Two years ago, our troop took on a trip to Oahu, Hawaii. The camp provided food from the commissary to be cooked at the troop campsite. The first few days they had us down for an incorrect amount of scouts and adults (we totaled 14 and received food for 8). I kept sending the quatermaster back for more food and finally had to complain to a higher up official that we weren't complainig but there was just not enough food for 14 people. When they finally checked and discovered the error, things got a little better. However, cooking 3 meals a day in camp and getting boys in their class A's for openig flag and closing ceremonies and off to merit badge classes was a frantic stressful camping experience. (And there are only so many ways you can cook white rice in Hawaii and not get totally burned out on it.) Eating in a mess hall environment would be the ticket at this particular camp.
Our latest experience was attending a camp that was a 4-5 hour drive. Two trained women of our troop (myself included) volunteered to take the boys to camp as others had to work. (I had to work also, but found the time to volunteer.) This particular camp provided all the meals in a dining hall and the scouts took turns being the "waiters" for each meal. They set up our troop table, got the food from the kitchen staff, got seconds if needed, cleared the plates, etc. then brought the dirty dishes to the kitchen, cleaned the table and swept the floor. (good learning experience I think) The boys were able to concentrate more on their merit badge homework in their free time and enjoy other events that were open during free time. We didn't have to lug alot of troop kitchen items as this camp was built into a mountain and the main entrance was called "cardiac hill." To get to anything in this camp, you had to climb one of many "cardiac hills."
Leaders had to be at meetings each day and also know where their scouts were, and this can be a toll on any adult especially when you have some new younger boys in the troop. It was a pleasant experience at this camp to have the meals prepared in the dining hall. We did have one day where the leaders cooked lunch, a BBQ. And then dinner one night was cooked by camp staff, BBQ. That's so the kitchen staff has a day off in the middle of the week.
I've also been on campouts/hikes where we carried everything in and cooked it ourselves. It's ok for a short weekend type event, but to do it for a week, I don't think so.....
The boys have plenty of team building in the nighttime events, like we had a Gladiators night (our troop won the tug of war by the way)and we did troop campfires/skits a few nights, so missing out on cooking a meal together didn't seem to impact on anyone's ego.
Given a choice or "letting the boys decide as it's supposed to be a boy lead troop," we let our boys vote on what camp and amenities they would like and they make the decision and live it. We try a different camp each year to give them an experience of how camps can be different or similar and what they offer that's unique. For instance, this year's camp specializes in horseback riding, not found in many camps. They really loved it and earned the horsemanship merit badge which wasn't available to them at home or at our council camp.
Also speaking as a 4-H volunteer who teaches the Food & Nutrition Project, I would like to help any camp plan their meals for a week at camp. I have a few suggestions that would help make the kids and adults both happy with the meal choices.
Dinning Hall vs Patrol Cooking
in Summer Camp
Posted
Two years ago, our troop took on a trip to Oahu, Hawaii. The camp provided food from the commissary to be cooked at the troop campsite. The first few days they had us down for an incorrect amount of scouts and adults (we totaled 14 and received food for 8). I kept sending the quatermaster back for more food and finally had to complain to a higher up official that we weren't complainig but there was just not enough food for 14 people. When they finally checked and discovered the error, things got a little better. However, cooking 3 meals a day in camp and getting boys in their class A's for openig flag and closing ceremonies and off to merit badge classes was a frantic stressful camping experience. (And there are only so many ways you can cook white rice in Hawaii and not get totally burned out on it.) Eating in a mess hall environment would be the ticket at this particular camp.
Our latest experience was attending a camp that was a 4-5 hour drive. Two trained women of our troop (myself included) volunteered to take the boys to camp as others had to work. (I had to work also, but found the time to volunteer.) This particular camp provided all the meals in a dining hall and the scouts took turns being the "waiters" for each meal. They set up our troop table, got the food from the kitchen staff, got seconds if needed, cleared the plates, etc. then brought the dirty dishes to the kitchen, cleaned the table and swept the floor. (good learning experience I think) The boys were able to concentrate more on their merit badge homework in their free time and enjoy other events that were open during free time. We didn't have to lug alot of troop kitchen items as this camp was built into a mountain and the main entrance was called "cardiac hill." To get to anything in this camp, you had to climb one of many "cardiac hills."
Leaders had to be at meetings each day and also know where their scouts were, and this can be a toll on any adult especially when you have some new younger boys in the troop. It was a pleasant experience at this camp to have the meals prepared in the dining hall. We did have one day where the leaders cooked lunch, a BBQ. And then dinner one night was cooked by camp staff, BBQ. That's so the kitchen staff has a day off in the middle of the week.
I've also been on campouts/hikes where we carried everything in and cooked it ourselves. It's ok for a short weekend type event, but to do it for a week, I don't think so.....
The boys have plenty of team building in the nighttime events, like we had a Gladiators night (our troop won the tug of war by the way)and we did troop campfires/skits a few nights, so missing out on cooking a meal together didn't seem to impact on anyone's ego.
Given a choice or "letting the boys decide as it's supposed to be a boy lead troop," we let our boys vote on what camp and amenities they would like and they make the decision and live it. We try a different camp each year to give them an experience of how camps can be different or similar and what they offer that's unique. For instance, this year's camp specializes in horseback riding, not found in many camps. They really loved it and earned the horsemanship merit badge which wasn't available to them at home or at our council camp.
Also speaking as a 4-H volunteer who teaches the Food & Nutrition Project, I would like to help any camp plan their meals for a week at camp. I have a few suggestions that would help make the kids and adults both happy with the meal choices.
Yours in scouting
Ranchlady
Angels Camp, CA