1st Class 'cooking' requirements

[momma_bee]

Thanks Ed.

I don't care if the parents are interested - but I wish the boys would act like they were.

Awwwh, this way BigBee can go with his original breakfast idea. He wanted to cook eggs to order for everyone. A nice idea, but impractical when it could have been a larger group.

And, if we do what Poppa wants, it makes for a better experience for BigBee anyhow. We were going easy on the camping to build the skills but we all just go and pitch a tent in the ANF already, why step back to a semi-prepared site.

I LOVE seeing your siggy line. I know I have said that before, but it bears repeating.

[evmori]

Eggs cooked to order? I'll take mine over easy & basted with a side of bacon and home fries! And don't forget a big cup-o-joe!

Thanks for the compliment!

[WVBeaver05]

...Awwwh, this way BigBee can go with his original breakfast idea. He wanted to cook eggs to order for everyone. A nice idea, but impractical when it could have been a larger group.

You know everyone says that, but when I was a Scout ("way back when") we cooked eggs to order pretty regularly with groups of up to 20. It wasn't a problem. I've coached the kids through it with over 10 people recently and have done it myself for 10.

Having appropriate equipment helps (we used to have a really big cast iron skillet and a big "griddle"), but you can do it in regular cooking equipment. The food doesn't all come off at once, but eggs cook quickly so there isn't much delay.

You may want to try it sometime.

YiS

[momma_bee]

Have you been talking to my hubby - he has been bugging me for the griddle.

I know it could be done, but it seemed a bit ambitious for his first experience. We asked him to think it thru throughly. We did suggest a big skillet of scrambled eggs and ham on the side but it wasn't want he wanted to do so we let him pick. He made that his cold meal.

Of course, he was also fussing over making the PB&J for the kids who don't eat eggs.

[Mrw]

Speaking as someone who does not eat eggs.

If the kids won't eat what everyone else is served, and they are not ALLERGIC to it, it is not the cook's responsibility to see that they eat.

Either they make do with the other menu items or they go hungry. There are way too many coddled kids out there because Mommy makes something special for the picky eater. Really makes it hard for these kids as they grow up and can't go out and eat at half the restaurants in the world because they never tried and learned to like so many things.

[momma_bee]

You're right. I do like the notion of have PB & J there, but he figured he needed to make the sandwiches if they don't (didn't) like what he made.

That mindset is a crock of bull developed by seeing other people treat kids that way.

And, that was how I really see the lack of participation. If he cooked, but no one ate, he met the requirement. (assuming the other elements are in place) It didn't matter if they refused the food to his face or just didn't show up.

[OldGreyBear]

If the menu was put together by the patrol, then everyone in the patrol has the ability to effect the menu and have food they want to eat. if they dont speak up when waffles are mentioned, then its waffles they eat with (hopefully) a lesson learned to speak up next time waffles are mentioned.

If they dont like waffles that is of course

[Mrw]

As a first year scout, my younger son had a very picky eater in the patrol he was in. - peanut butter, boiled hot dogs, spaghetti noodles without sauce. I am not sure if he ate anything else.

He never had much say in the menu planning because no one else was as picky and boring with food choices. He often brought his own and made it for himself.

The other boys dealt with the whining about food by ignoring it. Their choice; not ours.

[wagionvigil]

picture this A stove made out of the burners for a large gas hot water tank. With and inner ring of fire and an outer ring of fire. Both controllable. Total Diamater 2.5 feet Now a cast iron skillet large enough to cover the burners and a 25 lb box of bacon. Get the picture?

[OldGreyBear]

when did this slip into suggestions for the closing credits scene for "the Man Show"?

[evmori]

As a first year scout, my younger son had a very picky eater in the patrol he was in. - peanut butter, boiled hot dogs, spaghetti noodles without sauce. I am not sure if he ate anything else.

He never had much say in the menu planning because no one else was as picky and boring with food choices. He often brought his own and made it for himself.

The other boys dealt with the whining about food by ignoring it. Their choice; not ours.

Brought his own food and made it for himself? How does that fit into the patrol method?

[Mrw]

Doesn't fit into it at all. There is a reason he didn't stick with scouts, soccer, band, etc.

Nobody catered to him and he didn't like it.

[evmori]

Doesn't fit into it at all. There is a reason he didn't stick with scouts, soccer, band, etc.

Nobody catered to him and he didn't like it.

Gonna be a tough life!

[deweylure]

My question is why are there not more opportunities for camping? We had the same problem with a low number of camping trips and other activities. SM should be doing something it his his job.

hope the scout sticks with it . What about a patrol only trip?

