find joy in the journey

boy scouts for every generation

Last summer my boys had the rare and special opportunity to attend Scout Camp in Idaho with their dad and their grandpa.  Both Scott and Dennis were (and still are) Scoutmasters and Scott thought it would be such a great experience to join Dennis' troop and attend Camp Bradley which is the same scout camp that Scott attended as a boy.

Wow!  One of the things I have loved most about my boys' experiences through Boy Scouts is seeing the memories and bonds that are built through the campouts and activities.  Especially when those activities are done with a brother, dad, and even a grandpa.  

They set out for a week of scouting and the special moments they racked up along the way are simply priceless!  When the boys returned home they compiled a top 10 list.  Here are just a few:

#5 - Sawing, chopping, and whittling wood with Papa.  What could be better than hanging out with your grandpa, a stick and pocket-knife (or hatchet) in hand?  These simple moments are what memories are made of.

#6 - Completing the most epic of all pioneering projects . . . the working drawbridge.  This thing is amazing!  Just, wow.  This became the gateway to their campsite and the boys were incredibly proud of what they created.

#7 - Spending one whole day hiding under the rain shelter dodging the occasional water dumps when the top was full of rain!  Sometimes the conditions are less than ideal, but that's what makes you into men!  And poor Payton - it looks like the woods are aggravating his allergies.  Puffy eyes.

 

#9 - Conner and Payton earning merit badges in the same lake as their dad and grandpa . . . 3 generations of leaches too.  Yes, leaches!  I know it was so special to Scott to share this camp with his boys.  I love that they will forever have this connection and shared experience.  And earning that lifesaving merit badge is hard!  Especially when you have to do it in a cold lake with leaches!  Way to be a scout, boys.

#10 - "No-one" hitting their head on the rafter of the wood craft lodge at the Stake Dinner . . . I can't even imagine how ticked grandma would have been if that had happened.  You have to know the backstory to get this one.  Dennis had been suffering from some concerning health issues that summer (involving his head), but this camp was so important that he put those ailments aside and made sure he was there. 

 

 Last Christmas we compiled the Top 10 List with a collage of photos and gave it to Papa Dennis.  He loved it and the story goes that he immediately walked into the bedroom, removed a framed collage of Hawaii vacation photos from the wall, and replaced it with this one.

I'm so glad that these boys (and these men) could have this experience.  I'm sure they will remember it always!

 And if it wasn't clear enough that they had a fantastic time, here is some camp video footage:

Camp Bradley 2014 from Shannon on Vimeo.

 

This is a sponsored post on behalf of The Boy Scouts of America, but all opinions are my own. 

thankful for my man

Scott just returned yesterday from 7 days at scout camp with Payton & Conner and 13 more boys in his troop.  He is the Scoutmaster.  (And sometimes we think he must be the eternal Scoutmaster as he's been doing Scout Camp for over 10 years!)

They pulled in yesterday afternoon and I can't tell you just how GOOD they looked.  Sun tan, relaxed, bearded (just Scott), and manly.  I don't know what it is but the boys appeared to have grown leaps in the past week - more tough, rugged, confident.

I loved seeing that.  And I loved seeing them with their dad, knowing the effort, thought, and planning that he puts into these events.  They don't just happen.  What I love most is his forethought and vision to teach, lead, and inspire these boys (our boys and all the boys in the troop) to be men.  

I'm so thankful for him.

Happy Father's Day!

5 tips for new Cub Scout moms

After a 5 1/2 year run, we recently closed the Cub Scout chapter in our family.  Payton turned 11 which means he is officially in Boy Scouts.  And with Scott as the Scoutmaster I couldn't be more excited for the 3 of them and the fun things they will get to do together.

Part of me was a little sad to say good-bye to Cub Scouts.  Just look at those sweet boys ready to cheer on their cars at the pinewood derby! I really enjoyed the program and I was even a Den Leader over a group of 12 Bears and Wolves for a year or so.  

