The writings of Clara D. Hook include a story she authored in 1918 concerning the days of July 15-20 in the life of Peebles Boy Scout Troop Number One. Her details included how, for some time, the scouts had been preparing and were eagerly awaiting the start of a special summer activity; a fifteen mile hike from the village to a remote location near the Native American earthworks known as Fort Hill. The location was described as being on the east fork of Brush Creek, near Porter's water mill on the farm of Mrs. McClure.

Each evening before bed, assignments were made for the next day by the Scout Master, including cooks, water boys and dishwashers. Any additional orders or plans were explained. Evening devotionals and Bible stories were provided by Mrs. Hook. Disciplinary matters were addressed and the main correction method consisted of the offender carrying of a large cedar rail across the camp compound three times as the other campers expressed their “hilarious” displeasure.

Several of the boys had admitted they had brought along some spending money. They were given permission to return to Sinking Spring for treats of marshmallows, chewing gum and ice cream. That evening, dinner featured baked beans which had somehow been scorched by scouts learning to cook.

One day, the main activity was a troop hike. After a pocket lunch was prepared to take along, the boys and Mr. Hook began the ascent to trek along the complete three mile circumference of the top of Fort Hill. Their journey afforded opportunities to explore the forty-four gateways and other features of the area including caves, a natural bridge spanning a gully nearly 100 feet below and other small earthworks.

Toward the end of the week, the troop welcomed Assistant Scout Master Burr Wright, his wife, Mayme, and guests Lena Thomas and Mary Easter. They had brought a large basket of home-cooked goodies to share that evening. The scouts were also excited to find that Mr. Wright had brought along his telescope and binoculars for a special session of astronomy. The final full day was spent practicing skills introduced throughout the week, including target shooting.

The members of Troop 1, all in their teens, had been strongly influenced by the sentiments of their parents and other adults when it came to supporting the country's war efforts. They eagerly participated in so-called patriotic activities. They joined other scouts across the U.S. in five Liberty Bond drives that totaled almost $353 million in bond subscriptions and over $43 million in war stamps. Some grew food in Boy Scout gardens, distributed over 300 million pieces of literature for the government, and collected peach pits for use in gas mask filters.

During the last day of their week-long expedition, the Peebles scouts also completed an inventory of the black walnut trees near the campsite. In April of 1918, President Woodrow Wilson had requested the help of the Boy Scouts of America, and this resulted in the harvesting of almost 110,000 black walnut trees in the United States, all east of the Rocky Mountains.

Wilson wrote: "In order to carry out the programs of the War Department it is of the utmost importance that large quantities of black walnut lumber should be secured for its uses. Black walnut is used by the Ordnance Department for the manufacture of gun stocks and by the Signal Corps for the manufacture of propellers for battle and bombing airplanes”.

Scouts would locate the trees, measure them and contact the owners who would submit a price for the trees. For every one that was harvested, the scouts would plant three new trees. They located 20,758,000 feet of standing black walnut, enough to fill 5,200 railroad cars. Over 109,250 trees were harvested and 325,000 black walnut trees were planted.

This tremendous service, and the other service work that the Boy Scouts did, won the hearts of millions of Americans and secured the Boy Scouts' place as a great American institution.