by Derek—2006.09.23 @ 2152
Today was the end of a great two-day training completing the Outdoor Leader Skills Training for the Boy Scouts. I now have only to complete the Boy Scout Leader Specific Training to be considered Trained by the Boy Scouts.
The outdoor training was an bivouc at Camp Wilson near Pohick Bay Regional Park. After work, I stopped by our scout shed and hand-picked a sleeping pad and tent, the only gear I lacked for the campout. Most of the scout tents are poorly taken care of, with missing or broken poles and dingy material. I thought myself lucky to see one tent hidden in the back labeled “Troop 1102 - SM.” I thought, “aah! the Scoutmaster’s tent. This one, surely, has been well taken care of.” The bag seemed much cleaner and even a little larger than the regular troop tents. I was feeling lucky.
My luck continued as I drove down Route 1 to the camp site. The traffic was mild and I was the first trainee to arrive at the camp area. After a brief introduction to the camp staff, I went off to select my camp area and set up my gear. My luck was about to change.
The “Scoutmaster Tent” was indeed larger, much to my relief. But as I took out the poles, I noticed one was shattered in two places. “A mild setback,” I thought. I wished for some tape to bind back the fiberglass, but for just an overnight trip, I hoped it would just hold on its own. With all the poles in their sleeves, I gently hoisted the tent only to marvel at how flat the tent appeared.
The poles were too short.
Indeed, my wonder-tent had a major flaw: wrong poles. Somehow, as the troop closet was being organized, the wrong poles were put into this bag, probably from one of the smaller tents. Whoever put things back together must have thought all the tents were the same size. Alas.
Dispite the crooked tent, the rest of the training and camping were excellent. We enjoyed a wonderful “cracker-barrell” dessert: Dutch oven peach cobbler. Training sessions covered all sorts of topics, including camping, hiking, backpacking, first aid, ropes and knots, ethical situations, cooking, camp cleaning, and more. It was really great to rub shoulders with some long-time scouters and learn from all their experience.
And, now I can share with others! Here are the recipies we used for our meals:
2 Large cans of peaches in syrup
1 White or Yellow cake mix
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup melted butter
Pre-heat Dutch oven. Pour peach cans and juice into the bottom of the oven. Sprinkle cinnamon over fruit. Dump cake mix on top of fruit and spread around evenly. Drizzle melted butter over cake mix. Cover oven with lid and cook for ~45 minutes or until golden brown. Serves about six or eight, depending on how deliciously hungry everyone is.
Approx. 12 charcoals on top and bottom of Dutch oven.
1 Pack small sausages (~16-24 sausages)
1 Onion
1 Green bell pepper
1 lb. bag of diced potatoes
1 lb. bag of cheese
1 qt. Egg Beaters® (healthy!)
1 Pisbury flaky crust rolls (8 rolls)
Pre-heat Dutch oven. Brown sausage in bottom of oven. Dice onion and pepper and add to meat. Stir in potatoes. Pour eggs. Cook until eggs begin to firm up. Add cheese to top. Add rolls on top of cheese. Cook until rolls brown. Eight very large servings.
1 chicken spice pack
1 spice pack (other)
1 spice pack (other)
1 cup 5-minute rice
1 can white beans
2 packages of Ramen noodles
1 large can of chicken
2 cups of water
In medium cooking pan, heat water and add spice/seasoning. Add Ramen noodles. Add rice. Add beans. Add chicken. Cook at medium heat until noodles are soft. Serves eight.
Thanks for signing in, . Now you can comment. (sign out)
(If you haven’t left a comment here before, you may need to be approved by the site owner before your comment will appear. Until then, it won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting.)