westphals.net Three Boys, Mom, and Dad

After we left Cub Scout Fun Day we met Linda in Dexter where she was getting off work. After a quick dinner she took Declan and Owen home. Kieran and I returned to Camp Munhacke for the Dad and Lad campout. We got our tent setup and enjoyed the time together and activities.

(Click on the image for a few others.)

The annual Cub Scout Fun Day comes in September. It was at Camp Munhacke again this year. I took Kieran and his brothers to enjoy some time outdoors. The twins got to participate in everything just like the scouts. There was archery, BB guns, wrist rockets, and lots of other things. However, it seems like the most popular thing for the three of them was climbing the various trees. At least that's what I got the most pictures of.

Summer and Cub Scouts means Resident Camp. As Webelos Scouts the boys go to something called Webelos Adventure Camp. It's a lot like regular Resident Camp, but also features some more advanced things that the older boys can enjoy.

This year Kieran and I were pleased to have three other scouts from our Webelos Den along for the camp. Zack, Connor, and Kane all came along for the camp with their parents.

The scouts made coffee can cookers during one of the sessions. They used tin snips and gloves to cut an access hole into the side of a coffee can. A can opener was used to cut vent holes too. Then the can is placed upside down over a Sterno canister which heats the top of the cooker. Then it was used to toast bagels. Yum!

We shared our campsite with another Pack. They had a number of expert pyrotechnicians among their adults so we never had a problem with the camp fire. They were also really good camp fire cooks. So we ate well too. They even used their dutch ovens to cook a couple of cakes the first night. Delicious.

Of course, it wouldn't be Camp Munhacke without a visit from the local wildlife. This critter was fearless.

The boys enjoyed some races, stick wrestling, and Ultimate Frisbee during the athletic events portion of the camp.

During another session the scouts got to plan out their ideal home. Kieran created one shaped like a Minimate. Who would have guessed? They also got to play with catapults, trying to use them to hit a target with the projectile. Finally they got to see what makes bridges strong, or not so strong.

July 25 and 26 were the dates of our Cub Scout sleepover at Fifth Third Field in Toledo this year. It was a lot of fun as usual. This year was different for several reasons.

First, we had others from our den there with us. Zack and his mom as well as Connor and his dad came along for the fun. It was nice to be able to share the experience with some of the other kids we see every week.

Second, it was a double header. An earlier game had been rained out and July 25 was the day the league decided to make it up. In the minor leagues a double header consists of two seven inning games. So we got 14 innings of Mudhens when we only expected nine.

Third, the Mudhens office goofed and lost our original order. So they had to scramble to find us seats at the last minute. Thankfully they reserve the area on the outfield side of the Mudhens dugout for just such occasions. So we had six seats in the first two rows right next to the dugout. It was a great place to watch the game. Every time the Mudhens came in after an inning they'd throw the game ball into the stands right near us. Zack and Connor both left with game balls!

Finally, and most importantly, they actually won the second game! Of all the Mudhens games we've been to this is the first one they've won. They've had successful seasons, but never seemed to win when we were there until now. Kieran and I were so excited to actually see our team win.

The fourth full weekend in June is always time for ARRL Field Day. It's the biggest, most fun Ham Radio event of the year. Kieran and I took part last year for the first time and we were back again this year. We worked with the ARROW club of Ann Arbor.

I went out after work on Friday to help with the setup. The operation took place at Dominos Farms. Antennas were being raised and lots of people were needed to work the guy ropes and make sure nothing fell down. The largest mast we put up was 50 feet high. We didn't get all the antennas up, but quite a bit of progress was made. Kieran was with the rest of the family in Lansing for a trip to the zoo that day, but they stopped by to see things on their way past going home.

Saturday morning Kieran and I were up early to load up the car and head for Big Boy to meet people for breakfast. After a very so-so breakfast buffet we headed off to the site and got to work getting things ready to go on the air. The on air portion of the event runs from 2pm Saturday to 2pm Sunday. There are people doing this same thing all over the United States and Canada. The goal is to get in touch with as many of them as possible during the 24 hours. Points are awarded for each contact as well as bonus points for things like media coverage and visits by elected officials.

Field Day is primarily an emergency communication exercise. We're out there practicing the techniques needed to setup a temporary communication system in a hurry when bad weather or other disaster disables the regular system of radios and phones.