When we attended Payton's crossover at the Blue & Gold Banquet this month it was so fun to watch a whole new group of boys enter the program and receive their Bobcat.  To look at those boys and look at Payton now -- I thought of all the growing, learning, and doing that has occurred over the past 3 years.  A lot!  There were so many great opportunities for him to learn and explore and play and serve.

So, as a veteran Cub Scout mom I thought I would share a few helpful tips for new Cub Scout moms as you begin this chapter.

1.  Buy a BIG Cub Scout shirt.  I'm talking 2 sizes too big.  Yes, they will look a little ridiculous at first.  But over the course of 3 years and they will grow into it.  Otherwise, you reach the beginning of the Webelos year and they can't even button their shirt closed (which looks really silly at pack meeting) and you will have to remove the patches from the 1st shirt and sew them a second time onto the new shirt.  That is way too much work.  Just get a big shirt to begin with and you'll be happier.

2.  Read the handbook.  Just about any question that you have in Cub Scouts will be answered by reading the Wolf/Bear/Webelos handbook.  It's all there, I promise.  Patch placement . . . how to earn gold/silver arrows . . . how to pronounce Akela . . . The Cub Scout program and the process of earning achievements may seem confusing at first, but if you sit down and read the handbook it will all make sense.

3.  Work on achievements at home.  From experience I know that the den leaders cannot do it all.  There's not enough time.  And the group attention span is very short.  There happen to be several requirements each year that have to be done at home - family outings, creating a fire escape plan, inspect the home for safety hazards, etc.  When my boys were in Cub Scouts I enjoyed turning the achievements into a family activity -- cover a Character Connection topic at Family Home Evening, work on activity badges or belt loops as a family during spring or summer break.  The younger kids always love participating in this stuff.

4.  Wear layers to pack meeting.  This is for you, mom.  When your boy earns a badge, you will also earn a mother's pin and your boy will need to pin it on your shirt in front of everyone at pack meeting.  Nothing is more awkward than your 8 year old son having to stick his hand down (or up) your shirt to affix a pin.  To avoid flashing the other parents & scouts at pack meeting please wear a cardigan.  It works perfectly.  

Or better yet, purchase (or make) a "mother's pin brag ribbon".  I learned about these in just the past year and it is genius!  The pins go straight on the ribbon and not your shirt. Plus it keeps them all safe in one place.  Those little buggers can get lost easily.  The hardest part is just remembering to bring it to pack meeting.  Search pinterest for ideas or visit your local Scout shop or etsy to purchase one.  I finally bought one last month . . . there will be more mother's pins to come in Boy Scouts.

5.  Have fun.  Maybe I was ahead of the curve because I was raised in a family of 4 boys, but I know that sometimes it can be hard for moms to embrace the boy stuff because it is messy, high-energy, and loud.  (But you know what, girls are crazy too.)  I found that when I just accepted the 8 year old boy mindset, remembering that it's all about having a party and helping my son to learn & achieve goals, it all just worked.  Cub Scouts will be crazy, goofy, and silly at times.  I say belt out your best sea lion cheer and enjoy it!

One more p.s. note . . . . Volunteer to assist your den & pack however much you are able -- be an extra helper at den meetings, Scouting for Food, hikes, field trips, and especially day camp.  Your boys will love you for it.

hello monday {pinewood derby}

This weekend we attended the Cub Scout pinewood derby.  Let's see, so far we have made 5 pinewood derby cars . . . just 1 more to go.  And I guess I should clarify -- Scott and the boys have made 5 pinewood derby cars.  I have no involvement in this process.  Except for the spray paint.

We tried to set Payton's expectations going into it.  Seeing that we are in a new pack, we didn't know what the competition was going to be like.  Not that we are competitive in this kind of event . . . . It's just that after Payton took 1st place at his first pinewood derby he may have expectations that the streak should continue.

His car did well.  He won most of the races in his heats.  And when all the races were tallied he came in at 5th place.  There was some disappointment on his part, because - hello?! - he had seen his car win so many races.  He didn't quite get it, so we had to explain the whole process.  I think that by the time he got his certificate and blue ribbon, everything was good again.

