The North Grenville Scout Troop took on a number of challenges during the final month of the spring season. The regular Scouting season (Sept-May) transitions to canoeing during the summer season.
Over several May meetings, the Scouts prepared for a Patrol Cook-Off Challenge: they planned menus, grocery shopped within a budget, determined the equipment they’d need, and prepared a full meal, including dessert and a drink, for a team of “Celebrity Judges”.
The meeting was held at Maplewood Park in Oxford Mills; youth came prepared with bugspray, camp stoves and other equipment, and their groceries. They were scored on a variety of criteria, including teamwork, presentation, organization, and the taste and warmth of the food, among others. The judges sampled each meal prepared by the separate patrols: hamburgers with brown-sugar pineapple rings; Pad Thai with strawberry crepes; meatballs, mashed potatoes, salad, and caramel swirl; curried rice, green beans, vanilla ice cream with strawberries; and vegetarian pasta with chocolate pudding trifle.
Many thanks to Rotary Club member Dave Pelletier — the Rotary Club is a charter sponsor for 1st Kemptville Troop; NG Scouts Group Commissioner Rob Grimes; Venturer Scout Oskar Kaminski; and Troop Scouter Robbie Grimes for their willingness to be official ‘tasters’ and judges.
Our other May meetings were full, we built chariots and camp chairs. Our final May meeting ended with some travois races, a paper airplane contest, and a thank you ceremony for Scouter Rob Fnukal for his 25 years with Scouts, his leadership, and his many contributions to the NG Troop and Scouting in North Grenville.
On July 1st, for the second year, the Scouts will be celebrating Canada Day by meeting at Curry Park in the morning, constructing rafts out of coffee cans and other items, and then paddling them from Curry Park to Prescott St. in the afternoon. Other summer activities include weekly canoeing for all levels, ORCKA 1-3 sessions, a local day canoe trip and a canoe camp from Perth to Kempville.
Registration for North Grenville Scouting is online at www.scouts.ca; sections in North Grenville are Beavers (5-7), Cubs (7-10), Scouts (11-14), Venturers (14-18), and Rovers (18+). Both Oxford Mills and Kemptville have sections with openings for youth.
Interested in being a leader? Please contact Group Commissioner Rob Grimes at ngscouts@gmail.com