Kieran and I spent the night in our tent. The food was excellent. Our camp cook George did another great job keeping everybody well nourished.

Fourth Grade is when the Michigan curriculum standards mandate that children learn all about Michigan. They study history, government, and culture. They did an excellent performance of Make Mine Michigan which is a musical play all about Michigan history. (The camera didn't make it to the play, sorry.) Finally the year winds up with the annual field trip to Lansing. This year I went along as a chaperon and took a lot of pictures.

We rode to the state capitol in style aboard two comfortable charter buses. They had bathrooms as well as little TV screens at various locations that we used to watch Night at the Museum. Very appropriate movie I thought.

The first stop on our trip was the Michigan Historical Museum. It's someplace Kieran and I had never been. Now we both want to go back because there's a lot more to see that we didn't have time for. The museum is great. They have many exhibits going way back into our state's history. They have a recreation of a copper mine and a lumber mill which are really interesting. The museum literature say there are five levels and we were only on two of them. So there must be a lot more to see.

It was a beautiful day in Lansing so we walked from the museum to our lunch location. Dimitri's Coney Island took good care of us. They are apparently used to large groups or tourists coming through all at once. They were very efficient, and the food was good. Basic hamburgers and hot dogs.

The bus picked us up from the restaurant and took us to the Impression 5 Science Center. This is something Kieran and I had been to before, but it's all stuff that kids can do over and over again. So everybody had a great time. They may have even learned something, but nobody would admit it.

The Cub Scout year wound up with the May Pack meeting at which the scouts crossed over to their new rank. The Webelos Scouts remain Webelos into the next year. Next February it'll be time for them to have their special crossover into the Boy Scouts.

This was a great outdoor meeting. The weather was beautiful, it wasn't too hot, there was a sound system so everything could be heard, a huge campfire was lit as part of the ceremony. What more can you ask for.

Every den did a skit during this meeting. The Webelos did a skit called "Blanket Tossing Team." The boys pretended to be bouncing the imaginary "Bruce" on a blanket held tightly between them. Each time he bounced higher and higher until the last time he didn't come down. So the boys shrugged and sat down. Then after a number of other items in the evening's program were completed, we ran back up unannounced and caught him suddenly. It worked well, but some of the audience didn't realize what was going on.

You can see all the fun we had in the pictures.

On April 18th I gave myself an early birthday present. The Ypsilanti District Library hosted An Evening With Scott Simon at Washtenaw Community College's Towsley Auditorium. Scott Simon is the host of the NPR radio program Weekend Edition Saturday. It is my favorite. So when I heard about this event I had to go.

Scott sat on the stage with Michigan Radio's Charity Nebbe and answered her questions about his career in radio and as an author. Afterward he signed copies of his books in the lobby.

After the book signing there was a meet and greet reception. I attended that and got the chance to talk to Scott one-on-one for a few minutes. He's a fascinating guy. Now that I've met him I'll enjoy keeping up with him on Facebook and Twitter even more.

Charity is also an author. She wrote a children's book called Our Walk in the Woods. I took our copy of that book along with me and asked her to sign it as well.

Charity and Scott even posed with me for a picture.

Linda took a trip to Fargo, ND to see Aunt Sara toward the end of March. I took a few days off work and hung out with the boys. We didn't just stay at home. First there was a trip to Zoobilee where the boys (and I) climbed all over their huge jungle gym set.

Then I planned to take everybody to the Ann Arbor Hands On Museum for a day. That morning I was checking in on Twitter and saw a tweet from the Ann Arbor Visitors Bureau about Brick Bash 2009. We added that to the day's plan and went there first. The Lego displays were pretty impressive, but it didn't hold the twins attention for very long. The museum was much better for them. I was very pleased that everybody always stayed in the same room as me. I never had to go searching for one brother or another.

It was great getting some extra time with the boys. We all had fun. It's all in one photo album for you to look at.

Kieran and his fellow Webelos Scouts have been busy. They've just about earned their Webelos Badge. Then it's on to the Arrow of Light!

Pack 295 did Christmas Caroling at the Gilbert Residence. That's a senior residence in Ypsilanti. Then our Webelos Den stuck around and strung popcorn and cranberries on thread for their Christmas trees.

As part of the Craftsman Activity Badge requirements the den made picture frames and bird feeders.

Monday nights are full of stuff to do!