Dewey

[momma_bee]

Dewey - are you asking me?

When I hit 6 paragraphs, I hit delete.

Long story short. We are a small troop in a small town and each Scout and adult has their own baggage and situations and each seems to want things planned around them but they don't support each other.

I have held meetings. I have asked for advice. I have begged for help.

SM's dad is sick and can't be alone at night, not counting him, Poppa & I are the only trained adults. Since we don't want to change troops we (my DH is ASM, I am CC) have decided just to plan what we are able to do, help BigBee when he needs it, and if the others can do, they will. If they can't, like this trip, their parents will do, or they will fall behind.

The thing I am worried about is that our weekend campout has become a family campout and I don't want a couple of parents to say that 'Johnny did that at our family campout."

I told our DeeDee that she is camera girl and we would wear our full uniform and she could get a few pictures. I think we are adding a service project, but feel bad we can't do more.

[deweylure]

Momma bee. knowing the circumstances changes my outlook. You are doing the best you can under some difficult circumstances. It would not look like you did it on a family trip. Like you said plan what you can and who ever shows up showa up

dewey

[Lynda J]

MomaBee. (Is there another troop in the area that you could buddy up with on camping? There is a small troop in our area that will buddy with another troop. You will still need to have a couple of adults with your boys but it could take some of the pressure off you.

As far as the boys planning. What we do before our planning meeting is give each boy in the troop a sheet of paper and have them write down 4 things they would like to do in the next 3 months. These are turned into the SPL.

At the PLC meeting those sheets are gone over and with the direction and advice of the adults the boys plan their activities for the next 3 months. We also give them some ideas of things that are going on at the District and Council level. When they have their calendar planned then the boy that came up with the idea for the activity is the one in charge of helping oversee the activity. It gives the boys in the troop more of a feeling of being part of the planning process.

[momma_bee]

Would you believe that someone called last night to see if it was too late to sign up?

I feel really bad (this is a girly thought) because I feel like he won't get to complete anything.

I know, he could cook for half the meals but we would need to call him tonight, he'd need to plan a menu tonight, shop tomorrow and get up there...

(and I need to work late since I'm off tomorrow to get myself ready.)

Linda - I have talked about buddy-ing with a specific troop or two but Poppa is afraid they our boys, who lack experience, will walk away feeling like they don't measure up.

[WVBeaver05]

Would you believe that someone called last night to see if it was too late to sign up?

Oh yes. I can easily believe that. Happens all the time.

I feel really bad (this is a girly thought) because I feel like he won't get to complete anything.

I know, he could cook for half the meals but we would need to call him tonight, he'd need to plan a menu tonight, shop tomorrow and get up there...

I can see your concern. I work very hard to help the Scouts get every possible opportunity to work on things like this, and it is disappointing when it doesn't work out. However, from my point of view, him signing up late is his fault not yours. I will try to accomodate even then, but won't worry if they can't work it out or if I have schedule conflicts etc. If it is my fault, then I'll try even harder, and will even blame myself to some extent. But signing up late would be a simple answer for me. "Yep you are welcome to come and we can work on whatever is appropriate to the already planned activities. Oh, by the way, if you had signed up a week ago we could have included you in the cooking requirement. Try and remember that next time." Or something along those lines.

Linda - I have talked about buddy-ing with a specific troop or two but Poppa is afraid they our boys, who lack experience, will walk away feeling like they don't measure up.

I wish I could tell you that it couldn't happen, but it could. It probably wouldn't, but it could. Kids this age are rather unpredictable in some things.

I have seen this type of buddying work very well, but you don't know for sure. If you are concerned you should consider it carefully and try to figure out why then act acordingly.

One of my biggest reasons for encouraging our Scouts to try and work the District Camporees into our outdoor schedule is so they can see how other Troops and Scouts operate. That has been quite successful in some cases. I always try to see some or all the other units at least once at a District Camporee.

I'm always trying to learn what others are doing and trying to show the boys that there are advantages.

YiS

[momma_bee]

Survived

It rained. Of Course!

The other kid who came, came with his Dad.

First thing Dad asked was 'what is his son going to get out of this' and then he said they were leaving after supper Saturday.

And, then he left after lunch.

We forgot grace at breakfast, but when he gave thanks at lunch, he apologized in his grace and said 'thank you for the breakfast we ate, and thank you for the lunch we are about to eat'

Made me smile.

Thanks for your encouragement!