James’ 11 y/o Camp-Outs

On May 7th, James went on his first 11 year old Scout Camp Out with his patrol (scout troop).  Dad (David) got to go with him and they went to the Palisades Park south of Manti, UT.  James was feeling a bit sick on the ride there, and shortly after dinner threw-up.  The other scouts nick-named him the “chunky monkey” on honor of his contribution to the campsite – a name James repeated with pride throughout the rest of the camp out.  The next day we worked on knots and lashings and took a nature trail hike around the small lake that is in the park.

This picture is of the way NOT to pack your 11 y/o scouts for a camp out:

James - All packed to go!
James - All packed to go!

The next week, May 14th, was the Diamond Fork District Spring Camporee.  Since the 11 y/o patrol had just gone on a camp out the previous week, just James and David went to the Spring Camporee.  There James earned 2 merit badges Aviation and Space Exploration.  David and James shared a tent and had trouble cooking their hamburgers that night because it was so windy.  After a presentation about aviation, in the evening, they returned to their camp site and were able to cook their dinner – then went straight to bed.

There were more presentations and activities the next day to help the scouts complete their Aviation merit badge.  James had prepared materials and done home work for the Space Exploration badge as well and was the only scout at the camp out (that we know of) who was able to get his Space Exploration badge signed off.

James "in" the tent.
James "in" the tent.
James in the plane.
James in the plane.
James in front of the plane.
James in front of the plane.

Homemade Laundry Soap

These recipes are from a couple sisters in my Relief Society. I love how they aren’t  ‘smelly’ and they still do fine in cleaning. This is the source: http://www.soapsgonebuy.com/category_s/24.htm . I was able to find all these ingredients at my local grocery store.

First Recipe:

3 Pints Water
1/3 bar Fels Naptha Soap, grated
1/2 cup Washing Soda (Arm and Hammer, NOT baking soda though!!)
1/2 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
2 Gallon bucket to mix it in
1 Quart hot water Hot Water

Mix Fels Naptha soap in a saucepan with 3 pints hot water and heat on low until dissolved. Stir in Washing Soda and Borax. Stir until thickened, and remove from heat. Add 1 Quart Hot Water to 2 gallon Bucket. Add soap mixture, and mix well. Fill bucket completely with additional hot water, and mix well. Set aside for 24 hours, or until mixture thickens. You may add additional HOT water if the mixture becomes too thick.  Mix Well before each use. Use 1/2 cup of mixture per load. Makes 64 loads. Cost per load .03.

Second Recipe:

Water
1 bar grated Fels Naptha soap
5 gallon bucket
1 cup washing soda (Again, Arm and Hammer, not baking soda)
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
4 1/2 gallons water

Put grated Fels Naptha in saucepan and cover with water. Heat on low until dissolved. Fill bucket with hot water and add soap. Stir to combine. Add 1 cup washing soda and 1 cup borax and mix well. As it cools, it will thicken. If mixture becomes too thick, add hot water to thin it to desired consistency.  May be used immediately. Mix well before each use. Use 1/2(normal) to 1 cup per load (heavy). Cost per load .04.

Powdered Laundry Detergent (I haven’t tried)

1 cup grated Fels Naptha Soap
1/2 cup washing soda
1/2 cup 20 mule team borax

Mix and store in airtight container or bag. For light or small loads, use 1 tablespoon. For normal loads, use 2 tablespoons. For heavy loads, use 3 tablespoons. Cost per load .15.

To make a large batch – grate 6 bars of Fels Naptha Soap and then add 3 cups of Washing Soda and 3 cups of 20 Mule Team Borax.  Mix well and store in covered container.

TIP: The above recipes will NOT make suds in your washer so don’t be alarmed.  Fels Naptha Soap is a pure soap and typically makes little or no suds in the water.  This makes it perfect for use in the new HE washers as well as traditional washers.  The website that these recipes came from say that you will also notice the need to either reduce your laundry softener or in most cases you can even eliminate the use of softener completely, but I haven’t seen this yet for my laundry. But I don’t use softener anyway because I think that putting chemicals on your clothes probably isn’t the best idea.