Kids Cooking Summer Camps

After months of analyzing the ever-changing information, consulting with various experts and camp mentors, holding countless re-strategizing sessions with our management team, and waiting patiently for the government and public health officials to give us much needed answers and release their camp guidelines, it has become clear that Rooks to Cooks cannot deliver our program safely under the current COVID-19 reality. As such, we are unable to avoid the cancellation of our 2020 camp season.

Despite the tremendous challenges we face we are hopeful that, with the success of our upcoming virtual programs and anticipated government support, we can rebuild and resume our position as the GTA’s leader in culinary education for children in time for summer 2021.

We wish you health and safety as you continue to navigate these difficult times, and hope to get the chance to work with your children virtually this season.

Click here to check out our Virtual Courses and Camps!

Are Your Kids Hungry for Fun?

Have you been searching for something new, educational and fun to occupy your child this summer? If so, then our cooking camps for kids are for you.

And here’s WHY:

Children learn life skills and become more independent in and out of the kitchen.
Expands their palates and encourages them to try new foods and flavours
The lessons at our kids culinary summer camp are hands-on, team-based and fun.
Gain an understanding of food and where it comes from.
Learn about nutrition and gain an appreciation for healthy eating.
Our small group sizes guarantee a thorough and intensive education.
Campers meet new friends and socialize with other aspiring young chefs.
Kids learn to safely navigate a kitchen and handle food.
Our kids cooking summer camp experience creates amazing memories that will remain for years to come!

What’s Included in the Registration

Chef

Chef Coat, Apron & no cut glove

Included in the cost of Registration is an official Rooks to Cooks Chef Coat, Apron and safety glove. Returning camper? Have no fear! Opt out of a uniform at check out for a reduced price.

meal

Daily Lunch

Throughout the cooking camp day, campers work through several recipes and prepare their own lunches. The food varies from day to day and includes delicious and nutritious hot meals that all our campers enjoy. Please note that our programs are peanut free and Allergy Aware.

Daily Take-Home Treats

At the end of each camp day, food will be sent home with campers in Tupperware containers. Tupperware containers are to be supplied by the families. Campers get to share their tasty creations with their family! Your children will be delighted to offer you a taste of all their hard work at cooking camp.

A day in the life of a Camper

WE ARE PEANUT FREE AND ALLERGY AWARE

Rooks to Cooks is both Peanut / Tree Nut Free and Allergy Aware! We ask that parents speak to our staff about any known allergies prior to the start of your program. We strive to accommodate all campers and we will work with parents and children to ensure that the necessary precautions have been taken. It is important that all parties (camp staff, parents and campers) clearly understand that, in no way, can we guarantee that we will be able to remove all allergy-inducing ingredients from our recipes.

Summer Camp Hours: Our standard hours are from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. each day.
Drop-off/Sign-In at 8:50 a.m. and Pick-up/Sign-out at 4:00 p.m.

Note *Campers are asked to arrive by 8:30 a.m. at the start of each week*

We also offer optional Before and After camp care services.

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Weekly Packages

• Before care from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – $50.00/week

• After care from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. -$60.00/week

• Before & After care 8:00 a.m. – 5:30p.m. – $100.00/week

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Daily Packages:

• Before care from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – $15.00/day
• After care from 4:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. -$20.00/day
• Emergency one-time care – $15.00

(Please note that before and after camp care is fully supervised child care only; no organized activities will be provided by the camp staff. Campers not picked up by 5:30 p.m. will be charged $15.00 late fee.)

Day at a Glance

Program Overview

Campers learn culinary skills & theory from passionate and experienced Chef instructors
We structure our camps like culinary school. Recipe execution will be preceded by a full cooking demonstration by their Chef instructors
Campers work in pairs to complete up to 5 daily recipes from scratch
We do not work with any processed foods or sauces
Our programs are hands on, intensive and FUN
Activities are primarily cooking activities, however we do take 2 daily outdoor breaks where we run camp style games & crafts

Our Team

Our summer camp teams are comprised of 4 staff members: A Lead Chef, a Sous Chef, a Camp Counsellor and a Kitchen Assistant. Our Chef instructors are experienced and passionate culinary professions, eager to share their knowledge with the younger generation of chefs and inspire young minds. Our camp counsellors are enthusiastic and experienced youth workers who bring the camp activities and energy to our culinary classrooms. Our kitchen assistants are there to help and support our campers as they learn new skills and expand their culinary knowledge.

Our Chefs and camp counsellors must obtain their first aid & CPR certification, food handlers course and a clear police check. Our kitchen assistant is required to complete their food handlers course and police check. The majority of our team have graduated from culinary school and or have obtained their red seal certification.

OUR POP UP RESTAURANT: “PETIT CHEFS”

At the end of each week (except for the 4-day weeks), Rooks to Cooks transforms into our world-renowned pop-up restaurant, “Petit Chefs”.