(I have to apologize for the varying tones of yellow in these photos -- it was a church gymnasium, afterall)

Hello pinewood derby car.  His certificate said "Best Scout Theme".

Hello anticipation.  He has a front row seat with the rest of the Pit Crew.

Hello excitement!

Hello rankings.  After everyone raced, they narrowed it down to the top 8 cars to race again.

Hello fancy schmancy race track.  This thing had an electronic start gate and finish line.  It is wired to a computer and all the racing times go straight there where a program keeps track of all the rankings.  Pretty hard core.

Hello cheers.  The race track operator told the kids that their cars will go faster the more they yell.

Hello awards.  Payton completed all the requirements to earn his Bear along with 1 gold arrow point and 2 silver arrow points.

Hello tradition.  In this Cub Scout Pack, they have a face-painting tradition.  When you earn your Wolf you get one set of stripes.  For the Bear, 2 sets of stripes.  Guess we'll have to wait and see what Webelos brings.

Hello mother's pin.  This is one of my favorite parts of being a Cub Scout mom.  I didn't know there would be a pack meeting following the derby so I was glad that I wore layered tops!  If you've ever been pinned by a Cub Scout you'll know how important that is.

Hello cute Cub Scout.

I'm linking up with Lisa Leonard's {hello monday} prompt

cubbing down under

Last weekend Payton got to attend Cub Scout Day Camp.  This is year number 4 of day camp for our family.  We love it.  The boys have a great time making projects, playing games, and doing things like archery that they don't normally get to do.  I was kind of sad that I didn't get to go as a helper, but circumstances wouldn't allow for that.  Next year.

When we picked up Payton late Saturday afternoon he was fillll-thy!  Oh my goodness, so so dirty.

But he had had an awesome time.  He was so excited about all the cool stuff they had done.

archery / marshmallow blow guns / hike / obstacle course / climbing wall / bommerang craft / build a toolbox / build a crossbow / animal masks / relay races / rain stick / duct tape water bottle holders / cricket / flag ceremony / skit

I was a little concerned how he would do in the 95+ degree heat over the 2 days.  We are used to bringing jackets to day camp (in July) and dousing the boys with bug spray.  Here we traded the bug spray for sunscreen spray.

The camp was held at a church building - a stake center with a big field & pavilion on the lot, and a park (with splash pad) across the street.  It sounds like many of the classes & crafts were indoors so they had plenty of opportunities to cool off.  Not to mention running through the splash pad as part of the obstacle course.

Friday night they held a campfire for families to attend and watch each den perform a skit.  Payton's den was so disappointed when a group ahead of them performed the Cub Scout classic, "Invisible Bench."  That was their skit too!

So they improvised and turned theirs into the "Invisible Couch."

Cub Scouts is a party!  You just have to embrace the 9 year old boy silly/quirky/loud/high-energy spirit.

cub scout carnival

I've been a den leader for a bit over a year now, which means its time to recycle previous den meetings for the new bunch of boys.  Yesterday it was time for the Cub Scout Carnival!  It is my very favorite activity and I think the boys love it too.

Each boy is asked to come with a game or activity.  They can take ideas from their Cub Scout books or do something totally original.  We set up in the back lot of the church and once everyone is ready we walk around as a group, stopping at each game/station to let the boy who brought the game tell or demonstrate how to play it.  Once that's through it is open play time!  We invite the little (and older) siblings to come play as well . . . the more the merrier.  :)

I put Conner in charge of the snack bar.

I think he really enjoyed having that authority.  And unlimited access to the Twizzlers.

At the beginning each kid was given 10 tickets which they could use to purchase popcorn, Twizzlers, peanuts, and lemonade.  It was perfect.  Everyone got some of everything, without going overboard on the snacks.

Anna was in charge of the petting zoo.

This is the game Payton put together . . . marble sharp shooter

Lots of creative games were shared, including this one inspired by "Minute to Win It" . . . 

How fun is this!

The water balloon launcher was a big hit . . . 

here are the boys waiting to catch, or rather dodge, the water balloons

And my favorite of all . . . the pie eating contest!  The rules are simple: try to find the gummi bear in the whipped cream without using your hands.

