Before the meeting: 

1. Become familiar with the 3 R’s – Recycle, Reuse, and Reduce.  
   • Recycling is converting waste into reusable material.  For example, we can take some plastics once we are done using them, they can be melted back down and used again.  
   • Reuse is when we take an item that was used once and instead of throwing it away, we use it again.  When we use that item again it may be for a different purpose than the original one.  Check out some examples at Go Green Projects in Scout Life magazine.  
   • Reducing the amount of trash or waste we generate.  Avoiding things that are disposable in place of things that can be reused.  Examples include avoiding items that have excessive packaging and buying the proper amount instead of overbuying items that spoil or go bad.  
2. Review How to Make a Solar-Powered Oven for Outdoor Cooking at Scout Life magazine 
3. Check out 11 Tasty S’Mores Recipes at Scout Life magazine 

During the meeting: 

1. Explain the 3 R’s of recycle, reuse, and reduce to the den. 
2. Have Cub Scouts and adult partners work together. 
3. Explain that today by making a solar powered oven we are going to reduce our use of electricity to cook. 
4. Use a ruler and marker to outline the top of the pizza box about 1 inch inward from each edge. This will create a square on top of the box. 
5. Have adult partners carefully cut the front and sides of the square. Leave the back attached. Fold back the flap. 
6. Line the inside of the square flap with foil, and glue it down shiny side up. Keep the foil as smooth as possible. Fold and glue down any excess foil to the back of the flap or trim it to fit. 
7. Repeat Step C to line the bottom of the box. Next, glue a sheet of black paper on top of the foil. This will help your oven absorb heat. 
8. Fold back the flap. Cover the opening with a layer of plastic wrap. Using tape, attach the wrap to the 1″ sides on top of the pizza box. Make sure there are no holes in the plastic wrap. The opening needs to be sealed completely. Optional: You can also line the inside of the opening with plastic wrap to ensure air won’t get through. 
9. It’s time to cook! Once you have your food (s’more, cookies, etc.) inside your oven on a piece of foil or small aluminum pan, close the box. On one side, place the tip of a wooden skewer between the closed lid and the edge of the box. Tape the other tip of the skewer to the square flap to help prop it up. 
10. Place your solar cooker outside with the flap angled directly at the sun. This will let the foil reflect the sun and cook your food. Time will vary depending on the outside temperature, the sun and the dish you decide to cook.