Mapel Dell Scout Camp 2011

David is the Scout Master and so he had the wonderful opportunity taking off an entire week of work and going to scout camp at Maple Dell this summer. Ethan had the awesome opportunity of going as a scout! Ethan had an absolute blast and accomplished a lot! David and I couldn't be more proud of what a fine young man Ethan is becoming. He is hard working, helpful, reliable and doesn't complain! Not to mention he's good! He wants nothing more than to do what is right to please his Heavenly Father.

At camp they did all sorts of activities as a troop to help build unity.

Marcus Iverson doing the wall pull.
One of the big things they accomplished as a troop was the wall pull. Each of the boys had to make it over the wall and once at the top they were only allowed to help two of the scouts after them. They had to use team work and strategy. They had to be leaders and followers at the appropriate times to make it all work out.

They were so proud of themselves and I'm sure they all learned a lot about themselves in the process. There just isn't anything like watching a boy become a man! And that's definitely what these boys were doing here at camp!

They got to go canoeing along with all sorts of other things. This picture was of the actual canoe races they held on Friday morning. Our troop won the first race and won the honorary rock with the word canoe spelled "CONNOE."

The last night of camp all the families were invited to come for a special program. We went up and Ethan was elected into the Order of the Arrow. The Order of the Arrow is the Scouting's National Honor Society.

Ethan along with his friend Marcus both received it.
This came as a surprise to the boys but what a wonderful honor!

At the end of the night they showed a video highlighting all the weeks events and then they finished the program with a very touching patriotic video about our country and scouting. During the patriotic presentation they dropped a huge flag down from off the top of one of the buildings and with the light shinning on it you could see the silhouette of these three scouts. It was AWESOME and breathtaking!

After the program we all headed back to the troops camp ground. Talan had a blast wearing the head light. I wanted to take a picture of it but every time I tried to get him to look in my general direction he would flash his light right into my eyes blinding me. Finally I settled with a side shot!

The boys got a fire started and acted like typical boys burning things.

Over all I think that camp was a huge success! The boys all accomplished lots of merit badges and personal growth. The leaders survived a week long of camping with 12 boys between the ages of 12 and 13 without killing one of them!