Leave No Trace

I absolutely LOVE scouting! The scouting program teaches boys how to become men. How to serve others and learn new skills. And it teaches them to in return help younger boys.

One special award you can receive is the Leave No Trace badge. I know cub scouting is coming up on some exciting changes, but I wanted to share this great principal because it can bless us all. In order to earn your award you have to learn the principals and practice them, along with fulfilling requirements for your age.

Leave No Trace Basic Principals

Plan Ahead and Prepare:

Know the regulations and special concerns for the area you visit. Information is key. Bring a map and compass if possible. Prepare for weather conditions and emergencies. 

Travel & Camp on Durable surfaces:

Durable surfaces include establish trails, campsites, rock, & gravel. Earlier this month we visited Sedona. They had a great sign explaining why we shouldn't step on the "crust". It had great visual aids. My boys already know and practice this principal, but I loved the information. It's crucial we stick to the trails so we don't ruin habitats for bugs and animals. Killing vegetation has impact on everything from bugs, birds, small animals which also impacts larger animals. I did let them explore rocks and climb around, but other than that we stuck to the trails. 

Dispose of Waste Properly

"Pack it in, pack it out" When preparing for a hike or camping consider how you are going to dispose of trash. I love packing an extra trash bag. Help teach your kids to be mindful of sandwich bags and water bottle lids. If you need to dispose of human waste do so properly, in a hole dug 6- 8 inches deep at least 200 feet away from water, trails, & camp.

Leave What you Found:

This is a great one to teach if you don't want treasures to come home with you. But it's also important to teach our kids why we don't bring home rocks, shells, or plants. Preserve the past. Examine, but don't touch cultural or historic structures. Teaching them early is so important. I love how this principal helps us think of others and the future.

Minimize Campfire Impact:

Where fires are allowed use established fire rings. Keep fires small. And burn all wood and coals down to ash. Completely put out fire and scatter cooled ashes. When possible use light weight stove for cooking and lantern for light.

Respect Wildlife:

Observe wildlife from a distance. Never feed animals. Feeding wildlife damages their health, alters natural behaviors, and exposes them to predators and other danger. Store your food securely.

Be Considerate of Other Visitors:

"Respect other visitors and protect the quality of their experience." Be courteous and yield to others on the trail. I have learned those going up have the right of way. Avoid loud voices and noises including music. 

Wishing you a Happy Earth Day. Plant some flowers, pick up trash, or enjoy nature. I hope these principals of Leave No Trace bless your family. I am so thankful for teaching opportunities.

Pine Wood Derby

Last weekend was the much anticipated Pinewood Derby. It's pretty much the best part of cub scouts. Building a car with your dad and Grandpa, using real tools. It's a kids dream. My husband always did pretty well as a kid because his dad is a natural with cars. The hubby couldn't wait to help Gandalf make his own car. Last year Gandalf got 1st place and was pretty stoked. Naturally he was looking forward to his 2nd race as a cub scout.

Gandalf with his car The Black Falcon and the neat stand our Weblos made for each cub scout.

We were able to get our car before Christmas so we could work on it with Papa who happens to have a great shop filled with fun tools. (If you are in Orange County in Southern California and need your car taken care of by an honest mechanic check out Glenn's.) Unfortunately my in laws were sick and Gandalf's car wasn't finished in California. My hubby and Gandalf finished up his car when we got home. Gandalf loved it! He wanted a Falcon because they are known for being fast. Using my Cameo Silhouette I was able to make Falcon for his car. He loved how the gold sparkled in the sun.

Cheering for brother! Myself with my awesome co-leaders.

As we approached the race I took time to prep my son on a couple things. 

It was important for him to realize just because his car was really fast last year and took first place it might not win this year. In our new pack we have twice as many boys. Numbers wise (which he totally gets) it's going to be more competitive. Sometimes processing things can be hard for my son and I didn't want him to be too disappointed if he didn't win.

Pinewood Derby last year

We went over if he does win how important it is that we are humble. Saying "That was easy" or "I knew I would win!" isn't being a good racer. My son is blessed to have a dad who loves to research how to make a car fast and loves spending time with him. It was hard to make that time as my hubby is working so much and going back to school right now. So this was a great excuse to have some one on one time. 

The Black Falcon winning a race...

