Being Grubmaster

The scouts in each patrol take turns being the one responsible for purchasing the food and consumable supplies for a campout. This scout, who gets selected by their Patrol Leader, is called a grubmaster.

This is a very important job! Your patrol members are going to be hungry and unhappy if you don’t buy enough food and leftover food is often wasted if you buy too much. A Scout is Thrifty is an important Scout Law to remember. Knowing your budget, planning your meals, and managing your funds are a big part of being successful in this leadership task.

Note that being a grubmaster is necessary to complete some of the requirements for your First Class rank!

Menu Planning

Your Patrol Leader will lead the menu planning and provide you with a Grubmaster Plan sheet. This sheet will contain a list of the food and supplies you need to buy, your budget, and your patrol leader’s phone number, among other things. Your patrol leader will sign at the bottom to officially approve it. You should bring this sheet when you go shopping and call your Patrol Leader beforehand if you have any questions.

The Food Locker

There is a food locker located in the Quartermaster Room. This locker has leftover non-perishable foods from previous trips, and grubmasters can take anything they need from it for free. Be sure to check the locker before you do your shopping. After the trip, your patrol will return any new leftovers to the locker.

Money and Budget

The grubmaster budget for each campout is based on the number of scouts attending in the patrol. The standard budget is $20 per scout for a weekend campout. Show the Troop Treasurer your Grubmaster Plan, signed by your Patrol Leader, to get your budget paid out to you.

Packing the Food

Your patrol has its own cooler and dry goods bin, located on your patrol’s shelf in the Quartermaster Room. Bring these home with you and pack the patrol food in them. The troop also has a supply of ice packs, which can be found in the basement freezer.

At-home preparation may make your cooking at camp quicker and easier. For example, you can pre-chop vegetables and pre-cook some meats.

Bring your dry goods bin to the Trailer Loadup, and the cooler to the meetup on the first night of the campout.

The Parent’s Role

Parental advice, input, and transportation are important to the Grubmaster’s success. However, the scout is the Grubmaster. They are expected to plan and purchase for the outing. This means that the Grubmaster goes to the store and makes the decisions, not just the parent(s). This is an opportunity for your scout to learn planning and shopping skills, and to develop leadership and responsibility by serving their patrol.