Cub Scouts Ride!

Cub scouts rock! Mr. Smiles thinks so. He loves to go to scouts.

This is the perfect age to get the boys excited for Boy Scouts.

Boy Scouts of America and My Son

Our scoutmaster has practically been begging our scout for six months to go to the 2010 Jamboree with him.

The Boy Scouts of America are celebrating 100 years of scouting so the Jamboree is going to be pretty cool.

Also, my scout is now an Eagle and a young one at that so he will get some recognition at the Jamboree.

But above all that stuff, the scoutmaster knows my scout and knows he would have an amazing experience and LOVE it.

My scout's reason for not going?

He's worried.

Five years ago when the Jamboree was in the U.S. some scouts got struck by lightening and quite a few got sunstroke.

Also, it's not a cheap trip.

So, my scout worries.

And said no.

Well, one of the boys has just dropped out and the scoutmaster sent an email asking again.

Before my scout could answer I pulled up the Jamboree website.

I laughed when I read the headline:

“The best, most exciting, fun-filled, safest jamboree ever!”

When I finally stopped laughing and read it out loud, my scout said," Just great! Now I HAVE to go!"

We looked at the website together. There are TOO many activites to imagine let alone do in 10 days.

I trust our scoutmaster.

I know my son will be taken care and protected while he's gone 18 days.

I know he will have a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I'm excited for him (and mommy-nervous)!

Now he needs to raise $$ to go. The money will go to a plane ticket, Ja

mboree and field trips, hotels and food after the Jamboree to places like Gettysburg. How cool!

He only has $2770 to raise...

Please pass on any ideas for fund raisers or clubs that donate, it would be greatly appreciated!

We have thought of a bake sale, talking to Kiwanis, maybe chocolates for Mother's Day?

Any other suggestions??

My Own Olympian

This past week or so I have talked about the amazing athletes who have paraded, skied, jumped and crashed in my home.

I have posted about focus here, strength here and being a good sport here.

It occurred to me Tuesday night around 7:30 P.M. I have my own Olympian. He's a little smaller than the ones in Canada but he has shown perseverance, strength, focus and drive in the few years it took him to get his Eagle--all before he turned 14!

My oldest son went on a 50 mile hike when he was 13; he completed 48 merit badges before receiving his Eagle; he showed he could be a leader and he has helped other scouts with their Eagle projects.

A few of you who don't know my son might think he is a scouting nerd. I might have sided with you about 5 years ago. But I watched him play video games, jump on the trampoline, play ball, tease his siblings and leave stinky socks around the house.

And sometimes he gave up on his merit badges. But not for long.

You see, this son is a self-starter. He set his goal to get his Eagle before 14 and he did it! All this Mom did was pay for camps and merit badge classes. He did the rest.

It helps to have an amazing scout master who REALLY wants these boys to succeed in more areas than just scouts. Our scout master deserves more credit than we can give him in this life time.

My Eagle Olympian is a good example of hard work, achieving, winning and enjoying the journey.