The Bloggers
Gear finds, Wood Badge and troop leadership from a Utah Scoutmaster.
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Crystal Hot Springs in December has been a tradition in our troop since 2012, and this month’s scout outing was an historic one for sure. It was the last one of the year, the last one of a decade and, most significantly, the last one as Boy Scouts of America for the vast majority of…
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2019: 1) Jan – Cold weather camping at Fivemile Pass 2) Feb – Cold weather camping at Willow Park (Lehi) – CANCELLED* 3) Mar – 5th annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 4) Apr – 5th annual Spring outing to White Rock – CANCELLED* 5) May – Rescheduled 5th annual Spring outing…
This past Friday, November 8 th , I had the opportunity to hike Mount Whitney , California’s tallest peak and the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. While that was an awesome experience all by itself, summiting this peak wasn’t even the highlight…the highlight was being on this mountain with an inspiring group of Marines!
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2018: 1) Jan – 4th annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 2) Feb – Ice fishing on Strawberry Reservoir 3) Apr – 4th annual Spring outing to White Rock near Dugway 4) May – 9th annual backpack outing to Rudy’s Flat 5) Jun – Backpacking to Notch Lake 6) Jul…
Over the past weekend, I had the opportunity to hike the Grand Canyon from rim to rim for the second time (north to south this time)! What another grand experience – even after having done it before. I would even say it’s better the second time around because you can take it all in with far…
Dear eTrailToEagle, Are you going out of business? One month ago, I submitted a request to work with me on a recent split of two scout troops into three. I was (and still am) hoping to transfer the affected boys from each troop (who are already both in eTrail) into a third one I will…
My Ward recently announced a split and overnight, I lost my “job”. It was pretty hard that first weekend to think about all that we were planning and preparing for 2018 that changed in an instant! We all knew this was coming but didn’t know exactly when… and this being my first time experiencing a…
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2017: 1) Jan – 3rd annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 2) Feb – Last minute change to Fivemile Pass* 3) Mar – Yurt experience at East Fork of the Bear River** 4) Apr – 3rd annual Spring outing to White Rock near Dugway 5) May – 8th annual backpack…
Last week’s news of the LDS church opting out of the BSA Varsity and Venturing programs is sad, but not surprising. Sad because those programs could have and should have been leveraged to help further prepare these boys for life… that’s why both programs exist and what boy scouting is all about!
As a new year brings in resolutions and goal setting for what people want to accomplish, there are a few things I’m asking the Deacons to focus on this year. It’s what I’m calling “Ways To Be” in 2017. BE PRESENT I’m asking the boys to get to know one another better this year.
As I’ve thought about another year of offering our flag service and the advertising we do to promote this 7 th annual fundraiser, I feel it’s time to change our focus about it for 2017. Our previous flyers have emphasized WHAT we are doing – asking for help to send X number of boys to scout…
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2016: 1) Jan – 2nd annual Winter backpacking on snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon 2) Feb – Last minute change to Crystal Hot Springs* 3) Apr – 2nd annual April outing to White Rock near Dugway** 4) May – 6th annual May backpack outing to Rudy's Flat 5) Jun – Exploring Coyote Gulch…
This hike has been on my “to do” list for a long, long time – as long as when my own sons were working on their Hiking merit badge and completed the Smith & Moorehouse Trail back in 2010. I don’t know why I haven’t done this trail before now, but I finally did it with my…
Here's an email I got from a couple who were just called to be Eleven Year Old (EYO) Leaders of an LDS unit in Sacramento, California. Sheri wrote: My husband and I have been called to teach 11 year old scouts in the LDS church.
We’ve been doing a lot of hiking this summer and felt that maybe parents needed to know why in order to help support their boys from home, so here’s what I sent to them in email: 10 miles in Coyote Gulch (Jun) 5 miles at Camp Steiner (Jul) 4 miles on Red Butte / “The Living…
The Lofty Lake Loop trail is a great one to do from Steiner during your week at scout camp. The actual loop trail is only 4 miles, but that extra mile needed to make it a 5-miler is easily accomplished.
