End of an Era…

Just before I got married my mother called me and told me that a lady had been in to see her and was selling some furniture she had in her basement. For a price my wife remembers as $200 I bought a set of used furniture including a couch, loveseat, chair and ottoman. If you know me, and if you are reading this you either 1) know me, 2) are a very bored person, or 3) happened to type in some strange combination of words that sent you here, you will know of my propensity for frugality. Ok, I'm sort of cheap. I like to think of that in a good way, as in, I look for good deals and buy bargains. Others, would not be as charitable in their descriptions. So, bottom line is, it wasn't the nicest or prettiest furniture, but the price was right and at some point in the not too distant future we could replace it if we chose to do so. I have attached the picture of the furniture that I sent to my fiancé. I had described it to her has a "sort of tan corduroy" – and she still let me buy it. It must have been love…. After it was purchased I sent her these pictures.

Since that time that couch has been in tons of family photos as the main piece of furniture in our living room.
Here is one my daughter on it with her new baby brother.


On the arrival of #3 in our new apartment, the couch had a new look as did the chair thanks to my wonderful wife and her mad skills – there weren't even any pins I had to worry about….

After the arrival of #4 the couch returned to it's au natural state for a while…

But it was pretty short lived
and within a year it was covered in a new cover with a denim look… which, I might add, was once again hand done by my wife. She is amazing. At some point in this stretch, I assume due to the small size of our home and the condition due to being climbed on by 3 poor kids caged in a small apartment, the loveseat and ottoman were discarded.

Then here it is on the other side of the country enjoying life on the east coast.

So, having been from Idaho to Utar to West coast to the East coast the couch, I can assuredly say, has lived long beyond its expected useful life. But as Q told Picard – "I shall miss you, but all good things must come to an end…" (for you unwashed you can catch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIGxezrlj2I )

So we finally got the a new family room couch. It was my pick not that of my wife. Someday she will get the couch she wants in there, but for now she gets to tolerate my new couch. I love it for a number of reasons. It is blue. It has a recliner. It can fit my whole family at one time - this is no small feat considering that most cars on the market today don't even come close! As proof, here we are…. Let's see. If the new couch lasts as long as the first one I should be looking for a new couch in about 2036! Lest you fret, the couch that has been around longer than my marriage is in the basement now, still serving the family as the kids play video games…. It was still in way too good of shape to get rid of it, and it does seem like part of the family. And besides, the kids are still young enough that climbing out of it when you want to get up is still doable!!

Can you say scholarship?

Another parent at the flag game took this picture. It was too good not to share with the 1 or 2 people who ever come here.

Sweet! He knocked it away, but I'm sure with some tackified gloves it would have been a pick... ;^)

He must get his vertical leap from his mother.

Notice the fine field we play on... and trust me, this is a good part we don't have this much grass on most of it! Hmm, higher taxes and fees to play or dirt?.... I'm leaning towards dirt.

In case you were curious, I'm an assistant coach. I was offensive coordinaor one game and must say we didn't do too bad (put 14 points on a team that had only given up about 6 points per game). Here is my action shot:

I'm the bent over guy on the sidelines... Hmm, how would I describe my style - more Bronco or LaVell.......

Computer Energy Saver

While you can put me in the skeptic corner of the global warming discussion (and in particular the cause/effect -- this links to an interesting read on the topic http://alwayson.goingon.com/permalink/post/27369 ), I do think we should be responsible caretakers of this planet of ours. In addition, if it puts some money in your pocket....all the better!

Here is a product for your home computer that helps reduce wasted electricity - and it is FREE! One lady indicated it saved her about $200 a year. So, for what it is worth (and in full disclosure I haven't yet installed it but plan to shortly) I pass it along: http://www.verdiem.com/edison/

Here is an article about it: http://www.mercurynews.com/greenenergy/ci_10112732?source=rss

Troop 1106 Embedded Civilian Report

Day Three – July 9, 2008

Today is to be my last day here in camp, and while I really will miss it, I can’t help but smile at the thought of my own bed. We have had wonderful weather for the most part. It rained this morning lightly for about 30 minutes, but I have yet to need my poncho. That is a wonderful thing.

Unfortunately the whole process has yet to become seamless so we encourage the boys in their chores. Here is Kevin trying his best to clean the latrine without actually having to touch anything other than the handle of a toilet brush. Bro N. told him to be sure to flush when he was done….

