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Category Archives: Scouts

Well, we are done with scouts.

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After a few weeks of randomly talking with Owen, he finally decided that it’s not really for him.

If I’m being honest, I might have been secretly leading him into the decision because we’ve watched him for the past few months and he just doesn’t care about doing any of it when he’s not actively at a meeting. It’s frustrating because he seems to be excited about it all during a meeting or at an event but then as soon as the meeting is done, he doesn’t think about it until the next meeting.

I feel kinda guilty because I really did want him to love it and I wanted him to have something to do besides baseball, but we don’t have the time or inkling to really get on him or make it a big deal. He hasn’t finished a single badge since distancing started while his friends have worked through a bunch of them. Also, this wasn’t really the optimal time to start scouts since scouts is really hands on and you can’t do much when you’re social distancing. If you’re not self-motivated it’s much harder. And Owen really isn’t one to self-motivate.

So, it was about a $250 experience.

Scout Backyard Campout

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Since Covid-19 has thrown everything out of whack, a scouts weekend camping trip was turned into a backyard campout. The boys had a schedule to follow including camp setup, meal planning, zoom calls, computer check-ins with photos, and games!

FRIDAY

We borrowed a small tent from friends and both Owen and Katie LOVED hanging out in it. We put it up in the morning and they pretty much spent all day in and out of it, sometimes together, sometimes alone. They were coloring and listening to music and who knows what else.

And of course Owen loved starting a fire!

Day 1 Dessert Tonka

Katie really wanted to sleep outside with him but he wanted to do it himself. We were slightly unsure he’d last all night, but he said he’d be fine but asked if we’d leave all the lights on…so it was basically daylight out there.

Schedule said lights out at 9:30!

SATURDAY

The night went fine and he stayed out all night!! Tom assisted with getting the fire ready for cooking breakfast but Owen did most of the actual food prep!

Prepping scrambled eggs to cook over the fire!
Eggs plus reheated sausage patties and French fries!
Katie LOVED the eggs, because of course she never eats scrambled eggs when we make them.

Both kids LOVED cooking over the fire… Katie—who generally says she doesn’t like hot dogs—cooked and ate TWO!

Cooking corn on the cob for dinner!
Tom grilled the sausages because we knew neither kid could successfully cook a raw sausage over the fire.

Owen decided to let Katie sleep with him the second night and she was over the moon. They had another official 9:30 lights out but she says they stayed up really late! And again, as bright as day out there.

SUNDAY

More scrambled eggs!

Overall we were really impressed with how much Owen enjoyed spending time in the tent and prepping and cooking food! He’ll be even more ready if and when actually camping weekends start again!

Owen’s first solo scout camping weekend—Day 2

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“This was a full tub of sanitizing wipes — Proof we cleaned when we got here.”
“Lunch is now happening, after a bit of knife safety & sharpening skills.”
“Now it’s fire building time.”
“Many fires were made… some made more smoke than flame. One requirement to earn the Fireman Chit card that gives them ability to tend a fire at s Scouting event, Scouts must build a sustainable fire (that will keep burning after you stop adding sticks/fuel to it) that is lit from no more than three matches.”
“Tonight’s meal is either burgers with fried potato wedges, or Chicken Alfredo & salad. Or in some cases… a little of both (due to an abundance of pasta, and that all the potatoes were pitched as that didn’t work out at all.”
“After a fun campfire & s’mores/Cracker Barrel, it’s time for a few more games before bed.”
“Good morning! We ate, cleaned up, and are now working on Totin’ Chip which is learning about how to safely use axes, hatchets, and saws to cut firewood.”

New scout parent orientation.

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So Owen’s first BSA meeting was tonight and it was also the required new parent orientation (two separate meetings for a total of about three hours). There was lots of talk on FEES FEES FEES and look at all this stuff to sell to earn money for your account. (I know there was more but really all that stuck with me was the fees.) Needless to say I’m already exhausted. And already tired of having to remind him to read his binder and read his book. Long story short we’ve told him (and reminded him a number of times) if he can’t remember on his own we won’t be doing this for very long. So stay tuned.