In one short year from today, my Council will be on our way to a scouting experience of a lifetime… the 2017 National Jamboree ! You might think that's a long way off, but I remember thinking this same thing last July …and those past 12 months have sure gone by fast!
I've been asked all year if we are planning another trip to Goblin Valley this summer. Remembering last year's experience , my answers were always vague and uncertain as I was contemplating the possibility of another option. I really liked having more time to experience those San Rafael slot canyons with the added night to our…
Back in March, I read A Parent's Guide to Raising Successful Missionaries , the latest book by Brad and Sandy Harris. In addition to everything I already mentioned about this book, I also appreciated the personal accounts that were included from actual returned missionaries.
My troop just spent the weekend camping at White Rock near Dugway, for the second April in a row. We like this destination in April for a few reasons. First, it's generally warmer and drier out in Utah's west desert as my scouts "transition" between winter camping and summer backpacking.
My troop just spent the weekend camping at White Rock near Dugway, for the second April in a row. We like this destination in April for a few reasons. First, it's generally warmer and drier out in Utah's west desert as my scouts "transition" between winter camping and summer backpacking.
My troop just spent the weekend camping at White Rocks near Dugway, for the second April in a row. We like this destination in April for a few reasons. First, it’s generally warmer and drier out in Utah’s west desert as my scouts “transition” between winter camping and summer backpacking.
I just finished reading a new book by Brad Harris, author of Trails to Testimony , called A Parent's Guide to Raising Successful Missionaries . Even though my two Eagle Scouts recently left for their missions – one to Modesto, CA in September and the other to Rosario, Argentina in December – I still wanted to read this new…
I used to think our camping options were limited once winter came and our favorite hiking and backpacking trails got buried in snow… until I rented a pair of snowshoes! It started with my daughters wanting to do something during Christmas break in 2014 and me casually saying: "let's go rent some snowshoes".
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2015: 1) Jan – Backpacking with snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon* 2) Feb – Klondike 2015 at Soldier Hollow (District-sponsored event) 3) Apr – White Rock near Dugway 4) May – Backpacking to Rudy's Flat 5) Jun – Traditional Goblin Valley trip to hike slot canyons ** 6) Jul – Summer Scout Camp at Bear…
Here is our year-end camp summary for 2015: 1) Jan – Backpacking with snowshoes in Little Cottonwood Canyon* 2) Feb – Klondike 2015 at Soldier Hollow (District-sponsored event) 3) Apr – White Rock near Dugway 4) May – Backpacking to Rudy's Flat 5) Jun – Traditional Goblin Valley trip to hike slot canyons ** 6) Jul – Summer Scout Camp at Bear…
What do you get an adult scouter who already has everything he needs for scouting? Is there really anything else you could possibly get? Of course there is – always! How about a Bernzomatic TS4000? It slices, it dices, it… ok, just kidding.
Christmas is always a good time to equip your scout with a few items he might need (or want). So what could that be this year? Two trends you may have noticed lately with regards to outdoor recreation has involved Glamping and Hammocking.
Earlier this month, I served on staff for another Wood Badge course… this time as Senior Patrol Leader. What another great occasion it was to be surrounded by amazing people with a desire to do their best in a program that was designed to change lives (and I thought being a Troop Guide was fun!).
A friend of mine in Scouting had this to say after his week at summer scout camp: Scout camp last week was hard, mentally and physically exhausting, but a great experience for our group. Since I am not a great scouter and never really was even as a kid, I thought a lot about why…
Two years from now at this time, scouts from across the country will be at the National Scout Jamboree in West Virginia… What can they expect? What will be the experience? Will it all be worth it?? Listen to these perspectives from an LDS Troop who attended in 2013:
I saw this post today on Scouting Magazine about what counts as a night of camping for the Camping Merit Badge and what does not. Funny, this topic comes up in my unit at least once each year…right around the Stake Fathers & Sons campout.
My troop has gone to Goblin Valley every year for the past 6 years, making this a tradition since 2009 . We typically go in October when the desert temperatures are pleasant and the amount of people is scarce. We will leave on a Friday at 4, stop in Price for dinner around 6, find a…
Whenever I'm in a group setting that recites the Pledge of Allegiance, there always seems to be some inconsistency between those who say: one Nation, under God (with a pause between these two segments) and one Nation under God (spoken as a single statement).
