Thanksgiving (Cooking Lab) Pouch Camping Trip

When and Where

When: November 15-17, 2024, 7:00 pm — 10:00 am
Nights: 2

Location: William H. Pouch Scout Camp / Campsite B-1

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New York has issued a statewide Burn Ban in effect until Sat, 11/30/2024. 

High risk of brush and wildfires. 

This burn ban prohibits the starting of outdoor fires statewide for purposes of brush & debris disposal, as well as camp fires & open fires used for cooking.

November 14, 2024 8:55 AM EST

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Join us for a memorable weekend as we continue our annual tradition of celebrating Thanksgiving together. This year, we also will be camping in Lean-tos, offering the perfect opportunity to embrace the great outdoors while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow scouts and leaders.

Building on the success of last year's Thanksgiving campout — where scouts and adults alike praised the hands-on experience and incredible meals — we’re excited to offer a similar experience this year. 

This campout will not only be about fun and relaxation but also a chance to review essential cooking requirements for rank advancements. Scouts will have the opportunity to learn new meal ideas, practice outdoor cooking techniques, and prepare delicious meals that go beyond the basics. 

Whether you’re working towards your Cooking Merit Badge or simply want to improve your outdoor cooking skills, this event will be both educational and enjoyable.

Prepare to create new memories, share great food, and celebrate Thanksgiving with Troop 23 in the most scout-like way possible!

The theme is to not only cook up a delicious feast, but to help all the scouts learn to cook delicious meals outdoors. 

We plan to have two stations to cook two different types of meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, i.e. breakfast can have one station for eggs and one for pancakes - the menu choices are open to your suggestions.

If you can, please come for the day to spend a few hours with the scouts outdoors, preparing and eating some delicious foods. If you have any questions, or can confirm, please contact the adult leaders. 

Advancement Goals

Please review the Advancement Opportunities list for this trip — this will help you in preparing for requirements before the trip.

Please note that "Cooking Merit Badge" requirements that prepare meals are for patrols of 3 or more - there are limited opportunities to pass the requirements for this trip, so each scout must indicate by Mon Nov 11th if they want to prepare and test.

Cooking Merit Badge

Please read ahead and be ready. Most relevant:

Requirement 5d. Camp cooking. 

In the outdoors, using your menu plans and recipes for this requirement, cook three of the five meals you planned using either a camp stove OR backpack stove. Use a skillet over campfire coals OR a Dutch oven for a fourth meal, and cook the fifth meal in a foil pack OR on a skewer. Serve all of these meals to your patrol or a group of youth.

Tenderfoot

(!) A lot of items will be covered. Please read ahead and be ready. Most important:

7a. Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the U.S. flag.

Second Class

(!) A lot of items will be covered. Please read ahead and be ready. Most important:

2d. Explain when it is appropriate to use a lightweight stove and when it is appropriate to use a propane stove. Set up a lightweight stove or propane stove. Light the stove, unless prohibited by local fire
restrictions. Describe the safety procedures for using these types of stoves.

2e. On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from MyPlate or the current USDA nutritional model. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Demonstrate how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected

8a. Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or Scouting activity.

8b. Explain what respect is due the flag of the United States.

First Class

(!) A lot of items will be covered. Please read ahead and be ready. Most important:

3a. Discuss when you should and should not use lashings.

3b. Demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch.

3c. Demonstrate tying the square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together.

3d. Use lashings to make a useful camp gadget or structure.