Lebanon Girl Scout Troop 676 Gets Hands-On in the Kitchen While Earning Simple Meals Badge
The scouts learned cooking safety and handling procedures while preparing tasty food at Smitty’s Pizzeria
LEBANON — Girl Scouts from Troop 676 recently spent time in a very different kind of classroom, trading notebooks for cutting boards as they worked toward earning their Simple Meals badge.
The troop partnered with Lynda Ott, co-owner of Smitty’s Pizzeria, who opened up the kitchen and guided the girls through the basics of preparing a meal from start to finish.
The lesson began with food and kitchen safety. The girls learned about proper hygiene, safe food handling, and how to stay aware and confident in a busy kitchen setting. Ott also introduced basic knife skills, giving many of the scouts their first real experience practicing techniques used in everyday cooking.
The activity built toward the part the girls were most excited about: making their own pizzas. Each scout chose toppings, assembled her pizza, and watched it go into the oven. The process gave them a chance to make decisions in the kitchen and see the results come together in real time.
By the end of the session, the troop wasn’t just walking away with a badge requirement completed. They also gained practical kitchen skills and a shared experience they clearly enjoyed as a group.
Troop 676 encouraged other local troops or youth groups to consider reaching out to Lynda Ott at Smitty’s Pizzeria for similar classes, noting it as a fun way to learn, earn badges, and get comfortable in the kitchen at the same time.
