Teen Day Off School Cooking Class

TEEN Cooking Classes are Here for Days Off School  
Teens will love cooking and baking together in our small group classes at Wicker Park!

Teen Day Off School Cooking Class

Ready to run the kitchen? In this Day Off Camp, teens take charge of the whole process, from picking a recipe to putting a meal on the table. They’ll plan the menu, build a budget, shop for ingredients at a real grocery store, and cook the meal themselves.


Teens will build real-world skills, get creative, and gain confidence in the kitchen, all in a camp designed just for their age group. They can also flip through our Teen Cookbook, featuring recipes from last summer and this summer, for inspiration.

We offer camp for teens ages 11-15 YRS.

Each class is unique and every day is packed with learning opportunities!

Teens love building skills in our creative and challenging day off school cooking classes, designed just for their age group. This small group camp is hosted in our Pop Up! Teen Kitchen at the rear of our day camp space. Entrance is through the front door where a staff member will escort teens to their group.

We will make a new recipes that encourage skill development, creativity and help young chefs build confidence.

Skill Building!

Kitchen sanitation and safety, knife skills, measuring fundamentals, recipe reading, finding recipes, time management, working with meat (optional!), sautéing + skillet techniques, pastry, cake decorating (piping) + yeasted doughs.
Recipes are sent home each week so that you chefs continue practicing skills at home.

How the day works:

Plan (9:00-11:00 am): We kick off with a quick, breakfasty bite (think fresh waffles or crepes) while we go over the day. Then teams choose a recipe from our pre-approved list, read it closely, and write their grocery list. They’ll also take on the budget: each team gets a printout with ingredients, estimated prices, and a running total. We’ll play a round of “The Price Is Right” first, where teens guess what things cost and what the total will be, to see how close their instincts are.
 
Shop (11:00 am-12:00 pm): Armed with a list and a budget, teams walk to Cermak Produce (about 12 minutes from Schoolhouse) and navigate the store on their own to find everything they need. Comparing options, staying on budget, and making smart swaps are all part of the adventure.
 
Cook, Eat & Clean (12:00-2:00 pm): Back at Schoolhouse, teams bring their recipe to life. We’ll cook, sit down to eat what we made together, and wrap up with cleanup, because every good chef knows that’s part of the job.

Camp Days:

11/23,11/24

12/21-12/23, 12/28-12/30, 1/4
9:30AM - 2PM


For children ages 11-15

HOW OUR WAITLIST WORKS:

If a camp reaches full capacity we cannot accommodate additional campers. However, you have the option to join our WAITLIST. (through the SAWYER registration system).


Once a spot becomes available, we will email EVERYONE on the waitlist. It doesn’t matter what position you are on the list.


As registration adjustments frequently occur before the camp commences, being on the waitlist increases your chances of securing a spot. Feel free to join the waitlist if you're interested in obtaining a spot!

NOTES ABOUT OUR CAMPS:

Accommodations: We strive to welcome everyone at the Schoolhouse and are committed to providing a safe environment for all students. If your child may need behavioral/ emotional accommodations, please let us know when you register or before camp begins so that we can be aware and do our best to be inclusive. Physically rough, destructive or disruptive behavior is not permitted as we are in a kitchen setting and you will be asked to pick-up your camper if they repeatedly engage in behavior that is unsafe or disruptive.

Cancellation Policy for Camps:
CHANGES:

We will change registration with a $25 admin fee


CANCELLATION:

  • 2+ wks notice = refund - $25 admin fee
  • Less than 2 wks notice = credit - $25 admin fee
  • Less than 1 week notice = no credit offered. You may transfer camp to another child.
  • Email us to let us know cheryl@iloveschoolhouse.com. NOTE: We can not offer credits or transfers with less than 1 week notice. No exceptions.


What to Bring:

  • WATER BOTTLE with name clearly labeled
  • Close toed shoes are ideal and tying long hair back is helpful.
  • Some kids like to bring aprons - we provide them, as well.
  • You may bring clearly labeled “to go” containers for your child. Reduce plastic!
  • Dress for Mess!


Arrival + Dismissal:

  • Camp staff will be ready to check in campers 10 mins before camp is scheduled to begin. 
  • FIRST DAY: Please greet the staff counselor with the roster and we'll check in your camper.

Allergies:

We can accommodate most food allergies and do not serve any peanuts or tree nuts. When you register your child please list any food allergies and we are happy to accommodate. Our recipes are all vegetarian. We may offer meat options (like pepperoni for pizza) so please include your child's dietary restrictions in your registration. (vegan, no pork etc). We strive to be 100% inclusive and celebrate every person's choices.