Troop 66 Celebrates Turkey Day With Activities, Games, Food and More Food

By Aaron Derr
Photographs by Michael Eudenbach

Thanksgiving is all about family and food — just not necessarily in that order.

Troop 66 from West Suffield, Connecticut, hosts a Thanksgiving campout each year that checks both of those boxes.

They invite at least one other Scouts BSA troop and Cub Scout pack, along with everyone’s family members.

And they cook food. Lots and lots of food.

While the location and menu might change, the purpose is always the same: to get everyone together for food, fun and fellowship.

During the day, the Scouts BSA members might teach the Cub Scouts some basic Scouting skills. Maybe they’ll go on a hike. Maybe they’ll play some games.

Then, in the evening, they eat. And eat. And eat.

“It brings everybody together like a big Scouting family,” 13-year-old Joe Dion says.

A DAY OF ACTION

Last fall, Troop 66 gathered at Northwest Park and Nature Preserve in Windsor, Conn., with Troop 203 from Windsor; Troop 82 from Agawam, Massachusetts; and Pack 266 from West Suffield.

The ground was covered with an early winter snow, so for a daytime activity, the Scouts teamed up to build an oversized snowman.

In the early afternoon, the cooking began. The group cooked several turkeys by hanging them from a tripod over hot coals. Other favorites included mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and corn bread. The Scouts split into groups to prep their food.

“We do a lot of planning ahead, so we know exactly what to bring,” says Quinn Bathgate, 15, from Troop 66. “So most of it isn’t that hard.”

After hours of preparation, the entire group and their families gathered for a large evening meal.

“It’s really nice,” 17-year-old Troop 66 Eagle Scout Jon Riley says. “After all that hard work, you get to finally taste your efforts. You can sit down with family members and just chill and talk.”