summer camp
Jr. Chef Culinary Programs are
open to young people age 10 - 15.
We focus on local ingredients and seasonal menus. Monday thru Thursday mornings, kids prepare a 3 - 4 course meal they eat for lunch, and the afternoons are spent doing food and nutrition related activities and games. Friday afternoon at Jr. Chef Camp will be our "Showcase”. Jr. Chef's will entertain their invited guests with what they've made and learned throughout the week. Teamwork is essential to our philosophy so Jr. Chef’s will complete their daily tasks in teams of 4. Everything is provided, from aprons to cutting boards!
Basic Camp
The place to start. This is where they learn the basics: knife safety, kitchen sanitation, menu reading and preparation, nutrition facts & fiction, label reading, shopping on a budget, table settings, dining etiquette and more!
Each day is a different session in which we give kids the basic skills they need to cook safely and enjoy it! Our focus on building kitchen confidence helps kids feel comfortable with cooking. The program covers these key concepts:
Knife Skills & Kitchen Safety: How do I hold this knife and what’s the button on the stove for? We teach knife skills for safety, precision & technique, and kitchen safety & sanitation.
Seasonal Meal Preparation: Where does all this food come from? We taste, smell & cook with a wide range of ingredients focusing on what's in season, and we'll take a field trip to a Certified California Farmer’s Market.
Flavor: What will it taste like with a squeeze of lemon? Kids expand their taste buds and gain confidence in using different herbs, spices & seasonings. Kids are more likely to try what they have had a hand in preparing!
Cooking Techniques: Hmm, what can be done with these potatoes? We learn how an ingredient tastes depending on whether it’s roasted, fried or sautéed.
Teamwork: Jr. Chef’s will work in teams of 4 to complete all tasks. Teamwork is an integral part of our daily strategy. We try to accommodate Jr. Chef’s that register and want to be teamed with friends but there are no guarantees. Teams may be changed daily.
The Big Picture: Nutrition, table setting, dining etiquette & table manners round-out the cooking & dining experience.
Mornings in Basic Camp are spent in the kitchen preparing 3 - 4 courses which they eat for lunch.
Monday through Thursday afternoons are spent in activities and games related to food, nutrition and etiquette. One of the favorite games is Food Jeopardy!
Friday is our Showcase! Jr. Chef's prepare dishes they've made throughout the week to share with their guests as well as highlights from things they've learned all week. Two guests are included with each tuition. The Showcase will be Friday from 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM.
Camp Hours:
Monday - Thursday 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Friday 8:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Camp Location:
Florin High School Culinary Building 7956 Cottonwood Ln, Sacramento, CA 95828