Mt Lemmon EYO Scout Campout

This weekend was the Eleven-Year-Old Scout Camp Out up at the Church Campsite (Camp Zion) on Mt. Lemmon. At 7,000 feet it's quite a bit cooler than the rest of the valley. It was near 80 degrees on the valley floor when we started driving up the mountain and when we reached the campsite it was about 43 degrees. It remained nippy for the rest of the afternoon and then the temperature dropped down in to the 30's once the sun went down (brrrrrrr).

We arrived early enough to get camp set up in the light ... and as you can see below ... David has become a real pro at setting up our tent and personal camp area.

The view from the campsite is just spectacular. The sunset was beautiful and you can also look down on the city lights.

The next morning there were activities planned for all the EYO Scouts from 3 different Stakes. It ranged from service to first aid, orienteering to lashings, archery to BB guns.

This was the first time David had picked up a bow. He learned quickly and did great when he got a chance to shoot arrows. His form and follow-through are "text-book."

It was also David's first time to shoot a BB gun. He was a great student in this environment and I enjoyed watching him absorb all the training and then put it into practice (firearm safety, dominant eye, breathing, slowly squeeze the trigger, etc.). His first shot went high, but then he got settled in and it tightened up a little more. I then coached him a little more on his breathing and the rest of his shots were within the 9 and 10 rings of the target.

This is the 2nd camp out where David has been exposed to orienteering. He is also picking this up quickly and is getting really proficient with a compass. This is the first time that he used a map and oriented himself using declination for the local area.

A few of the activities that had been organized for this camp were service activities. David and the other EYOs carried water around the campsite to put out the fires in preparation for breaking camp. They also helped set up tables, paper bags and napkins for the lunch that was provided that day. The young men were pushed to the limit carrying large buckets of water up and down the hills around camp. A little hard work only builds more character.

David is so excited to be in Scouts and very actively counts down the activities and achievements he needs to get to the next rank advancement. He is currently a Tenderfoot and only has a few more requirements to pass off both Second Class and First Class. By the time he turns 12, he'll either be a Star Scout or pretty close. When the troop has the Court of Honor in July or August he should have 3 merit badges under his belt (Reading, Citizenship in the World, and Swimming) ... if not 1 or 2 more.

On the way up to the camp out he wanted to talk about different Eagle projects and what I did for mine. He is SO competitive when it comes to achievements like this. He wants to be an Eagle at an earlier age than I was. His goal is to have his Eagle before he turns 14. Amy and I are so proud of how he likes good things and wants to do the best he can.