Each summer, the biggest question on the West Chester Recreation Camp B.I.G. (Before I’m Grown) campers’ minds is what state will be selected for its annual Statewise Celebration on July 15th. This year’s state was Louisiana and the campers, ages 11-14, spent the week celebrating this southern state through arts and crafts, movies, music and of course, a feast of Louisiana’s finest foods.
The faces and arms of campers were painted with Mardi Gras inspired styles and Louisiana references (an alligator, crawfish, New Orleans Saints’ fleur-de-lis emblem) by Gaillyn Giles, Art Director for the summer camps. Campers donned homemade Mardi Gras masks and painted their own versions of George Rodrique’s famous Blue Dog. Students collaborated to create their very own alligator and mural of a beautiful Garden District home to spice up the camp’s space at East High School.
Sounds of jazz and zydeco floated throughout the halls of the high school as kids partook in impromptu dance sessions. Counselors cooked up a craw fish relay, where campers, armed with fake claws and riding scooters, raced to win the title of “speediest crustacean.”
The week of Louisiana learning culminated with a celebration of Cajun and Creole dishes cooked up by Scott Straughen of Straughen Catering.
Straughen Catering has been catering Chester County affairs since 1964. Scott and his beloved lobster and mac and cheese bites will be returning the Chester County Restaurant Festival, which is also presented West Chester Parks and Recreation Department.
Many of the campers recognized Scott from last year’s Hawaiian Statewise Celebration, “They were all so excited about the food,” recalled Scott.
“I do a lot of events and normally kids are extremely picky eaters. Normally I have lots of food leftover, but I only had enough to bring home for dinner.”
This year, campers noshed on dirty rice, fried cat fish, chicken jambalaya, and Creole style spiced shrimp.
They also sampled a super spicy fried craw fish tail appetizer created by camp supervisor, Wil Luckowski. Scott served up tales about his gastronomic travels as well as the food origins.
“Head Counselor Harold was surprised by the number of students who went back for seconds on the spiciest of foods. Counselors and children alike enjoyed the change of pace and palate from the regular brown bag lunches, ” recalled Giles.
“It was a little sad as it was also supervisor Wil Luckowski’s last celebration with us after nine years of outstanding service with the parks program,” Giles said.
Camp B.I.G. was started in 1994 by West Chester Recreation Director, Kathy McBratnie. The Statewise Celebration is in its second year and thanks to the kids’ input, the state will be closer to home next summer.
Each summer, the West Chester Parks and Recreation Department provides top notch camps and classes for West Chester children. The Parks and Recreation Department provides entertainment for kids of all ages throughout the summer with various bus trips and festivals.
Plans are already underway for the Cultural Connection Celebration of India, which will take place at Camp B.I.G. later this summer.
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