We structure our camps like a professional culinary school. Camper recipe execution will be preceded by chef-led cooking demonstrations, ensuring all learning styles are accommodated.
✅ Campers work in groups of 3 ensuring each and every student gets hands-on practice.
✅ Cook from 3 - 6 recipes from scratch DAILY
✅ Morning recipes act as lunch items for campers while afternoon recipes are used as take-home products to share with the family!
✅ Breaks include outdoor fun with camp-style games and crafts, ensuring a balanced and enjoyable experience for your young chefs.
✅ Each weeks end off with a full scale pop up restaurant. Campers work together to cook and serve a 3 course meal for 60 paying customers, allowing them to get a taste of what it's like to really work in the industry for a night.
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Professional Guidance
Our team is made up of highly qualified staff, from seasoned chefs and culinary professionals to experienced youth workers, including certified teachers, early childhood educators, and social workers. Together, they create an unparalleled educational environment designed to support, inspire, and empower our campers to reach their full potential, both in and out of the kitchen. -
Daily Lunch
One of the most popular features of our program is that lunch is fully included and prepared fresh by the campers themselves each morning. From nutritious, hot meals to creative and kid-approved dishes, we’ve got it all covered. All you need to pack is a snack or two for their break! All our our programs are peanut-free and allergy-aware to keep everyone safe and satisfied. -
Take-Home Treats
Every day, campers will bring home a delicious creation they've made to share with their family. This part of the program encourages campers to use their new skills to bring joy to others, helping them discover how food can be a way to express love and care for those around them. Your child will be proud to offer a taste of all their hard work, along with the tips and tricks they've learned! -
Uniform
Every young chef needs the right attire to step into the kitchen safely and confidently. Our cooking camp provides each camper with a professional chef uniform to keep, including a chef coat, an apron, a cut resistant glove and a baseball cap. These uniforms aren’t just about looking the part; they instill a sense of pride and belonging in our budding chefs.
Before camp care is an additional cost. Note: additional care is supervised childcare only. We do not run any organized games or activities during this time. We highly recommend campers bring a game or book. If they wish, they can assist staff with setting up for the day.
Campers gather around Chef’s table to go over and get pumped for the day’s menu, activities, and goals. The counselors will conduct a check in and take campers through the daily schedule along with sharing a daily affirmation. Together this gets the group ready and excited for the day ahead!
Campers proceed to wash their hands and prepare their station for the morning recipes.
In groups of three, campers prepare the morning recipes which will be eaten for their lunch. During this time, our chefs and counsellors will circulate assisting campers with their recipe execution. At approximately 10:30am we will facilitate our morning break time where campers can hydrate and fuel up with a snack they have brought from home. All snacks must be peanut and treenut free.
Campers clean up from their morning menu preparation and set up for their lunch. Here at Rooks to Cooks we believe it is important to teach our campers about sanitation and cleanliness. As such, they are highly involved in the cleaning and maintenance of cleanliness standards here at camp. Clean up consists of washing, sanitizing and drying their work stations, and sweeping the floors. Once clean, campers will organize the tables and chairs, and lunch will be eaten as one big happy R2C family!
Campers sit down and enjoy their lunch. After they have finished eating, camp counsellors will take the group outside and run a “game of the day” or “activity of the day”. If campers choose not to participate, then they are welcome to use the “box of fun” and spend their break time as they wish OR begin preparing decorations for the Friday night restaurant. Campers are encouraged to join in on the group game/activity of the day to get them running around and active, however, the choice is theirs to make.
Campers proceed to wash their hands and prepare their station for the afternoon recipes.
Campers get back into their groups and prepare the afternoon recipe/recipes of the day. Afternoon recipes may be used for the following purposes: (1) Daily take-homes for the campers to share with their families; (2) Two-part recipes or prep for next day recipes; (3) Prep for pop-up.
Campers clean up from their afternoon menu preparation. Clean up consists of washing, sanitizing and drying their work stations, sweeping the floors, and some dishwashing. If time permits, campers will take a quick afternoon recess outside.
Before campers leave, the group gathers to conduct their end of day debrief. Campers will go around in a circle and share their highlight of the day and what they learned. Once all campers have shared with the group, their chefs will end the huddle with the next day’s menu outline, getting the group hyped and excited for the following day of camp!
After camp care is an additional cost. Note: additional care is supervised childcare only. We do not run any organized games or activities during this time. We highly recommend campers bring a game or book. If they wish, they can assist staff with prep for the next day.
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BeginnerMinimum Age 6+
These sessions are perfect for beginners or young chefs with little to no cooking experience. The focus is on teaching foundational cooking and baking skills in a fun, engaging way. Campers will be introduced to new foods and flavours, learn essential kitchen safety practices like proper sanitation, and gain confidence in the kitchen, all at a pace suited for their age group. Campers in these age groups will typically fall between the ages of 6 and 9. -
IntermediateMinimum Age 7+
This group builds on the basics, introducing slightly more complex recipes, theory points and techniques while still offering the support young chefs need. The intermediate programs are designed to help kids further develop their cooking skills, grow their understanding of nutrition, flavours and ingredients. These programs continue to reinforce the importance of kitchen safety and teamwork. Campers in these age groups will typically fall between the ages of 7 - 11. -
ExperiencedMinimum Age 9+
For more experienced or adventurous young chefs, the 9+ sessions dive deeper into both culinary and pastry arts. These programs focus on teaching advanced theories and techniques, working with more complex recipes, and promoting greater independence in the kitchen. Campers will be encouraged to experiment, get creative, and push their skills to the next level, all while mastering new cuisines and techniques. Campers in these age groups will typically fall between the ages of 9 - 14 and have past experience cooking and baking.
My child is a selective eater. Can they still participate?
Yes! Rooks to Cooks works with children who are considered selective or “picky” eaters all the time. In fact, it is something we enjoy doing. Campers will never be forced to try new foods, although they will be gently encouraged. Campers will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in cooking and be exposed to food across all their senses which helps gradually expose them to flavours, textures and new foods they might otherwise avoid or reject. We encourage campers who are selective eaters to bring a lunch and / or extra snacks. This helps ensure that even if they don’t want to eat something, or try a food and dont like something that they have enough to fuel and sustain them for the day. Still they will be cooking all the recipes alongside their peers, and have the option to take them home. Additionally, all staff are trained on evidence-based strategies for working with selective eaters and have a manager on-call they can discuss specific questions or strategies with. We also encourage you to let us know and connect with the staff on site if your child is someone who falls into the selective eaters category.
My child has an allergy, do you offer substitutions?
Yes. If we are notified about allergies before-hand we will order replacement ingredients. We are also 100% nut-free and allergy aware. Please ensure your child comes with the proper rescue medications if they have them (Epi-Pen…)
Do the kids cook all day?
No. While the majority of the day is spent cooking, campers do other things. Campers get breaks and have structured, organized activities facilitated by counselors throughout the day. At lunch time, if weather permits, they are brought outside. On certain days, campers also do prep and crafts for Pop-Up restaurant.
My child needs accommodations, what should I do?
Let us know how we can support! When you register, please provide as much detail as you and your child are comfortable with. We will work with you both to make sure we can facilitate access and inclusion for your child.
Can my child select who they work with?
No. At Rooks to Cooks we believe in making sure that everyone is included and able to learn by working with a variety of people. While we understand that campers come with siblings and friends, we will not be allowing them to select who they work with. We can place them at stations near each other but do not have the capacity to accommodate all partner requests. Additionally, we pair people based on skill level. This allows campers with less skill and experience to learn from similar-aged peers who do, and allows higher skilled and experienced campers to gain valuable leadership and mentorship skills.