Adventures in cub scouting | Cupcakes and Commentary

Adventures in cub scouting, Family Style, How was your weekend?

Camping Monte Sano

August 28, 2019 No Comments

This past weekend we rented a camper and headed out to spend the evening at one of our favorite local parks. In high allergy season, B wanted to take the boys camping, but sleeping out in a tent would lead to lots of allergy issues for everybody. As a compromise, B rented a trailer. We headed out with a very simple plan, hike a bit, make hot dogs and s’mores, and play Go Fish. Monte Sano has a multitude of trails, and although we have hiked many of them, we haven’t yet hiked them all. We did a portion of the fire tower trail and blue trail to take a tour of the camp ground areas:

And we also cut through the Japanese Gardens:

This is definitely one of the gems of Monte Sano, we love this spot:

And the bamboo forrest:

I think one of the boys’ favorite things from the trip was all of the deer. We saw several, including a fawn (that I couldn’t capture a picture of), but I did get this one:

Although it’s still pretty hot here, the abundant tree cover on these trails keeps it much cooler:

We had a fun time and the boys are already talking about the next time we go!

Adventures in cub scouting, Learning with A & J, Seriously Crafty Treats

Camp-out cooking and leaf crafting

November 19, 2018 No Comments

At A’s den meeting this week, he learned about first aid, safety, and how to grill a hamburger/hot dog, which are three important things!

He was very excited to eat the hamburger he made all by himself, and he even tried it with an onion on it!

While he and B were hiking and cooking, J and I worked on a leaf craft project at home. This is a super easy project that requires minimal items, all you need is a hammer, watercolor (or other heavy weight) paper, paper towels, and freshly fallen leaves.

You want leaves that have some pigment left in them because it will transfer color better to the paper. All you do is arrange your leaves on the paper…

And then cover them with paper towels, and hammer (carefully, with adult supervision) all over the leaves…

And the imprint of the leaves will transfer onto the paper!

Super simple, and a great weekend afternoon craft!

Adventures in cub scouting

Cub Haunted

October 23, 2018 No Comments

The boys headed out this weekend to their favorite camp-out of the year, Cub Haunted. They did a trail, a hay ride, shot B.B. Guns, and practiced archery. We had a cold snap this weekend, so they braved the chilly temps, and were very glad they were in a little sleeping cabin instead of a tent. Here are a few pictures from their trip!

Eating the taco salad dinner:

Checking out their sleeping cabin:

Walking the trail:

And dominating the obstacle course:

They had a blast and came back with lots of stories to share from their adventures! This was J’s first time getting to camp at Cub Haunted and he was thrilled to participate like all the big kids.

Adventures in cub scouting

Cathedral Caverns

April 30, 2018 No Comments

Our last cub scout camp-out of the season was at Cathedral Caverns in Alabama. The boys camped and I stayed most of the afternoon and evening and then left before I got over allergified. It’s hard to imagine if you don’t live in an area that has this, but the fields literally turn yellow with pollen in spring. Which makes for some crazy allergies.

Moving on…Cathedral Caverns is a 1.3 mile hike round trip, and it’s one of the biggest caves in the state. It was one of the coolest hikes we’ve ever done! The boys were definitely excited:

They especially liked the stalactites and stalagmites:

The prehistoric megladon shark tooth in the ceiling:

It includes spaces that can fit a 120 foot building:

And I believe the largest cave opening in the state:

The hike is fairly straightforward, all paved, and because it’s a tour, you don’t really notice that you’re walking the distance. Then when you camp at one of the sites down the road from the cave, you’ve got this spectacular view:

J was thrilled because it’s the very first time he got to camp with just the guys:

But he still ran in the door with big hugs for me when they got home!

Adventures in cub scouting, How was your weekend?, Mini Cupcakes

A parade, party, and Christmas preparations

November 13, 2017 No Comments

This weekend we picked out a new Christmas tree, since ours was nine years old and the lights didn’t work in the middle…

After much deliberation we finally decided on the perfect one:

No, not that one…it was almost ten feet tall.

Then we headed to meet up with my sister, Mom, niece, and nephews to purchase items for shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child:

It was a little crazy with five kids, but we managed to get everything:

Then on Saturday I took A to march with the Cub Scouts in our local Veterans Day Parade:

Afterwards we ran by Starbucks:

And then headed to a birthday party:

On Sunday we took a lazy day, since J hasn’t quite gotten over his nighttime cough he’s been dealing with for a week:

And got ready for the up coming week! Happy Monday!

Adventures in cub scouting, Family Style

Cub Haunted

October 23, 2017 No Comments

One of A’s favorite camp outs of the year is Cub Haunted. They get to use sling shots, practice using BB guns, go on a haunted hay ride, and all kinds of other fun activities. He had a blast!

I love these camp outs. It gives A and B a chance to just hang out, away from all of the hustle and stress of work and school. A always returns full of stories to share and brimming with excitement about their trip. It’s the best!

Adventures in cub scouting, Family Style

Camp Jackson

September 26, 2017 No Comments

This past weekend J and I joined in our very first camp out. Let me just say, I am not a camping person. Unless it’s a desert. Or a beach. Or a place devoid of all plant life. However, A had very much been looking forward to us joining him, so I took some extra Benadryl and hoped for the best.

It also happened to be in the middle of the end of September heat wave, so it was ridiculously hot. Insert eye roll.

However, we put together Ninjago stickers:

Explored the flat trails (we opted out of the 800 elevation hike):

And found a new friend!

It was a blast getting to spend time with the boys and B. And now I’m going to go take some more allergy meds, as I recover from the trip. Ha!

Adventures in cub scouting, Favorite Recipes, Mini Cupcakes

This and that

September 13, 2017 No Comments

This is one of my current favorite meatless meals:

Trader Joe’s cooked harvest grains + diced tomato can + laughing cow herb & garlic cheese in a red pepper baked for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. So good!

That is J climbing a rock wall barefoot:

And this was the first time A whittled with a knife for Cub Scouts:

Adventures in cub scouting

Cubadega

August 7, 2017 No Comments

This past weekend it was time to put our imaginations and glue skills to work for Cubadega.

We colored:

Decorated:

And then we were ready to race:

They boys had a blast! It was a great evening of fun, fellowship, and friends!

Adventures in cub scouting

Raingutter regatta

July 31, 2017 No Comments

This past weekend we gave the boys’ old boats a fresh coat of paint:

And headed out to the raingutter regatta:

Where J raced as an outlaw:

A raced in his bear den:

And A placed first in his den:

Which he was just slightly excited about, ha! B and I are both stepping up our volunteering in Cub Scouts this year, so J and I will be going to more of the camp-outs. I’m already starting to plan for what we will need extra for us going (probably a lot more allergy medicine, ha!).