Who says the boys get all the fun...

So I (Lance) have spent the last two weekends at Woodbadge. It is a training for Scout Leaders, but basically it is a place where an adult can be a kid. All I got to say is awesome!

The course I attended was located at Camp Tracy in Millcreek canyon. We ended up with a winter weekend, but it was still great.

The training runs just like a scout unit. I was put into the Bobwhite Patrol. We may seem weak, but as the Beavers found out we put up a good fight!

Here is some shots of all the participants and some shots of our patrol along with Susan our Troop Guide.
We learn many of the skills that one would learn at a management class that large companies spend lots of money on. The beauty of this training is that it is geared towards working with youth. The other best part is that we got to do some awesome activities that you could easily take home to scouts that are a ton of fun and teach valuable lessons.

The staff on course put on a campfire program and an interfaith service for us the first weekend. On the second weekend the attendants got to put together and do a campfire program and interfaith service. Thanks to my friend Kumaravel for the great story I was able to share. Just another example of how we get to experience hands on with something we can take back to our units.
One of the best parts of the campfire program we put on is that we got to do a flag retirement ceremony.

The retirement ceremony was very moving. Not only that, but the staff let us in on a little tradition with some camp fires that they did with the retirement fire. They had ashes that have been carried from fire to fire since 1930 and added it to the fire. The ashes have been all over the world. The next morning we all got to take a little bit of ash and a paper listing all the events where the ashes have traveled - couple columns front and back of the paper - amazing!

I mentioned the Beaver patrol, our rivals. The last morning we woke up and found that the beavers had gotten hungry. They ate our flag pole and table. Not to worry, I was a good substitute for the flag pole during our opening ceremony. :-)

I just can't express how much fun and worth while this training was. I've been singing camp songs for a week. I know everyone says I am a Scout Geek, that is fine with me. Words can't even express the love that burns for helping boys become the leaders of tomorrow. It is amazing how the Lord can put you into a position that you have stewardship over complete strangers and your heart just opens up to them. If it means wearing a uniform that isn't the most popular and singing crazy songs - so be it - I get to have just as much fun as them.