a Nancy tells them what to do [Music] with everything going so smoothly leaders were beginning to relax and enjoy themselves [Music] the patrol leaders were enjoying themselves too they liked the role of teacher [Music] skills were being learned but there was more to it looking around you could tell that the girls were growing up a little while they learned to build a fire together they couldn't help but learn more about getting along with each other [Music] they seem to like being on their own they weren't leaning so heavily on the leaders they were becoming independent [Music] for instance when Jane's patrol couldn't decide who should light the fire I kind of think and start trouble but the leaders needn't have worried the girls could solve their own problem and solve it fairly too [Music] shirring taking turns even being a winner takes practice and the girls were learning [Music] fires are fun especially for 11 year olds but fires have a purpose too so a cookout was planned at the town park [Music] no stay at homes that day not when they were making taffy apples the cricket Patrol brought the sticks for the apples wrong green ones that weren't soft in the middle scouts could Whittle points on their own sticks [Music] each girl had brought an apple and a nickel to pay for the syrup and the butter they had voted to pay for the pot out of the troop Treasury they were going to need it on the camping trip later okay cookie the syrup has done at last I'm gonna get it that did it things like this were really fun as the big day group closer plans were made and changed and made again the Court of Honor talked it all over found answers to last-minute questions how would they get their equipment to the campsite the troop committee was providing a car to carrier it already checked on equipment available at the cabin where should they meet but the school seemed easiest then they could ride partway and hike partway till they reached the cabin Betsy kept track of it all and there was food to think of and what to do at the camp each patrol turned in ideas and as the days went by those ideas were turned into reality the happy sixth Patrol planned the program one of the girls drew the caper chart the cricket patrols took charge of equipment mrs. Stern a troop committee member helped one of them pack the first aid box there it just fits the gay Caballeros did the menus in the shopping lots of shopping and the patrol leaders made sure that everything got done but the plans all tied together blanket rolls last skill left to learn the patrol leaders were going to teach their patrols all about it at the next meeting following camp crafts ABCs they found it wasn't hard at all [Music] then suddenly it was the last meeting they collected the consent form signed by their parents had already discussed what to pack in their bed rolls and agreed on a bedtime hour there wasn't much left to do now but practice making blanket rolls the leaders check the consent forms while the patrol leaders took charge of things teaching their patrols practicing leadership themselves mrs. Stern the troop committee member was there too she was going along on the camping trip teamwork isn't always easy as usually someone who wants things our way [Music] but the girls had learned much about pulling together aggghhhhh lang was easier for the gay Caballeros as usual Nancy a born teacher at everything in control her patrol seemed to learn easily they were all learning some quickly some more slowly and all like the happy sixes having fun [Music] the crickets had worked out their problem and on the big day each girl would have her personal equipment stowed snugly in her own blanket role but it was the gay Caballeros who finished first prepared now for camping living comfortably in the out-of-doors [Music] the leaders watched while the last knot was tied well that's how it was planning reading practicing skills that's why mrs. Lawrence isn't worried that's why she's looking forward to going camping [Music] when it's time to start why she's all set and so are the girls [Music] most of the troop has already arrived at the school steps everyone's really excited impatient to get started when do we leave is everybody here how could they be so slow [Music] here comes Suzie and Babs on the double [Music] already now ready at last to go through camping [Music] there it is all that look forward to cabin and woods and adventure and fun [Music] mrs. Stern is there to welcome them to give each girl her blanket roll it's a big moment a whole new world is opening up before them [Music] and it is just as wonderful as they had hoped getting water from their own pump cooking supper over and opened fire eating out of doors applying the things they had learned even a rainy evening doesn't dampen the fun [Music] later it's hard to settle down in a strange bed with strange night noises and so very much to think about [Music] breakfast with flapjacks ah they're eating them with sugar looks as if an did forget to serve [Music] now they've gone out to make a map to explore the countryside around them [Music] naturally Susie brought the coppice along to help them record their locations [Music] everything they had seen goes on the map and after it's drawn Jane and Kathy put it up to help other girls scouts find the things they had found important things like a bird's nest a stream a foxhole Uncharted behind it all was the excitement of discovery and the warmth of companionship [Music] after supper capers are over now and the girls have gathered around the campfire [Music] yes it's all gone well you have learned a lot in the past few months you know now that it's fun to help the troop go camping but there's help along the way there are books people and the eagerness of the scouts themselves there's the background of your own experience you know about planning and camping skills but you know that it's the girls who have meant most to the three of you leaders and girls each helping the other to grow the looks on the faces of the girls tell their own story a story of the satisfaction and fun of learning playing and just being together [Music] [Applause] [Music]