Like everything in cub scouts our motto is "Do Your Best!" We should strive to do our best. And competition can be fun. But we shouldn't compare ourselves to others. It's great to be proud with how your car turned out. But saying your car is better than others is being prideful. And that's not what we are about. So do your best. And be proud of yourself. Being proud, but not prideful is important. And when we do our best we feel good about ourselves even if we aren't the best.

This is a great opportunity to make new friends. Cheer for your friends! Give the other racers compliments on their cars. Notice their great paint job or fun car name.

One of my favorite pictures!

As a wolf leader I had to work the races as they keep them pretty fast paced. I really only saw his car race 2 or 3 times. I knew it was doing pretty well, but I knew we had some pretty fast cars this year.

My favorite part of the race was seeing our family support Gandalf and his car. Draco is such a great brother. He cheered passionately the whole time. They had a little table where siblings could make pendents with paper, tape, and plastic straws to wave. We did miss having Grandparents there. Ginger wore black and gold to support her brother's car. And Yoda waited to the end to fall asleep.

This great boy didn't place this year but I am so proud of him! He handled it so well. He was thrilled with his award "Fastest Flying Car" and thought it was funny. And he loved the candies in the mini trophy cup. He did a great job complimenting the boys who did place. He was a great sport. Even when his little brother asked him what place he got. Draco didn't understand and continued to ask, "What do you mean you didn't get a place? How come?" He simply told him he didn't win.

We celebrated a fun race with ice cream and playing Legos. And we are looking forward to the next 7 years of pinewood derby races. Yoda already knows he wants to call his car the "Cheetah of Death". Thankful for the race we won and the won we didn't. Gandalf is already planning new ideas to win next year. 

I made our Pit Passes from this great site. Check out their blog for more ideas!

Gandalf Earns his Bear Award

I have the privilege of working in the Cub Scout Program. I have been serving in scouts for about 4 years. I have such a testimony of the Scouting Program. I love the values they teach. I love how they encourage them to work hard, serve others, and learn important skills. The Church I go to has adopted this program for their young men, and for that I am so thankful.

Tonight Gandalf earned his Bear Achievement. He had to work hard and complete important tasks that are helping to shape him into a fine young man. I am thankful for great leaders, both in California and Arizona who have helped and mentored him. Right now I serve with the Wolf Pack, the 8 year old boys. Gandalf has men leaders and I think that is pretty great. Sometimes as a leader I am so busy planning activities and such for my den that I need to be a more active cub parent.

Gandlaf at his first pack meeting as a Wolf Scout.

I am thankful for Scouting Program. I believe it is designed by heavenly inspiration. We train up cub scouts. They become awesome Boy Scouts, who later become leaders and mentor future boys. Below are some pictures when Gandalf earned his Wolf Rank. He was so proud. And it was great to have both his Grandmas there to support him.

Pretty soon this sweet boy is going to become a Boy Scout. And I won't be as involved in scouting then. He will work with great men who will encourage him and help strengthen his testimony of our Heavenly Father. I know having a fun great experience in cub scouts will help him to love scouting and hopefully stick with it through High School. He wants to earn his Eagle Scout, like his dad. I know the scouting program will help him become a great man.

I would encourage you to find a troop for your son and to get involved. It is a wonderful program! You will love it. Some moms aren't crazy about it, but when I go to training meetings or see the boys grow and learn, my hear swells. I know this is a good thing. And we should seek after good things. Especially for our sons. I am thankful for my testimony of scouting. And when Gandalf moves on to Boy Scouts, Draco will be ready to start. And the same pattern follows with Yoda. 

So it's probably good that I love scouts so much...

 Here is Gandalf pinning on my mothers pin (Did you know moms get pins when their sons earn different ranks? Told you this program is teaching our sons right). He was having a hard time. His fine motor skills aren't the best. Plus baby girl was trying to get it. Then he dropped it down my shirt and tried to get it. I let him know I would take care of it. I went off to the side and shook out my shirt.

Being crazy. He was so happy and proud of himself

I am so proud of my growing boy! Glad that he has a group of boys to grow up with. Glad that he is learning to become an honest young man. And glad that he is having fun. Scouting is for all boys. And I love how they accept and encourage them to "do their best" whatever that it. I love the boys that I work with. And I love when past boys let me know what great things they are doing in scouting now.