How Do I Become a Camp Cook?

Camps for kids and adults alike are quite popular in many regions throughout the world, and while the campers are enjoying various activities throughout the day, a camp cook will be busy preparing, cooking, and serving meals. In order to become a camp cook, it may be necessary to complete a high school education, though some camps will not require this. Compliance with local laws and regulations concerning the cooking and serving of food will be necessary in order to become a camp cook, and you may need to earn certain certifications, such as a food handler's license.

This license essentially shows that you have been trained how to handle food safely and how to prevent spoilage as well as the transmittal of bacteria. It is not exceptionally difficult to get such a license, though you may need to do a bit of research and studying in order to prepare for the brief exam. Once you have a food handler's license, you may want to consider getting a job in a kitchen at a restaurant; such a job will prepare you to become a camp cook when a position becomes available.

Be ready to commit your summer to the camp if you want to become a camp cook. In most cases, the camp will only last the duration of the summer, which means you will be out of the job once the camp period ends. Prepare for this by looking for other jobs that start when the camp season ends. Sometimes the camp runs year-round, in which case you may end up living on the campgrounds or nearby.

Once you become a camp cook, you will be cooking meals for large numbers of people, which is a different experience than simply cooking for yourself or for your family. You will need to learn how to manage a kitchen staff, how to determine portion sizes and proper amounts of ingredients, how to store food and prepare it for cooking, and how to clean all cookware and flatware safely and effectively. Learn how to use common kitchen machines and devices, and be sure to research safety procedures that will prevent injury from fire, falls, or other common accidents in the kitchen. Vents and hoods should be clean and ready for use, and you should know how to operate such devices. In some cases, you may be responsible for planning meals as well, which means you will need to figure out how much of each ingredient will be necessary as well as where you can get such ingredients.