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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