Guide for Kitchen Volunteers

Kitchen volunteers are a vital part of the foodservice at Fowler.  Without you, we wouldnÕt eat!  Working in the kitchen is mostly a behind the scenes job, but it is very rewarding when a camper or staff thanks you for all you doÉ

Here is a quick overview of the week ahead for you!

 

Sunday afternoons

1:00     All volunteers meet in Lakeside lodge.  This will give you the opportunity to meet other volunteers at camp that week, who you may not see too much of! 

After this meeting, if you have not settled into your lodging, you have the opportunity to do so.

 

3:30     Kitchen volunteers will meet in the kitchen to review the week and prepare for the cookout dinner.

 

7:00     Or thereabouts is a required meeting for all volunteers to go over staff conduct standards (SWiMÕs have already had this training). 

 

Monday-Friday

The cook will specify what times you will be needed in the kitchen each day.  Generally speaking, you will arrive between 7:00 and 7:30, have a morning break before lunch preparations, a break between lunch and dinner preparations, and are finished for the day by about 7:00pm.  This gives you the opportunity to jump in with camper activities during the day and participate in evening programs and vespers!

 

Saturday

The only meal we will serve Saturday is breakfast.  Once breakfast is served and we do our end of the week clean-up, thatÕs it!  SWiMÕs will also help with the all-camp clean-up.

 

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:


Š   Wake up calls

Š   Meal set up

Š   Jumper supervision

Š   Dishwashing

Š   Serving buffet meals

Š   Working the jumper window

Š   Various forms of meal preparation


 

Attitude

Working in the kitchen can make for long days.  It can be difficult and stressful under time pressures.  Often people will forget to thank you for a job well done.  However, we can all work within a system to get the job done well and on-time, enjoy the community we have working alongside each other, and be proud of what we produce.  This process is helped along if we all follow some basic expectations:

Š   Be on time!

Š   Come ready and willing to work, whether you get to do dishes or bake cookies

Š   Take initiative to complete tasks

Š   Stay until the work is doneÉmany hands make light work

 

Attire:  All kitchen workers are to wear:

Š   Closed-toed shoes

Š   Long hair tied back

Š   Some form of head covering (hat, bandana, hair net)

Š   Protective gloves when preparing foods

Š   Staff/volunteer shirts on Sundays and Saturdays whenever possible

Š   Clothing that is appropriate, yet comfortable in an often hot environment

 

Emergencies

FowlerÕs system of dealing with emergencies is called ÒFrench LouieÓ.  During a ÒFrench LouieÓ, the phone in the kitchen is monitored by a staff person.  Those of us in the kitchen can be helpful in a few different ways:

Š   Ask the staff if you can be of any help

Š   Continue to work as usual unless you have been asked to help in a specific manner

Š   Know how to work the intercom and know emergency numbers

Š   Be aware of the location of the first aid kit