Little Philmont

Because of D's calling in the Stake YM presidency, we got to spend Friday night and Saturday at a training called Little Philmont. It's basically put together by Scout leaders to help all those working with Scouts (from cubs on up to venturers) catch the vision and be better leaders. The neat thing is that they had all kinds of fun activities for the kids and spouses while the leaders spent 5-6 hours in meetings!

Friday night was just for the leaders and spouses, so our kids got to spend the evening with SPH-1 and Daddy-o. They cried when we left and then when we returned to pick them up, they cried cuz they didn't want to go home...sometimes you just can't win!

While D was in the meeting with the other leaders, the spouses got to do a puzzle, socialize and do stuff with beads (it's scout stuff right!?)

We started off the morning Saturday by watching an Apache helicopter circle and land in the field next to the church. And then they let the kids (of all ages) climb in and answered all kinds of questions. That was definitely a highlight of the day, even though I thought the initial rotor wash would knock poor little Sweetsa off her feet! (It did push her back a bit, but she managed to keep herself upright.)

There was also a drum circle where the kids (and adults) got to learn a few African drum series/patterns. It was fun hearing the kids saying under their breath after wards "Walk the fat dog!" (the memory prompt for one of the patterns). It was also fun to be able to do some "noodling", or jamming on the drums to a beat. The drum leader/teacher guy said that we all sounded really good, probably the best he's ever heard a first time group sound!

The kids also got to go on a leaf walk, make a collage, do a blessing box, and listen to a professional story teller. Those are the things I actually saw them do, when I wasn't hurrying around trying to get to my classes.

The spouses got to choose between an art class (taught by a university Professor), making hats, playing games, dutch oven cooking, the drum circle, and something else that I obviously didn't go to because I can't remember what it was!

At the end of the training, there was a lunch, the helicopter took off and a guy brought a bald Eagle to show everyone. That was really cool. Mimi said the eagle was the best part. Sweetsa must have agreed, because she saw the bird and immediately said, clear as day, "Eagle!" and has continued to say eagle since then! She wants to see the pics I took on the phone all the time, "Eagle peas! Bye-bye Eagle!" I will try to figure out how to get those pics from my phone to the blog...stay tuned!