There's no doubt about it, summertime can be something of a nightmare for parents. While yes, it is wonderful having the kids at home and happy and homework-less, it is also difficult to balance them and their needs with work and everything else life throws into the mix, when they don't have school to occupy most of their time.
For many parents, the biggest hurdle of summertime is figuring out time-consuming and enriching activities for their little prodigies. If those endeavors happen to also provide a form of babysitting… well then, that's really quite lovely for everyone involved.
Luckily, there are dozens of summer camps to get your kids involved in, with various themes, activity levels and areas of study. Camps keep kids entertained and keep their brain working in the break between school terms! Whether you've got a daughter with a passion for pottery or a son with a mind for mathematics, there is a camp to help fill their summer break. If cooking is your young one's hobby of the day, take a look at these great experiences.
CampusNYC is now enrolling for each of their two-week programs, which begin on July 2nd and July 16th, respectively. This camp gives students ages 12-17 with a love of food the opportunity to learn the culinary arts in the the midst of the city that never sleeps: New York! Students may choose either day or residential programming. In other words, budding chefs are welcome from around the world. Additionally, there is a week-long intensive camp that begins on July 30th and ends August 5th.
This summer, Villanova University will host 2 two-week long intensive culinary camps on their campus just outside of Philadelphia. This residential camp is for students in grades 9-12, ages 14-18. Sessions begin on July 9th and July 23rd, 2017. Kids will learn about food from all areas of the globe and emphasize the importance of farm-to-table cooking… not to mention, they'll delve into the art of ninja knife skills.
Kendall College hosts cooking camps throughout the summer on campus in Chicago, Illinois. Until the end of August, high school students between the ages of 13-18 can learn about the world of professional cooking while exploring Chicago through boat tours, a Broadway show and more.
International Culinary Center Camps 🌎
Head to the coasts to learn the culinary arts from the same instructors that train professional chefs. Taught in both New York and California at the International Culinary Center campuses, camps run from the beginning of July to the end of August and are open to 13-18 year olds. Students will take a bite out of fine cuisine as they try their hand at gnocchi, poached lobster, risotto and more. There's even a separate, pastry-intensive camp for the bakers-to-be at your home.
The Restaurant School at Walnut College
High school freshmen and sophomores, look no further than The Restaurant School's two-day culinary camp. Participants will learn cooking and pastry skills through hands-on instruction as they explore recipes from Chicago, North Carolina, New Jersey, and of course Philadelphia, where the camp is based.
There are two 3-day programs for high school juniors that are more geared towards management, career preparation and networking. Camps begin on July 12th and 19th, 2017.
Summer Programs at the Putney School
At this camp, rising freshmen through seniors will get the chance to work with fresh, locally grown ingredients as they gain a better understanding of cooking, farming, fermenting and baking. Set in the hills of southern Vermont, this overnight camp has sessions beginning June 25th and July 16th, 2017.
Aspiring chefs should head to Kentucky for Sullivan University's Culinary Camps, where campers are trained by internationally renowned professionals in the industry. The Culinary Camp especially targets those with basic skills and rudimentary knowledge, while the Baking and Pastry Arts Camp is there for those with a sweet tooth!
The Baking and Pastry Arts Camp has unfortunately reached its registration limit, but click here to register for the wait list.
Vermont Summer Academy at Green Mountain College
Young cooks of all skill levels are welcome to attend VSA's Culinary summer camp, in Poultney, Vermont. Each day of the camp is themed, with each theme dictating what campers will cook. So, participants will prepare vegan dishes, breakfast cuisine, pizza dinners and more! Session 1 begins on July 16th, ending on July 29th. Session 2 begins on July 30th, ending August 12th, 2017.
Sur la Table Summer Cooking Series
You may be familiar with the fancy kitchen store, but Sur la Table also holds kids and teens 5-day camps throughout the summer, in cities nationwide. Young chefs will learn cooking and baking skills from experts, crafting things as simple as buttermilk ranch and as ambitious as tomato crostini.
Some Useful Links 🔗
PS: Want to turn up the heat? Take a look at the list of culinary competitions for kids!
