Learn practical outdoor food and cooking skills, including campfire cooking, food hygiene, food storage, meal planning, foraging awareness and outdoor cooking.
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–30 minutes to learn; ongoing practiceLocation: Campsites, Scout camps, woodland, countryside and outdoor basesBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Personal hygiene, food hygiene, campsite management, sanitation and outdoor living Camp hygiene means keeping yourself, your food, equipment and campsite clean enough to reduce the spread of germs,…
When cooking over a campfire, the most useful heat often comes from hot embers rather than tall flames. Embers provide steady, radiant heat that can be easier to control for cooking. Learning to recognise and use them is an important campfire cooking skill for Scouts. What Are Embers? Embers are pieces of fuel that remain…
A cooking fire needs to provide controlled, steady heat rather than simply producing large flames. The way you arrange and manage the fire affects how evenly food cooks and how safely the cooking equipment can be used. Only light a campfire where fires are permitted and under appropriate supervision. Check the Fire Site Before setting…
Having the right equipment makes campfire cooking safer, easier and more enjoyable. The equipment you need will depend on what you’re cooking and how your fire is arranged. Scouts should learn to choose equipment that is suitable for the job rather than simply taking everything available. Cooking Pots and Pans Use cookware designed to withstand…
Campfire cooking needs more planning than simply finding a place to sit beside a fire. The cooking area needs to give everyone enough space to work safely while keeping food, equipment and people away from unnecessary hazards. Before lighting or using a campfire, choose and prepare the cooking area carefully. Check the Site Rules Before…
Managing food waste is an important part of outdoor cooking. Food scraps, packaging and leftovers can create unpleasant smells, attract wildlife and leave the campsite untidy. Good waste management helps protect the environment and makes packing up much easier. Plan Your Food One of the best ways to reduce waste is to avoid creating it…
Good hygiene is an essential part of cooking outdoors. Unlike a kitchen, a campsite may not have running water, worktops, sinks or refrigeration readily available. This means Scouts need to plan ahead and take extra care when handling food. The basic principle is simple: keep hands, food, equipment and preparation areas as clean as practical….
A well-organised cooking area makes outdoor food preparation safer, cleaner and easier. Before you start preparing food, take a few minutes to decide where everything should go. A good layout helps keep food, equipment and people organised throughout the activity. Choose a Suitable Location Start by choosing an appropriate cooking area. Look for a location…
Outdoor cooking is a useful Scout skill that combines planning, food preparation, equipment management and safety. Cooking outside is different from cooking in a kitchen. You have less space, fewer facilities and changing weather conditions to consider. The aim is to prepare food safely while keeping your cooking area organised and leaving the site clean…
Cooking is a brilliant outdoor skill for Cubs. It combines practical skills with teamwork, creativity and a little bit of adventure. A Cub who learns how to prepare a simple meal at a campsite is developing skills they can use long after they’ve left Cubs. Cooking doesn’t always need to involve a campfire or camping…
