The Scouts spent this week outside at HQ, collecting wood, building fires and making one of our favourite treats, the s'more.
The Scouts learnt the principles of using an altar fire: how to set it up, how to grade firewood, and how to put a fire out safely. Grading firewood teaches the Scouts to sort it into tinder, kindling and larger fuel, so the fire can be built up in stages rather than smothered at the start. With the wood sorted, the fires were lit and built up until they were ready to cook on.
The first flames catch
Sparks lift from the embers
Then came the reward. The s'more is an American campfire treat, and its name is a contraction of “some more”, which is a good indication of how many one person will want to eat! The first published recipe appeared in 1927, in the Girl Scouts' handbook Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts, using graham crackers and a square of chocolate. Graham crackers aren't generally available in Ealing, so 1EN does it differently: a marshmallow toasted over the fire and squashed between two chocolate digestives, chocolate side in. The heat of the marshmallow melts the chocolate, and they taste so good.
A chocolate digestive waits for its marshmallow
A well-made s'more
A good s'more takes patience. If it's not cooked properly it can turn into a lump of charcoal, but it's amazing when done well.
Marshmallows at the ready
Collecting wood and cooking over a fire are great Scouting skills, and this built on the experience of Summer Camp.
The Scouts are supporting the Ealing Half Marathon on Sunday 27 September. Good luck to all of the runners and especially the 1EN fundraisers. The group AGM follows on Monday 28 September.