We got a 40 yesterday on inspection so we are working on improving our score with some camp improvements. Here they carry a tree limb to add to our walkway. A “swing” was also added. While I’m not sure they will get any points for it, it kept many of them engaged for quite some time. Every one is fed and off to class again for the morning without any major events. On a Wednesday that is pretty successful in my mind.

As I prepare to leave I know that the boys are in good hands. This is the “big red box” being hauled back to camp. The box is filled with food stuffs from the boy’s tents each night and taken to a car to help us avoid visits from friendly woods critters and not so friendly woods critters.

Having checked the scores we note that our two day totals have us in about 2nd place in troop of the week. High score yesterday was a 42. With two 4th place finishes that gets us roughly into 2nd. They volunteer for shower clean as a service project. While it takes them a good portion of their lunch, they see it through. As my farewell gift to them I get lunch ready for them so that they can quickly eat and get off to classes. A final word with my boy and I’m back on the road to civilization. Thanks to the scouts for letting me join them this week. Thanks to all the leaders who took time off work to be there with them. Thanks to all the staff who despite the bad pay and long hours help the boys meet their requirements. I look forward to getting the report of the final 2 days and 3 nights.

Camp Marriott - Goshen Scout Camp Day 2

Troop 1106 Embedded Civilian Report

Day Two – July 8, 2008

Our day got off to a very eventful start today at 2 a.m. when a powerful thunderstorm rolled over us. We had a couple very close encounters with lightning strikes. It wasn’t close enough that it made my hair stand up, but as Jacob said, “If I can hear lightning, it must be close.” There were two strikes so close that the tents shook as the ground rumbled. You could then hear the wall of water coming towards us. Bro. Nichols looked out and said there was pea gravel size hail coming down pretty good. I will say I was quite impressed that even though most of them woke up, I didn’t hear a single scream from any of our tents – what manly boys we have. Of course, the strike was so loud, it might have drowned it out, but I’ll give them the benefit of the doubt.

As I sat there and listened to the rain, glad for the noise to drown out the snoring, I was taken back two years to when it rained and half the tents leaked and left the boys with wet sleeping bags. I wondered what the damage would be when we arose. Fortunately, while it was powerful, it was also short lived.

When I arose in the morning it looked like it had rained. And that was all. Not a single scout even reported any leaks. Sorry, I wish there was something more dramatic to report to the folks back home, but sometimes there isn’t. Actually, since many doing the reading are mothers, maybe that is exactly what they wanted to hear.

The first full day of camp was underway. We rousted them out of bed at 7:15 to go pick up breakfast. Between then and 8:45 they were busy with eating, cleaning the camp, cleaning the latrines, washing dishes, fireman duties, and “camp beautification.” Our first day score was a 33 out of 50 for camp inspection (we lost big time for not having our fireman sign posted and for not having camp improvements). Brett, Matt and Jalen ended up with dish duty and trooped through till the end even though they were a little late for class. As a general observation, this group of young men seem to move a little slower. They seem to get the job done, just not quite as efficiently as one would think possible.

Once again luck was with us and the boys didn’t have any trouble getting into their classes. The 9 a.m. archery class has about half our troop while the others are in first aid, canoeing, and others. Archery staff loves to shout so you can hear the archery class over much of the camp yelling the rules back at the instructor.

We have a couple of boys who need some extra time working on their swimming and who are in a class to learn more. The class was only marginally better staffed than the personal fitness class and fortunately, Bro. N agrees to get in the water and work with the two boys from our troop. I’m not sure they will finish the week knowing how to swim, but they were making improvement and Bro. N got to get into the lake when it wasn’t free swim so everyone benefited….

Brother C. continued with his BSA training. Trust me, most the time they were in the water, but it was a lot easier to get a picture of his class before they got back into the water after lunch. Instructor was the lady on the left who was in charge of the waterfront. She had a nice 15 lb weight instead of the 10 lb weight in the requirements to use in pulling up from the bottom of the lake. The other two gentlemen are classmates/victims/rescuers. Upon returning at then end of the day, Bro. C informed us that the lake was about a foot lower than the previous day – he had swallowed that much lake water!

