Camp Mah-Kee-Nac is hiring for summer ! Much More Than Just Another Summer Job…Camp Mah-Kee-Nac offers an unforgettable summer job experience in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts, just a few hours from both Boston and New York City. Staff live and work in a stunning lakeside setting, surrounded by natural beauty and a close-knit camp…
What Are Outdoor Cooking Jobs at Summer Camp?
Outdoor Cooking Jobs at Summer Camps
Outdoor cooking jobs at summer camps are a delightful niche role for working chefs, wilderness cooks, and outdoor educators who love teaching kids how to cook over fire. From cast iron breakfasts at traditional sleepaway camps to multi-day backcountry meal planning at specialty wilderness residential camps, outdoor cooking instructors lead some of the most memorable and useful programs of every summer. If you love smoke, coals, and the smell of a sizzling pan over open flame, this is your role.
As an outdoor cooking instructor at an overnight camp, you’ll teach fire building, coal control, cast iron technique, foil packets, Dutch oven baking, and trail meal planning. You’ll often partner with adventure and farming staff on integrated outdoor programs. Many co-ed residential camps blend outdoor cooking into broader culinary, farm-to-table, or wilderness skills programs, giving multi-discipline instructors a packed and tasty summer.
What does an outdoor cooking instructor at summer camp do?
You’ll teach fire building, cast iron, Dutch oven baking, and trail meal planning while running daily lessons. Most sleepaway camps with outdoor cooking programs run multiple sessions throughout the summer camp season.
What background works best for outdoor cooking jobs at sleepaway camps?
Working cooks, wilderness guides with strong cooking skills, outdoor educators, and home chefs with serious campfire experience are all great fits. Comfort with kids, fire safety, and recipe creativity matter most at residential camps.
Do summer camps provide outdoor cooking equipment?
Yes — most overnight camps with outdoor cooking programs provide cast iron, Dutch ovens, fire pans, fuel, and basic ingredients. Specialty residential wilderness camps stock more advanced gear for backcountry cooking.
What does the pay look like for outdoor cooking jobs at summer camps?
Pay is competitive and commensurate with experience and credentials. Sleepaway camps include room, board, and laundry alongside salary, which makes the overall summer camp package noticeably more valuable than the base figure.
Is outdoor cooking usually combined with other roles?
Often yes. Many co-ed residential camps blend outdoor cooking with culinary arts, farm-to-table programs, and wilderness skills. Multi-discipline instructors are especially valued at sleepaway camps with rich outdoor offerings.
