Scoutmaster Shane’s Troop 560

Last night we had a special Eagle Court of Honor for Randy Dayes.  Not only did Randy get his Eagle Scout award but it was also his 14th birthday and he was ordained to the office of Teacher in the Aaronic Priesthood.  Lots of family and friends came to celebrate this milestone event in Randy’s life.  Our deacon scouts made up the Troop 560 Color Guard for the flag ceremony and Brandon recited the scout oath and Connor recited the scout law.  As Brother McCook mentioned in his prayer, Daniel Peterson was there in spirit with us.  Brother Garner and Brother Layton shared memories about Randy as a scout and Brother Dayes gave Randy the Eagle Charge.  After receiving his Eagle Scout award, 15 priesthood holders encircled Randy as his father ordained him to the office of a Teacher.  And to top the night off, we all got to eat a piece of the "Randy Cake" (see photo).  Congratulations to Randy Dayes, the newest Eagle Scout of Twelve Oaks 2nd Ward Troop 560!

 
And here’s Connor showing just how happy his is that Randy got his Eagle Scout.  He can barely contain himself!

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We have been trying to put together an overnight campout for the last two months without success.  We finally decided on a "mini campout".  We would drive to Picacho Peak after school on Friday, set up a tent, build a fire, cook tin foil dinners, eat a dutch oven dessert, listen to a devotional, then take down the tent and then drive home at 10pm.  Not an overnighter, but technically a campout to count towards the camping merit badge.  We had everything planned and reserved Thursday morning and by Thursday afternoon reminder flyers had been delivered to all the scouts.

Friday morning we found out Arizona was under a high polution advisory and we could not build a fire at Picacho Peak.  We felt it was not worth the late night drive or the gas money if we couldn’t even have a campfire.  So we decided to have a "tin foil dinner activity" at Mountain View park from 6 to 9pm.  We had a nice big ramada with lights and two BBQ gills so we could cook our dinners over hot coals.  We prepared a dutch oven fruit cobbler (complete with traditional Redi-Whip) and the tin foil dinners were cooking beautifully. 

Unfortunately, Daniel Peterson tried a trick move on a skateboard around the basketball pole and fell down in pain.  Daniel was in agony and complained about his hip.  We couldn’t tell whether he had actually broken something or if it was just a really bad pulled muscle.  We helped him over to a bench and called his Dad.  Duane came right over and took Daniel to the emergency room.  That was the last we heard of it that night.  We played a game of "Bump", ate our fruit cobbler, listened to a devotional by Nathan then cleaned up and went home.

This morning we received an email from Brother Peterson telling us that Daniel had broken his hip - a nasty break, the worst kind.  They rushed him over to Phoenix Children’s Hospital and he had surgery at 3:30am.  They were able to put a pin in, but his leg was still off.  Daniel will be fitted tommorrow with a body brace that he will have to be in for 6-12 weeks.   Plus, he will have to be in a wheelchair or laying flat the entire time.  What a crummy way to spend the holidays.  We encourage everyone to keep Daniel and his family in their prayers and hope for a speedy recovery. 

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