Love this victorious fist pump . . . 

The younger siblings love playing too . . .

Everyone had such a great time.  Most of the kids played 2 or 3 times.  (Except for Payton -- he prefers to stay out of this one.)

Another successful carnival.

Now to plan next week's activity.  I think we will learn how to fold a flag and perform an outdoor flag ceremony.  That's just as fun, right?

i think you're missing something here

Last week we had a big fundraiser for our Cub Scout group.  It was a garage sale / bake sale.  And it was a huge success.  

I wanted to include the boys in the fundraiser as much as possible, so at our den meeting I brought posters and markers and had them make signs to advertise the sale around town.  I included the basic info (date, time, location) at the bottom of the poster and left the top empty for them to title, decorate, and adorn however they wanted.  They love that kind of stuff.  I even pulled a big chalkboard into the gym and wrote "Cub Scout Garage Sale and Bake Sale" so there would be no question on spelling.

While they worked on posters I thumbed through their cub scout books to update my achievement records.  Then we had a layered pudding / oreo / chocolate chip / marshmallow / graham cracker dessert that they got to assemble themselves (we had learned about landfills earlier in the meeting) . . . and I sent them on their way.  

Quick, clean up the room, gather up my supplies, sweep the floor, throw everything into the van, and get home to throw some corn dogs in the oven for dinner.

As I'm putting away everything from the Cub Scout pile I come across Payton's poster, which I had not seen previously.  

Huh.  Something seems a little off here. . . 

"get yor car spotles"

Um, Payton?  Scratching my head . . . . 

Uhhh, we're having a garage sale.  Where in the world did you come up with a car wash?

Confused.  And then I see the light turn on in his head.  "Oh."  And a smile.

Seriously?  How did you miss this one gigantic detail?!  What a goon!

I've kept the poster because it just makes me smile.  And what a great tagline - "get yor car spotles."  Sometimes I just don't know about that boy.

---------------------------------

Yesterday that cute boy (and Conner and Scott) got a much needed haircut.  

Shannon's Barber Shop, since 2000

do your best

Is yellow my color?  I think I quite like it.

 Yep, that's me.  A Cub Scout Den Mother.  

I giggle as I type that title.  I picture a gray woman, up in her years, but still full of spunk & energy, donning a scout uniform with a plethora of patches and beads, instructing a group of boys on pocket knife safety, with a plate of homemade cookies waiting to be served once everyone has shown proficiency on the subject.  Maybe that will be me . . . in a few decades.  :)

For now, I am the newly called Wolf Leader.  I get to work alongside a great lady and provide fun, learning, serving, creating activities for the 8-9 year old boys once a week.  Last week we made pine-cone bird feeders and charts to track our healthy habits like, brushing teeth, bathing, drinking water, and playing outside (gotta keep it simple for these 8 year olds).  This week we'll be picking up trash and making cards for Veterans in a local nursing home.

Really, what a great job is this!

And the uniform isn't too bad either.  I don't think I have ever had a job, assignment, responsibility, calling, etc. that has had a uniform to go along with it.  Oh, scratch that.  There were those 2 years I was a part of the FBLA Leadership in our chapter.  Picture red and black plaid, pleated, school girl skirts.  Doh! -  I guess there were those marching band uniforms too.  So just scratch that thought altogether.

 This, being the 100th year of Boy Scouts (bet you didn't know that!) they are offering a special award that the boys and adults can earn.  I'm looking into this one because I want more patches!  :)

I'm also excited because this is perfect timing for me to be more involved here.  Conner is a cub scout and Payton will be joining us early next year.  We've got almost 4 Cub Scouting years left in our family.

In the next few months I'll be memorizing the Cub Scout motto and oath, attending day camp, perfecting my Wolf ears to encourage silence & attention from the boys, trying to feel comfortable (and not silly) when I hold my fingers in salute while saying the Pledge of Allegiance, and channeling my inner 8 year old boy.  Thankfully, I've had a lot of exposure to this demographic.