The Cooking merit badge introduces principles of cooking that can be used both at home or in the outdoors. Scouts who earn this merit badge will learn about food safety, nutritional guidelines, meal planning, and methods of food preparation, and will review the variety of culinary careers available. Because we will be cooking (and sampling each other’s cooking), the course is limited to 18 Scouts. Scouts from Troop 1865G are also welcome to sign up for the course but if any Scouts from 1865G sign up, I will need an additional female adult to attend the sessions as well. Our meetings schedule will be: - March 27, 6-7:20 pm: Meeting at St. George’s. We will finish requirements 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, 2e, 31, 3b, and 3c - March 28 – April 23: Scouts complete their meal plans for five camp meals and four backpacking meals. Mr. Mann and Mr. Corley will review and approve the menu plans prior to cooking days. These 9 menu plans are due April 24. - Sunday, April 30, 2 pm – 4 pm @ Mr. Mann’s house (5136 Pumphrey Dr) – First cooking day - Sunday, May 7, 2 pm – 4 pm @ Mr. Mann’s house (5136 Pumphrey Dr) – Second cooking day - Sunday, May 21, 2 pm – 4 pm @ Mr. Mann’s house (5136 Pumphrey Dr) – Third cooking day - Sunday, June 4, 2 pm – 4 pm @ Mr. Mann’s house (5136 Pumphrey Dr) – Fourth cooking day (if one fo the three other days is cancelled due to weather). At the cooking days, Scouts will have the opportunity to use camp stoves, a campfire, backpacking stoves, a grill and Dutch ovens to prepare their camp meals and backpacking meals. Depending on which Scouts plan to attend the canoe trip, we will work out scheduling for which meals can be prepared. Because of the overlap with the canoe training dates (any scouts going on the canoe trip over Memorial Day weekend that have not been on that canoe trip before are required to attend all 3 canoe training days), please sign up for this class if you: 1) Want to earn the cooking merit badge; AND 2) Are not planning on attending the canoe trip or are planning on attending the canoe trip and have gone on the trip before (so that you only need to go to one training session); AND 3) Are able to complete the required camping menu plans and backpacking menu plans (9 total) by April 24 so that we can approve your plans before the first cooking day. There will be additional requirements to complete at home including planning and cooking meals at home. These can be completed at your convenience. The only cost of the session is the cost of the food you prepare. While we will be menu planning for larger groups, we will actually cook portions for one (1) in camp and backpacking settings so we don’t waste food – a Scout is Thrifty – or gain 20 lbs. For each session, we will need at least one other adult. All are welcome. Just be prepared to taste and evaluate. Merit Badge requirements can be found here: https://www.scouting.org/merit-badges/cooking/ If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mr. Mann at Jason.m.mann@gmail.com (copying your parents).