Scout Stuff All Around

I won't lie, I've been having Clark work on a lot of scout stuff lately. He's finished two merit badges already (his first ones--go Clark!) and has about four more that will be done in just a couple of weeks. He does a lot of stuff with Lee and some with me.  When I talk to Clark about all the scout stuff he is doing, he seems on board for the plan to hit it hard for a year and a half, and then the rest of scouts he can enjoy the activities and helping the younger scouts with their Eagle.  We'll see how it pans out, but right now he is doing a great job.

So it won't surprise you that Clark has been busy with some merit badge projects, along with Cal too.  First off, Cal.  He is almost done with Webelos and will be an 11-year old scout in just a couple months!

Cal had to do a three mile hike for one of his requirements.  We picked possibly one of the worst Saturdays to go on a hike...weather wise anyway.  It was windy and in the low 40s.  Shanna wasn't feeling super hot, but it was just me and the kids so she needed to come.  Found out a couple days later she had strep.  Sorry Shanna! We hike 1.5 miles in on the Kaylors Knob trail near here, then turned around.  Our pictures look great with happy kids.  There were some not-so-happy kids later on in the hike though.  It was sweet because Shanna asked, what do they say in Cinderella again?  And I love the phrase: "Have courage and be kind".  She seemed to be the happiest on the whole hike.  I think she was trying her best to follow that mantra.














Now on to Clark's scout stuff.  One merit badge he is working on is Citizenship in the Community.  All of the require special work, and this one kept him busy.  He had to attend a town council (or like meeting) interview a government official about an issue our town is concerned about, volunteer 8 hours at a local charity, make a presentation about our town (he did a power point), among other things.  Lee has been so gracious and kind spending lots of volunteer hours with Clark. A few weeks ago they spent 6 hours helping with an Eagle project for service hours needed for Star Scout.  The same day the kids and I were on the hike, Clark and Lee were at the county fairgrounds helping with a "barn yard sale".  All the proceeds went to our local charity here in town, which was awesome!  They spent five hours there working the register.  They were pretty cold all morning.  Then afterwards, they went on a 2 mile mountain bike ride for the cycling merit badge. (They actually rode just over 3 miles.)


In between that scout stuff, more random pictures for you! Shanna geared herself up to do jobs one weekend.  I think she might have been trying to waste time in the process...


Cal posing so the kids could save the picture on my phone and color on top of it. Too funny.


Although not a scout hike, I was able to go on a hike with Clark.  Opportunities to chaperone are few in middle school and it was great I could go on a field trip to Shenandoah National Park with them.  They did different things, one of which was hiking to Dark Hallow Falls.  I'm glad Clark still likes me to come along on things like this!




The many faces of Elden....




We've been test driving different vehicles lately. 


One more scout thing.  To finish off his hours for citizenship in the community Clark and I volunteered at the food bank a local charity runs (the same charity that Clark volunteered for manning the cash register at the sale).  There are many needs in our community, but I'm glad that our community in turn is also to help with those needs.  I think I want to make some repeat trips with other kids.


There will be an end in sight someday with scouts....AFTER my two other boys go through, ha ha.  It has been great though that Clark can be involved in this great program.