culinary Arts (Grades K-5)
1 week sessions 9:00am - 3:00pm $615 - $715
In DEAN’s Culinary Arts Studio, campers roll up their sleeves and get hands-on cooking and baking experiences that bring flavor, science, and cultures to life. Depending on the selected program, each day brings new culinary adventures as campers whip up sweet treats, explore recipes from around the world, and learn the stories behind the dishes they create. Guided by supportive instructors, campers work together in a lively kitchen setting. From prepping ingredients to plating their final creations, every session offers opportunities to experiment, problem-solve, and take pride in bringing something delicious to life.
Skills Learned
Each week, campers engage in hands-on cooking and baking, learning key skills and mindsets:
- Foundation Skills: Measuring, mixing, cutting, sautéing, and decorating while exploring how ingredients interact to create flavor, texture, and balance
- Technical Abilities: Following multi-step recipes, managing time effectively, and staying organized while working safely in the kitchen
As campers cook and create, they also strengthen essential character skills:
- Collaboration: Working together to prepare dishes and sharing culinary discoveries with friends
- Resilience and Self-Regulation: Navigating successes and setbacks, discovering that patience and attention to detail lead to great results
- Confidence: Honing new skills they can use in the kitchen for years to come.
Campers enjoy sampling the dishes they make each day and take home a selection of their creations (whether cookies, pastries, or savory bites) to share.
General Daily Schedule:
Morning introduction
Activity period—approximately 1 hour
Snack and stretch break—approximately 15 minutes, outside weather permitting
Activity period—approximately 1 hour
Lunch and Recess break—approximately 1 hour, outside weather permitting
Activity period—approximately 2 hours (included in this time can be a stretch break as needed)
Clean up, pack up, dismissal
Dates, Hours, and Fees
| 2026 Dates | Program | Grades | |||
| June 8 - 12 | Is it Cake? | K-1 / 2-3 | |||
| June 15 - 18 *4-day week | The World of Sweet Imagination | K-1 / 2-3 | |||
| June 22 - 26 | Cooking Across Cultures | K-1 / 2-3 / 4-5 | |||
| June 29 - July 2 *4-day week | Is it Cake? | K-1 / 2-3 | |||
| July 6 - 10 | The World of Sweet Imagination | K-1 / 2-3 / 4-5 | |||
| July 13 - 17 | Cooking Across Cultures | K-1 / 2-3 / 4-5 | |||
| July 20 - 24 | Is it Cake? | K-1 / 2-3 / 4-5 | |||
| July 27 - 31 | The World of Sweet Imagination | K-1 / 2-3 / 4-5 | |||
| August 3 - 7 | Cooking Across Cultures | K-1 / 2-3 / 4-5 | |||
| August 10 - 14 | Is it Cake? | K-1 / 2-3 / 4-5 | |||
| Hours | |
| 9:00am – 3:00pm | |
| Fees | |
| $715 5-day week / $615 4-day week | |
Themes + Weekly Overview
Is it Cake?
This most deliciously deceptive camp whisks together baking and artistry to blur the lines between confectionery and reality. With rolling pins at the ready and creativity in abundance, campers will learn to craft cakes so lifelike that you'll need to do a double-take!
Throughout the week, we'll delve into cake decorating secrets from sculpting with fondant to carving cakes, enabling the creation of edible masterpieces that look like everyday objects – imagine a sneaker you can eat or a potted plant with a chocolatey twist!
Don't miss out on the chance to knead, bake, and decorate in this camp where art meets dessert, and nothing is quite as it seems. It's the perfect recipe for fun, friendship, and fabulous cake creations.
The World of Sweet Imagination
Come with me and you'll be in a world of "Sweet Imagination," the camp where sweet dreams come to life.
In The World of Sweet Imagination, campers become confectionery creators, making a full spread of sweets like fudge, gummies, toffee, and more! Along the way, campers learn skills like chocolate-making techniques, taffy, molding gummies, and decorating their treats with flair.
On top of making delicious creations, campers invent their own candy company—designing a name, logo, and packaging to showcase their sweet treats. Creativity drives their candy designs, collaboration fuels idea-sharing, and responsibility keeps them on track as they measure, pour, and stir and learn the intricacies of this delectable craft.
By the close of the camp, participants won't just depart with handmade sweets; they'll proudly showcase their customized candy, complete with a personalized brand, ready for the candy shop.
Cooking Across Cultures
Pack your bags for a flavor adventure!
In Cooking Across Cultures, campers bake and cook their way around the world, exploring authentic recipes that reveal how food connects us all. Guided by expert culinary instructors, they'll practice measuring, mixing, safe knife handling, and proper food preparation while keeping hygiene and safety top of mind.
As they work together to follow recipes and balance flavors, curiosity drives them to discover new tastes and traditions, collaboration keeps the kitchen running smoothly, and responsibility ensures every dish is prepped with care. By week's end, campers build confidence in the kitchen and bring home delicious creations celebrating cultures from around the globe.