Th Grouch.....

[Its Me]

"..either in person or as a permeating spirit of the camp must be surpressed. When the atmosphere is bad and all seem to be working at cross purposes it may help to clear the atmosphere to burn the grouch either in effigy at the evening campfire or to stage a solemn funeral ceremony for him in order that campers be cheerful"

 

Page 388, Handbook for Scout Masters, 2nd edition

 

1) What are they talking about?

 

2) Have you ever seen this done?

 

 

 

(This message has been edited by Its Me)

[Kudu]

Some of us consider "A Scout is Cheerful" to be the most important Scout Law because nothing kills the Scouting spirit faster than complaining!

 

The 2nd Edition of Handbook for Scout Masters was the last edition of the book written before the arrival of William Hillcourt from Denmark. During this period, the BSA brand of Scouting was heavily influenced by the YMCA.

 

Long before the invention of television and "Saturday Night Live" style, pun and put-down based "campfire skits," a lot of creative effort went into campfire programs and what were then called "campfire stunts." A "Burn the Grouch" campfire stunt is described in Frank H. Cheley's 1914 book The Three Rivers Kids, See:

 

http://www.campeb.org/history/trk/trkchap11.html

 

http://www.campeb.org/history/trk/trkchap12.html

 

A short bio of Frank H. Cheley can be found at:

 

http://www.campeb.org/history/trk/trk.html

 

A "how to" guide for planning traditional Scout campfires which includes some of Frank Cheley's suggestions can be found at The Inquiry Net, see:

 

http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/campfire/helps/

 

Kudu