Southeast Camper Dutch Oven Group

Hello, Fellow Campers

My wife, Eileen, and I have been camping for years. We did the usual process of starting off in a tent, going to a pop-up, and then to a trailer. We recently bought a hybrid camper that gives us the pleasure of having the fold out tents that we enjoy with the amenities of a trailer. We enjoyed camping with our kids until they grew up and moved out on their own. They have done their own camping as a result of the fun we had when they were young. My opinion is, if you camped as a kid, you’ll camp as an adult.

I’m not exactly sure how it happened, but I became the camp cook. I enjoy cooking (because I like eating), so I have no objections. We started with two 10-inch Camp Dutch Ovens. I bought the first Dutch Oven to cook biscuits or sweet rolls for breakfast but expanded our recipes from there. We’re up to a 14 inch deep Dutch Oven, a 12 inch, the two 10 inches, and an 8 inch. That doesn’t even compare to the pot count of other folks. I try to stay out of the Lodge store, because you’ll see something you think you just have to have. There’s something magnetic about these cast iron pots, no pun intended.

Our first experience with Southeast Campers Dutch Oven Group was at Kings Mountain State Park here in NC in about 2015. We were walking around the campground and when we passed some of the group, we had a hearty invitation to stop by. They were a welcoming bunch, and we were invited to have cake cooked in a Dutch Oven. To be honest, we didn’t take that offer but should have. We’ve since discovered that with this group, there are no strangers. Who doesn’t want to be a part of that kind of a group of folks? All are welcome and encouraged to stop by and sample the goods. So, we decided we wanted to give this group a try and get in on the cast iron cooking with a group. I looked up the group on the internet and we attended their next event. Southeast Camper Dutch Oven Group

The Southeast Camper has 3 regular meetings a year: the Cabin Fever DOG (Dutch Oven Gathering) first weekend in February, the Spring DOG is the last weekend in April, and the Fall DOG is the last weekend in September. Naturally, attendance varies for each event, but we usually have 30-40 folks attending. We’re fortunate to live in North Carolina and the Cabin Fever DOG in February typically has good weather; it’s our first camping outing for the year. The DOGs are at a campground and most participants are also camping. Our DOGS start on Friday night with the “Weary Travelers” dinner for folks arriving later. We enjoyed having a hearty meal ready for us when we arrived after work back before we retired and enjoy making sure we contribute to that now. And having the occasional assistance setting up in the dark is always welcome.

Our DOGs (Dutch Oven Gatherings) are a full day of cooking on Saturday starting with breakfast, snacks through the day, and the final large group meal “The Cast Iron Cowboy Buffet” being in the late afternoon. It’s always fun to see the ovens in a double line down the picnic tables. It’s even more fun to dig in. Any camping enthusiast will tell you that a meal prepared and eaten outdoors always tastes better. We spend the day cooking in the company of friends, relaxing and often swapping recipes and camping stories. Cooking in the iron is not difficult and it’s fun to try something new at the DOG. Dan and Katherine Milam are the groups founders in 2008. Dan is a walking encyclopedia of recipes and it’s always fun when he shares his cooking experience.

I retired in 2023 and that was our first experience with the National Dutch Oven Gathering, in Louisiana. It was an amazing experience to meet people from all over the country that enjoyed the outdoor Dutch Oven cooking experience. It was our Southeast Camper Group on steroids, as they say. We went to the National Dutch Oven Gathering in Indiana last year and had the same experience. Both events were well organized with good food and companionship. The National Dutch Oven Gatherings also offer opportunities for education about caring for, and cooking in cast iron and Dutch Ovens. It draws together a lot of experience in one place. This year, our Southeast Camper Dutch Oven Group will be hosting the 2025 National Dutch Oven Gathering from 10/23/2025 to 10/25/2025 at the Cleveland County Fairground in Shelby North Carolina. You can arrive as early as Tuesday, 10/21/25 and departure is Sunday, 10/26/25. We are looking forward to hosting folks from all over the country and focusing on cooking and of course eating. Visit National Dutch Oven Gathering 2025 for more information.

This Dutch Oven cooking gets in your blood. It’s the fun of the challenge of cooking over fire or coals, usually with results that are very satisfying. It’s always a learning experience even if it doesn’t quite turn out as planned. Come join us if you cook in a camp Dutch Oven or want to learn how. I can guarantee that you’ll enjoy the experience, the food, and most of all, the company.

DeWitt Black
Gastonia, NC
March 16, 2025