We Have a First Class Scout

Tonight we had a Court of Honor and our boy became a First Class Scout. He also received 3 merit badges.

Here is the momma getting her First Class pin! I'm not proud.

Hayden was instrumental in his troop winning the knot tying award at their recent Camporee. Like his dad, he has taken to knots like a duck to water. Here he is holding the troops certificate.

The whole gang! (most of them)

Next step: Star Scout!!!

Scout Award

We attended a District Scout banquet Saturday night. William received an award for his adult training. Go William!!! He is also working on his Wood Badge; one more bead to move!!

William just completed Wilderness Survival Training for the Scouts and he has the patch to prove it!!! I am proud of him, this is not required but very important when you take boys into the woods away from medical help. He works hard to take advantage of classes available to adult leaders so he can offer more to the boys he leads.

Scouting

This weekend the scouts participated in a horsemanship campout. They camped and rode horses! Hayden had been very apprehensive about getting on a horse, but decided to push forward. That's my boy! "DO HARD THINGS"!!




Hayden learned something new about himself and something about horses, which I happen to love. I rode during my preteen and teen years and loved very minute of it. Horses are intelligent, beautiful animals. And they have the softest noses!!




Being at someone's ranch, they had to wear helmets which doesn't make you look terribly cool, but it is safe. Safe trumps cool. You go boy!

Proud of My Guys

Our troop had a Court of Honor tonight and my guys each got several awards. I am so proud of the hard work both William and Hayden do in Scouts.

Hayden received his TNT patch from summer camp and 3 merit badges! Two of the three are Eagle Scout required. William received a service knot, a summer camp patch and an Eagle statue for service. He is also working on his Wood Badge. I keep telling him it looks like the 'patch fairy' threw up on his shirt! He just smiles...

Summer Camp

Here is my boy at summer camp and his tent. Not my idea of appropriate accommodations, but I am not a Boy Scout. They seem to have an unusual ability to sleep and eat in conditions I could not. But, I am spoiled!


The lake where my baby qualified for his Swimming merit badge. Way To Go!!! He also got his Archery and First Aid badges!! And here he is at a gathering; I think he is laughing. How dare he have fun when he is away from his mother? I never!



Waiting in line at the dining hall. Lots of hungry scouts staying in tents, exercising all day, and they ARE HUNGRY!!! Glad I am not cooking for this bunch; that could get ugly. I doubt it though, they are taught to be kind, respectful, etc. etc. Good boys!

Summer Camp

Here is Hayden in his tent at summer camp. He shared a tent with another boy from his troop. They had a good week!

He Makes Fire

At the scouts last camp out, Hayden had to start his own campfire. This is a requirement for one of the ranks he is working on. William was so proud of him; Hayden got his wood together of various sizes and expertly started his fire! That's my BOY!!!
William and Hayden are at summer camp this week and I miss them already. The week should allow Hayden to work on several things and it will be a great experience for him and his dad.
Boy Scouts teaches these guys so much in the way of discipline, outdoor skills and leadership. It makes a boy a young man and prepares him for greater things. Our troop has 12 Eagle Scouts which is amazing and I am impressed with the successes of each. They have worked so hard to achieve this rank and many have gone over and above the minimum requirements.

Here are my two favorite guys on a scout trip to Cumberland Island. They had a wonderful time except for my hubby imitating Forrest Gump since the scout master's name is Dan. You guessed it, "Lt. Dan"! It embarrassed Hayden to NO end!! They were getting on the boat and William was at the end of the line. He started running and yelling, " I'm comin Lt. Dan, I'm comin"! Accent and all.