Figure 1.--Here are Swiss Scouts enjoying their dinner on a ca,ping trip in the early 1940s. It was a newly formed troop and they had to srart from scratch. Ntice the log table.

Summer camp for Swiss Scouts was a process that generally started in the Spring. A group of parents and leaders got together and decided in what region of Switzerland they would like to hold their Summercamp. Once that was decided letters were sent off to local villages to get their assistance in identifying land-owners. Traditionally the leaders took the weekend of Pentacost, which includes the Monday to travel to that region and decide which site would be best suited for the two week long Summercamp. Details were worked out with the owners of the land, the merchants and the local autorities. Upon return the location and exact dates were announced and programs and planing for the facitilties were worked out. Travel was usually done by train and public bus and at the location a hike to the camp-site. Upon arrival a lot of work had to be done. The tents, that usually housed a patrol of six boys had to be piched. Tables and kitchens had to be built, latreens had to be dug. The first 2 days were taken up by getting the campsite comfortable. Normally the water had to be feched at the nearest house, foods were purchsed at the local store etc. Daily activities consisted in games, sports and typical scouting activities such as pioneering, orienteering communcations etc. Considerable time had to be devoted to food preparation and cleaning as the facitities were rather primitive. Evenings were passed by sitting around the campfire, singing songs, telling stories or performing skits. The highlight of summer camp was in general a 2 or 3 day hike way into the mountains or to a very attractive site. These hikes were rather strenuous but very rewarding. These summer camps taught every participant a great deal of self-reliance and helpd every scout in testing his endurance. A Swiss Scout tells us about his camping experiences with the a mountain village troop his father formed. [Voute]

Sources

Voute, Tom. E-mail message, June 8, 2006.