An Inside Look at Frost Valley’s New Mini Chef Day Camp

03/20/2019

In order to give campers and parents an inside look at Frost Valley’s Mini Chef Day Camp for campers entering 4th and 5th grade, Community Programs Director Jessie Emmons answered some questions parents and campers might have about this specialty day camp.

1. What kinds of recipes will campers be making?

“Some things that campers might make are: stir-fry, pancakes, cookies, quesadillas, etc. We will focus on recipes that don’t take a lot of time, but may give kids experience using things like a burner or the oven with plenty of adult supervision of course!”

2. What precautions are taken if a child has a food allergy?

“Frost Valley is already completely nut free. If your child has other allergies we will need to know those beforehand, but we will do everything in our power to accommodate allergies. If your camper has a severe food allergy, we do not recommend this program.”

3. In what ways will campers learn about where and how food is produced?

“If time and scheduling allow, campers will visit our main camp green house to learn about where our food comes from.”

4. What is the main focus of the camp?

“The main focus will be learning to make basic snacks or meals, following a recipe, and safety in the kitchen.”

5. Are campers supervised around hot burners and cooking equipment?

“Campers will be with our Day Camp staff and our Healthy Kitchen staff whenever they are cooking. We maintain a 1:7 ratio at all times.”

5. Will campers spend their entire day in the teaching kitchen or will they do other camp activities?

“Campers will only spend a portion of their day in the Teaching Kitchen. They will have 1 or 2 periods each day that are dedicated to other camp activities. They will also get to join camp during the waterfront time between 2 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

6. If so, what other camp activities will they participate in?

“The staff will meet with the campers on the first day and they can decide together, but it can be Archery, the Climbing Wall, River Walking, Hiking, or anything else. All camp activities are available for their choosing.”

7. Is this camp geared toward beginners or campers who are more experienced in cooking?

“It’s a mix, for some campers these skills might be repeat, but for others it might be new. I think all experience is good experience in the kitchen. We can and will accommodate for all skill levels.”

8. Is there anything else camper parents should know about this camp?

“That this is not a mastery course in cooking. It will all be very basic, but fun. We want kids to try new things and foods, while also having fun and being safe.”

Visit Frost Valley’s Day Camp page or call 845-985-2291 for more information or register online.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Frost Valley YMCA

Frost Valley YMCA is a 5,500-acre, year-round camp - There's something for everyone here in the Valley. From group and family retreats to overnight camps to horse camps to teambuilding, we've got you covered. School groups love taking a three-night field trip to explore the natural world and learn about the environment and their classmates. Family weekends are the perfect getaway for the young and the young at heart. Teambuilding retreats afford corporate, collegiate, religious, and other groups the opportunity to challenge themselves and effectively work toward common goals. In the summertime we're where kids and teens gain independence, explore the world, and make lifelong friends through various camps such as traditional sleepaway camp, farm camp, horse camp, adventure trips, and day camp. Call (845)985-2291 or email info@frostvalley.org to learn more today!