Mini Pancakes on a Tin Can Stove

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This week, Cub Scouts all around the country will be tucking into some delicious pancakes for Shrove Tuesday. I just wanted to take a moment to challenge you to think about why. Sure it’s Pancake or Shrove Tuesday and it’s tradition but is this a missed learning opportunity for your young people? I’ve spoken to a few Cub Scout Scouters and other adults who will be celebrating on Tuesday and most will admit, that their young people don’t get much out of it. The adults will do the cooking, the children do the eating.

So what’s the point?

I’ve spoken before about learning intentions and in almost every activity you do, there should be some clear learning taking place. This might be a “hard skill” such as, how to put up an Icelandic patrol tent. Skills can also be “soft”; teamwork and communication would be examples of soft skills. If the young people are aware of the learning intention behind an activity, they can assess and review their learning more effectively afterwards. So what is the learning intention for eating pancakes?

That’s up to you, the Scouter, to work out. Make this Pancake Tuesday fit your overall plans. Don’t let it be a standalone activity that has little to no point. Most of you will do this without thinking about it, so all I’m asking is you put a bit of thought into the value of these sorts of activities.

So if you’re cooking up pancakes this Shrove Tuesday, here are some ways you can integrate a valuable learning intention into this crowd pleasing calendar staple.

Camping – Regardless of your theme, you should get your cubs to measure and mix up the pancake batter. Don’t buy the ready-mix jobs. For the amount you’re making, it’ll be way cheaper and tastier and healthier and more natural, if you make your own. I’ve put a basic recipe on this post which should make 6-8 “normal” sized crepes.

Hillwalking – Use this as an opportunity to teach Cubs about your gas stoves, get them to connect them up, turn the gas on and fired up. You could also talk about the dangers of carbon monoxide (one time Doyle and I had the Fire Brigade at our Cub den after we set the alarm off).

Backwoods – Use this as opportunity to get the children to light the fires you’ll be cooking over. Introduce a different fire lay. Use tools safely to prepare the firewood. There’s loads here!

I thought I’d share a Scouting activity that young people have been doing all over the world for years.

Mini Pancakes on Tin Can Stoves This Pancake Tuesday

If you’re looking at recycling or some other environmental topic (maybe you’re doing the new Eco Badge?)  you might consider these tin can stoves this Pancake Tuesday as a repurposing project. First off, make sure the can you use isn’t lined on the inside with plastic. Give the cans a really good wash at home. Have an adult Scouter poke a load of holes in the can. You’ll need more holes than you think to let the required amount of oxygen in. If you’re doing this activity outside, keep all the holes on one side, this will allow you to turn it away from the wind.

If you’re inside, a tealight when generate enough heat to cook your pancakes. Outside, because of induction, wind will cool everything down. You can still use a tealight but raise it up a bit so that it’s closer to the upturned base. Or you can use a bigger candles! I found the bean can worked better than the drink can. The drink can ones just wouldn’t seem to crisp up. These aren’t the prettiest pancakes I’ve ever made but I was starting to get the hang of it. They tasted good too, I shared my recipe below.

A Note on Safety

An adult should probably make the stoves as part of a tool demo or have them made in advance. The sharp edges of cut metal cans are dangerous so be aware of that. I was able to cut the heavier bean can with a pair of good scissors, the drinks can I used a penknife. I also used a pair of pliers to fold the sharp edges back inside the can. Tell cubs to keep fingers out of the inside. Even where you poke the holes will have sharp edges inside.

These cans also get hot. I was easily able to hold the bottom of the can but it was hot at the top. Be aware of hot, melted wax too when you’re cleaning up. Cubs should be able to cook their own pancakes on these stoves with a bit of supervision. I’d try to get one or two stoves going per Six.

Scouts

This is a Cub Scout activity and to be honest, it’s a bit of a gimmick older ones will see through. If you want to try something a bit more functional with your older sections this Pancake Tuesday, you could try this Banana Pancake recipe which also makes a great camp brunch!