On Oct 15-16th we headed to Fall Creek near swan valley for our first cold weather campout this year. We left the church around 5:15pm and ended up at camp by 6:15. After setting up tents in the dark the boys tried to get a fire going. After 3 failed match attempts, and 3 failed lighter attempts, the other four boys arrived from a basketball game to help get the fire going. That evening we spent time sitting around the campfire telling jokes, riddle, and eating burgers that the boys prepared. We settled in for a chilly night. In the morning we awoke to find snow blanketing the ground.
The boys made use of the snow by having the ultimate wrestling/snowball fight!
After the snow ball fight we played a team building game called Alien Invasion. The story goes that the scouts were abducted by Aliens (you can decide if this is true or not ) and have been forced to help the aliens in their plot to seed Mars with "Alien eggs". In return for their freedom the scouts must build an egg transporter and safely transport the eggs to Mars. Complicating the matter is that there are side effects from the Alien abduction. Two of the boys are blind (hats over their heads), but they can talk and move. Three of the boys cannot talk, but they can see and move. The remaining two boys cannot move, but they can see and talk. Lastly the aliens have given strict orders that only two boys who are blind can handle the precious eggs and transporter.
Braden guides Austins hands while Easton is giving direction in the background to help them build their transporter. Because scouts are "Thrifty" they are using material they can find and some special do everything material (duct tape) to build their transporter.
After building the transporter the blinded scouts are lead by the other scouts through a maze of twigs and trees to finally get to Mars. However they forgot to rescue the two scouts that couldn't move. So they went back and carried (Cyler and Easton) back to Mars with the rest of the team.
I love that they made Austin (who couldn't see) carry Cyler (who couldn't move).
Hans and Alex used the arm chair method save Easton
After completing the game we talked for a minute about how each of have different strengths, weaknesses, and talents. We talked about working together as a troop and Deacons quorum to overcome big challenges.
After the game we rolled up the tents and started to pack up camp. I think Cyler and Hans finally got around to cooking up some bacon and spam (mm mm good)
We traveled down to the falls of Fall Creek. It was spectacular.
We found a safe that someone had broken into.
At the falls we all enjoyed some chips from the previous night!
Alex and Clint got a photo while tucked back underneath the falls. It was quite a view.
This was a great campout! We had a lot of fun. Nobody was too cold and the boys were well prepared. We proved that even though there is snow on the ground we can still have fun if we are prepared. Thanks to all the parents who helped this campout be a success.
