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Our camp was held on September 25th, and the theme was "Impressions". We like to start off the year with a residential camp where everyone can relax and get to know one another. "Impressions" was a terrific opportunity for them to have fun, to plan impressing things for the new year, and to work on a craft that helped them to leave impressions.
The girls were asked to bring their favorite cd or tape to camp, and as we sat in circle, they played their favorite songs and told us a little something about themselves. The 3rd year Pathfinders are not shy, and by the time they finished talking, the 2nd year and 1st year girls wanted to do it too.
On Saturday, we took a hike in the woods. Marie brought tarps and rope so we asked the Pathfinders to break up into groups and find a spot and to start building a shelter. We told them to prepare to stay for the evening. One Pathfinder in each group was asked to fake a sprained ankle or broken leg to see what the others would do to help her. After they had enough time, we looked at their shelters and suggested changes they could make. By the way, the Pathfinders had taken very good care of their casualties. On the way back to Owl's Nest, Marie became lost in the woods so the Pathfinders could try to find her. A couple of girls separated from the main group when they were trying to locate Marie so we talked about that after the hike; it was a good learning experience.
Later that day, the Pathfinders started to plan some of the things they wanted to do this year. They decided that each of the 3rd years would plan a meeting. It could be an outing or inviting a guest in, but they would be responsible for preparing notices, permission slips, arranging drives, etc. On Sunday morning we had Guides Own in a little clearing in the woods. We talked about first impressions and what impression this camp had on everyone.
Our tenting trip was held in May, 1999. You can see more information about that in our Gold Camp section.
BEAN HOLE cooking involves digging a hole in the ground, placing rocks in the bottom, then a layer of hot coals , then a pot of stew (it could be anything), on top of the coals, with a lid of course. This pot should have been cooking on the fire/stove for a while before going in the pit. Cover with a wet canvas, fill in hole, mark it well, and go on a hike, for a couple of hours.
A HAY BOX works on the same principle as a slow cooker, except uses hay instead of electricity to keep the pot hot (or cold). A round cheese box is the best - wooden, round, about 30" in diameter and 24" in height has a wooden lid. A wooden box with lid will also work. Be sure there are no holes or cracks that would allow heat to escape. To prepare Hay Box line bottom with about three inches of dry hay. Place pot to be used in centre. Pile hay around pot and pack very firmly. Remove pot and follow recipe. When dinner is ready to be put into hay box, cover top of pot with foil before the cover is put on. Place pot in Hay Box, cover with layer of hay then put lid on. At camp, this dinner is prepared after breakfast. It is completed and put in hay box before going on hike, or beginning activities that day. When suppertime arrives, they have a hot meal waiting for them. Or you can prepare at night and have it ready for the noon meal the next day. The cooking time is about three times the normal time. Some instructions call for newspaper in the bottom of the hay box and line the lid with foil. I have never done this only used hay. The hay in the box can be left all camping season, if clean. We change our hay at the beginning of spring camping season. One word of caution: Make sure your meat is well cooked and the water for the dinner is at a hard rolling boil before putting dinner in the hay box. One other important item: Make sure that before storing your hay box away, at the end of camp, that the hay is dry - wet hay can cause a fire is left over long period of time. Hay Box Stew - Ingredients are the same as for stew you cook at home. Cut up vegetables small, and beef into cubes. Cook meat well. Bring water to hard rolling boil, allow to boil for 10 minutes, add meat & vegetables. Place in stewing pot with lid and place in hay box. (The vegetables will cook during the day). Cook for about 8 - 10 hours, then serve.
Oatmeal for breakfast can be made in hay box. Bring water to boil, add oatmeal and salt (raisons if you wish), Place stewing pot with lid on in hay box and allow to cook overnight for about 8 - 10 hours. DELICIOUS!! The oatmeal is smooth and creamy. Add brown sugar, chocolate chips, fresh fruit, etc. Other hay box suggestions are sloppy joes (meat sauce) or canned baked beans & hot dogs or sausage.
EVERYONE's favorite is ICE CREAM In A Hay Box:
For other flavors, add strawberries, chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, etc. AFTER the ice cream is frozen.
METHOD - Mix all ingredients in an empty coffee can with lid(may need more than one can). Seal tightly. Find a bucket that is 4" deeper and 8" wider than your can and place the coffee can on 4" on ice and coarse salt in the bucket. Surround the sides with ice and salt. Place in the hay box. Takes 3 or more hour to freeze. Makes one quart. Don't try to double the recipe, use two hay boxes. Especially good on a hot summer day.
HOT DOGS IN MILK CARTONS - Place 2-4 hotdogs (no buns) in foil in a half gallon carton approximately 2 liter size) if you use 1 liter, don't use more than 2 hot dogs. The advantage of the bigger carton is that you can put a metal cup in the bottom of the carton with soup or chili, cover the top with foil then put the hot dogs on top of the cup. Set it upright in the fire circle and light it. Then when it burns down all the way, you can have a hotdog or a hotdog and soup. If you like the buns warm just set them in foil near the fires.
Another Version of Hot Dog in a Wax Milk Carton - Wrap a single hot dog (or separately wrap two hot dogs) without the bun in foil (shiny side IN). You should have enough foil to wrap the hot dog three times so that it doesn't burn. Then take one piece of newspaper (a double page) and put it over your fist. Push your fist into the milk carton. The hole left by your fist is where you place your hotdog. Lightly stuff the top of the newspaper over the hotdog. You then light the milk carton. When the carton is all burned up, your hotdog is ready. You can also make toasted cheese sandwiches this way. Remember to use oven mitts or tongs - the hot dogs will be really hot.
POPCORN - Make an utensil to hold the popcorn (get two metal strainers and attach them to a long piece of wood - this will form the handle so the girls can hold it). Place a handful of un-popped popcorn in the one of the strainers, close them together and hold over coals. When they have popped, eat!
BACON AND EGGS IN A PAPER BAG - You will need coals for this. Wet the paper bag well (a couple of paper bags works better) and break the eggs into the bags. Add the bacon (chopped into pieces) and place on the coals. As the paper dries, the bacon and eggs will cook. You can use the same principle for anything that needs to be steamed (eg, fish).
JEWELS IN THE TREES - (very popular)
Dissolve unflavored gelatin in one cup of cold water - set aside. Bring 1cup of water to a boil and then add Jello. (tip - use a big pan because this mixture foams up). Remove from heat when Jello is dissolved and add unflavored gelatin mixture. Stir until dissolved, then add remaining 1/2 cup of water. Pour about 1/2 cup into a ZipLock sandwich size bag and hand from the trees with a clothespin. Amazingly enough, this recipe has set even in 85 degree weather. We make the Jello right after breakfast and eat it for dessert after dinner. It does set much faster when it is cooler outside. (another tip) Don't leave this in the trees overnight - racoons will go crazy. Works well with sugar free jello. This recipe makes about 8 servings - multiply as needed. Using various flavors of Jello makes for prettier jewels.
BOIL IN A BAG is one of the most popular method of cooking for girls in our Pathfinder unit. The Pathfinder puts food that only needs to be re-heated in a zip-lock plastic bag (for example, soup, spaghetti, chili). They suck out most of the air in the plastic bag and seal it closed. The zip lock bags that work best are the bags that turn from yellow to green. Then that bag is placed inside another bag, the air is removed, and the bag is sealed shut.
Water is boiled in a large pot, and the Boil In A Bags are placed in the hot water for a few minutes. No pots to clean, and very little preparation for this meal.
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Lots of Great Recipes from Becky's Guiding Resource Centre
