Principals of Patrol Cooking

Character building and Citizenship training are among the aims of the Scouting movement. To prepare daily meals while camping, Scouts are given the opportunity to develop leadership and communication skills. Further, Scouts learn to work as a positive member (or citizen) in their patrol. Whether it be cooking, fire building, clean-up, or "crew boss" (patrol leader); each Scout quickly sees his role is vital to the success of the total project.

Baden Powell's principal of "learning by doing" comes to life when Troop 325 camps as a do it yourself operation. This is important for this is the only way to prepare meals on Troop hikes and weekend camping trips.

Patrol Cooking

Meal preparation is unquestionably one of the Troop's greatest opportunities to strengthen its operation, and the operation of its Patrols. Meal preparation bbrings the Patrol Method to life by providing the Patrol Leader with the challenge to lead his patrol members in accomplishing a significant task; that is, to properly prepare a meal, enjoy it, and clean up afterwards. All Scouts want to eat, and Patrol members quickly learn the importance of teamwork as the patrol learns the importance of being prepared.

Benefits to a Flexible Menu

In an effort to support the diversity of Troop-planned program, Troop 325 offers a flexible menu. This flexible menu approach allows the Troop the opportunity to plan a menu which is appropriate to the Troop's program by selecting meal choices from the Troop's menu options and arranging them according to what the Troop or Patrol will be doing during the day. This allows the Patrol Leaders Council to plan program first and then select a menu which will support the program.

The Troop may select the menus in any order they want and, if so desired, meals may be repeated during the outing. If the Patrols have "dual" programs, where different patrols may be engaged in vastly different programs, separate menus may be chosen for each patrol.