Tonight was going to be foil dinner night. It meant that even us heater stack troops had to cook dinner. Because there were 13 of us, we determined that we would need two fires. Bro. Ramsey worked on the adult fire and the fireman worked on the scout’s fire. In order to eat and get down to classes after dinner the firemen needed to get the fire started around 4-4:30 so it would be ready to cook at 5-5:30. Bro. Ramsey worked during the day to gather firewood. He had turned over a log and a copperback snake was sitting there and started striking at him. He managed to avoid the snake, the same could not be said for the snake avoiding him….

When the food arrived one fire was nearly ready and the other was – um, not really burning. The cooks were having a discussion that at times included how to proceed but at no time actually involved proceeding. The rest of the boys were debating the best structure for a rope swing camp improvement. The leaders took their food and prepared their dinners and got them cooking. The boys followed along, somewhat later. The timing actually worked out ok for most of them because when the leaders finished they were there able to cook on our fire since theirs had never really gotten going…. Giant thanks to Bro. Ramsey for all his work on the fire – we had amazing coals to cook on. Giant thanks to Bro. N for providing a secret ingredient that made my foil dinner one of the best I have ever tasted. I would tell you what it was, but it wouldn’t be a secret then.

At 7:00 the lifesaving merit badge had their clothes strip. They have to take off a button up long sleeve shirt, pants with a belt, shoes and socks and get about 10 feet into the water within 20 seconds. Having watched this a couple times, I must say, it is a little disturbing how quickly some of those boys can get out of their clothes…. I think the kids who go to church have a definite advantage because they are use to coming home right after and changing clothes in mere seconds! Jacob was a respectable 15 seconds. Robert also did well at 17 seconds. Record for the night was 7 seconds. Those parents might ought to worry…
Some of the boys took off to go fishing. I think that almost all of them caught at least one fish. Bro. R is apparently quite adept at scout camp fishing as a carry over from his days as a scout when he spent the majority of his time doing just that at camp….

We returned to camp and Bro N was making his famous cherry/pineapple dump cake. The coals were still burning bright and while it wasn’t his fuel of choice, it turned out quite tasty. I had to have 3 servings to be sure it that all sections of the desert were equally fine. I am truly a selfless servant. They were.

We concluded our day with scoutmaster minute from Bro. N who told us about when he was young and how he was prompted to put on his helmet just before he had an amazing motorcycling accident which he lived to tell about because it was on. As we set around the final dying embers reminding the scouts that it was quiet time (remember just last night how they went right to bed….), I reflected back on my last full day at beautiful camp Marriott and was glad to have had the chance to visit again.

Troop 1106 Embedded Civilian Report

Day One – July 7, 2008

Troop was to arrive at 4:00 am at Scout Master’s home. We are unfortunately running late and are worried about holding everyone up. At five minutes after 4 Jacob is the third scout there out of nine which will be going. Scoutmaster is hustling in and out of his house, looking like some of those zombies in that Michael Jackson Thriller video. Story goes that his evening flight home the night before was canceled so he had switch flights. The airline then overbooked the flight he was rescheduled for and then offered him a night at a hotel and $500 to fly back the next day. Since he is home you know the opportunity cost of scout camp for him just got quite a bit more expensive! To top it off, his plane was late and so he arrived home at 1:30 am to start packing for scout camp….in fact, his suitcase from his trip goes straight into his van to go to camp with him…

With our commander already in sleep deprivation mode before we even begin the tour it is fortunate that we have seasoned vets in the next slots. Blake C*, who has attended a myriad of camps from coast to coast is second in command and nearly the last to arrive. I guess he can lead from behind… Doug Ni*, a fellow civilian, is third in the chain. As a long time friend of the scout master’s wife’s family, there are some who question whether his position is one garnered from merit, “family” favors, or possibly even blackmail.

With everyone finally ready to head out, we take the obligatory dark of night/extremely early morning group picture (red eye included), pray, and spit into vans. They looked for someone to take point and when then asked for a volunteer I was the only one who forgot to step backwards and so receive the dubious honor. It is my third year to head down, but after the Wayne Janzen special “longer-way-4x4-dirt-road-short-cut” last year, I haven’t actually traveled the route in a couple years. I make a special effort not to run over any long dead stinky skunks (see last year’s report). The youth in my car consisting of Jacob H*, Alan M*, and Robert H* settle into an extremely long and detailed discussion about Smash Brothers which include discussion of various characters with generous helpings of extreme boasting concerning various exaggerated skills and/or feats. I wonder how 4 a.m. start time didn’t work to keep them asleep. A half hour later I wonder how long this conversation can possibly continue and debate with myself whether if think I have enough benedryl (sleep inducing) in the back for all of them and how best to fake all of them into believing they are having allergic reactions that would require such medication. I solace myself in the fact that I’m sure the other vans have the same issue. When we stop for gas I find out that all the other cars had sleeping boys, other than Bro. Ramsey’s, which had a sleeping man not in the back but actually driving, but who managed to battle through and stay on my bumper anyway. We are getting close – I almost recognize a small creek that was a raging torrent at least 3 feet higher the last time I passed by this way….

