Summer is a great time for kids to explore all kinds of interests – music, soccer, computers, animal care, gymnastics – in a variety of venues all over Houston. If you’ve got a young foodie in the house, you’ll be interested in the cooking camps spotlighted below.

Check out our www.thesummerbook.com. It’s based on a book I created back in 2003 called The Summer Book: A Guide to Houston Day Camps and Classes for Kids and Teens when I was the panicky mom of an eight-year-old boy. My guide has more than 200 camps, many of which are geared towards teaching healthy habits and exploring the joys of cooking. To start your kids on a fun cooking adventure, check the schedules at Central Market and Sur La Table, as they have ongoing cooking classes for kids year round.

Contact the specific organizations for dates, age ranges and fees. Please note that these camps are not recommended for children with food allergies or food sensitivities.

The Fay School
www.thefayschool.org
105 N. Post Oak Lane
Houston, Texas 77024
713-681-8300
The FAYcation summer program continues the school’s mission into the summer with enrichment-based programs taught by their faculty, including cooking, crafty creations, Spanish storytelling and more. This year’s cooking camp is “Let’s Cook Up Some Fun” for 4- to 6-year-olds.

The Health Museum
www.thehealthmuseum.org
1515 Hermann Drive
Houston, Texas 77004
713-521-1515
The Health Museum offers three food-related camps. In “Lil’ Chef’s Academy,” kids will make kid-friendly creations, including healthful smoothies and pizza while learning about the basics of good nutrition. In the “Savory Science” camp, kids will experience the kitchen chemistry behind some of their favorite foods while learning how to distinguish between healthful and unhealthful ingredients. And in “Edible Explorations,” kids will study the kitchen chemistry behind their favorite foods and candies.

Italian Cultural & Community Center
www.iccchouston.com
1101 Milford
Houston, Texas 77006
713-524-4222 x4
Students are immersed in the richness and beauty of the Italian language and culture as soon as they enter la casa at the ICCC. Students will assume an Italian name for the week and attend not only daily scoperte or “discoveries,” but also a plethora of diverse cultural activities, including cooking Italian food.

Evelyn Rubenstein Jewish Community Center of Houston
www.erjcchouston.org
5601 S. Braeswood
Houston, Texas 77096
713-729-3200
Campers will travel by bus to Urban Chef where they will create menus, learn cooking techniques and create delicious entrees. Menus will be kosher-style and different for each week of camp. Campers will return to the J for recreational swimming in the outdoor pool. Lunch will be made daily by campers and is included.

Recipe for Success Foundation
www.recipe4success.org
P.O. Box 56405            
Houston, Texas 77256
713-520-0443
Recipe for Success Foundation’s Eat This! Summer Camp prepares youngsters to become savvy food consumers. This year they will be offering two different camps. The first focuses on how food producers develop and market products to the American consumer. The second is inspired by their Eat It! Food Adventures with Marco Polo Cookbook, taking kids on a global adventure through food.

Yorkshire Academy
www.yorkshireacademy.com
14120 Memorial Drive
Houston, Texas 77024
281-531-6088
Yorkshire Academy’s summer program offers an array of weekly camp options for toddlers through sixth graders. These include cooking camps as part of their enrichment offerings. They also have choices for academic camps, theme-based camps and flexibility for half day, full day or full time (early and late hours) care.