Daniel Boone Camporee

[tolpel 10]

I am doing a historical research project on the legacy of Daniel Boone upon the Boy Scout movement. Can any scouter out there tell me about the activities that define a "Daniel Boone" camporee? I know there are various theme-camporees like Paul Bunyan, Klondike, etc. But I am seeking specific info on what the program of a Daniel Boone camporee consists. Thank you for every consideration.

[Kudu 186]

The primary influence on American Scouting was Daniel Carter Beard's pre-Scouting boys' organization "The Sons of Daniel Boone." Beard was one of the founders of the BSA and folded his group into the mix in 1910.

 

His entire "Sons of Daniel Boone" handbook can be found at The Inquiry Net:

 

http://inquiry.net/traditional/beard/pioneers/index.htm

 

After that comes the hunting season. When the leaves have lost their beautiful autumn coloring and those that have not fallen are withered and brown, it is Boone's Day November 2d. This day can be devoted to out-door sport, throwing the tomahawk and archery for all the boys, but the older lads may engage in rifle practice.

 

Right in midwinter, the day before Christmas, is Kit Carson's Day because he was born on December 24th, and any Son of Daniel Boone who cannot think of something bully to do at that time can find it in the following pages. Snow forts, skating contests, running the gantlet, tracking in the snow, and, if the weather is bad, in-door games are in order. Kit was not only a great scout, but he was also a grandson of Daniel Boone, so be sure to remember him with a lively and enthusiastic day of fun.

 

According to Tim Jeal's biography Baden-Powell, The Sons of Daniel Boone was not a great influence on B-P's invention of Boy Scouts, which was more greatly effected by a pre-Scouting handbook called The Birch Bark Roll by another BSA founder, Ernest Thompson Seton:

 

http://inquiry.net/traditional/seton/birch/index.htm

 

Dan Beard's version of The Sons of Daniel Boone and the origin of Boy Scouting can be found in the chapter "Scouting" from his autobiography Hardly A Man is Now Alive:

 

http://inquiry.net/traditional/beard/scouting.htm

 

Beard continued to run his "Dan Beard Outdoor School for Boys" long after he merged his youth group with the BSA. See:

 

http://inquiry.net/uniforms/beard.htm

 

A good photograph of "Axe Throwing" at the Outdoor School for Boys (actually done with specially-designed tomahawks), THE most important event at any Daniel Boone Camporee can be found at:

 

http://inquiry.net/outdoor/skills/axe/axe_throwing.htm

 

With the exact details at:

 

http://inquiry.net/outdoor/skills/beard/throw_tomahawk.htm

 

Kudu

(This message has been edited by kudu)

[tolpel 10]

Thanks, Kudu. I have a copy of Beard's handbook and appreciate your reference in it to some of the possible program activities of a Daniel Boone camporee. Anyone else have real experience with a local council or district DB-camporee that would share its program and an assessment ?