You won't find ME gettin' in that water!

It's a rite of passage.  The 'older' boy scouts get to show off for the wide eyed, full of wonder and amazement, younger cub scouts.  It's called the Webelo Invitational.  It's a 2 night campout where older scouts show younger scouts just how great it is to be in boy scouts and all the awesome, cool stuff they'll get to learn once they cross over from second year Webelo's into the boy scout troop.

Of course there are the skill demonstrations-like knot tying and camp fire building.  There's the meal prep and tent sharing and the general giddiness of the younger scouts being included in older scout activities.  But the 'earned' part comes early, early in the morning.....it's highly anticipated and yet all the participants were less than eager to start. 

It's known as the polar bear plunge.  Yep, 1st year boy scouts on up to troop leaders and parents donned their scivvy's in the very chilly dawn air and prepared to walk into the lake. 

All I have to say is boy, are they crazy......and a bit, OK, A LOT, on the insane side.  The only brilliant thing about it is that it didn't last long!  Walk in and run out kind of thing-

 After trying their hand at polar bear swimming they then tried their hand at being popsicles.  I think they succeeded at that one!

 Eric was so happy to be involved with the whole weekend.  If he could have it his way he'd already be a boy scout doing super cool stuff like his brothers.  But I suppose that is the role of the younger brother....always wanting to be older and do more grown up things.  Scouting provides just enough for him to always be thirsting for more!! 

 And one of these years, Laurel and I will have a girls weekend while all the boys are freezing their batooties off camping.  Then again, she'll probably want to go to the family camp outs too.  Hmmmm......