Many Point day one - chipmunk invasion

Watch "Chipmunk mitigation at Many Point" on YouTube

No chipmunks were harmed during the creation of this video

Many point - day five

<p>We had a great last day together.&nbsp; With no high adventure activities, our afternoon was spent as a troop, doing geocaching and rifle range.&nbsp; Most of us also cheered on Jacob as he wrapped up his archery merit badge.  Throughout the day, a lot of effort was made by some of the boys to gather excessive amounts of firewood, mostly rotten, from around the camp for our post-campfire bonfire.  Keeping several pyromaniacs from burning down the world, each other, or my camping gear is a full-time job. 

Many point - day five - snorkeling certification

Some shots of Brendan, Isaac, Calvin and Eli doing the snorkelling certification test.

Note Eli's first reverse jump was a back flop!

Many point - day four

The rain began to taper off as we woke up, but left behind a dreary and cold day.  That, and perhaps a shortage of sleep contributed to some minor attitude and bickering issues.  By afternoon we were all on the same page again, and getting along well.

We did an ethics course, a survivorman tutorial and fire safety.  From there we went to an annual lumberjack competition between the many point camps of Buckskin, ten chiefs and voyageur.  This event gives each boy an opportunity to try a wide variety of different skill activities in a short amount of time.  Our troop's abilities in rock climbing and shooting contributed to our camp retaining the title from last year.  All in all, a great day.

Many point - day three

Today we outlasted our first inclement weather, and since charging sources rely obviously on sunlight, I was without my camera for much of the day.  Today's hectic schedule included Isaac, Jacob, Dallin and Chris heading to a target sports outpost for several hours while the rest of us tackled shotgun, climbing wall and archery.  Ironman 2 was tonight as well, which is kayaking, running to archery to stick a tomahawk in a wood plank, then climbing the wall and running back to the beach.  Several boys completed that milestone.  Topped off the night with troop sauna.  It was chilly outside, so the contrast between the drizzle and brisk lake water with a steamy sauna made for a memorable evening.

Chuck Palmer headed home today, so we lost our consummate outdoorsman extraordinaire.  Jared May replaced him and is already a master of nookem, whatever that is.

Many point - day two

I created a post yesterday, but it's stuck in eternal interweb limbo.   Here goes again -

Exhausting day for middle-aged men to keep up with the sugar-burning factories of energy that are young men.  Today's action included:

Merit badges, aqua tramp, snorkeling, volleyball, kayak dodgeball, devotional with other LDS troops, fishing and ironman. 

Mixed in were some bee stings, swimming cramps and minor toe wounds.

Many Point - day one

These boys did more in one day than most kids do in an entire summer.  Apart from waking up at 4am for a four-hour drive, they each worked on at least 3 other merit badges, we swam, fished, sailed, kayaked and squirrel-stalked (long story).  Crazy.  Whatever feelings of trepidation and doubt existed this morning, they're long gone now.   Each activity was the new favorite, and several commented that the $200 they saved was worth it even if it was just for the day. 

I think we're all exhausted, and I'm sure the boys have more resiliency for this activity level than I do.