As the lid was lifted from a bushel of live crabs, Justin Rowland had only one piece of advice for the dozen or so middle schoolers trying to get a glimpse of the squirming crustaceans.
“Careful, don’t get bit,” said Rowland, Annapolis Middle School’s seventh grade counselor.
Fourteen-year-old Denim James reached into the bushel, plucking one from the top and holding it up so others could see. Bringing it closer to one side of the group brought laughs and shrieks, and more crabs attempted to scuttle out — one even grasped the grass as it resisted. A few feet away, a steamer pot filled with boiling water awaited.
Using their hands or tongs, members of the Annapolis Middle School Grill Masters Club dropped crabs into the pot, marking for several a first try at one of Maryland’s favorite summer traditions: steaming crabs.
Wednesday’s crab boil, held outside the middle school, capped the end of the second summer of the youth grilling club. Started by Rowland, the club gives middle schoolers the opportunity to make and try new grilled foods under his guidance.
Rowland is no stranger to grilling. Inspired by his parents, he started grilling in high school. Employed year round at the middle school, Rowland wanted to give students a chance to try it during the summer, too.
“I like to grill, and I like being around kids, so I combined them both,” he said.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools bought Rowland a grill and charcoal, and supermarket chain Wegmans donated gift cards for supplies. Jimmy’s Famous Seafood donated four dozen crabs, as well as Old Bay garlic butter and seasoning.
Over the summer, lamb chops, salmon, chicken and burgers have been grilled.
“I wanted them to have things that they never tried before like lamb chops [or] steak — some of them never even had a live crab before,” Rowland said. “It’s just good to expose them to different things that they never had and learn how to make it.”
Within 20 minutes, the first batch was ready. As the lid was lifted, a whiff of freshly steamed crabs wafted through the air.
A chorus of “aahs” echoed. “That smells good,” one teen said.
Tipping over the steamer pot, a pile of crabs, shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn tumbled out onto a table lined with crab paper. A few generous sprinkles of crab seasoning later, the table was soon surrounded by hungry middle schoolers.
Though most knew how to crack crabs, Rowland gave instructions for those who didn’t, demonstrating how to use a mallet.
Wednesday was 13-year-old Eli Wurst’s first time eating crabs. Though the teenager has had crab dip before, seeing whole crabs and cracking them open was a new experience.
“I think what surprised me the most was how many there were,” he said.
The Grill Masters Club is about more than just grilling, however. To Wurst, it meant meeting new friends.
“Before, I didn’t really know anybody, and then I got to know people here,” he said.
Of all of the grilling club’s summer events, Wednesday’s crab boil was a favorite for many.
“It’s way much more stuff to do than just watch your food cook on a grill,” said 12-year-old Skye Parker.
“And because I like to see the live crabs,” added Aubrey Lewis, 12.
For Annapolis Middle School Principal Casey Hunt, seeing the kids grow their confidence while cooking is special.
“It’s amazing just to watch the kids just having fun during the summer, still staying connected to school, but also learning skills,” she said.