We arrive in beautiful camp Marriot to check in and … they aren’t quite ready for us. I’m not sure, but I’m afraid this might be foreshadowing…. We are told to follow our site person, I would tell you her name, but since it was the last time I saw her in our camp I don’t remember it. She tells us we can choose from 14, 2 or 6. We inquire about “our” camp - #9 – and are told we can’t have that camp. We miss Bro Janzen, not for the first or last, but certainly our most poignant time. Boys learn the valuable lesson that it isn’t always what you know but WHO you know. The nine boys pick their tents and tent mates (Jacob & Alan, Marcus and Kevin, Matt & Jeremiah, Robert solo, Brett and Jalen) and get into swimsuits for the swim check. It is actually surprising to me (but probably not their mothers) how quickly their tents resemble their bedrooms at home. How is that possible after just 10 minutes?

We stand in line for med check. We do swim check. Lake is cool, but not cold despite the protestations of some of the boys to the contrary. Lunches are boxed and include two sandwiches (rubbery chicken), apple sauce, chips, cookies, and two kool-aide jammers (don’t worry Moms – looks like the boys will be well fed. Worry wives – it looks like your husbands will be well fed…).

It is clear that the camp is based on military principles as all day has been a hurry up and wait. Finally, at 2, classes start and it appears that all our boys got into the classes they wanted, including Marcus and Kevin getting into motor boating.

Dinner is buffet style at the food area where we are served turkey in gravy, instant potatoes (I hope these were at least once real Idaho potatoes), green beans, and something the approximate viscosity of pig’s feet with what appears to be celery in it that I believe was intended to be stuffing. I abstain.

Evening classes run from 7- 9 most nights, but are shortened to 8:30 tonight. Flag ceremony to retire the colors and then they hike us around half the camp before arriving 10 yards from where we were previously standing at the campfire area. The fireflies in the trees in front of the lake give the impression that the trees were strung with blinking Christmas tree lights just for the occasion. The staff light the two fires, but only one fire lights. They have us sing some songs but only 1 works. The staff do some skits, but we are at scout camp, and it is just the second week, so further “refinement” will be needed on most of them before they are ready for any audience. We are happy to be able to help them practice.

After that the LDS Commissioner speaks about how scout camp is a safe place (given that fact that we are only about 5 hours into camp and I have found myself clearly inside at least a half dozen blood circles which spontaneously erupted around me when a scout decided the stick they just picked up should be whittled in some sort or fashion – typically into as sharp a point as they can make it – I have to question his assumption…) and how the gospel is a safe place (I concur), we are asked to leave the now very dark fireside to walk back through the dark woods on uneven paths to our camps without flashlights.

After arising before 4 am, not sleeping during the trip and the excitement of the first day of camp, we arrive back at camp at 10:30 and the boys are begging for bed. We pray and the boys get into their tents. Less than 10 minutes later there is not a single voice coming from single tent. If they would just do this every night….

This reporter is also headed to bed. It was a relatively uneventful day – which is a good thing. Weather was very nice and we are all settled in. I’ll try to get this update out ASAP, but given the remote location, I can’t be sure when that will be. More installments to come….

Goshen 2007

June 28, 2007

Just back from Goshen Scout Camp - Camp Marriott with the scouts from Troop/Team 1106 and wanted to get down a few highlights.

Day One - Monday

We had an early start with a 3:45am meeting time at the church. We had almost everyone there at 4, with the exceptions of the Janzens who were within minutes of on time. Wayne asked me who we were waiting for and I said just David Mangum. Wayne got a look I’ve often had myself and said, "Now I remember that Cheryl told me to pick up David this morning. I better go get him." A few minutes later Cheryl showed up with David. Wayne got back and was happy to be leaving for a few days in the hopes his wife might forget this little incident.

