How to Nab a Crab!

By Lukas Ruocco: Troop 12 Historian

A Troop 12 Tradition

November might mean colder weather for camping, but it also means something special forTroop 12 -- our annual Crab Feast at Camp Baker.

Early Saturday morning, a small group of older Scouts headed out with several of the Assistant Scoutmasters on a dinghy to set crab traps in the choppy waters of Winchester bay. The other scouts loaded into cars and caravanned to the crabbing pier that extended out into the bay. We didn't get pelted with rain like in years past, and the calm weather made the experience especially memorable, despite the few crabs that the scouts on the pier caught in their crab pots. The Assistant Scoutmasters brought the boat to shore and a fresh batch of experienced Scouts went out into the deeper waters They went to the traps set earlier and worked together to pull them up and see what they had caught.

Jackpot!

Once again our Scouts brought in a huge haul of crabs for the evenings feast. We all worked together to clean them at the marina cleaning station, then boiled them until they turned red.

Camp Baker

Later that evening, the entire troop came together at Camp Baker's Handicraft Lodge for a large feast featuring the crabs we caught. There were more crabs than we could eat, plus butter sauce and Old Bay Seasoning. The feast was the highlight of the weekend, because it brought the troop together around the table- sharing a meal and a few good laughs.

Keeping the Tradition Alive

The Crabbing Camping weekend still stands out as one of Troop 12's time-tested traditions, combining fun and outdoor skills that provide good food and strong troop spirit.

The slower, more relaxed pace of the trip gives everyone time to enjoy their surroundings, talk with one another, and build stronger connections within the troop. We look forward to next November, and our Next Troop 12 Crab Feast.

Scouts relaxing by the waters at Camp Baker's Elephant Tree