Cooking summer camps for kids

Summer camp often means sports, swimming, insect repellent, campfire s’mores and cafeteria-style food – at least, it did before the rise of all kinds of specialty camps and specialty cooking camps for kids are joining the lineup this year. Sur La Table, in conjunction with Bon Appetit magazine, has planned out 5-day culinary camps for kids and teens, where young would-be chefs (and foodies) can go to get some serious, but fun, training.

There are four camps offered: cooking for kids, cooking for teens, pastry for kids and pastry for teens.  The Kids Cooking Class, for ages 8 to 12, is slightly more simple than the teens class, but still covers a lot. It starts with breakfast, and covers snacks/lunches, baked goods, light meals and dinners. It’s very hands-on, but with plenty of supervision to make sure everything is done safely and correctly. The Teens Cooking Class, for ages 13-18 has a little more emphasis on technique, and sauteeing, roasting and grilling are all covered, along with basic knife skills. The Pastry Classes for Kids include cookies, bar cookies, yeast breads, pies, cobblers, cakes and souffles.For Teens, the Pastry Classes cover the same elements, but include some more complex and challenging recipes.

These classes are offered at many Sur La Table stores and are $350 for 5 days.  If there isn’t a Sur La Table in your area, you might take a look at local summer camp listings or neighborhood offerings (like at a community center) to see if you can find alternatives in your area that offer similar culinary programs for kids.