While most vehicles had many sleeping scouts, the Hamm van was party central. We had a brief stop for gas a couple hours into the trip and after that my occupants were finally dosing off. We were following a "new" high-tech route engineered by Wayne Janzen guaranteed to shave 30 minutes off the already reduced travel time of 3 hours. Janzen vehicle as lead, then Evans, then Hamm van, followed by Henderson and then Barrus. We were driving along placidly in our convoy when I saw a black and white object shoot out from the bottom of the left side of the Evans vehicle. Clearly, Bro Evans has scored a direct hit on a road kill skunk. Nearly instantly a smell that is nearly impossible to describe, but was later said to be a mixture of skunk, rotting meat, and wilted onions permeated the van. The smell was overpowering. Those sleeping in the back were instantly awakened to an olfactory nightmare. Any windows that could be opened were and through vision blurred by the burning and tear inducing stench I fought my way on bravely. Unfortunately, the skunk had created two problems, the first being that John’s van now has a new nickname "skunk mobile" and interestingly, in a crowded parking lot there are at least 1 or 2 empty spots on both sides of his van and secondly, my van was now wide awake. Not that they could have been asleep for long.

I knew we were in a bit of a quandary when the Janzen vehicle kept slowing down and contemplating turning at various cow paths along the road. The new high tech / GPS assisted route had been very accurate and gotten us within a few miles of camp. The challenge was that camp was, as the bear would say, "on the other side of the mountain." Well, maybe mountain is a bit much, rather, it was "the Knob." And that was the road we started over. Fortunately, the Janzen vehicle had 4x4 so the other vans and mini vans were sure that Wayne had a tow rope and chains to help get us out should it be necessary. We finally cleared the Knob and after another mis-step found our way quickly into camp only about 3+ hours since we had left the building.

We set up camp (which essentially consists of getting the gear out of the vehicles, dividing into tent buddies, rolling out sleeping bags onto cots and then standing around). Sarah was there to welcome us and tell us all about our camp. We then waited for med check time. We then waited in the med check line. We then went down for swim check and waited in line. After swim check we went back to camp and waited for lunch time. Then we went down to the commissary and waited in line for lunch. After lunch we waited till classes started at 2. You might be noticing a theme here.

We were able to get our favorite campsite #9. It turns out that Wayne Janzen was actually, and I can’t remember this title exactly, but something like "grand pooba muckety muck LDS district who haw." This meant that he was powerful. It also meant he had to sleep in a special leader area. It also meant that he would come eat our food every day and use our latrine. He was also able, ethically, to be sure our guys got their classes.

Monday night our Troop (Team actually since it was the teachers) did the flag ceremony for the camp. Josh Hamm was the caller and the color guard of Alex Janzen, David Mangum, Dan Evans, Jacob Morgan, Matt Schafer, and Jared White dressed out in class A uniforms and accompanied by Bro Evans playing Taps on the bugle made quite the impression. We had camp Family Home Evening with the Annandale Stake president who brought his banjo ("bonnie lies over the ocean" and "50 men and a dog went out to mow the meadow"). He spoke with a background of thunder and lightning, including one of the longest rolls of thunder many of us had ever heard.

Back at camp we had camp meeting and evening prayer and retired just as the rains came down. It was beautiful sleeping weather - rain drowning out the noise from the boys tents or snoring tent mates, it cooled things off, and brief lightning bursts lit up the tents for moments. It was a great end to a long day.

Day Two - Tuesday, June 26th.

Bugle call was at 7am, Reveille I believe. Those who needed extra encouragement were serenaded personally by the bugler. It was a foggy morning, but dry. Breakfast, which was late, consisted of pancakes and cold lumpy oatmeal. Breakfast for kings.

This was the first full day of merit badge classes. It got off to a bit of a rocky start when our First Class Adventure scouts came back and told us they had no leader. With the help of GPMMLDWH Janzen we were able to review where they were and get them into some classes that should help them get what they need. Bro. Evans also spent a lot of 1 on 1 with those boys reviewing the material that they needed to cover to help them get to 1^st class.

We had a group of older scouts who had planned last year to spend most the day in the water. As you may recall the waterfront was closed all week. This year the plan for those scouts was the same - water all day. They were signed up for water skiing, motor boating, and sailing. This was a full day on the water front. On Monday they went down and sat on the hot shore without shade and covered basics without getting wet. Tuesday they went down to the lake and the motorboat wasn’t working so they got to sit on the shore and listen to how to water ski. In the afternoon the thunder started up again so they were stuck on the shore again, in the hot sun. When I left on Wednesday, other than the swim check they hadn’t been in the water. But I think they got in on Wednesday.