Whenever I’m in a group setting that recites the Pledge of Allegiance, there always seems to be some inconsistency between those who say: one Nation, under God (with a pause between these two segments) and one Nation under God (spoken as a single statement).
Everyone has heard the mantra about how “every boy deserves a trained leader”, yes? …and many of you reading this may automatically associate that phase with adults and Wood Badge , right? Have you ever thought about that phrase applying to your youth leaders as well??
Over the weekend, I had the privilege of teaching Basic Training to a group of Scoutmasters and Assistant Scoutmasters from my District…15 of them with experience that ranged from being brand spanking new in a troop just being formed to a few that have been in for 3 & 4 years.
I was checking in with a few of my favorite scouting websites earlier this week and came across this post from Brad’s Blog . Reposted below, it’s a letter from a mom who is thanking her son’s Scout leaders for helping him summit a mountain — a BIG mountain.
Here is our troop’s year round camping summary for 2014: 1) Jan – Ice fishing/winter camping on Rockport Reservoir 2) Feb – Winter camping at Little Sahara 3) Apr – Meadow Hot Springs and Lava Tubes at Tabernacle Hill 4) May – 5th annual Backpack outing to Rudy’s Flat 5) Jun – Backpacking to Diamond Fork Hot Springs 6) Jul…
Once again, I am completely blown away by who attends Wood Badge! Last year as a Troop Guide, I couldn’t believe how many LDS Ward and Stake leaders took this training without even having “direct contact” roles in Scouting. You’d naturally expect to see a room full of Den Leaders, Scoutmasters, Varsity Scout Coaches and…
Earlier this year, we did a long ride on the Jordan River Parkway Trail from the Center Street Trailhead in North Salt Lake. As we began our southbound travels, I couldn’t help but look to the north and think to myself, “I wonder where that goes?”.
Part of our Varsity Scout High Adventure experience this summer was to complete a 50 mile bike ride around Bear Lake. Convenient as it is, the road circling Bear Lake is exactly 50 miles! So on Day 1, after a nice hearty breakfast, we started our cycling adventure at 8am from the LDS church parking…
LDS Scout Advisors, Are you struggling to have your boys involved? Do you find it a chore to get out and spend time with your scouts in the outdoors? Does your calling feel like a burden instead of a blessing?
If you’re a troop in the Salt Lake area with scouts wanting to work on the Cycling merit badge , I hope you have found the Jordan River Parkway Trail . This paved non-motorized bike path follows the Jordan River from its headwater at Utah Lake 40+ miles northwards through Salt Lake County to I-215 where it…
In a few weeks, my two boys will be having their Eagle Court of Honor. As I've been scanning the web looking through lots of ideas for how to run one, I came across this letter from Mike Rowe that I read for the first time.
I took 10 minutes today to complete the latest Voice of the Scout survey. Here's how I responded: Q. How likely is it that you would recommend volunteering in the Scouting program to other friends or acquaintances? A. 10 (on a scale from 1-10) The next few questions were to be ranked as follows: Strongly…
Growing up in Chicago and being a hockey player myself, I love watching the Blackhawks and have lots of memories going to games in the old Chicago Stadium. Now that I live in Utah, the closest professional hockey I can get (without traveling to Denver, Phoenix, LA or even back home) is with the Utah…
I was browsing a job board over the weekend for Director-level positions in my field (not Scout-related) and stumbled upon this posting for a District Executive in my area: District Executive Boy Scouts of America – Ogden, UT The District Executive selected will: Work with a volunteer board of directors and other community and business leaders…
On this day, my 4 th anniversary of serving as a Scoutmaster , I got to thinking about what I might have done differently. What do I know now that I didn't know then? …and what would I change if I had the chance to do it all over again?
I attended my neighboring council's University of Scouting event over the weekend and for the second year now, the Utah National Parks Council has absolutely knocked it out of the park again. I thought 2013 was a home run followed by a grand slam in 2014 with over 100 classes to choose from, well organized…
