The parachute, in its various forms, has always been a favorite with boys.  The idea is to make an umbrella-shaped contraption out of tissue paper and a stick, so that when it descends from any considerable height it will open out and float slowly to the ground.  This part is easy enough.  The trouble has always been to get it up in the air high enough to repay one for his efforts in making it.  The idea that a common sling shot had propelling power sufficient for this purpose led to experiments which proved that the idea was a happy one.  The combination of sling shot and parachute makes a very fascinating outdoor amusement device.  Every time you shoot it into the air you try to make it go higher than last time.

To make the parachute, get a tough stick about two feet long and whittle it to a shape similar to Fig. 2.  The bottom must be heavy enough to fall first so that the parachute will fall in the right direction to be opened out.  You can weight the end by tying a piece of lead or a spool on it.  Cut your tissue paper to a shape shown in Fig. 2 and place a thread through every scallop.  If the paper tears right through, a good plan is to reinforce the edges of the circle by pasting a strip of tough paper or muslin all around.  A parachute made of silk or any fine mesh cloth will be much more lasting, but not quite so buoyant.

The sling shot is made with a rubber band, some string, and a forked stick.  The greater its propelling power, the more successful will the toy be.

Box Furniture

Instead of using for firewood the boxes in which groceries, etc., are shipped to camp, have the boys make useful camp furniture from them.  Get the book, “Box Furniture,” by Louise Brigham:  The Century Co.; price, $1.50.  It tells what to do with boxes, and how to make all sorts of convenient furniture.

Camp Clock

Mark the ground around the camp flag pole with white stones or stones whitewashed, like a sun dial.  The sun’s rays will cast the shadow of the pole so that the time of day may be accurately ascertained. (See illustration.) In the handbook of the Boy Scouts of America is the following description for making a Sun dial or Hunter’s Clock:  “To make a sun dial prepare a smooth board about 15 inches across, with a circle divided into 24 equal parts, and a temporarily hinged pointer, whose upper edge is in the middle of the dial.  Place on some dead level solid post or stump in the open.  At night fix the dial so that the 12-o’clock line points exactly to North, as determined by the North or Pole Star.  Then, using two temporary sighting sticks of exactly the same height (so as to permit sighting clear above the edge of the board), set the pointer exactly pointing to the Pole Star, that is, the same angle as the latitude of the place, and fix it there immovably.  Then remove the two sighting sticks.”

[Illustration:  Camp Clock]

Sun dial or Hunter’s Clock
Some Quotations to Burn or Paint on the Sun Dial.