Bird Haven Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner

Today was a wonderful day.

Ethan, along with many other 2013 Eagle Scout Recipients, 

were honored at the 

Bird Haven District's Eagle Scout Recognition Dinner.

There were 83 Eagle Scouts in 2013 in the Bird Haven District. Unfortunately the majority of the boys did not attend the dinner. Speculation was that many of them were now serving LDS missions due to the recent age change for missionaries. 

12 of the 83 Eagle Scouts attended.

Ethan was given his recognition certificate, 

a Golden Spike quarter turned pin,

and a very cool flashlight pen

by Utah House of Representative Lee Perry.

Proud Mom and Dad with their Eagle Scout.

The Keynote Speaker, Kevin Hall, was a great speaker.

I really loved his message to the boys.

He admonished them to not stop 

at Eagle, but to remember the oath they made

 when they received their Eagle to reach back and to help future Eagle Scouts. To give back to Scouting

as a thanks for all that Scouting had given to them. 

Scott Mendenhall (District Chairman), Kevin Hall (Keynote Speaker), Ethan,

 Paul Parker (District Exec), Ben Crook (District Commissioner), 

Representative Lee Perry (Utah House of Representatives)

Award of Merit

Tonight was the Bird Haven District's Annual Awards Dinner.

I received a fun phone call about a week ago and was informed that Nate would be receiving the District's Award of Merit tonight. I was told to keep it a secret. I am surprised that Nate didn't figure it out when I said that the whole family would be going. 

The presenter for Nate was Kay Kraus, she is the mother to one of Nate's Order of the Arrow boys, she is on the District Recognition committee and she works at Camp Fife in the summers among other things. She had a wonderful write up about him. The presenters read it without the audience knowing who they are reading about. It was fun to watch Nate's face as she read about him and seeing the realization it was him dawn on him. As Kay read about him and his influence on the boys she choked up a bit. She has thanked Nate previously about his influence he has had on her son, Spencer. It was a wonderful night. Below is the wonderful presentation they had about him. 

BIRD HAVEN DISTRICT AWARD OF MERIT

Nathaniel Mills

This person has been an adult leader in scouting for over eight years and in that time he has touched many lives. He has attended NYLT as a youth and Wood Badge as a leader, for which he recently earned his beads. He has also earned the Den Leader award, and the Cub Scouter award. He has held various positions in scouting including Assistant Team Coach, Pack Committee Chair,

Pack Trainer, Wolf Den Leader, Webelos Den Leader, Order of the Arrow Associate Advisor, District Trainer, and District Training Chairman. This past year he was able to go to the National Jamboree in West Virginia with his son while serving on the National Jamboree staff.

(Nate and Ron Bingham)

He has made a huge impact on all the young men that he has worked with in his pack and in the Order of the Arrow. In the OA, he has driven himself and the young men to OA events all over including those in Wyoming and Delta, Utah. He has been a mentor to many of these young men and he is an example to them of someone who lives the scout law. He always has a positive attitude in all that he does.

Also, this person is actively involved in service in the community. For the past six years, he has helped with the community project to clean irrigation ditches. For the past four years, he has been a peer counselor for Cancer survivors. He is active in his children's school and he is on the Parents Crew of Service for Venture Academy.

He is an active member of his church and has served in many callings including Elder's Quorum President, Teacher's Quorum Advisor, primary teacher, Gospel Doctrine Teacher and Sunday School President. He served a mission for his church to Taiwan and his Chinese is Excellent! He is the father of two daughters and two sons.

Bird Haven District is pleased to present Nathaniel Mills with the District Award of Merit and recognize his wife Ronda.

I don't even know where they got all of that information on him. They didn't ask me any questions about him. 

It was such a wonderful night and so fun to see Nate's surprise and delight at receiving the award. So proud of him and all of the hard work he does in Scouting. 

Wordless Wednesday: Hungry Scouts, A Common Sight Around Here

Nate's Wood Badge Ceremony

Tonight I received my Wood Badge beads.

In order to receive your beads 

you attend Wood Badge over two weekends and received training and you need to set goals around 5 areas and work on those goals for many months. For example, I worked on Communication, Duty to God, Training, Personal Fitness, and District support. I made goals in each of these areas and once I hit each of them I qualified for my Wood Badge beads.

Les Barker giving part of the presentation.

Part of the ceremony includes receiving a special neckerchief and slide. 

We also sang the Wood Badge song. Here I am with Sheila and Ron who were in the same patrol, the Fox patrol.

Singing the Wood Badge song.

Four folks from staff who came to my beading ceremony. Joe, Les, Chris and Chris.

Half of the Fox patrol. Ron Bingham is one of my great Scouting friends. I really look up to him and appreciate his friendship and guidance through the Scouting program. 

It was a great night and a great accomplishment to achieve. 

An Eagle Scout

Tonight Ethan had his Eagle Board of Review. He was super excited and a little nervous as he headed on his way with Nate to the Church. When we asked him about the interview he could hardly recall any details. Nerves, followed by euphoria will do that to you. He wanted to act very solemn, like he hadn't passed, when he walked out but he could not contain his excitement nor his smile. It was one of the biggest ones we have ever seen! Super proud of you Buddy! You have worked so very hard  and are now reaping the benefits. 

