Dream Camp for Foodie Kids (and Parents)

If you want your kids to appreciate healthy, delicious food, get them cooking. Maybe you’re already on it and raising a budding chef eager to learn more. Either way, kids will light up at the idea of attending Kids Culinary Academy of Vermont, a U.S. culinary camp offering residential and daily programs for children ages 10-17. Located in rural Highgate, Vt., just 45 minutes from the Burlington Airport and 1.5 hours from Montreal, classes range in length from one to four weeks and teach kitchen skills, culinary sophistication, farming, animal care and a deep appreciation for international flavors and culture.

Campers have come from across the U.S. and as far as France, England, Kuwait, Peru and India. With a cap of 20 campers for each one- to four-week session, the workshops have an intimate atmosphere where teamwork and individual culinary skills are honed. Waking each day at 6:30 a.m. to gather eggs from the camp’s chickens, milk cows and feed baby goats, campers graduate with the ability to make classic sauces, properly use knives, braise, bake and much more. While there, kids also learn about other areas such as organic container-gardening, beekeeping and olive oil herbing and bottling.

If baking is more your child’s thing, a new weeklong Baking & Pastry Arts program starts this summer, spanning the realm of sweets, from chocolate artistry to wedding-cake decorating. The academy’s graduation day features a feast—prepared by the campers, naturally. Parents have gotten so envious that the academy has even added evening and weekend classes for adults.—Denise Shoukas

Denise Shoukas is a regular foodspring.com contributor
and is the author of foodspring’s food forager blog.

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