A Boy Scout’s Guide to Woodfire and Dutch Oven Cooking

Content approved by Jerry Parker

Anyone who loves to go camping or spend time outdoors knows that there is no better smell than a campfire burning. The crackling of the logs, the warm heat on your face, and the smell of the fire is like no other. While most people can say they have enjoyed a nice fire outside, can you say you have successfully cooked on an open fire?

Campfire cooking is not only fun, but you may be surprised at how easy it is. However, there are a few safety precautions and tips you should follow to ensure your outdoor cooking adventures go smoothly. Whether you are looking for information on how to building the perfect blazing fire, or need some dutch oven recipes for your next camping trip, we’ve got you covered!

Safety Precautions for Outdoor Cooking

• Wood: If you’re making a campfire, the most important thing to remember is that you need a clean burning, very hot fire. To achieve this, the wood you use must be dry. Having seasoned wood that is completely dry will ensure your fire isn’t smokey and will burn nicely. Make sure you know the rules about bringing in outside firewood: Bringing in outside wood has the potential to bring in invasive pests and species. You can learn more here: Don’t Move Firewood
• Fire Location: Make sure the place you decide to build your campfire is safe. A fire needs plenty of open space – don’t build your fire where it is in danger of burning trees or other plants. If possible, find a rock to build your fire on so it doesn’t destroy the ground. If a camp ground or camp site has per-established fire pit areas, always use these.
• Wind: Any wind is dangerous to fire. If the wind carries one spark to a dry patch of leaves or brush, a wildfire can ensue. It is also extremely hard to start a fire and keep it going in windy weather. Re-think your fire if wind is in the forecast.

General Fire Safety Information

• Campfire Safety
• Preventing Wildfires
• Smokey the Bear for Kids: Campfire Rules
• One Less Spark: CAMPFIRE SAFETY
• Top 10 Tips for Campfire Safety
• BSA’s Camp Fire Safety
• Campfire Safety (PDF)
• Boy Scout Trail: Campfire Safety
• Recreation.gov – Campfire Safety Tips
• Outdoor Fire Safety
• Fire Prevention and Control: Campfire Safety
• Campfire Safety: Cool the Coals (PDF)
• US National Park Service – Campfires
• Campfires – Boy Scouts of America

How to Build a Campfire

If you were a Scout or are an avid camper, building a camp fire might be second nature to you. However, if you are not one with the outdoors, building a fire (especially in adverse conditions) can prove to be frustrating and difficult. Here are some tips to help you start the perfect fire – and how to properly extinguish it!

• How to Build Your Campfire
• How to Build a Fire: Tips for Fireplaces, Campfires, and Working in the Rain
• How To Build a Roaring Campfire
• 6 Ways to Start a Fire Without Matches or a Lighter
• How to Maintain & Extinguish Your Campfire
• How to Build a Campfire
• To Build a Fire
• Scoutmaster: How to Build a Campfire
• How to Make Fire: 11 Ways to Make Fire without Matches
• How to Start a Campfire
• How-To: Build a Fire Structure
• How To Build A Campfire: A Step By Step Guide
• Scouting Magazine: How to build the best campfire
• Scout Campfire Songs and Activities

Leave No Trace Principles

What is ‘Leave No Trace’? Leave No Trace is a set of ethics promoting conservation for the outdoors and all nature has to offer. The Leave No Trace ethics consist of 7 guidelines: planning and preparing ahead, respecting wildlife, disposing of trash and other waste properly, minimizing the impact of your campfire, being considerate of other campers, leave everything you find as it is, and travel and camping on durable surfaces. For more information on Leave No Trace and how you can be part of the movement, check out the websites below!

• Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics
• Leave No Trace Boy Scout Award
• Leave No Trace Seven Principles
• Teaching Leave No Trace
• Outdoor Ethics & Skills For Outdoor Users
• Leaves No Trace: Tips for Having a Safe Campfire
• Outdoor Ethics/Leave No Trace
• The 7 Principles
• National Park Services, Leave No Trace Seven Principles
• No Trace Ethic
• The Wilderness Society – Leave No Trace
• The Boy Scouts of America – Leave No Trace
• Leave No Trace Ethics Explained
• Outdoor Ethics
• Boy Scouts of America – Leave No Trace
• The Principles of Leave No Trace – BSA

Food Safety

Food safety is just as important outdoors as it is indoors in your home kitchen. Do you know the safe cooking temperatures for meat? What about how to store your perishable items when you don’t have a refrigerator? Can you safely keep your food away from bears and other critters in the wild? Read the websites below for all the food safety information!

• Keep Food Safe! Food Safety Basics
• Food Storage Guidelines (PDF)
• Food Storage Temperatures and Procedures
• Are You Storing Food Safely?
• Four Steps to Food Safety: Clean, Separate, Cook, Chill
• Food Safety by Events and Season
• Food Safety While Hiking, Camping & Boating
• 4 Food Safety Camping Tips | How to Keep Food Cold While Camping
• Camping and food safety
• Food Storage and Handling for Campers and Backpackers
• FOOD SAFETY FOR CAMPERS
• Keep Food Safe when Camping and Hiking
• Storing Food Safely
• Storing Food From Bears
• How to Store and Dispose of Food While Camping to Keep Critters Away
• Handling Food Safely While Eating Outdoors

Recipes for Campfire Meals

• Easy Camping Recipes for Your Next Trip to the Great Outdoors
• 40 Easy Camping Recipes Ready for the Campfire
• Campfire Cooking with Kids
• KOA Campfire Cooking
• How to Make Campfire Nachos
• Easy Camping Recipes
• 20 Camping Recipes You Learned in Boy Scouts
• Take It Outside With 13 Top-Rated Camping Recipes
• Master Campfire Cooking
• Campfire Recipes Kids Love to Make
• Over the Fire Cooking: recipes
• Recipes For Camping
• Camp Cooking: 10 Vegetarian Camping Meals
• Easy Camping Meals For Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner
• Boy Scout Trail: Camping Recipes
• OUTDOOR RECIPES & COOKING STRATEGIES FOR CUBSCOUTS (pdf)
• Scouter Mom: Camp Cooking
• Boy’s Life: Cooking

Dutch Oven Recipes and Cooking Tips

• Cowboy Showcase – Dutch Oven Cooking
• Dutch Oven Tips
• Chuckwagon Supply FAQ, Tips and Techniques
• Easy Food Recipes and Dutch Oven Cooking for Scouts
• Dutch Oven Cooking (PDF file)
• A Scout’s Guide to Beginning Dutch Oven Cooking
• Cleaning Your Dutch Oven
• MacScouter – Dutch Oven Cooking — Introduction
• History of The Dutch Oven for Campfire Cooking
• Cooking Outdoors: Dutch Oven Cooking
• Dutch Oven Camping Recipes for Your Next Trip