Camp Jeremiah Johnson

I am currently the wolf scout den leader.  I don't spend any of our yearly budget during the year just to save up to take the boys to camp Jeremiah Johnson each year.  It is the best experience for the boys.  We have a new little scout who actually won't even be 8 until next week, but we took him along.  He borrowed a scout shirt from the ward since his family hasn't purchased his yet. He said to our other leader, Sister Langford, on a quick trip to the bathroom that he feels so good in his uniform.  He said it makes him happy to be wearing it and be at day camp.  I felt that he was happy to be part of the pack. As I have studied more about boys and how to best raise them, being a mom of 4, I have learned how important it is for them to feel a part of a group.  Cub scouts gives that to these little guys.  It is such a wonderful program and I am so glad my boys have embraced it the way they have.

We up bright and early before 6am to pack our lunches and meet the rest of the boys. We piled in the minivan and drove up Hobble Creek canyon to Camp Jeremiah Johnson.  We had a fun opening ceremony were we sang the star spangled banner, had a flag ceremony, and learned the camp rules.  Then we were off to 6 different stations.  First-BB guns!  One of their favorite parts!  Braden was proud of himself to have hit the target -a gatorade bottle.  We then moved on to a rock wall.  It was a little difficult for some of the boys, but others were like little monkey's climbing all over it. Then we were off to a lesson about the flag and how to fold and respect it.  There was a cute little 14 year old girl who gave us an quick history lesson of the colonizers of the United States. Basically summed up 100 years in 10 minutes!  She did a great job!  So darling.  The kids had a chance to fold the flag for themselves. We do this a lot in our den so the boys knew what they were doing. 

Then it was off to archery. Another favorite at the camp.  The bows were a little different from Braden's at home so he got a little frustrated that he didn't hit the target hard enough for the arrow to stick every time, but he was a good sport.  It was fun to watch the kids who were trying it for the first time.  They were each able to shoot about 15 arrows which is more that twice as many as they did last year.

After archery, we learned a bit about Boeing Jets and their maker. The boys then made a model jet out of a wooden kit.

Finally lunch!  It was only 10:45, but we were pretty hungry.  The boys also had a chance to purchase items from the trading post.  The pocket knife was the hot item.  Braden got a sling shot and Logan bought a hand held fan and some rocket shaped juice bottles. 

Lunch seemed pretty short because before I knew it, it was time to move on.  The next station they made paper rockets and launched them from an air compressor station.  What fun to run and catch the rockets! It was getting hot and we were starting to worry about heat exhaustion and dehydration as they ran back and forth.  We made everyone get plenty to drink. 

Our last station we learned about team work. The boys played a few games that required cooperation from either the entire group or just one other scout. 

The day then ended with closing ceremony and flag retirement.  They sang another patriotic song and watched the flag being taken down.  The troop helping with it just about lobbed the flag on the ground, but it was saved at the last second.  The cute boy who said the closing prayer made it short and sweet.  Basically thanks for letting us come to Jeremiah Johnson day camp, amen.

What a fun, fun day!  And to make it even better, I have a cute new assistant den leader!  Barbara is so much fun. We get along great and make a great team.