Campers have the unique opportunity to invite their family and friends to partake in a meal that they will create from start to finish! At Petit Chefs, our campers run the show working as the servers, bartenders, hosts, and chefs. All of the food and beverages served at the restaurant are 100% in house made by the campers themselves. At the end of the meal, all the campers will receive a monetary tip, teaching them that hard work pays off, literally.

This is a unique and phenomenal experience for your young chefs:

Kids learn new skills in the kitchen

NEW SKILLS

They can showcase their new skills as they prepare and serve a 3 course tasting menu all on their own.

Campers take on rols of chefs

CAMPER-RUN

Campers take on the roles of chefs, bartenders, hosts and servers, making this a night to remember for everyone involved.

Kids graduate with a certificate

GRADUATION

The dining experience ends with a ceremony where campers will get a badge honouring their accomplishment of that session along with a certificate. We are also going to be holding a Chefs of distinction ceremony in which 4 campers will be identified for the exhibition of stellar qualities – Leadership, Kindness, Passion and Most improved.

Reservations for family and friends

RESERVATIONS

Reservations for family and friends must be made 5+ business days prior to the start of your child’s camp; there will be a prix fixe menu with a set price of $20.00 per person. Act fast and secure your reservation to lock in an optimal time.

OUR MENU

The menu changes depending on the week and will be revealed each Wednesday. Just like any restaurant, we will accommodate all allergies and food aversions.

Testimonials

“My kids absolutely loved Rooks To Cooks and chef Shai!

If your kids are picky eaters, you should definitely try this class – chef Shai will get them to try anything, and I mean anything! By the end of her class, my child, who would only eat pasta (no sauce), made his own sushi and ate it too!

The summer camp is also great, the pop-up restaurant at the end of the week is awesome. It’s a full scale production and kids have a blast.

Definitely recommend it!”

-Alexandra Fatemi

“My daughter went to the Leslieville location this summer and had an amazing time. She says it was her favorite camp and she learned practical life skills. Not to mention she can now make desserts for the family : ). We enjoyed all the different stuff she brought home daily and appreciated that fact that she was fed lunch every day so no packing lunches!!”

-Julie Lynas

“Our sports kid broke his arm the week before camp, but that didnt seem to affect his experience. Thanks so much to the super accommodating and caring staff. He enthusiastically recounted his day and reproduced recipes every night at home. What a surprising frontrunner for favorite camp of the summer! Thanks for all the great meals!! (Beaches location)”

-Angie Athanasopoulos

“My daughter Sophie learned so much during her week at Rooks to Cooks and also had such an amazing time! She developed a love for cooking and even cooked us dinner at home.

Chef Shai was very accommodating, supportive and very enthusiastic in ensuring that the children enjoyed their experiences! I’d certainly send Sophie back next summer. I wish Rooks to Cooks would offer cooking classes during the year for children! AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!!”

-Gayle David

“Rooks to Cooks was by far our son’s best experience at camp to date. He came home brimming with pride every day, so excited to show us his delicious creations. I am amazed by the skills he learned and can’t wait for him to do more of your programs. The staff at the High Park/Bloor West location were incredible and made every day a joy. Thanks for a wonderful week of cooking. Can’t wait for next summer!”

-With Care

“Both my 7yrs old rated Rooks to Cooks (Markham) as the top summer they went to this summer. They have gain lots of confidence in the kitchen as well as starting to offer help with dishes and cooking. Can’t wait to sign up for the next summer!!”

-Wilma Kwan

“Wow – this camp is absolutely fantastic. If your kid likes cooking – then definitely send them here! The program’s attention to detail and responsiveness is unreal and unlike ANY other camp we have attended. The recipes, the qualifications, professionalism and enthusiasm of the staff, and the amazing pop up resto on the last night have kids working towards a master goal. Absolutely brilliant! My daughter was waiting at the door each morning, fully packed- begging me to go! She even came home and washed up her own Tupperware each day with no prompting. Talk about life skills. One would have no idea that this is only their second year of operations! Just wow!! (We did the North York location)”

-Sugy Kodeeswaran

“This was one of the best camps our kids have attended! It was so well organized and well planned out. The kids learned so much about the whole baking process and the food they made was so delicious. The pop cafe was a wonderful idea and we got to see the supportive, hardworking and fun environment that Chef Charlotte and the other chefs created. We loved that lunches were included too. We would highly recommend this camp!”

-Heidi McMahon

“My son attended summer camp at High Park North location. He loved the experience and his confidence in the kitchen has grown tremendously. He is able to come up with recipes that actually work based on his experience and learning- it’s very amazing to watch! The staff were lovely and took great care. We had treats to enjoy from the day’s cooking, and conversations around it at the dinner table. The pop-up restaurant to end the week was the cherry on the cake- the kids pulled off a great event which was such a moment of pride and joy for us parents!”

-Surabhi Pandey

“This camp was incredibly well managed, and the types of food prepared were way beyond anything we imagined from a kids cooking camp! The councilors are amazing – knowledge, friendly, and super fun. As a parent, I particularly appreciated their focus on kitchen safety. My daughter took so much away from her week and is now helping to prepare food at home. She can’t wait to go back again next year.”

-Jennifer Siripong Mandel