SCOTD - Life Skills: Let's Get Cooking

One life skill everyone needs is knowing how to cook. In fact, it's a critical component that grows in breadth throughout scouting.  The skills you acquire in the kitchen make you an invaluable resource at the campsite - for youth and adults.

Cooking requires so many areas of the brain.  Scouts are reading the recipe through before starting. Gathering ingredients and supplies which focuses on organization and planning.  They'll be working on math and measurements. You're bonding together which fosters communication. You could even focus on the science and chemistry if you so desire. Cooking also teaches safety with sanitation of self, supplies and no cross-contamination of cutting surfaces or utensils. You can also focus on fire safety (if that applies).

We expect Cub Scouts to become Webelos Scouts and then Boy Scouts who are responsible for taking part in meal preparations in camp every month. If they already know their way around a kitchen, they'll have enough basics to give them confidence when it's time to learn outdoor cookery.

In the Tiger Bites adventure, Tigers learn about good food choices and not-so-good choices. As well as identifying foods that would be good choices and three foods that would not be good choices. They learn by doing about the importance of hand washing before a meal and cleanup after a meal. They'll even talk about the difference between a fruit and a vegetable... finger foods... good manners and more.

In the Running With The Pack adventure, Wolves learn to demonstrate what it means to eat a balanced diet by helping to plan a healthy menu for a meal for your den or family. They'll even make a shopping list of the food used to prepare the meal.

In Bear Picnic Basket, Bears create their own cookbook including recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a nutritious snack.  They'll talk about meal planning, tools, sanitation and safety.  They'll also select and prepare snacks and more.

In the Cast Iron Chef activity, Webelos learn to plan a menu for a balanced meal as well as the often forgot, but oh so important task of determining the budget for the meal. They're even encouraged to shop for the meal components. They learn the possible cooking methods including, but not limited to a camp stove, Dutch oven, box oven, solar oven, open campfire, or charcoal grill. They, too, must demonstrate an understanding of food safety practices while preparing the meal.

So, your challenge is to earn the above adventures if you haven't already, or, just show us your mad cooking skills and post a photo of what you've made!