INTRODUCTION
The Woodcraft Movement, which was founded in April, 1902, was announced as a “character-making movement with a blue sky method, for all ages and both sexes”.
It is primarily an educational movement with outdoor activities.
It takes the boy through three Lodges, or Stages. In the first, he is developed as the human animal; in the second, he learns the rudiments of social life; in the third, his spiritual nature is called forth to dominate.
It teaches that the aim of true education is not scholarship but the attainment of manhood.
It gives first importance to character.
It insists on the domination of the spiritual.
It teaches the duty of respecting and perfecting the body.
It utilizes character-building forces in the form of recreation.
It works primarily with Woodcraft in its widest sense, which includes swimming, boating, camping, forestry, nature-study, scouting, photography, etc.
It counts enormously on the magic of the camp-fire.
It assumes the camp to be the focus and climax of out-door life and teaches thence back into the city.
It provides open-air activities for the year round.
It begins with the gang as the nucleus of society and glorifies it into the Band.
It establishes self-government with adult guidance.
It sums up training as perfect development with perfect self-control.
