Ok, I may just be weird (maybe there's no "maybe" about it), but I think Eagle Scout Mentor's Pins should be given to someone other than the scout master, or varsity coach. I have received my fair share of Mentor's Pins through the years, and, while I appreciate them and the appreciation they show, I think they should be going to others.
I've been to Eagle Court of Honor's where the Eagle Candidate gave the pin to an "adopted" grandparent that had mentored him and encouraged him along the way. That was awesome!
I wish there were more people out there mentoring and encouraging the scouts as they travel down the trail to Eagle.
Everyone knows the scoutmaster does a lot for the boys, but lets honor those that aren't "required" to be helping the boys, but do anyway.
ok, I'll step off my soapbox now.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Monday, December 3, 2012
Meadow Hot Springs
As we typically do, we had our November campout this year at a hot springs. It's getting hard to find hot springs that aren't crowded and rowdy so I don't know how long we'll be able to keep this up, but we'll enjoy it while we can.
Meadow Hot Springs is on private land, but the owner has allowed people to come onto his land to have access to the springs. It's a pool approximately 25 feet long and 10-15 feet wide, with a deeper spot in the middle, and one spot that drops down 20 feet. It's always a challenge for the boys and leaders to try to make it to the bottom of the hole, so we bring glow sticks and tie small rocks to them and drop them down. There isn't really room for more than one or two people in the hole, so that way we know if they make it to the bottom or not. Not everyone is up to swimming down 20 feet into a dark hole, so we don't push, but those that do it enjoy the challenge. This year only one boy and myself made it to the bottom.
This year we camped in the backyard of a friend, in Fillmore, and after dinner donned our swimming suits and drove to the parking lot. It's a quarter mile hike from the parking lot to the springs - cold hike for those of us hiking in swimsuits and sandals as we sloshed through the mud puddles left over from the melting snow! So the water felt great! Unfortunately this year there were 2 scout troops camped at the parking lot, so we knew we were in for a busy night! Luckily not long after we got to the springs, the other two troops cleared out for dinner so we had an hour or so by ourselves.
After awhile the locals started showing up with bikini's and beer, and our boys decided it was best to leave. Good for them! So we left the place to the newcomers and went back to camp for a campfire, hot chocolate and bed.
The next morning we played quadball - which is a cross between soccer, rugby, football, and something else, hockey maybe? It was a lot of fun! Then we packed up and went home.
Good trip, but does anyone know of another hot springs that we can go to next year that won't be as busy? We've done Diamond Fork, and Crystal in years past.
Meadow Hot Springs is on private land, but the owner has allowed people to come onto his land to have access to the springs. It's a pool approximately 25 feet long and 10-15 feet wide, with a deeper spot in the middle, and one spot that drops down 20 feet. It's always a challenge for the boys and leaders to try to make it to the bottom of the hole, so we bring glow sticks and tie small rocks to them and drop them down. There isn't really room for more than one or two people in the hole, so that way we know if they make it to the bottom or not. Not everyone is up to swimming down 20 feet into a dark hole, so we don't push, but those that do it enjoy the challenge. This year only one boy and myself made it to the bottom.
This year we camped in the backyard of a friend, in Fillmore, and after dinner donned our swimming suits and drove to the parking lot. It's a quarter mile hike from the parking lot to the springs - cold hike for those of us hiking in swimsuits and sandals as we sloshed through the mud puddles left over from the melting snow! So the water felt great! Unfortunately this year there were 2 scout troops camped at the parking lot, so we knew we were in for a busy night! Luckily not long after we got to the springs, the other two troops cleared out for dinner so we had an hour or so by ourselves.
After awhile the locals started showing up with bikini's and beer, and our boys decided it was best to leave. Good for them! So we left the place to the newcomers and went back to camp for a campfire, hot chocolate and bed.
The next morning we played quadball - which is a cross between soccer, rugby, football, and something else, hockey maybe? It was a lot of fun! Then we packed up and went home.
Good trip, but does anyone know of another hot springs that we can go to next year that won't be as busy? We've done Diamond Fork, and Crystal in years past.
Friday, October 12, 2012
Timpanogos Peak Hike
First off, this wasn't a campout. We tried this last year and got rained out, but the other problem was that we had full packs, plus we were carrying our scout with Spina Bifida so everyone got tired too quick. This year we decided to do the whole thing in one day with day packs.
I've always been up there when the flowers were in bloom, but this time the flowers were all gone. Luckily the trees were turning colors and were awesome!
I've always been up there when the flowers were in bloom, but this time the flowers were all gone. Luckily the trees were turning colors and were awesome!
We did carry our scout with Spina Bifida with us in the carrier that was made for that purpose. It was an awesome experience! Some of our stronger scouts were unable to come, so we invited some adults to come help us, and we couldn't have made it without them. They were great!
It was a challenge! We only made it to the saddle and back (14 of the 16 miles), and we were at the trailhead at 7AM, and didn't get back till after 9PM! But it is challenge that the scouts need (and us adults) to keep us progressing and feeling accomplishment! I'd so rather go on a long hard hike and be able to enjoy the beautiful sights we saw on this one than to be lazy and sit at home and get nothing done!
Boys these days need to get that urge to feel accomplishment. So that they will work towards accomplishing things. Too many of them are just coasting along with no direction or goal in mind.
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