Scout Camp - July 9-14th

Our Stake had the Scout Encampment this year - they have one every few years.  Johnathan was able to attend the regular scout camp where he could earn merit badges.  He went with most of the 12 year old boys along with Brother Whitehead.  Tanner went to Camp Timberline (a leadership camp) since he didn't need to really get merit badges.  He attended with most of the boys his age.  Then Byron attended Wood Badge.  All of these camps were up in the same location around Mt Pleasant, Utah.  Johnathan & Byron saw each other a couple of times.  Byron was sad that he wasn't able to really be with Johnathan his first year of scout camp.  By the end of the week, though, Byron was really glad he was able to attend Wood Badge.

Cooper Beck also attended Timberline the same week as our Stake, but was in a different area of on the mountain.  Tanner was hoping to see him during the week, but only saw him briefly at registration on Monday.

Johnathan had mixed feelings about leaving on his birthday.  He did end up having a great time, though.  He was nervous since his best friend, Tyler Atwood, wasn't 12 yet so he was going with boys that he wasn't as close to.  He had a great time and kept Brother Whitehead busy with all of his fun merit badges he completed.  He loved the food (which is saying a lot coming from Johnathan).  His favorite food was a Philly cheese steak sandwich.  He slept in a tent with Simon Honekei, Tad Jacobs.  He spent most of his spare time with Tad.  He got 6 merit badges - Indian Lore, Leather man, Environmental Science, Basketry, Mammal Study, and Pioneering.  Johnathan worked through his lunch for his Indian Lore merit badge.  One night after devotional (around 10 p.m.), Brother Whitehead was telling the boys that they needed to get to bed right when they got back to camp.  Johnathan then started telling him how he had to do a lot of homework for his merit badges.  Johnathan is so good at remembering what he has to do and doing it that I think this surprised Brother Whitehead as most boys tend to forget or just don't do it.  He kept Brother Whitehead on his toes. One of his favorite parts was going to the shop and buying candy. 

Tanner also wasn't so sure about going this year.  He did end up having a great time.  He was put into a group that consisted of 7 people from the stake.  He was with 7 people - Kobe Mickelson, Alec Dunford, Jared Curtis, Aaron Love, Braydon Cuff, Trent Hall.  Zhaun and Jayden Howell were his troop guides.  They were known as the "Blue Jellyfish."  His favorite time was "free-time."  He played tag with Kobe Mickelson, Austin Hinckley, and Michael Hinckley.  He stayed in a tent with Kobe Mickelson, Jared Curtis & Alec Dunford.  Tanner loved tying knots with Zhaun.  He learned how to do a monkey fist knot and loved teaching his brothers when he got home.  The week seemed to go fast for him. They also played a lot of Frisbee.  They focused a lot of the life of Joseph Smith.  On Saturday morning they had an hour program that was for the parents to see what the boys did throughout the week.  Byron was able to walk down from his camp to see this with Tanner.  They sang songs they learned through out the week.  Tanner was also awarded a neckerchief,

Byron went with quite a few men from our ward - David Wilcox, Steve Rindlisbacher & Matt Hamblin.  Once they got up there, they were all put into groups.  Byron was in the Bobwhite group.  Apparently Bobwhite is typically teased the whole time, but they really owned it and it was the first time several leaders have ever seen the Bobwhite dominate.  He called me most of the nights and it was great to hear how things were going.  He was extremely busy the whole time so he didn't get to talk very long.  He was pretty emotional some of the times he called - he was learning so many great things and actually glad he attended.  It started out stressful being away from his boys and the family, but ended up being a pretty amazing training.  It was pretty intense! 

The group before leaving Monday morning.  Tanner & Johnathan are in the middle of the picture standing up.   What a great looking bunch of kids - these are all of the Deacons that went from our ward.

This is the symbol of Wood Badge.

The rocket that Byron's group made in 30 minutes.  It didn't do the best, but not bad.  They won the "Farthest Travelled" award.

Johnathan on Monday while walking to his class with papers in hand for his merit badge - such an organized guy - he was walking with Brother Whitehead when Byron saw them.

Byron at Wood Badge in his scout uniform.

This is the view from the pavilion and the top of his weather rock.

Pavilion/eating area - they started out as Cubs the first day and then advanced as the days went on to Eagles.

Byron and Steve were tent buddies the first 3 days.  This is the staff they got towards the end.

Byron, Steve, Matt & Dave

Gilwell - they could not step over these logs into the huge area unless they were invited in.  They had to walk up by the flags to enter.  Below is the Gilwell song.

I used to be a Bobwhite, and a good old Bobwhite too.
But now I'm finished Bobwhiting, I don't know what to do.
I'm growing old and feeble, and I can Bobwhite no more.
So I'm going to work my ticket if I can.

Chorus:
 Back to Gilwell, happy land, I'm going to work my ticket, if I can.

One day Byron had to do all of these various tasks as a team - team building or mind games.  They didn't do so good with this one.

We had to do a presentation - his was on uniforms.  They did a video because one person on his team worked for LDS media services.  The video was a hit.

They redid an entire chapel area with a whole new stage area and new benches.  It was amazing what 100 guys could do in a few hours.

 Byron came across Johnathan one day while walking to a class.  He couldn't believe how dirty Johnathan's feet were and had to get an up close picture.

 

This was inside where most of the training happened.

The finished service project.

Byron went down the last day to see Tanner's graduation of Timberline.  He ended up being only a few hundred feet from Byron the whole week, but never saw him.

Boys at Timberline singing - Tanner at end on right.

Tanner receiving his Timberline Award.

All of the boys from our ward that did Timberline.

They had shoes on the bottom of the walking sticks that they got.

Wood Badge leaders at Gilwell.

When the boys got back on Saturday they were very dirty and looked like they were ready for a break.  I would have to say that I truly missed them - they are such good kids - there is a void in our family while they were away. 

Johnathan and the cool crafts he did with his merit badges.  Tanner threw his away before coming home last year, so at least I was able to see them in person:).