Mapping

     At least someone needs to know how to use a compass and map when people are on a camping trip, lost at night, or whatever, so we practiced mapping, as well as different measuring methods. Everyone who came on the trip (me, Brother Shaw, and Hunter Shaw) thought that the saluting method was easiest. The other methods were like algebra. The car was parked at the tennis court, Hunter had the map, I had the compass, and Brother Shaw told us to find the Spanish Fork River. Hunter found which way was north, and I put a compass on the map to find which direction the river was in. We had to go south, so Brother Shaw twisted the compass to say where south was. As I pointed the compass south, Hunter led us (we weren't walking through the trees) and kept track of where we were.

    Eventually we reached a rather pathetic looking lake. Brother Shaw told us that in the summer, the lake was huge and filled up the gap that went diagonally into the stream. That answered my question about why the bridge was so big for that "river." Now, it was time to measure the width of the water. I went first to measure it. I stood at the edge of the road, facing the river, and did the Boy Scout salute. I tilted my head until the bottom of the fingers I could see appeared to touch the water, and then I turned 90 degrees. Brother Shaw put a stick on the road where it appeared to be under my fingers. Then I walked to the stick, counting my strides (a stride is one step, a pace is two), then figured that the river was that many strides wide.

     After Hunter had done the same thing I did, and got a different width than me, Brother Shaw crossed the bridge until he was standing above the water's edge. After that, he counted his paces until he was above the water's other edge. He said I was halfway across the river, and Hunter was three quarters across. Well, no one won that battle.

     Back to the mapping, I now held the map and Hunter held the compass. Brother Shaw told us to find the nearby high school. I found out which direction it was in, and Hunter went that way. Hunter was ahead of me and Brother Shaw nearly the whole time. A few times I ran up to him, but that really hurt my feet (I have a foot problem), so I stopped doing that after the second time. I kept telling Brother Shaw where we were to show him I understood the map. Soon, we found the school.

     After getting there, Brother Shaw told us to go find the car at the tennis court. I didn't know where the tennis court was on the map, but Brother Shaw pointed out it was the area where it said "Sports Complex." So, we started walking along the baseball areas in between us and the vehicle. On a map, the baseball stadiums looked like a piece of pie! Eventually we reached our destination. Hunter was so sucked into his compass, he nearly ran into a pole! Good thing Brother Shaw warned him. After finding the car, we got up in it and drove home.

Cross-Country Skiing

     Another thing we had to practice for Boy Scouts was Cross-Country skiing. Like swimming, I didn't know how to ski, either. Learning new abilities is important, but this was a very painful experience. Here's a lesson for all of you: always lean forward when you're on skis. We drove up to the golf course, and I had to wear special boots that were not my size to get the skis on (FYI the boots aren't mine). It took forever to get the special plate on the front of the boot inserted into the skis, but we finally got them secured.
     As soon as I tried to move on the skis, I freaked out, leaned back, and fell down. Falling with skis on hurts your ankles, and it's hard getting back up. Once I was back up, Brother Kadomtesev had me go along some pre-made tracks. I had pretty much learned my lesson, but not much. However, for the time being, I was squatting, bending knees, and sliding along. I did fall down a few times and it did hurt, but I thought I really had the hang of things. Then, when we were almost done, I fell down in a position where I couldn't move my legs without pain.
     Every time Brother Kadamtesev tried to move my legs in the right position to get up, I had the most extreme pain you could get from skiing (the most extreme pain as in not breaking any bones). When he tried to pick me up, I had pain that made me feel certain my ankles were going to break. Eventually, I found a way to wiggle my feet so they were aligned. It still hurt getting up, but at least that was the last of it.
     After a little more distance, It was Hunter Shaw's turn to take the boots. Putting on the boots I brought had never felt so comfortable. I laid down in the snow while Hunter appeared to be skiing without any trouble at all. Then Brother Shaw talked to me a little about what requirements we were going to be working on in spring, then he drove me home. It never felt better to rest. I may get Cross-Country skiing someday, but not today.

Swimming

     As we all know, swimming is a requirement to get the First Class in Boy Scouts, so we practiced our swimming skills one week. However, it was still winter at the time, so we went to this big house up in the Woodland Hills. They had an indoor swimming pool and a lot of room to spare!  Anyway, I did not know how to swim yet. It's difficult learning, at least, for me. My scout leader really didn't get through to me, but my dad was there to help. A good way to teach a child to swim (in the kiddie pool, of course) is to have them start going across the water with their chin underwater, then their mouth underwater, then their eyes underwater, then their entire head underwater. Go through one of the steps if the child isn't ready to go on to the next. Pretty soon, I was jumping in the pool in a cannonball formation, propelling downward into the water, and letting the liquid carry me back up.
     My dad had me put my face underwater, put my hands on the bench, and let the rest of my body float. I was given goggles since the water was bugging my eyes. It was cool being able to see underwater, but soon the goggles started to leak. Believe me, that can really catch you by surprise. I went back to being blind when my face was in the pool.
     Although I have been ready for that stuff (in a way), I was not ready to do this: Put my face in the water, arms straight out by the sides of my head, feet on the bench, and launch myself to the other side. I was too afraid. So, I just argued with my dad while everyone else played basketball in the biggest portion of the pool.
     After we got out and I had changed with my bare feet against a floor that now felt so cold I thought they would turn to ice, we got treats from the caretaker of the house. After we took the hour long drive home and I was sitting on the couch, I remembered that I left my jacket at the house! That was not a pleasant realization. My dad had to go back one Saturday and get my jacket.
     So, I still might not know quite how to swim, but practicing in shallow waters helps--it takes away the fear of drowning. The next time we go to a pool, I may have the confidence to complete that technique.