The Bridge

Looking back it's kind of fitting that it all started and ended with a bridge...

Ryley bridging in to Cub Scouts as a Tiger.

On June 1, 2012 Ryley officially became a Cub Scout and crossed a rope bridge to signify his joining Cub Scout Pack 270. Faithfully every summer we went away to resident camp. It was during those days at summer camp and our den meetings in between that Ryley crossed many other bridges, both literally and figuratively. He learned how to shoot a bow, a BB gun and a sling shot. He learned how to safely handle a knife. He learned how to camp, fish and love the outdoors. No matter what, even if it were pouring down rain, he always did it with a smile on his face. And so on January 7, 2017, with a smile on his face, Ryley completed his last requirement as a Cub Scout and earned the highest award in all of Cub Scouting; the Arrow of Light Award.

My wife Dawn, Ryley and I with his Arrow of Light Awards and shadow boxes.

But this is not the end of his adventure, only a new chapter. On February 26, 2017 his final act as a Cub Scout was to cross a wooden bridge from his Cub Scout Pack into his Boy Scout Troop. This new chapter in his scouting adventure will surely lead him to other bridges and obstacles he must cross helping to build him into the man he will become while guiding him on the path God has laid out for him.

Ryley bridging in to Boy Scouts and reciting the Scout Oath and Scout Law.

I cannot wait to see the man he will be and be part of his adventures as a Boy Scout.

Let the next chapter begin...

Cabin Fever

Ryley and Zac

It's been pretty quite at home for the past few months. Deer season has come and gone. The cold, windy and rainy weather has kept us from fishing. I haven't had much to write about. But thanks to cabin fever Ryley and I just needed to break out of our doldrums and get outside. We found the perfect activity; snow tubing. 

Ryley and I had hit the slopes last year so we decided to make a repeat visit to  Liberty Mountain Resort one evening last week. I really wasn't feeling up to tubing so luckily Ryley convinced his friend Zac to join him for two hours of tubing on a cold winters night.

They spent the next two hours racing each other down the slope and just hanging out while dear old Dad sat inside and worked on a few blog posts for Fin & Field. In retrospect I guess I should have seen this coming. Ryley is growing up and is starting to become more independent. He naturally wants to spend less time with his Mom and Dad and more time with his friends. I just hope that doesn't mean I am losing my hunting and fishing buddy. I guess only time will tell. Until then keep taking your kids outdoors…