Thanksgiving Celebrated Wilderness-Style by Eckerd Youth; Troubled Kids Cook Turkey-in-the-Hole and Create a Holiday Feast to Re
2003年10月28日 - 7:09PM
PRニュース・ワイアー (英語)
Thanksgiving Celebrated Wilderness-Style by Eckerd Youth; Troubled
Kids Cook Turkey-in-the-Hole and Create a Holiday Feast to Remember
CLEARWATER, Fla., Oct. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- The November morning
arrives crisp and full of anticipation. Weeks of planning and
preparation have led up to this misty dawn in the Florida
woodlands. Cords of pine kindling and fallen oak logs stand stacked
and ready. The shovels and picks, wielded by the boys over the past
weeks to dig the enormous cooking pit, are neatly stowed. Today, at
last, Turkey-in-the-Hole, a Thanksgiving tradition at Eckerd Youth
Alternatives Wilderness Camps throughout the Eastern United States,
will begin. (Logo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030421/EYALOGO ) For more
than 35 years, the boys at Camp E-How-Kee, the first camp for
troubled youth founded by drug store pioneer Jack Eckerd and his
wife, Ruth in 1968, have helped prepare a Thanksgiving feast, which
befits their wilderness environment. And for many, this may be
their only Thanksgiving dinner. The camp, one of 18, provides
troubled boys and girls with a wilderness education and treatment
experience designed to help them recognize and accept
responsibility for their problems and learn to make the right
choices for their future. More than 88% of camp graduates are in
school, working -- or both -- a year later. But now, they are
focused on the Thanksgiving feast. First the turkeys -- eight to
ten 28-pounders have been carefully seasoned and stuffed with ice
-- yes, ice. It keeps the moisture in during the roasting. The
birds are thickly wrapped in foil and tied with wire coat hangers,
which prove invaluable later. Next step, light the fire. All 60
boys and their counselors, called "chiefs," assemble at the pit,
now filled with wood. The fire is lit and each camper tosses in a
pine branch as he circles the pit and says what he is thankful for
on this special day. Most are thankful for this special place,
which allows them a better chance at a more productive life. The
fire blazes throughout the night, watched by a select group of
campers who earned the honor of tending the Turkey-in-the-Hole pit.
By morning, only glowing coals remain and the turkeys are carefully
placed on the hot embers. More coals are placed on the birds and
then dirt is shoveled over the pit, capturing the heat. The wait
begins. In about eight hours, the dirt cover is removed and the
hunt for the coat hangers begins, as they serve as the tell-tails
for the roasted birds. Once all are recovered, the feasting begins.
Members of the local community and camp alumni are invited, songs
are sung, juicy turkey and all the trimmings are shared. Before
this special evening is over, each camper will again share reasons
to be thankful, continuing the special Eckerd Youth Alternatives
tradition, which has touched nearly 60,000 at-risk kids in the past
35 years. If you know a youth who needs an opportunity to redirect
his or her life, and to learn more about Eckerd Youth Alternatives
programs, please call 1-800-914-3937 or visit
http://www.eckerd.org/ .
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030421/EYALOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: Eckerd Youth Alternatives,
Inc. CONTACT: Martha Chamberlain, Director of Corporate
Communications of Eckerd Youth Alternatives, +1-727-461-2990, ext.
490
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