Deacon's Mini-Backpacking Trip

Ben took his Deacon's quorum on a mini-backpacking trip. I think it was a first "backpacking" trip for all the boys - except for our boys of course (who, of course, are not deacons but were permitted to go, of course - how many times can I say "of course" in a sentence?!).

It was a tiny-hike to their campsite - about 1 1/2 miles. The area they went is just about 25 minutes from our house so it's pretty close. The boys hiked, set-up camp (they were to build their own shelters), ate dinner, cooked marshmallows, and went to bed. Ben gave out some pretty stern threats about being loud . . . and they were much better than times past. :)

In the morning they got up, ate, packed up, and then started hiking out (it was a loop and so that was cool). They set up a little shooting range (pretty much all the boys had brought a BB gun) and Ben held a "Biathlon" of sorts! Ben said that was really fun. The boys had to run down a hill. Grab their gun and take 5 shots at paper-plate targets, run around the pond, and then shoot 5 more times. You got points for your aim (how close to the middle on the target) and for your time. Jonas was dead-last in time, but claimed 1st overall because of his shooting accuracy! Miles' gun didn't shoot and so that was a slight bummer, but he still had fun. They shot the guns for fun afterwards and then hiked the rest of the way out.

Ben said it was a great trip!

 Eight boys ready to go - flag and all, especially as it was Flag Day! Boys: Illanuci, Jonas, Garen, Miles, Asher, Jakai, Kyle, and Andreas.

 Hiking to their campsite . . .

 Illanuci and Jonas.

Still hiking - some struggling more than others! :)

 At the campsite getting their sleeping shelters built - some struggling more than others. :)

 Jonas and Illanuci shared their shelter.

 Miles (mainly) and Jakai made a teepee for their sleeping arrangements - super cool.

 The boys carrying over their campfire sitting log.

 The boys had an old flag to "retire" (i.e., burn) and that was pretty cool.

 Good morning to Jakai and Miles - their teepee worked out pretty great.

 Haha, Kyle and his dad Curtis had quite the shelter. :) Ben was giving Curtis a little bit of a hard time and Curtis shot back, "We're not all shelter-builders like you!" In a joking, but not joking, manner. :)

 Miles had an accident with a gigantic marshmallow . . . so he had to cover up the mess with dirt so it wouldn't be so sticky. It washed out just fine!

 Getting the shooting range set up.

 Ready, set, fire!

 The biathlon.

 Awards "ceremony" for the biathlon!

 Jonas, 1st and Illanuci, 2nd.

The three cool leaders/dads: Logan, Ben, and Curtis.