Challenges

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Home : 2006 : May : 16

Challenges
By Bob

I like your idea of a Survivor week. How clever!

The first thought that came to my mind were perhaps some historical challenges, perhaps even Native American games and foods, maybe cooking food outside and building
a fire without matches. A resource for that might be, if available anywhere, from an old TV show, Camp Cariboo. Out of curiosity, I searched for their website, and found it at http://www.keeners.com/cariboo/index.html . Nothing instructional on it, but found out it is on the Green Channel in reruns.

Perhaps a guest historian or Native American could visit. We have a local

French & Indian War reenactment group whose members have shared with our school.

Another thought, in the food area, if possible where you live, blue crabs. I don't know if they'll be quite in season when you do this, but they are fun to eat. Pull out the claws, first, and eat any meat that comes out. Turn over, and pull out the key like appendage on the bottom. Males have the shape of the Washington Monument on the bottom, and females have the shape of the U.S. Capital, (as the saying goes in eastern Maryland). Pull the shells apart. The yellow inside is called the mustard and is edible; cats love to eat this part, but not all humans do. Scrape away the finger like parts, called "The Devil's Fingers" or the lungs, with the blade of a butter knife and wipe the knife clean with a knapkin. This is the only dangerous part of the crab, but not so dangerous to be squemish about. Marylanders just scrape the lungs away to the side of the tray or whatever the crab is on. Break apart the thin shells inside to reveal the rest of the meat. Hit the claws with the handle end of the butterknife to reveal meat inside them, especially the larger claw. Personally, I think the claw meat is the least tasty.
The back of Old Bay seasoning has the cooking directions. Cooking is the only other dangerous part I know of--they must be cooked alive or bought pre-cooked and frozen from the store (they turn orange when cooked).