Make Your Own Way

Each of our young men are unique, each are special. We are so proud of our guys and the responsible decisions that they make and the paths that each have chosen to take. We have boys that have chosen athletics others are involved in their community. Many are just enjoying scouting and are active and involved.
Scouting has many opportunities for our young men. Our troop is planning a very active 2010. Sports and the outdoors. Fun and excitement. We are really looking forward to a great year.
I think what really makes great leaders is an honest understanding for the individual itself. The uniquness of each of the boys. Learning what makes everybody tick. Each boy responds to a different thing. It takes great leaders to bring that out and to nourish it.
Training and ongoing learning. Just as in life you are always learning as leaders. A little planning and some good ideas and just great fun.
Boy Scouting has been one of the truly greatest opportunities I have had in my life. A very rewarding and honorable event I will always look upon in this life. Some parents just don't know what they are missing. Some say I really don't do dirt and bugs, well we do and we do it well. Nothing like some great bugs and dirt...love it! Others say I'm not the outdoors type, well we are, would rather be outdoors then in. I would rather be Kayaking right now but have to write this post. Just mention climbing or creeks or mud or bugs and I'm there.

Thats what makes us so lucky,its that part of the boys that we get to enjoy with them, we share their love for just being crazy and dirty and messy and funny and strange at times. They get to be who they really are...Boys! Fun loving creatures. Wet shoes and dirty smelly socks and mud to their eyeballs. Nobody cares and nobody yells and they are fine and so are we. Hey its their feet and they don't care. It's the experience. Thats why we are blessed. I'm so glad to be a member of Boy Scouts and I can't ever imagine it being any other way! Thanks boys I think you are each.... Making Your Own Way! Follow the music YOU Hear! That is very hard in todays world but I think each of you is finding the perfect tunes!

Happy 4th of July to all. Off to the fireworks!

How To Stuff 2 Draft Horses In A Ford Truck!

The Great Fun Of Scouting! We had the opportunity to

meet this gentlemen at the French and Indian War

Encampment. He comes to volunteer his time

and his 2 horses Elvis and Fibber. The mans name

is Windy! Wonderful old timer. Loves his horses

and loves people. We have to say I couldn't believe

this could be done but Windy did it. These old

timers can do some things a few of us younger

people would never think of. Safety wise....

ahhhhh! But definetly built out of love. So

I'm sure it's safe. Cute it was. 

Veterans Fight to Keep 75-yr. old Mojave Desert Memorial cross

Custaloga Town -French And Indian War Encampment- Part 1

Here they are, our great little guys. Happily drudging their belongings to their camping area. Isn't it great. Just about the best spot ever. Hand picked by our fearless Scoutmaster Steve and his Assistant Scoutmaster Joe. These little guys are happy anywhere, they do not care if you put them in a tree, as long as they are camping. Thats what scoutings all about. The fun and adventure. Notice the trees behind them. On the other side of the trees a babbling creek. This will prove to be the greatest weekend ever. Camping beside a stream, think of the adventure. Playing in the stream. 2 of our older scouts decided to camp right along the creek. Now that's brave.

French And Indian War Encampment 2009

Number One Reason For The First Aide Merit Badge....Injuries

Why do we get a First Aide Merit Badge? Why do we have a nurse in our troop? Why do we try to avoid danger at all times? Because we have boy scouts...key word...BOY! Where there are boys there are bound to be accidents. This was just a little one. Thank you lord. Mat only did it for the smiley face. He was so excited by the bandaid he emailed it to all his friends....that's pain folks! Who's son....the nurse!

The Campfires...The Memories

Our favorite is by far sitting at the campfire and reminiscing about our past camp outs over the years, making memories like this weekend. We will always remember and recall this just like all the rest. We so much enjoy our weekends with the boys. It is a privilege and honor to have a part in these young men's lives. That's scouting. That is why I do this blog. I hope in the future our guys will always look at this and say I belong to that family also....my scouting family. It is an extended family. We feed, protect, care, nourish the spirit, pray and laugh with our boys. We love each and everyone of them for who they are. They are all individuals and each are different and each are special. It doesn't take long to learn what makes them tick. And it doesn't take long to know and fall in love with each of them. So many boy's have come and gone. Many have stayed. We always stop at some point to remember the ones that are no longer with our scouting family. Maybe someday hey will wonder back and maybe not but when we see them we know they will always remember the time they spent with us .....making memories, just being boys.

Nature..The Wonder....The Water

Need I say more. The water was now approaching vehicles......time to move along. Notice the boys happily playing in the background. Being boys. I love scouting. Notice the big boys moving the smaller boys out of the water....party poopers. Oh well.

The Custaloga Town French And Indian War Encampment...Flood

Well they were telling the truth. No joke folks it was a real flood. It rained so hard over the night and early morning the beautiful creek over flowed its banks and whalah.......flood. The camp that took 2 hours to erect took 5 minutes to carry to higher ground. Really about 10 minutes. All we could do was basically watch it rise. The boys really just absolutely loved it. Playing in the water was just he coolest thing. So we moved to higher ground and all was well. Oh notice the tent of our 2 brave campers their tent did not survive. It is now a tarp. Oh well life goes on.

Custaloga Town- French And Indian War Enccampment- Part 2

Everyone is looking forward to nightfall. The sounds of nature. Don't forget that beautiful creek lulling you to sleep. Smores and roasting marshmallows and football in the dark. Its a scout thing. Never do the obvious. Like attempt to catch a football with the sunlight in your eyes. Go for the moonlight, its just better light you know. Anyways it took a few hours to set up camp maybe a little less. Then it was fire time. And that's always another story. Thank our dear lord it wasn't cold that's all I can say. The boys always work so well together as a team. And they have a great team. They do what needs to be done to accomplish their task. Their camp is always neat, tents another story. But thats what zippers are for. Poof it's gone. Anyways there is so much more to our story so we must move along. Everything was just perfect......then....oh my!

Custaloga Town -French And Indian War Encampment- Part 3 (The Great Flood)

Well sometimes ...even with perfect planning and absolute perfection, you get an OOPS! Maybe that wasn't the perfect spot, possibly for some reason, maybe I should have not picked that area for mere FLOODING reasons.

Then at 5AM all your worst fears come true. Nothing like 2 boy scouts bright and Early in the am, on a day when you really don't have to be up at 5 AM, running around like chickens with their heads cut off screaming.....there's a flood everyone up! Something in your mind says darn now that's a real nightmare and something says....I need to respond. Then there is the 40 something body saying ....well don't respond real fast there is plenty of time. Then you continue to sleep ignoring the impending...Flood!

Yes folks it was the great Custaloga Town Flood 2009! Who would have thought. I would like to send a shout out to Drew and Mat for basically saving us from mere devastation and an early morning swim.