There have been objections made to the camp canteen or store, but there
seem to be no very good reasons against it. By buying large quantities
and at wholesale and selling at the market price in small quantities
there can be a perfectly legitimate profit on a camp canteen. This helps
to pay camp expenses. It is also possible to make an arrangement with
local stores to supply merchandise, fruit and candy to be sold at the
store price, and receive from the store a ten per cent discount which is
clear profit to the camp. A greater profit, however, can be obtained if
the camp purchases these things for itself from wholesale dealers.
The price of board in the average Scout camp is so low that it is
impossible to supply campers with many of the things which they want and
which they may have. Fresh fruit in some localities is very expensive
and quite beyond the possibility of serving. But most parents make no
objection to their children purchasing the fruit, one or two pieces at a
time, at the canteen counter. The same is true of simple candy such as
sweet chocolate, Hershey Bars, Neccos, etc. One piece a day is not only
perfectly harmless; it is, in fact, beneficial.
Other things that can be sold in the canteen are stationery, stamps,
plain postal cards, picture postal cards, hair pins, pins, shoe laces,
needles and thread, kodak films, bathing caps, soap, and pencils.
The best time for having the canteen open is determined by the rule that
Scouts do not eat between meals. For this reason it is better to sell
fruit and candy either directly after dinner or directly after supper.
For many reasons it is much more convenient and fully as well for the
child to have the canteen open after supper, especially when that meal
is served at half-past five.
The question as to whether Scouts should be allowed to receive packages
of food from home is one which every camp Director has to decide.
Probably nothing causes more unhappiness than the fact that some girls
receive no packages while others have many. The most serious phase is
that boxes often contain food which is not best for the girl. Then, too,
packages have been sent by parcel post so badly wrapped and packed that
when received at the local post office the authorities have complained
to the camp Director. The condition of fruit or other food was such as
to be a menace.
[Illustration: MAKING CAMP ON AN OVERNIGHT HIKE. Tents and other
equipment come by trek cart.]
The problem of caring for the boxes of food which are sent to campers is
sometimes a serious question. If labelled and put into the storeroom
they take up valuable space; also much time is spent taking them out at
canteen hour and in putting them away. If a child is allowed to keep
food of any kind in her tent, it is quite impossible to have the
blankets, cots, or pillows in absolutely perfect condition.
All things considered, it seems best not to allow food including fruit
or candy to be sent or brought into camp.