Chefs In Training!
Summer camps at the YMCA of the Suncoast have officially kicked off and kids all over the area are already having the best summer ever. The North Pinellas Cooking Camp is not only giving kids the best summer ever, but the tastiest summer ever as well.
Campers, who are referred to as “chefs in training,” learn everything from baking skills, to meal planning, to the wonders of food chemistry during their time at camp. Every day they learn how to make a new entre and dessert, which they get to eat as lunch and an afternoon snack. So far, they’ve made delicious cookie cake, partook in Taco Tuesday and rivaled Olive Garden with their phenomenal pasta. In addition to their new found cooking abilities, the skills that campers gain from this camp go much further than the kitchen.
Counselors emphasize the importance of things like teamwork, equality, respect and a number of other important life lessons to their campers. All campers work together to make every meal and take turns being able to perform certain tasks. They are taught to respect not only each other, but their counselors as well. A kitchen has the potential to be a very dangerous and chaotic place, but at this Y camp, the cooking all goes off without a hitch, due to the well behaved campers and strong leadership, provided by the counselors.
Even though the campers are gaining valuable life lessons, they are also having an absolute blast. Campers are constantly entertained, whether they are baking, cooking, swimming or making new friends – there is never a dull moment at cooking camp. Kids leave camp every day excited about what they learned and some even go home and cook a meal for their families. Campers like Fenax Pinella, an avid YMCA camp goer, says that this has been his favorite camp ever and can’t wait to do it again next year.
Cooking camp is open to all campers between the age of 7 and 12. If you think your child might love a camp like this, there is still time to register for the next session starting on July 11!
Emma, our #summercampgirl, talked to our chefs and she has this report from our YouTube channel.