Camp Chef Emily Seeboo discovered her passion for the outdoors at nineteen during Basic Military Training for the US Air Force, where she served as a cook and fitness instructor.
We slept in big tents under the stars. I fell in love with the sense of freedom and stillness.
On her first camping trip in Death Valley, she experienced the joy of bringing people together over a warm meal outdoors. Since then, her love for camp cooking has grown with every trip!
We are excited for Emily to join us for the November Wilderness First Aid Course at Sturtevant Camp to prepare delicious camp meals. Check out our interview below to learn more about Emily, including her favorite essentials for cooking outdoors!
Tell us about yourself!
When I was 19, I served as a U.S. Air Force cook and fitness instructor. From there, I discovered my top three passions: cooking, fitness and the outdoors.
Bootcamp gave me a real taste of being in nature, where we slept in big tents under the stars. I fell in love with the sense of freedom and stillness, and I knew I had to incorporate nature with whatever I did next. Fitness was a natural pairing because what better place to get centered as a yoga practitioner than the outdoors?
Now I’m finding my love for outdoor cooking grows with each camping trip. I’m perpetually learning new foods to cook with — I just learned how to make tempeh from my friend on a trip to Maine. Maybe my next camping clients will have a tempeh and vegetable stir-fry cooked over the camp fire!
When did you first discover your love for cooking in the outdoors?
On my first camping trip to Death Valley, I grilled up chicken satay with crispy herb potatoes for my friends. When I saw how delighted they were when they ate my food, it made me happy too. Just with the simple act of cooking, I was able to help people connect and create a sense of community.
What is your favorite go-to camp meal?
Turkey chili: It’s hearty, warms you up on a cold night and re-heats really well over the campfire.
What are your 3 favorite essential for cooking outdoors?
Nonstick pan (easy clean-up), kitchen towels, and olive oil.
What advice do you have for campers who want to spice up their camp menu?
Keep it simple and prep everything at home; it’ll save you time at camp. A hungry camper is a mad camper!
What’s your favorite place to enjoy a meal outdoors?
Out in the forest, surrounded by trees, with nothing but solitude and my 4 dogs.
What inspired you to learn Wilderness First Aid? What was your favorite part of the experience?
I introduce backcountry camping to friends who have never done it. But, I needed to know what to do when shit hits the fan! So I had to get educated about Wilderness First Aid myself. My favorite part was playing out different rescue scenarios and learning how to wrap a sprained ankle.
The perfect s’more?
I prefer Banana Boats: Chocolate and Marshmallow stuffed into a banana, wrapped in foil, and cooked in the campfire for some ooey gooey deliciousness.
To hire Emily on your next camping trip, contact [email protected].
