Culinary

Consider investing in some little oven gloves, because culinary camp may be the perfect summer getaway for your child. If they have ever enjoyed watching you fire up the grill or throwing some oil in a sizzling pan, taking it to the next level may transform their fascination into a lifelong passion.

Start with the fundamentals at a summer camp, where learning food identification, cutting techniques, and kitchen vocabulary (sauté and broil anyone?) may transform your kid into the next Julia Child in no time. Nuts and bolts lessons such as meal planning, proper nutrition, and even sustainable food practices can be woven into lifelong habits that will be of everyday use. Learn the proper way to set a table, or the top three rules of kitchen safety. In culinary camps, your children can begin to understand the fundamental differences between bitter, sweet, and spicy, or what types of seasonings can be used to achieve their intended taste.

Sign your kids up for farm to kitchen lessons, where a variety of camps can teach them about where the plants and animals they eat come from. Watch them plant an edible garden with their friends, or check out the chickens in the roost. Picking out an egg from the coop and cracking an omelette will take on a whole different meaning for their palate. Newfound skills can also be put to use volunteering to cook for a homeless shelter, or to cater at a charity event. It's just one of the few topics to learn at a summer camp on the road to culinary super-stardom.

Whip up a new recipe, and try letting your child's taste buds take the reins. Bake a mean apple pie or learn the science behind making a tiramisu adorned with chocolate curls. If your child is looking to cook alongside professional chefs or restaurant owners of all different stripes, learn how to plate food in an appetizing way, or flambé a Bananas Foster to perfection, a cooking program may be just what they need. With so many topics to choose from, culinary summer camps are the perfect way to get your kids' hands dirty and their minds active, no matter the age.

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