Other Tuesday highlights: At flag ceremony we were awarded Site of the day (which the other troop in the site claimed was their doing, but we know differently) and got some styling new cravats. Some of the fishermen caught fish, gutted them and cooked them up (Kevin and Robert). Jacob Morgan made some styling moccasins. We had corn-dogs for lunch and Salisbury steak for dinner (otherwise known to the boys as hamburgers - "where are the buns?"). All the swimming merit badge boys went down to the lake for a thunder delayed pants flotation exercise which they all passed. There was a rousing football game in the street until it was called due to darkness. Bro. Janzen was encouraged but refused to tell, XC (interesting that he asked who didn’t like scary stories and there were a number of hands that went up - hands which belonged to bodies that quickly left right after closing prayer). He did share the story of the lake and the German pilot. The troop voted unanimously to clean the showers and latrines in the staff area as a service project.

Day Three - Wednesday June 27, 2007

Bugle only woke part of the boys today. A handful who were in Environmental Science had gone off with Bro. Henderson to do their first of 6 observations. Breakfast was on time and by 9 nearly all the scouts were off to their classes. Bro. Evans was off to a meeting (remember, this is not only a scout meeting, but most of these leaders are LDS, and you can begin to understand that this meeting can get very long). With Bro Henderson in control and Bro. Frost coming up later to take my place, it was time for me to bid our campers farewell. Up to that point there were no minor let alone major injuries or even incidents (although, Dan putting Josh and Jacob Hamm together on dish duty came close!).

It was sad parting with those boys. A good group of kids that were generally being pretty good to each other. The trading post was well utilized with many bags of combos, pints of ice cream, sweet tarts and sodas being consumed. Seldom could you be in camp and not find at least 1 if not many more knives out and carving as they worked on woodcarving. Bro. Evans is taking pictures and so be sure to come to the Court of Honor to see the slide show.

Things I wish I had a quarter for every time I heard: "what time is it?" (Answer, by the way, provided by Bro. Evans - "time for you to get a watch"), "what class do I have now?", "Marcus!", "how come Dan’s name isn’t on the job roster?" (which, for the record, it was), and "Combos are the best!"

Cursed

I cursed myself. It has been one cold spring. Snowed in Feb and march and I think April. This weekend finally suppose to get up to 70 again. Only took 4 months!

Removing Christmas Lights - in my shorts

It wasn't something I had to do, but the weather was too nice not to at least put on shorts to say I had taken down the Christmas lights in my shorts. It was in the low 70's on Saturday. So much for moving from warm Cali to frozen NW. Poor trees are starting to bloom. Now, if we can just get a few nice snow storms. Something that no only closes school so I don't have to teach, but also closes the Fed govt. - then I don't have to go to work either!!

My blog

Only here becuase I had to do this to post a comment.

I post this just as a record that I did attend camp in 2006.  However, I did not file a report that year so the antics will just have to remain in the memories of those young enough to remember.
SEH

Adult leaders,

Thank you for your commitment and willingness to
assist in Goshen scout camp this year. I have
attached a schedule of proposed coverage for camp this
year. We currently have 13 boys registered and would
like to have 3 adult leaders at camp.

Wayne Janzen Full Week June 26-July 1
Kimball Hicks Full Week June 26-July 1
Scott Hamm Partial Week
John Evans Partial Week

Both Scott and John have indicated a preference for
the earlier part of the week, so I will leave it up to
you both to discuss options that will work for both.
If one of you cannot cover the latter half of the
week, please let Shawn Frost know and he can find a
replacement. I will also leave it to Brother Janzen
to coordinate a suggested departure time on Monday (as
he has made this trips quite a few times).

For those of you who have not attended camp in the
past, you do not need to bring a tent, however you
will need to bring the physical form completed by your
physician. I have attached a copy for you if you are
over 40 and under 40 uses the same form your sons have
already received. I 've also attached a copy of the
troop and individual equipment list as a guideline.

In addition, we have three plastic bins and a box in
the shed with cooking and camping equipment. The
bishop has a key and I would suggest you inspect the
equipment before departure and decide which pieces
need to be brought.

I appreciate your service, if you have any questions
the best way to reach me is via e-mail or cellphone
703-930-5323.

Thanks again and have a great time!

Trent