Caythorpe and 9th Grantham Scouts: "Move over, Masterchef!"

January 24, 2025

Brilliant joint weekend at Walesby Forest Scout Camp

The Scouting year began brilliantly for 17 Caythorpe and ten 9th Grantham Scouts, plus two Young Leaders, who enjoyed a fantastic weekend of creative cookery and teamwork at Walesby Forest Scout Camp.

The Scouts had already worked together in their teams; planning their internationally-themed meals and shopping lists, all within budgets set by their volunteer Leaders. Leaders had, during the week, cross-checked the quantities to ensure that they were correct(ish) before placing a HUGE online order for delivery to Walesby.

Our Scouts met at Walesby on Friday evening, unpacked their belongings in their dorms and got used to their new home, Sherwood Lodge. Then the breakfast team had a briefing session, where they decided they didn’t need to do any prep at all in advance of the morning. After hot chocolate, biscuits and a bit of chivvying from the Leaders (Frances, Gen, Marie and Geoff), Scouts settled into their bunks and some even went to sleep, at some point.

Saturday morning came around quickly, with a 7am alarm call for the breakfast team. On the menu was American pancakes with bacon and maple syrup, fruit skewers and egg muffins. The team worked well together and served a brilliant breakfast (about an hour late, but no-one was really counting), setting the bar high for the remaining two teams. Perhaps a little more planning in the order of preparation would have helped them serve on time, but this is how we all learn.

After superstar washer-upper Geoff, along with Scout assistants, had washed up all the pots and pans, the lunch team set about creating lamb balls with Greek salad (including homemade vinegarette), with homemade flatbreads on the side, followed by chocolate brownies with homemade raspberry sauce (yum!). These recipes were very challenging, especially given the basic kitchen facilities and lack of kitchen scales (oops!). But Scouts always find a solution to a problem and created a wonderful cross-reference system from weights to cups, to be able to measure the flour. Lunch was absolutely delicious and the Leaders were all pretty smug that they’d signed up to be cooked for, for a whole weekend.

As soon as the kitchen was cleared from lunch, the dinner team took over. They really aimed high, with bruschetta as a starter, chicken cacciatore with rice, followed by tiramisu (and the option of magdalenas for those who don’t like tiramisu). A truly Italian menu, with a hint of Spain thrown in for good measure! By the end of dinner most of us could hardly move, having eaten so much amazing food all day long. Not a camp we could repeat regularly!

It wasn’t all about cooking. While not ‘on duty’ Scouts enjoyed paying wide games around Walesby, including ‘the mailbox game’ and ‘pegs on a washing line’ (a bit like 4 team capture the flag), with all of the teams trying to raid each others’ washing lines, recapture their own pegs and not get caught and put in jail. They also had the opportunity to try the Walesby orienteering course, as well as lots of reasonably quiet time playing a huge variety of board games and puzzles. Just what was needed, two weeks back into the school term.

Sam popped up to Walesby on Saturday afternoon to enjoy dinner with the Scouts (a definite perk of being a volunteer!) and also, sadly, to present Gen with a leaving gift as she leaves us for a new job based in the Lake District. Gen (and Joe!) have been with us for over two years and have really invigorated our ways of thinking, injecting ‘young’ blood and ideas into a team who could mostly (not all!) be classed as ‘heading towards middle age’…. We’re delighted that Gen has agreed to remain on our Trustee board, so she’s not completely escaped Caythorpe and will still know what we’re all up to. Gen if we don’t see you before the Spring, we all hope you and Joe have a lovely wedding day and wish you every happiness as you embark on married life together!

Other goodbyes this weekend were the two Isabellas; Belle and Bella. Both have now turned 14 and so it’s time to move on from Scouts. Belle is staying with Caythorpe Cubs as a Young Leader (and has also been selected to join the Lincolnshire Scouts Youth Forum) while Bella has joined Foston / Buccaneer Explorers. Good luck girls!

But it wasn’t all goodbyes, as Frances invested Harrison into 9th Grantham Scout Group. Congratulations and welcome to Scouts, Harrison!

The evening was rounded off with a fun quiz, where the Scouts realised just how many (or maybe how few) Scouting facts they knew, as well as other fun rounds including ‘how well do you know your leaders’.

The weekend flew by, and one volunteer leader made the world of difference to everyone’s weekend. Geoff. He tirelessly washed up, dried up, and washed up again. Always with a smile on his face. Thank you Geoff, we couldn’t have done it (certainly not within the timeframes!) without you!

Congratulations to all the Scouts, who have definitely earned their Chef Activity Badge.

Here’s a link to all of the recipes, should anyone want to try them again:

Breakfast

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/easy-egg-muffins

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/american-pancakes

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/rainbow-fruit-skewers

Lunch

https://cookingwithneil.wordpress.com/2022/06/29/cracking-lamb-balls/

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/greek-salad

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/user/12304531/recipe/easy-yoghurt-flatbreads-varying-sizes

Dinner

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tomato-bruschetta