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Outdoor Cooking

Outdoor Cooking

food cooking in Dutch oven

Purpose

Learn how to prepare and cook outdoor meals. Outdoor cooking can make the time you spend in nature more enjoyable; it can also increase your self-reliance.

Description

In an outdoor setting, teach the group useful skills for outdoor cooking, such as how to build a safe cooking fire, how to use Dutch ovens, or how to cook on a camp stove. Use what you have learned to prepare a meal or treat for the group.

As you plan this activity, please follow the counsel given in chapter 13 of Handbook 2: Administering the Church (2010) and review “Safety Recommendations for Church Activities.”

More Ideas

  • Lose the cookware—Try cooking outdoors without using any cookware. You could make tinfoil dinners, breakfast in a bag, or food roasted on a stick.

  • Food safety—Learn about food safety, water purification, and the proper way to prepare and store food. Think of creative ways to use natural resources, like tying a drink on string and allowing it to chill overnight in a river.

  • Share favorites—Have the group decide on a few favorite outdoor dishes. Divide participants into smaller groups, each responsible for planning, purchasing ingredients, and cooking the different dishes. You could meet more than once for this activity.

  • Cook-off competition—For more experienced groups, you could invite them to participate in a cook-off competition to see who can create the best dish, such as chili or a dessert. Consider giving awards for best flavor, most creative, and so on.

  • Overnight experience—Hold an overnight camp where individuals use their skills to prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner outdoors. You might consider relating this experience to a scriptural or historical one, such as that of Nephi’s family in the wilderness or the pioneers coming across the plains.

Discussion

Encourage participants to talk about what they are learning. Discussions can take place before, during, or after the activity. You could ask questions like the following:

  • Why do you think it is important to learn about outdoor cooking?

  • When have you had a positive experience with outdoor cooking?

  • What feelings or impressions do you have about cooking outdoors?

  • How can you apply what you are learning in your life?

Related Resources

Sabbath Day Lessons

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