I've had some fun with my assignments in the stake, but it was time for some changes. After some evaluation of the scouting program, they needed to make more adjustments. As a result, I'm now the Scout Leader for a combined Elliston Park / Valley View troop. I was sustained and set apart just on Sunday. I'm looking forward to working directly with the youth again. My oldest son will be joining the troop soon, so it will be an extra benefit to me.

Our goal is to help the boys achieve their Chief Scout award. They've got a good head start, but had lost their momentum. That's going to be my challenge. I've got at least one good assistant and hope to have a fun program going by September. Right away I need to get a calendar together.

In another part of my life, I've been training for a half marathon in Wainwright, Alberta on the way to a full marathon in Logan, Utah. I've had a tough time with the training, but I'm sure I can at least do the 1/2 this Saturday.

My new calling is official. I'm first counselor in the Stake Young Men's Presidency. Cory Fisk is President, and Shane Steward is second counselor. I'm also working with my brother, Brad, who is the secretary.

It's exciting to work with these guys. Pres. Fisk has a lot of ideas and drive to help the Young Men's organizations thrive. We're there for training and support of the ward Young Men's programs.

We've had several meetings already and have a lot of work ahead.

These pages are for the Young Mens Program

See the links to the left for:

Camps
Resources

This is a list of service project ideas for Scouting Youth

Church

• Bishops Store House
• Clean the Church Building
• Clean up Church Grounds
• Letters and Packages to Missionaries
• Moving members in or out of the Ward
• Preparations for Youth Conferences
• Provide leadership for Church groups
• Serve the Young Women
• Set up for Ward and Stake activities
• Set up Take down for Piggy Bank Sale

Community

• Blood Donor Clinic
• Canada Red Cross: Snow Rangers (snow removal) 541-6123
• Clean Up Parks, Grounds, Rail Road, Highways and Rivers
• Pathway and River Cleanup City of Calgary and the Calgary Area Outdoor Council 270-2262
• Collect Materials for sheltered workshops
• Collect food for the Food Bank
• Friends of Kananaskis Country Trail Care Group May - September Jeff Gruttz jgruttz@gov.calgary.ab.ca (403) 974-3109 Don Cockerton don.cockerton@gov.ab.ca (403) 297-5969
• Habitat for Humanity
• Heritage Park Halloween or Christmas 259-1963
• Nanton Air Museum clean up
• Scout Trees for Canada Reforestation Project
• Trouts Unlimited Fish Rescue and Yellow Fish Road

Family

• Baby-sitting
• Fire Prevention
• Home nursing
• Poison Control

Handicapped and Aged

• Arts and Crafts
• Leadership for Camping
• Clean out Eves Troughs
• Entertainment by Reading, Playing Cards, Games, Crafts and Performances
• Fence Painting
• Games, Storytelling
• Garbage Removal
• Gardening
• Hedge Trimming
• Home Nursing
• Lawn Mowing
• Put up Christmas Lights
• Running Errands
• Snow removal
• Window Washing

Scouting

• Instructing Youth Groups
• Camp Hosts at Camp Gardner
• Clean Up Camp Gardner
• Assist with the Organizing of and the Carrying out of Events

I'm a Venturer advisor (scouter) for the 134 LDS Scout group. Venturers are part of Scouts Canada and is open to youth aged 14 to 18. The Chinook region of Scouts Canada offered an advanced training session at Camp Impeesa to scouters. I had only taken Woodbadge Basic and needed to extend myself to better serve the boys.

The camp ran from August 13th to the 19th at Camp Impeesa. Camp Impeesa is located on the shore of Beaver Mines Lake in the Crowsnest Pass area near Pincher Creek, Alberta. Impeesa means The Wolf that never sleeps.