Owen became a Boy Scout today!

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Getting ready to head out to the Blue & Gold bridge ceremony.

As part of the ceremony, all the scouts had to saw a piece of wood.

There was an Arrow of Light ceremony where parents present the scout with a homemade arrow with bands of color signifying all the things the scouts have completed. Unfortunately Owen was so new to the troop that he wasn’t able to get one, so he was the only scout not up front. But then they called him up separately and gave him a really nice introduction (among other things they said what a great addition he was to the troop) and I didn’t record it because I totally wasn’t expecting it!

And then they all did the pledge.

They each got a chance to say thank you as they crossed the bridge.

Owen getting his new neckerchief and scout book.

All new Scouts!

Let’s feed some kids!

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Owen’s scout pack was volunteering at Feed My Starving Children so we all went!

Owen on bags and Katie on the weigh station. Four separate scoops of vitamins, veggies, soy (protein), and rice go in the bag, then it’s weighed (it has to be between 380-400 grams), then it’s sealed (my station), and then 36 bags go in a box!

The kids switched to the scoop station!

After, I might have also done some personal and Christmas shopping (each gift provides a various number of meals) plus bought a year’s worth of meals for a child.

We enjoyed it so much we will likely go back with friends to do it again!!

Our first real tree…ever.

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Our first real tree since we’ve been together…and supporting the scouts! I really wanted a huge tree but we have very limited space for one. Also? There’s no way it was going in my new car—the days of hauling messy crap is over. 😂

We got rid of our fake tree last year because I was just tired of it…so we got a real tree this year! The plan was to get a fake tree in the after-Christmas clearance sales, but we might wait another year or two to see what house we have next. If we happen to get a house that will fit a 12′ tree…well, then I want a 12′ tree. 🙂 So this is the first time we have EVER had a real tree! (Note: the bummer? It doesn’t smell AT ALL.)

Scout camping weekend

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So long story short… Owen has kind of joined scouts. A few of his baseball friends (and dads) are involved and of course they talk about how fun it is and of course Owen wants to do fun things with them…so Tom and I talked and I basically told him I don’t want to be involved so if HE wants to do it with Owen, be my guest. 😄 So they went to a few meetings and then it was time for the big weekend camping trip to Starved Rock, a local State Park campground. The whole family was invited but I opted to stay home for some alone time and Tom was looking forward to taking both kids.

DAY 1

So come Friday afternoon they were all packed and ready to go! I even got Owen out of school a bit early since they had a 2.5-hour drive to get there.

I’m not sure they have enough stuff for 1.5 days (Friday night, Saturday, leaving really early Sunday). We borrowed a tent and then had to take sleeping bags, air mattresses (because how can they sleep on the ground like animals), pillows, backpacks, rain gear, etc.

Fast forward to later that evening when I asked for proof of life and got a text that they (and some friends) were at a local bar because by the time they got there and got set up the camp kitchen was closed. But as it would happen, a marine was having his retirement party so they all got invited to a free buffet!

And then later they did actually sit around a fire for a bit.

DAY 2

Tom taught the boys how to fold flags.

Getting ready to go on a hike by themselves! (The parents followed behind enough to be unseen but still keep an eye on them.) They also took pack lunches.

And then I got this from Tom about noon…and he said he was contemplating packing up and coming home.

I told him to suck it up—he wanted to go camping. 😜

So this is what things looked like later when everyone was gathered under our awning while it rained cats and dogs.

And everyone ended up back at the bar again for dinner—and to get out of the storm. I may have gotten a few THIS REALLY SUCKS texts.

DAY 3

They were up and on the road by 7 Sunday morning so they could get home in time for the last baseball playoffs game. (Our team was so awesome that they won the first game of the playoffs without the coach, two assistant coaches, and three players who were all camping!!) They pulled in shortly before 9:30 and I immediately proceeded to do laundry because everything was wet and muddy.

Tom’s overall feeling on the weekend was it totally sucked because of the bad weather but the kids had fun and he wants to do it again…though maybe in a pop-up or something bigger. The kids did have a blast and can’t wait to go again.