The main antidote to a bad environment is naturally the substitution of a good
one, and this is best done through the Troop Headquarters and the Scout Camp.
By Headquarters I do not mean half-an-hour's drill once a week in a big schoolroom
lent for the occasion - which has so often appeared to be the aim of those dealing
with boys - but a real place which the boys feel is their own, even though it may
be a cellar or an attic; some place to which they can resort every evening, if need
be, and find congenial work and amusement, plenty of varied activity and a bright
and happy atmosphere. If a Scoutmaster can only arrange this, he will have done a
very good work in providing the right environment for some of his lads which will
be the best antidote for the poison that otherwise would creep into their minds and
characters.
What the Scoutmaster does, his boys will do. The Scoutmaster is reflected in
his scouts. From the self-sacrifice and patriotism of their Scoutmaster, Scouts
inherit the practice of voluntary self-sacrifice and patriotic service.
Then the camp (and this should be as frequent as possibly can be managed) is a
still further and even more potent antidote than the Headquarters. The open and
breezy atmosphere and the comradeship of continued association under canvas, in
the field, and round the camp fire, breathes the very best of spirit amongst the lads,
and gives the Scoutmaster a far better opportunity than any other of getting hold
of his boys and of impressing his personality upon them.