Ethan's Eagle Scout Project

 For Ethan's Eagle Project he got with the South Willard Water Company and came up with a plan to remove Sage Brush from around the large water tanks that hold and provide water for the community. If the Sage Brush are allowed to remain and grow large the roots can over time breach the water tank and cause the tanks to fail. If that were to happen they would need to be replaced, which would cost around a million dollars. 

So Ethan set up a time for volunteers to come and work together to remove the Sage Brush. He had around 40 or so people come with tools and some heavy equipment to remove the offending brush. 

Grandpa Burke's personal pile of Sage Brush that he removed. He was quite pleased with this accomplishment. Given he is such an old man now. Haha!

Ethan using my Loud Mouth to give directions to his many volunteers.

Aunt Jen and Shaylen were among the many who arrived to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately for us, Shay and I were the only ones to encounter a snake. It was at the same time and of course we both  screamed like the little girls we once were. (shudder) 

Ally helped man the volunteer check-in/out table. She kept a log of how much time each volunteer gave. 

Ethan asked me to be in charge of Otter Pop and water distribution as well as photography for the day. 

Ethan also had a Willard Firefighter come and be on hand to make sure that we someone there to help assist in the event of an injury, a snake bite and to watch over the brush being burned.

Proud Mom and Dad with their hard working boy

Some of the Sage Brush awaiting burning. 

With the planning, preparation and time of the volunteers he acquired 115 hours and 23 minutes. He worked really hard and we are super  proud of him and all of his efforts. Now on to the Board of Review!

Job Offer

I cannot believe this kid. Last summer I was telling Nate how I realized I only had 5 summers left with this boy. I was kinda panicking at that realization. They both left that week for scout camp, upon returning Nate told me that Ethan had decided on his own to turn in a job application at Camp Loll to be a CIT or Camp Counselor in Training for Summer 2013. I will admit, I was not very thrilled with the idea of him being gone even more during the summer.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. Ethan received a letter inviting him to interview for the CIT position this last Friday. Nate drove him over and was able to sit outside the giant conference room where Ethan was being interviewed by 10 Camp Directors. Luckily the door was left open so Nate was able to eavesdrop very well. He said he could tell that Ethan had done a very well job with the interview. He got them laughing, he was memorable to them and was very respectful and impressive. Upon leaving the conference room the Director for Camp Loll gave Nate a discreet thumbs up while Ethan wasn't looking. They both came home on cloud nine.

They told Ethan that they would be in touch in a couple of weeks. Putting it in the backs of our minds we went back to our normal routines. That is until I went to get the mail this afternoon and saw a thick packet in the mail with Ethan's name on it from Camp Loll. I knew immediately what it was. I suddenly had a mix of emotions hit me. Excitement, pride and annoyance that they were gonna take my boy just like I feared. It took everything I had to not tear it open right then and there. I immediately called Nate. He and I decided we would wait until Nate was home from work to give it to Ethan so that we could both watch him open it. I now understand a little bit more what it will be like to wait for Ethan to open his Mission Call. Torture.  Nate arrived home before Ethan, it seemed like Scouts and Piano lessons took FOREVER tonight.

 The minute he walked through the door we pounced. The excitement hung thick in the air. He asked us if he should read it out loud, we both yelled, "YES!!"

 We all but cheered when he read "Dear Camp Loll Staff Member!" It was super fun to see his smile just grow and grow. So proud of him. Not excited to think of the time he will be gone this summer. At this point it will be around 7 1/2 weeks total. That is Camp Counselor in Training, National Jamboree back East, Order of the Arrow Scout Camp, 2 regular troop Scout Camps and Youth Conference. If things go well he will be gone the whole summer as a paid Camp Counselor the summer of 2014. I think I will cross that bridge when I have to.

At Camp Loll they call the smallest/youngest Scout Staffer the "Wee Scoot" for fun. We are already placing bets that Ethan will be this summers "Wee Scoot".
 

My two Boy Scouters.

12/12/12 : Life of A Boy Scout

Tonight Ethan received his Life Rank in Boys Scouts. We are so super proud of our Boy. He always works so hard on his merit badges. He currently has around 55 of them. We are looking forward to ramping up on his Eagle Project this coming Spring.

Star

Tonight Ethan earned his Star rank in Boy Scouts. He is also up to 49 merit badges! Cannot believe how hard this 12 year old has worked on his scouting. We are so proud of him Looks like there is more sewing to be done. Our poor fingertips are sure tender. Totally worth it!

Hiking Preparedness

Back in July Nate was helping Ethan prepare for a 50 mile hike with the scouts. They were to do 10 miles a day for five days carrying a twenty pound pack. Weighing in at 65 ish pounds, carrying twenty for ten miles a day, day in and day out is no small feat. Thus, they prepared. They would walk around the neighborhood for miles at a time with varying weights on Ethan's
pack.

I was proud of them for how hard they worked together.

Ethan's Last Pack Meeting

Ethan's last Cub Scout Pack meeting was awesome! I still can't believe my boy is no longer a Cub, but an actual Boy Scout! Where does the time go? He earned the Super Achiever Award in Webelos, which means he earned all 20 pins that you can earn in Webelos. He also earned the World Conservation patch. Way to go kid!

This is when Ethan, was presented with his neckerchief for the Boy Scout troop he is moving on to.

Ethan was asked to give a small presentation of some of the things he had done this last summer while in Boy scouts. Those Cubs sure got excited about Boy Scouts.

This was Ethan when he turned eight and joined Cub Scouts. Look how he has grown, and how decorated his uniform has become through the years. He sure has worked hard.