Scouting, Volume 1, Number 1, April 15, 1913 Page: 2

                                
SCOUTING.
SEA OR WATER SCOUTS.
New Branch of Boy Scouts of America Will Be Started With Aid of the
Secretary of the Navy.
I
np
LL Scout offi-
cials, and. espe-
cially those liv-
ing near the water,
will be interested
in the steps which
have been taken
for the develop-
ment of a Sea or
Water branch of
Scouting. As yet a definite name has
not been decided upon for this Scout
division. The work has been success-
fully conducted in England and other
Scout centres.
For the past two years, through the
interest of Mr. Arthur A. Carey, of
Waltham, Mass., the schooner "Pioneer"
has been used for Sea Scouting experi-
ence. Mr. Carey, who is Chairman of
the Committee representing the Nation-
al Council on Sea Scouting in this coun-
try, has compiled a booklet based upon
his experience. He has generously
agreed to provide this office with copies
for free distribution to those who are
especially interested.
If you live near a naval station and
would like to, take advantage of the
opportunity so generously offered by the
Navy Department, please make applica-
t$tld rtirdfogh vour. Scout Commissioner
audr„Nation{iJ headquarters, as set
form in the Navy Department order.
Ifffiififcitttf: yoqiftfey know of men who
would, }>f: (Particularly interested in or-
Scouts to take up
W&Elk/ If so please have
them writ! to National Headquarters.
A copy, of the letter concerning
Water Scouting, written to George
frin"i43/ e$fetf|#'€*•ret ary of the Navy,
fej fe^l&rf^ugstone and Chief
Executive iW^st, on February 20, is
# Jiom.
^gu3n3£i;fcfefi(fcaii>cfe with the action of
a m.c?lni-
" hela on jfeBruary 11th, the assistance
Sl&f Ibc -Utep artment is respect-
the development of
va liranch oi fhe Toy Scout movement
purpose of giving
a^4|®actical experience in
matte®'pet'aitiiiw to seamanship, the
i(!ea a Sea Scouting
branch^BBBBBBp Scouts of America.
Our experience has shown in con-
nection with the regular Scouting pro-
gram that many army officers have
been glad to render practical assist-
ance in giving instructions in signal-
ling and other of our Scout activities in
which they had special expert knowl-
edge, and indeed on some occasions
they have made available Government
property for instructive purposes. We
have also had similar co-operation
from practically all of the other
branches of Government service, espe-
cially from the Department of Agri-
culture.
Men To Help Scouts.
It has been brought to our attention
that in connection with the various
naval stations there are men and
equipment available which might be
utilized to the advantage of all con-
cerned in the development of seaman-
ship among thousands and thousands
of our boys interested in the Scouting
program. If some action could be
taken by the Navy Department author-
izing those in charge of these various
naval stations to co-operate with such
men as are commissioned by the
National Headquarters of the Boy
Scouts of America to carry on work
with boys along this lifle, it would
make practicable the development of
a Sea Scouting branch of the Boy
Scouts of America.
You are doubtless familiar with the
underlying principles of the Scout
movement and know that we are
definitely opposed to the developing of
the military spirit in the boy. We
hold that our program makes of him
an all around better man.
For the last two years experiments
whose imagination the call of the
sea appeals with even greater charm
than that of the woods."
This clearly shows that our main
purpose is to further aid those who
are working with boys in developing
the Scout virtues by means of their
appeal to the lure of the sea rather
than the lure of the land, and should
not be interpreted by any one as hav-
ing any other purpose.
Mr. Carey's Work.
Accompanying is a memorandum
prepared by Mr. Arthur A. Carey of
Waltham, Massachusetts, Chairman
of our National Committee on Sea
Scouting, definitely suggesting a num-
ber of things which the Navy Depart-
ment might do. This is simply sub-
mitted as a suggestion. I am sending
*'
a
The Schooner Pioneer, donated to the Sea Scouts by Mr. Arthur A. Carey
have been made with a group of New
England boys where a plan similar to
that which has been developed in
England has been followed with great
success in giving practical instruction
in seamanship and cruising to develop
groups of boys identified with the
Scout movement, and only recently
our Executive Board has favorably
received a recommendation from a
National Committee urging the devel-
opment of a Sea Scouting branch as
a part of the Boy Scout movement in
this country.
Allow me to quote a paragraph from
the report of this Committee:
"It is obvious that the occupation
of seamanship and life on the water
present quite as favorable opportun-
ities for learning and practicing the
Scout virtues as do the occupations
of woodcraft and of the land
Scouts generally; and there are, be-
sides, a large number of boys to
under separate cover a book on "Sea
Scouting and Seamanship for Boys"
as used in England. We contemplate
the publication of a similar book in
this country. Co-operation with the
Navy Department and the preparation
of this book will be a valuable asset
to this new movement.
In reply Secretary Meyer wrote as
follows:
I have the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of the 20th in-
stant in regard to co-operation to the
Navy Department in developing a sea
scout branch of the Boy Scouts of
America.
The Department is in hearty accord
with this movement in general and
will be glad to assist in such ways as
may be practicable. I have accord-
ingly issued a General Order to the
service on the subject indicating the
(Continued on Page 7.)