Big Stuff

Thing One
Z will turn 8 in the fall. His to-be cub leader decided that he was close enough to the cut off to be able to participate in Cub Scout Day camp this weekend. My child has been anxiously anticipating the wondrous day when he will be a scout for years already. So, you can imagine his glee at finding he would get this taste before the official scout-becoming. (Oh how I wish I had thought to take my camera!)

Knowing this, perhaps you can imagine the HOG HEAVEN my son was in this weekend. I know nothing about scouts. I never was one; I have no brothers and I have never (knock wood) worked in scouting. But after seeing the efforts put into this day and a half (after school Friday afternoon and all day Saturday) of Day Camp for my son and all the other cubs or to-be cubs in our stake, I am in awe. I am filled with gratitude. I am certain that there are at least a dozen other things each of these men and women could have done on Mother's Day weekend instead of teaching how to make a PVC pipe marshmallow gun, a first aid kit, or armpit fudge, or instead of teaching archery, leather work, woodwork, or many many other skills and activities Z learned and experienced during this camp. But my son was enthralled; his peers were enthralled and there is something so infectious and wonderful about a boy who is excited for a good reason. It can't be fully explained. But I will be forever grateful to those who had a hand in it (and also to those same people who did not ask that I have my hand in it too.) And Z will now try to contain himself until he is eight and can go to scouts on a regular basis, even though it won't be day camp every week.

Thing Two
The same day that Z was experiencing his inaugural day camp, CE was on a field trip. This is not just any field trip. She and her grade went to Carson City for the day. By plane (because we live in Southern Nevada). Neither I nor her father accompanied her as a chaperone on this field trip. It was a big deal. She had to be at the airport at 4am (many thanks to the friend and chaperone who volunteered to pick her up at our home and bring her home that night!). She returned home at about 11:30 that night. What a day. I can't post any pictures because CE was in charge of her own money for the excursion and decided to spend her money on something other than a disposable camera. I do know that she flew into Reno, rode on a bus to the Legislature Building/Capitol in Carson City, met with our elected Assemblyman (who coincidentally used to be in our ward and is the grandfather of a former classmate to both CE and Z--a good guy). She toured Virginia City and learned more about the history and governance of our state (standard subject in fourth grade). She had a blast and was WORN OUT upon her return.

Some of the extracurricular things she learned on this trip that are not a standard part of fourth grade curriculum:

** How to travel on a plane without mom, dad or any relatives. She has been excited for this trip for months, but a few days beforehand, the very grown up nature of the venture hit her and she began to get a bit nervous, but she handled it well and forged ahead with bravery.

** How to be a savvy consumer and take responsibility for how your funds are spent. Apparently in one of the souvenir shops along their route there was a display "Candy by the Barrel". Fourth graders being a pretty literal lot, CE and her classmates figured that was a pretty good deal and most had eyes bigger than their wallets. (the sign did say BARREL). Apparently no one had previous experience in the weight of candy and no chaperones weighed in (pun intended) on the possible folly of their endeavor. One boy that CE mentioned went to the register with more candy than he had funds to purchase (the kids were instructed to bring no more than $20). The clerk allowed him to replace it (I guess it was predominantly sealed in wrappers). CE chose $16 worth of jelly bellies, and because the jelly bellies were loose, she was not allowed to replace her choice. That purchase nearly wiped out her allowance money for two months. She naturally guarded her gilded jelly bellies like the childhood gold they were upon her return. But I think she learned a far more important lesson about researching purchases, calculation of prices and living with the consequences of your decisions (no more money until next allowance).

What a valuable and educational fieldtrip! (I think her teachers may have unwittingly learned a lesson in what happens when you overschedule 100+ 10yr olds in your care, but no one's talking)

What did the mommy learn from all this big stuff? I'm old and my kids are beginning to do big stuff, which will only get bigger and more spread out and I may not actually have the energy or calendar space to survive it. Wish us luck!