Campers in the Kitchen: A Spotlight on Cooking PEG
Contributed by: Troi Watts
PEGs, or Personal Enrichment Groups, are afixture of Hoosier Burn Camp. PEGs are hour-long “classes” led by HBC staffthat campers participate in throughout the week of camp. A variety of PEGs are offeredeach year, from the more traditional camp activities - like swimming, archery,and canoeing - to more unique HBC activities - like duct tape crafts,glass-blowing, and “mad scientist” experiments. Campers enjoy these excitingactivities, often asking to work on their crafts or play the games outside ofdesignated PEG-time. But PEGs aren’t just another fun pastime at camp. Theyserve a greater purpose: to help campers learn new life skills and cope withtheir burn injuries in a subtle, enjoyable way. How can activities likerocket-making or Fun with Yarn help our campers? Let’s take a closer look.
Today’s blog post will focus on the benefitsof our Cooking PEG, which is typically offered every year at camp.
1. An Important Life Skill
If you can’t cook, how are you gonna eat? Therecent pandemic has only highlighted the importance of knowing how to prepareyour own meals. At Hoosier Burn Camp, campers are taught basic food preparationand cooking skills, including how to properly clean ingredients, the correctuse of common utensils, and identifying when foods are ready to be served. HBCoffers a safe, confident environment. Campers don’t experience the pressure ofhaving a whole meal rely on their success. Staff provide encouragement andguidance, making it clear that mistakes happen.
Campers are also introduced to a variety ofdishes throughout the week. Since PEGs are only an hour long, these dishes aretypically quick and easy. These kinds of dishes are great stepping stones forthose just starting out. Also, counselors use this PEG as an opportunity toteach our campers about healthy eating. Vegetables, fruits, and other freshingredients are used in place of frozen, sugary foods. For example, when I tookthis PEG as a camper, we made spaghetti with zucchini noodles, or “zoodles,”and it was one of the best spaghetti dinners I have ever had!
2. Teamwork
At HBC, there are never too many cooks in thekitchen. Cooking PEG groups often have a large group of campers, due to itspopularity. This means that campers must communicate and cooperate with eachother to create the dish. What does this typically look like? Well, one campermay be tasked with cutting up ingredients while another washes vegetables orfruits and yet another prepares the sauces or sides. Teamwork is anotherimportant life skill as most of life’s tasks require us to work together,sometimes with people we don’t know very well.
Cooking PEG also gives campers a chance to seethe results of their teamwork. If they worked well together, their dish may bedelicious. If they struggled and failed to communicate, the dish may not tasteas good as it could have. Being able to see the fruits of your labor is a greatmotivator for change or reinforcement of behavior.
One of the main purposes of Hoosier Burn Campis to create a community of burn survivors. It’s normal for a burn survivor tofeel alone in their struggle, so support is critical to recovery. Workingalongside a team of survivors to create a delicious meal is a great way to buildand strengthen this support system. What better way to make friends and get toknow one another than put together a lasagna or scramble some eggs?
3. Confidence in the Kitchen
Many burn injuries, especially scaldings,occur in a kitchen. Being scalded when preparing your ramen or accidentallyknocking hot grease onto yourself is a traumatic experience. After such anexperience, it is understandable that many campers may be hesitant to cookagain. Hoosier Burn Camp offers a safe environment for campers to return to thekitchen. Staff provide support and direction, showing campers that they canprepare meals on the stove or in the microwave safely. Being surrounded byfellow burn survivors also creates a positive atmosphere to try thesenerve-wracking activities again. Campers do not feel judged for their anxiety,because everyone understands what they are going through.
4. Self-Expression
Cooking, like any creative activity, givescampers a method of expressing themselves. It has just enough structure to providedirection without dampening a camper’s personality. Campers can also use thisopportunity to experiment with their own likes and dislikes. Do they likezucchini? Do they not like chocolate? What would happen if they used saltinstead of sugar? In Cooking PEG, campers can ask these questions without fearof judgment or failure.
Cooking PEG is a deliciously rewardingopportunity, and not just because of the food. Whether they’re throwing pastaat the wall or decorating a handmade cake, Cooking PEG is a chance for campersto learn and grow while making great memories with their HBC family.
Want to have your own Cooking PEG at home? Tryout this tasty recipe for Hot Ham and Cheese Pinwheels, provided by HBCCounselor Suzi.
Hot Ham and Cheese Pinwheels
Ingredients:
- 1 tube (8 ounces) crescent rolldough
- 8 slices of deli ham
- 8 slices of cheese
- 1/4 cup melted butter
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Unroll the crescent dough, and divide into 4 sections with 2 rolls triangles per section, and pinch the seams together.
- Place two pieces of cheese on each dough section.
- Place two pieces of ham on top of the cheese.
- Roll up each section, starting with the short side first.
- Cut each section into 3 pieces of equal size.
- Grease an 8 in. x 8 in. pan.
- Place pieces into a pan on the flat side (so they look like cinnamon rolls).
- Pour melted butter over the top of the rolls.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown.
Put Your Own Spin On It!
Nota Ham Fan? Try Turkey or Roast Beef or Pastrami or any kind of meat you want!
MakePizza Rolls
- Before putting down the cheese andpepperoni, add a thin layer of tomato sauce to the rolls.
Tryusing shredded cheese instead of cheese slices!
AWhole Other Kind of Roll: Wraps!
- Instead of crescent roll dough,use tortilla wraps for this snack.
- Instead of melted butter, spreadyour favorite condiment on the wrap before adding the cheese and meat.
- No need to cook these wraps. Theyare ready to eat!