Camping is a popular summer activity for vacationers of all ages. The center of a campsite is often the campfire, which serves as a gathering place, heat source and also a cooking site. When practiced safely, outdoor cooking while camping can enrich the camping experience and teach kids fire safety skills, cooking skills and good outdoor stewardship.
Equipment
The Girl Scouts recommend always keeping certain safety equipment on hand while cooking over a campfire. Essential safety gear includes a bucket of water and a rake to locate and extinguish hot embers, a fire extinguisher in case the fire gets out of control, pot holders for moving hot pans, hair ties to control long hair around the fire and a first aid kit.
Location
Choosing a good location is key for maintaining a healthy cooking fire. When staking out your campsite, choose an area with level, clear ground that is large enough to allow you to set up any tents or campers at least 10 feet from the campfire and cooking area. Choose a site near a source of fresh water if possible.
Fire Safety
Basic fire safety rules should be practiced at all times when near the campfire, whether or not the fire is lit. Avoid wearing plastic, vinyl, nylon or other synthetic materials around a campfire. These materials will melt if they catch fire and may adhere to the skin, requiring medical intervention to remove. Make sure anyone with long hair ties back his hair before approaching the fire. Always walk—never run—near a campfire. When cooking, use long-handled utensils and limit the number of people near the fire at any time. Usually, one person cooking and one feeding the fire is all you need. Always have a bucket of water or sand nearby if you need to extinguish the fire in a hurry.
Considerations
With careful handling, food can be kept clean and free of spoiling or harmful bacteria at a campsite just as it can at home. Keep foods that need refrigeration in a cooler packed well with ice. Use separate surfaces for preparing and serving raw food and cooked food. Always cook meats well to ensure any harmful bacteria are thoroughly destroyed. And always wash hands well both before and during cooking and before eating.
Benefits
Staying aware of safety concerns while cooking over a campfire can prevent injury or damage caused by the campfire or by foods or grease catching on fire. Teach children basic safety rules as part of the correct way to cook over a campfire, and demonstrate these rules to kids by practicing them yourself. By practicing outdoor cooking and camping safety, kids can learn self-reliance and awareness while also learning cooking and camping skills.
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