Beaver HA (UT) Director ->American Ninja Warrior

[RememberSchiff]

David Peterson is a District Director for the Utah National Parks Council in St. George. In his role, he trains leaders and oversees district operations for more than 6,000 youth and 3,200 adult leaders. He is also the Director of Beaver High Adventure Base, a camp he said is dedicated to helping kids overcome things that are hard. Whether it be completing an obstacle, rock climbing, rappelling or walking a tightrope, the camp teaches kids that they can do hard things, even things they thought were impossible, much like “American Ninja Warrior,†Peterson said.

 

“I love being outdoors, I think I have been doing this kind of stuff all my life,†Peterson said. â€œI love to climb trees, I love to swing on ropes. It’s something I’ve done ever since I was little but I think it is something I will continue to do throughout the years, to stay in shape, to help others overcome obstacles, and it is something I use in my profession as well.â€

 

Given Peterson’s strong ties to Scouting, it’s not surprising that he incorporated several Scouting elements into his “American Ninja Warrior†audition video. He then received a call from the show’s casting crew telling him, he’d been selected to compete in Oklahoma City on May 13.

 

If Peterson finishes the qualifying round, he’ll compete with the top athletes in the finals the following day.

 

“My goal overall is to have fun and enjoy the ride, but make it through qualifying and kill it in the finals,†Peterson said.

 

Peterson won’t be making the trip to Oklahoma alone. Three of his “American Ninja Warrior†training buddies, Brian Beckstrand, Jon Stewart and John Merrihew, have also been invited to compete in the competition. Like Peterson, they share a love for extreme challenges, and like Peterson, they’re all former Boy Scouts and now they form the Desert Ninjas

 

“All the things that kids didn’t think they could do, ‘Ninja Warrior’ teaches those kinds of things,†Peterson said. “Overcome it.â€

 

The Desert Ninjas’ qualifying round, which was filmed in Oklahoma City, airs June 20 at 7 p.m. (check local listings for American Ninja Warrior)

 

Left to right: Brian Beckstrand, Jon Stewart, Dakota Elder, Rick Pitcher and Dave Peterson

 

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https://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2016/06/09/hsr-4-st-george-residents-take-on-american-ninja-warrior-course/

Edited June 19, 2016 by RememberSchiff