A Family of Scouts

The Spring of 2014 brought a change for our family in scouting.  Mark had served as the 11-year-old scout leader for a few years, but now, Mark gets to be the embodiment of "trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful,  thrifty, brave, clean and reverent" as the Scout Master.  He has now been fully trained, with heavy emphasis on the importance of wearing a uniform, and is now the proud owner of a Leatherman multi-tool (now out of the package) and knee-high scout green socks (still in the package).

One of his last duties as an 11-year-old scout was to award D.J. his Tenderfoot, First Class and Second Class ranks.

Mom and Dad both get a hug as a thanks for help and encouragement.

As the life of Astling scouting continued, James went to Cub scout camp at a wet and cold Camp Tracy.  But that didn't stop the scouts from going on the obstacle course, doing archery and BB gun shooting.  Thankfully we got a coarse on geology in the Volcavo and the trading post served hot chocolate then we ate lunch in the van with the heater on.

After our trip from Europe and Africa, scouting life resumed.  D.J. got to go to both the 11-year-old camp and Boy Scout camp since he was still 11 during the 11-year-old camp and turned twelve right after the Boy Scout camp.

Todd Porter has been a tried and true scout leader for Spencer and D.J.  We are so grateful for his patience and assistance in all things scouts.  He is showing D.J. how to properly use a knife while cutting a watermelon.

D.J., Todd Porter, Jack Stringham, Zachary Smith and Jason Smith (Mark at the camera) waiting for MORE SCOUT SKITS! A song! A song! We're gonna sing a song! Hey!

The benefits of scout camp.

Learning to play poker. Another benefit of scout camp?

Jack Stringham and D.J.

And now for Boy Scout Camp.  Mark gets many boy scout brownie points for putting this camp together last minute.  The previous Scout Master was in the processing of selling his house and moving, so the plans for scout camp didn't come to fruition.  So, after some quick planning, researching, scheduling and lining up two-deep leadership, Mark reserved a spot for the boys at Maple Dell Scout Camp in Payson Canyon.

The whole clean group, right before leaving: Spencer, Seth Larsen, Mark, D.J., Brock Gregersen, Brandon Perkins, Matt Larsen, Tanner Nelson, Nate Perkins and Kevin Samuelson.

Mark made sure to plan out meal times so there were two scouts preparing the meal. This is to help the scout fulfill the new required cooking merit badge.  Meals ranged anywhere from hamburgers to cereal - yes it took two scouts to prepare cereal.

When left to their own devices (and with a camera man hanging around) the boys decided that they needed to show their dislike for the singing group One Direction.  So they drew something on a paper signifying One Direction and lit it on fire.

Oh, the satisfaction of watching a girl-approved singing group go down in flames.

While on a hike, Spencer and Seth decided to use their shirts as head protection, leaving no protection for their abdomens, but you've got to have priorities, I guess.

Late-night hot chocolate.

Spencer decided to be helpful and kind by giving Brock a lift on the road.  Or maybe Brock decided that Spencer needed practice in being helpful and kind.

The aftermath of a pseudo-shower. Cleaning hair in a bucket.

The Bishop of our ward made the trip to camp to be with the boys for a day.  He taught them valuable things, like how hair can wrestle.  It involves a few strands of hair, a plate full of water.  If you look closely you can see the hair wrestle. And then you might get wet.

Another favorite trick is to darken the edges of a quarter with a pencil and make traces around your face.

There were many water activities and merit badges available.  This is one a Spencer's happier moments with water as he shows off his muscles.  The unhappier moments involved water mites that should have been washed off immediately in a shower.

Lest you think it was all play, the boys did participate in merit badge classes.  The one above is a first aid class that appears to focus on good hydration.

D.J. and Brock had a great time with the ropes course by the lake.

Maple Dell's specialty is horse-back riding, so the scouts partook.  This here is Slouchy Joe sportin' boots and all.

Spencer, fearless leader Mark and Seth join in the ridin'.

Every year there are just great pictures in nature.

I don't know what this is about, and I'm not sure I want to.  Along with many other things that fall under, "what happens at scout camp, stays at scout camp."  But I'm so glad my boys have fun and learn all sorts of things at the same time.

The Battle of Maple Dell was a much anticipated activity where each troop tried to tip the canoe of another troop.  Seth, Spencer, Brock and D.J. paddle out in the lake with their hands to reach other canoes.

I love the faces these boys are making while they are doing their best to tip another canoe.

Victory!!

Unfortunately, one of the next rounds brought defeat.  Though it was reportedly at the hands of giant 16-year-old boys who did not follow the rules.

Ultimately, the boys took fourth place over all, and they were pretty proud of it, despite D.J.'s solemn gaze.

Donald, a much appreciated and well liked counselor (on the left), helped the boys with rules, directions and suggestions.

The camp was quite large, but well organized, with very impressive leadership.  Despite all the pictures above about trickery and goofiness, the scouts did earn a number of merit badges and learned essential lessons in life.  The all-camp meetings were fun for the scouts to go to, especially when they had to make up a troop cheer, which the boys decided should be a the numbers of pi.  Not all of them, but just enough to make them laugh.