Meeting Ideas – Outdoor Cooking
Scout Meeting Plan: Outdoor Cooking Methods
Theme: Cooking in the Outdoors
Age Group: Scouts
Duration: 75–90 minutes
Objective: Learn and practise different outdoor cooking methods while reinforcing safety, teamwork, and basic food skills
Opening (10 minutes)
- Opening ceremony or flag break
- Scout Promise or Law
- Introduce the theme: how scouts cook when there’s no kitchen
- Brief safety talk:
- Fire safety
- Knife safety
- Food hygiene (clean hands, clean tools)
Cooking Methods Overview (10–15 minutes)
Use quick demos or posters to introduce each method:
- Campfire cooking (grill, stick cooking, foil packs)
- Stove cooking (camp stoves, one-pot meals)
- Foil cooking (hobo meals, desserts)
- No-cook meals (wraps, trail meals, cold-soak foods)
Discuss when each method is useful and what gear is needed.
Skill Stations (35–40 minutes)
Divide scouts into patrols and rotate through stations.
Station 1: Stick Cooking
- Practise safely roasting bannock, bread, or hot dogs
- Learn how to control heat and avoid flames
Station 2: Foil Pack Cooking
- Assemble a simple foil meal or dessert
- Learn proper wrapping and placing near coals
Station 3: Camp Stove Basics
- Identify stove parts
- Practise safe lighting (demonstration only if indoors)
- Simulate cooking steps if no stoves are available
Station 4: No-Cook Challenge
- Build a balanced meal using no-cook ingredients
- Discuss nutrition and packing smart
Patrol Cooking Challenge (15–20 minutes)
Each patrol plans a simple meal using one assigned cooking method.
Criteria:
- Safety
- Creativity
- Teamwork
- Clean-up plan
If actual cooking isn’t possible, have patrols present their plan instead.
Clean-Up & Leave No Trace (10 minutes)
- Proper dishwashing demonstration
- Safe food storage
- Leave No Trace discussion related to cooking and waste
Reflection & Discussion (10 minutes)
Ask scouts:
- Which cooking method would you choose on a rainy camp?
- What worked well as a team?
- What would you do differently next time?
🏕️ Closing (5 minutes)
- Announcements
- Scout closing or friendship circle
🧰 Materials Needed
- Camp stoves (or demo models)
- Foil, ingredients, and utensils
- Fire-safe sticks
- Handwashing supplies
- Posters or diagrams
✅ Leader Tips
- Emphasize safety over speed
- Adjust food complexity by age and experience
- Assign youth leaders to run stations
- Encourage clean cooking and teamwork
