Cooking and Courtesy: New Skills for Summer
In our never ending quest to bring knowledge and resources to parents in the Tennessee Valley, we have been highlighting some of the more unique camps being offered this summer in Huntsville. Today, we’re shining the spotlight on two camps that will satisfy inquiring young minds and hopefully set off a spark that will last a lifetime.
Thyme To Cook
With three levels of camps offered (Wee Chefs, ages 6-8; Junior Chefs, ages 9-11; Teen Chefs, ages 12-17) no matter what your child’s age or skill level, if they are interested in cooking, this is the camp for them. Camps run from 10AM – 1PM and include small classes, hands on cooking that is modified to age and skill level, and a lunch campers will be excited to eat because they made it themselves. At the end of the camp students will walk away with a notebook full of the recipes they’ve prepared that week, a chef’s hat and a certificate they’ll be proud to display in your kitchen!
Wee Chefs focuses on introducing the young cook to the fun of cooking and eating their own food. Emphasis is placed on working safely with kitchen tools, hand washing, and preventing the spread of germs. Junior Chefs are excited about getting in the kitchen and doing the cooking themselves. Camp is their chance to explore and have fun with peers, then recreate the recipes for family at home as they proudly show off what they have learned. Teen Camp offers the opportunity for your teen to explore or further their interest in food preparation and presentation, especially if they don’t have time in their school schedule for such a class. This camp focuses on a variety of cooking techniques and have your teen wielding a chef’s knife like a pro.
Starting with the Wee Chefs camp the first week of June, all camps are one week long (Monday-Friday) and cost $300. You can get more information about what each camp menu will look like and register for camps by visiting the Thyme to Cook website. Don’t forget to tell them you heard about them via Rocket City Mom!
Manners Camp
Have you ever said to yourself, “I wish my nine-year-old could write a decent Thank You note?” or maybe you’re more concerned about your 5-year-old’s ability to sit at the Thanksgiving dinner table without causing a spectacle. Wherever your child is on the etiquette spectrum, Manners Camp can help. Aimed at children ages 4 – 11, this camp will build on the skills they are already learning from you at home. Instructor Jane Brocato has been running this etiquette camp from her home for more than six years and her goal is for campers to get “real world” experience that will enhance their  self-confidence in social, educational and business settings. [sws_blockquote align=”right” alignment=”alignright” cite=”Jane Brocato, Instructor” quotestyles=”style01″] I believe if children have a firm foundation from parents and that foundaton is positively reinforced by others, then they will grow up with the self-confidence needed to achieve their life goals. Further, they will have a true understanding of why treating others with the utmost respect is so important. [/sws_blockquote]
Each day of this week-long camp focuses on a different set of etiquette instruction (i.e. Day 2 – Appearance and Image, Day 4 – Manners in Public) culminating in a 3-course meal in the dining room on the final day. Each day is 50 minutes long, instructional, filled with activities and most important driven by the campers’ participation. There will be lots of dialogue! At the end of each day, campers enjoy a healthy snack right before pick up time. For more information on this camp, visit the Manners Camp website or contact Brocato at jbroc5342@knology.net
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Rocket City Mom is a website about raising children in and around Huntsville, Alabama. Started in late 2010 by a local mom and newcomer to Huntsville, Rocket City Mom has grown into a thriving community of local parents and now boasts a staff of four, thirteen regular contributors, and tens of thousands of Tennessee Valley readers making it the #1 Parenting Resource in North Alabama.