Stake Eleven-Year-Old Day Camp was on February 5th this year. Much faith and prayer resulted in beautiful weather this time, as opposed to the rain-out we experienced last year! We were so grateful.
We asked all of the patrols to be involved with Scouting for Food before they headed out to President Brimhall's ranch in Florence.
As the Scouts and their leaders arrived at the Ranch they were sent out to "the Boulders" to enjoy lunch.
They just loved exploring the crevasses and climbs the boulders provided. I cringed quite a few times, but everyone made it off safe and sound.
We gathered up the hill from the ranch for our opening ceremonies.
One of the Scout leaders, Dave Woods, filled in as Joseph Smith.
He spoke about the responsibility Joseph had as he took possession of the golden plates.
On the hill, there is a replica of the stone box in which Joseph found the golden plates and Brother Woods re-enacted the moment when he handled the plates "with his own hands."
I talked a little bit about how Scouting and the Priesthood are service-based, then told the boys they would get to hold the replica golden plates themselves.
Each boy got to carry the plates down the hill, like Joseph Smith did. They walked in silence, each taking their turn to ponder the experience.
As we arrived back at the ranch house, King Benjamin greeted the boys from the top of the bell tower and gave part of his sermon from the Book of Mormon: "When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."
The patrols then divided into groups for the different class rotations. Brother Jim Bayless is ready to take the boys on a tour of the ranch.
The hayride was a fun way to get around.
Brother Bayless took us to the original ranch house. I think he said it was over 100 years old and has thick, pueblo-style walls to regulate the temperature inside during the hot summers.
The foundation of an old stagecoach stop can be found on the ranch. Very cool.
Sister Brimhall is amazing. She rescued hundreds of saguaro cacti from being bulldozed as the ranch house and roads were being built. Now she has her own cactus nursery and grows them to be sold.
Jeremy, as usual, was my hero. He was at our ward's Scout campout about 20 miles away and drove over to our day camp to teach the Fingerprinting merit badge.
The boys did a great job! They loved making their own fingerprints.
This is MaryAnn's son, Cameron.
After last year's success, we had the boys make banana s'mores again. 
It's crazy how much they like making and eating them!
Brother Eyring (our high councilor and King Benjamin impersonator) taught the Scouts about knife and ax safety.
Brother Jim and Sister Margaret (our super awesome Stake 11 yr old. coordinator) Roundy, ran the fire building rotation.
The outdoors + fire = happy Boy Scouts.
After all of the classes had finished we were starving. But first the boys had to listen to me speak about the Scout Law. They each got a brass plates journal to engrave and write about their experiences being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, etc.
Each ward showed their patrol flag and yell...
and then it was finally time for dinner!
Pulled pork sandwiches, calico beans, green beans, corn, and chocolate cake from the dutch oven. 
You seriously can't beat eating yummy food like that in the outdoors!
To top off the day, President McClellan spoke at the campfire. He talked to the boys about using "their own hands" to serve. He told a story from his mission about providing for a desperately poor woman at Christmastime. Beautiful.
A perfect end to a perfect day. I'm already excited for next year!
A huge thank you to everyone who made this day possible, especially the lovely Gale and Sherie Brimhall, and the super Sisters MaryAnn, Jennifer, and Niki!
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