Head Cooks Who Coach

Campers wash all the dishes, set the tables, and sometimes help chop vegetables. They do it eagerly and imperfectly – they are kids after all! In other spaces the kitchen may be closed off. At Farm & Wilderness, campers and non-cooking staff also are in the space.  

Head Cooks, with the support of the F&W Food Coordinator, are juggling the various ordering deadlines from our suppliers, developing menus, and finding ways to limit food waste. It requires organization and planning skills with a dash of creativity when things don’t work as planned.

We provide healthy, high quality food for our campers. We regularly accommodate a variety of dietary needs such as omnivores, vegetarians, vegans and gluten-free diets. We rely on our Head Cook to ensure meals get out on time - a late meal can ripple across a day’s schedule.  

Head Cooks lead a team of cooks with all levels of experience. Some have worked in restaurants, others come in needing to be taught how to cut veggies effectively. Our best Head Cooks meet their teams where they are with high expectations and high support.

If it’s cold, make hot chocolate. Never forget the coffee for the staff in the morning. A nice snack can go a long way on a rainy day. A great Head Cook is looking out for the community, listening to staff and campers about meal requests, and see themselves as a part of the larger camp leadership staff.

We’ll keep saying it: get out of the kitchen sometimes. Swim in the lake, take in a gorgeous sunset, and attend a camper talent show. Don’t miss out on the opportunities for camp magic all around you – you’ll be happier in the long run!