Teen Summer Cooking Camps 2026
TEEN Cooking Camp is Back for Fun Summer Days!
Teens will love cooking and baking together in our small group classes at Wicker Park!
Teen SUMMER Cooking Camp ‘26
Teens will love learning new skills, cooking fundamentals, and being creative in the kitchen at our Schoolhouse Summer Camp in Wicker Park.
We offer camp for teens ages 11-15 YRS.
Each class is unique and every week is packed with recipes and projects!
Teens love building skills in our creative and challenging cooking camps 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.
Everyday we will make new recipes that encourage skill development, creativity and help young chefs build confidence. Chefs will create a new recipe each day, building on skills throughout the week.
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.
Camp Days: Monday - Friday
2 sessions a day
AM - 9:30AM - 12PM
PM - 1PM - 3:30
$300/ person
For children ages 11-15
You are welcome to register teens for both sessions. There will be an hour break in between for lunch and relaxing in the kitchen.
Camp Schedule
June 8 - 12
AM - Around the World
PM - Sweet Bakes
June 15 - 19
AM - Restaurant Week
PM - BREADS!
June 22-26
AM - Around Chicago
PM - Sweet Bakes
June 29 - July 3
AM - Dinner Party
PM - Cafe Treats
July 6 - 10
AM - Around the World
PM - Sweet Bakes
July 13 - 17
AM - Restaurant Week
PM - BREADS!
July 20-24
AM - Around Chicago
PM - Cafe Treats
July 27 - July 31
AM - Dinner Party
PM - Sweet Bakes
August 3-7
AM - Around the World
PM - Cafe Treats
August 10 - 14
AM - Restaurant Week
PM - Breads!
August 17 - 21
AM - Around Chicago
PM - Cafe Treats
Sweet Bakes
This week-long baking camp is all about next-level sweets, creativity, and learning real pastry skills in a fun, teen-friendly kitchen. Campers will bake from scratch, practice professional decorating techniques, and leave with desserts they’ll be proud to show off (and eat).
Petit Fours
Homemade Pop Tarts
Pink Velvet Crumbl Cookies
Royal Icing Decoration: Sugar Cookies
Confetti Cake with Homemade Sprinkles
Cafe Treats
Café Treats is a hands-on cooking camp for teens who love baking and café-style snacks. Campers will make sweet and savory treats from scratch while building essential kitchen skills. Along the way, they’ll learn baking + cooking techniques while having fun with friends.
Cinnamon Rolls
Mochi Donuts & Fruity Boba Tea
Puff Pastry Danishes
Soft Pretzels & Lemonade
Homemade Crepes with Assorted Fillings
Bread!
This week-long bread baking camp is all about mixing, shaping, and baking classic breads from around the world. Teens will work hands-on with yeast and dough, learn proper kneading and shaping techniques, and bake from scratch every day.
Bagels / Challah / Sourdough / Milk Bread / Baguettes
Dinner Party
Perfect for teens who love food and want to expand their skills, this camp blends savory and sweet, classic and adventurous — with plenty to cook, taste, and take pride in all week long. Campers will cook from scratch, practice knife skills, and learn techniques like pasta-making, pan-frying, and dough shaping — all in a fun, supportive kitchen environment.
Chicken Alfredo with Homemade Pasta
Potstickers & Taiwanese Pineapple Cake
Greek Salad & Tortilla Española
Falafel, Pita, Tzatziki & Hummus
Korean Popcorn Chicken + Mochi Donuts
World Tour
Pack your apron and passport! In this week-long teen cooking camp, students will explore global flavors while building real kitchen skills. Campers will cook from scratch, practice knife skills, and learn techniques like rolling, simmering, baking, and spice blending — all in a fun, hands-on environment.
JAPAN: Veggie Maki, Japanese Curry, & Fruit Smoothie Boba
MEXICO: Chicken Enchiladas + Horchata
FRANCE: Cheesy Quiche & Chocolate Mousse
INDIA: Vegetable Biryani & Mango Lassi
MOROCCO: Veggie Couscous & Lemon Cake (Meskouta)
Around Chicago
This week, we'll learn about the neighborhoods of our beautiful city. We'll highlight the special foods in each neighborhood with delicious and kid friendly recipes.
PILSEN: Tacos with Homemade Tortillas & Fresh Salsa
LITTLE ITALY: Stuffed Calzones & Berry Crostata
CHINATOWN: Orange Chicken & Fruity Boba Tea
BRONZEVILLE: BBQ Ribs, Mac n Cheese Bites & Red Velvet Cupcakes
DEVON: Chana Masala, Homemade Naan & Mango Lassis
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.
