This Outdoor Training Certificate Program and passing the knowledge check in gsLearn authorizes volunteers to cook outdoors with Girl Scouts. There are many options for outdoor cooking including fire, charcoal, box ovens, gas camping stoves, and more! Please only cook using methods you feel comfortable and confident with. Additional, in-person training is available and provides more in-depth, hands-on experience with a wide variety of outdoor cooking methods. For additional information and to request an in-person training, please visit: https://bit.ly/USAGSOOVP. 

As with all Girl Scout activities, please keep progression in mind! There are many things even our youngest Girl Scout Daisies can learn to start their cooking experience such as peeling potatoes and carrots, chopping vegetables for salads, and cutting shapes to make a fruit bowl. They can make healthy, blended smoothies and fresh juices. With your help they could make a soup on the stove or bake cookies. Just as important is the safety, care, and clean-up of the tools to make these foods. The age, experience, and skill level should determine the leader and girl balance for the activity.

Anytime you are preparing food with heat or tools, a first-aider is required. 

The Girl Scout way is: 

- pull back loose hair 

- remove dangling jewelry 

- roll up long sleeves 

- do not wear plastic garments that may burn 

Fire safety rules, emergency procedures, and first aid for burns and cuts must be understood by the adult and girls. Have an appropriate water bucket and/or fire extinguisher at hand. 

Practice makes perfect! Many of the National Program Portfolio resources (Badges and Journeys) contain recipes. We also suggest testing outdoor cooking recipes using in-home appliances with your Girl Scouts first before progressing to the outdoors. The below recipes are examples of what you can find in the Girl Scout Journey and Badges: