Group Hiking Trip - Mt. Charleston

I am so sorry!  I can't figure out how to rotate these photos!  In my folders they are rotated, but for some reason I can't get them to import the way they are saved? 

One of our group members was a super girl scout back in the day and oh my, she is such an asset!  We drove up to Mt. Charleston to take in some nature.  Not that Las Vegas lacks in nature, I'm kiddding - it does, but Mt. Charleston is only 40 minutes away and give my homesickness for Washington a break.  We joined our super outdoorsey friends for an easy hike.  The lil' ladies did great.  They would run ahead a bit but were easy enough to call back.  I forget the a rock I can climb up is taller then my kids.  Often I was holding the hands of my girls as I carried my 25lb toddler on my back in my favorite Kelty backpack (oh how I love my backpack!) but they rarely fell down or complained. 

Discovery Scouts Hike to earn Outdoor Living Badge

Our kids were given little nature lessons as we walked, such as stopping at this tree for a sniff.  I gave all the kids baby jars to collect neat things to take back to the camp site...Moms ended up carrying the jars natrually and reminded the girls to keep their eyes open for neat nature things to discuss later.

 I couldn't believe how pretty this hike was so I had the lil' ladies sit for a photo.



Discovery Scouts Program

We finally found a scouting program for kids 3-5 years old!!!!  My girls are 18mo and twin 4 year olds so we can be apart of this for several years.  I signed up to be a troop leader and quickly shared the info with my preschool homeschooling group.  We decided to get together and make t-shirts for the members while we waited for the badges to arrive. 

We used flat fabric paint...make sure all the kiddos are wearing clothes you don't mind trowing out afterwards as this stuff obviously wont wash out!  It didn't occur to me to do this as well...I'll really miss that tank top now that I have fabric paint miscellaneously placed about.  At least now mom has a art/painting top like the girls do!  As you can see with the 2 middle hand pints that its important to have the shirt flat to avoid any creases.  This paint dries fast so you'll want to have a little dish on hand to re-apply.

 We put the groups kids hand prints on the back of our shirts and my kids put their handprints on the fronts.  I made them into flowers and used glitter fabric paints to make their handprints special.  Since we had to wait for the paint to dry we decided as a group to write our kids names by each handprint with a sharpie at a latter date.  I can't believe the blue handprint is that of my 18month old daughter - she's going to out grow the twins so quickly!

I even made one for myself!  In Vegas you can happily wear a tank top 3 seasons out of 4.  My front is blank.

Its a super easy program.  As a homeschooler I have an issue with conformity, but still like to see it so I can change it to suite my family.  The Discovery Scouts just provides the outline of projects (like ideas) and supply you with the badges.  Its totally up to the parents as to when their kiddo earns the badge.  I carried that idea over to my homeschooling group.

We are starting with the Outdoor Living badge.  We'll begin with hiking, then work our way into our Jr. Ranger Program.  Most National Parks offer this.

Free Family Film Festival

Rave Motion Pictures Free Family Films Festival

 Nothing is better then FREE movies AT the theater!  Every summer some our movie theater chains put on a Free Family Movie Festival where twice a week there are free movie showings.  Since its geared towards families you are prepared to have little ones running thru the aisle, walking between strollers, and hearing the adorable comments you wouldn't stand for at a regular movie. 

We work on our manners during such outings in case I ever get the nerve to take my goof troop to the real movies, where kidless patrons pay money to attend.  I have to admit that each showing we went to was pretty laid back.  Most parents are just as nervous as I am of our little ones disrupting others so it went really well.  Since I have a baby with me we only went to a few this year, she wont sit for more then 15 minutes since she learned to walk.

Can't wait to do it again next year!