1. Camp Kitchens More than just a kitchen toolby
Cliff Cox
Venturing Roundtable Commissioner

2. What are Patrol Boxes/Camp Kitchens
A way to effectively organize and transport all your camp cooking utensils
A sense of pride for your Patrols/Crews
Collective team building
FUN

3. YES!!! Do you need them? Helps the scouts organize
Helps leaders stay out of the kitchen
Ensures everything that is needed is brought
Gives the patrol a sense of pride
Can be fun competition

4. What do Camp Boxes Look Like

5. Backpack Kitchens

6. Materials
Backpacks
Wood
Metal
Aluminum
Plastics
Totes

7. Build a Chuck Box for Camp Cooking By David Brooks
WHAT YOU’LL NEED:
Your cooking gear
Tape measure
9/16″ plywood (You’ll need one standard sheet for the small-size box shown.)
Four 1″ x 3″ oak planks for the legs (The average height for the swing-down work surface should be 30″ to 34″.)
Scrap wood for drawer rails
Eight carriage bolts and wing nuts
Carpenter’s glue
Sandpaper
Drill and bits
Screwdriver
Fine-toothed saw
Chain and six eye screws
Paint
Exterior wood screws
Trunk handles
Two eye screws and swing hooks
Piano hinge
Sturdy plastic wash tubs for drawers

8. Measure Twice, Cut Once
Step 1: Gather all the cooking and cleaning gear you want to store in your chuck box. The box shown here is just one example of how your box could look.
Once you have decided on the size and shape of your box, cut out all the plywood pieces. Sand, prime and paint all plywood surfaces and edges before assembling. This is much easier than painting the box afterward. Add slide rails for drawers if needed.

9. Paint / Stain / Assemble
Step 2: Screw and glue the box together. Remember to predrill all screw holes and countersink the heads for a neat finish. After your box is assembled, lightly sand it and brush on a second coat of paint.
Step 3: Lay the painted door in position and carefully screw on the piano hinge.

10. How to Carry It Step 4: Attach the chain.
Step 5: Close the door and determine the position of the eye screws and swing hooks before screwing them in place.
Step 5: Attach the trunk handles. (Use nuts and bolts for this so the handles are extra strong. Some larger boxes many need two handles per side.)
Step 6: Fill your chuck box with your cooking gear and you’re ready for your next campout.

11. Legs YOU CAN ADD SOME LEGS
Adding legs can get your chuck box off the ground and easily accessible. If you don’t have a tailgate or picnic table to set your chuck box on, this is definitely the way to go. The legs store flat and can be attached with no tools needed using wing nuts and carriage bolts.
The legs can be made from 2″ x 4″ fir or 1″ x 3″ oak. The oak is more expensive but will be stronger and last longer. Make sure the legs are angled outward enough so the box is sturdy when the front is open and in use.

12. Camp Kitchen Musts? An Inventory Sheet (laminated if possible)
Gives the scouts a visual inspection checklist
Helps identify missing items
Stove (unless everyone likes cold dinners)
Appropriate pots/pans/utensils
Throwaways do not teach recycling
Cleaning supplies
Teach environmental awareness/LeaveNoTrace

13. Advantages? Organization Well run campsite
Able to easily share responsibilities
Encourages participation
(youth more engaged, feel empowered)
Not as afraid of leaving things behind
Promotes teamwork
Patrols often get to decorate their boxes

14. What about Crews? Crews Camp Too!!!
Often older Crew members join Crew without ever being in Scouts. This is a great project to design and build together.
Can share with a Troop if needed
Specialize based on what the Crew needs

15. Troops / Crews Share their Boxes

16. Roundtable Discussion

17. Questions

18. Conclusion
Thank You!