Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp
Designed for exceptional Chicago area high school students in under-resourced areas, who want to further their exposure to the culinary world and have fun along the way!
2023 Culinary Camps
Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp is live! That’s right, our Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp is back in-person this year!
The Spring Baking Boot Camp on April 2nd will have campers sifting and stirring their way through a variety of sweet and savory recipes. Our week-long summer camp will be held from June 19 to June 23 at The Chopping Block. Our Fall Camp will be October 21 where campers will be making fresh pasta and complimentary sauces, as well as, learn the history of pasta, regional pasta traditions, the difference between types of flours and more!
Enrollment is open—Eligible, currently enrolled Chicago Public or other approved high school students (Must be 14-18 years of age) interested in gaining valuable culinary skills while having fun should apply now as spaces go fast.
If accepted, there is ZERO cost to participate.
Campers will learn invaluable cooking and baking basics from our esteemed instructors, bond with students from other schools and end the day with delicious food!
Apply online for one or all of the camps! Campers will be called to schedule a phone interview with their parent/guardian and a selection committee member to determine their eligibility for an award to attend at no cost.
Campers learn how to make cinnamon rolls, a strawberry jelly-roll cake, a savory veggie galette and chocolate zucchini bread at this interactive camp. The camp is taught by Chef Lisa at The Chopping Block. Performance prizes will be awarded as well as a top performance prize.
Our popular week-long camp will be held at The Chopping Block in Lincoln Square. Each day campers cook a meal to eat alongside other campers as well as something to bring home to the family. Performance prizes will be given out daily and an overall top prize of an iPad mini will be awarded. At the end of camp, campers receive an essential kitchen equipment kit to continue their cooking journey at home.
Oct. 21, 2023
10am – 3pm
Tutore Italian Cooking School
2755 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL
APPLY BY SEPT. 29
Make fresh pasta and complimentary sauces, as well as, learn the history of pasta, regional pasta traditions, the difference between types of flours and more! Campers will enjoy a midday meal of their homemade pasta and take some dishes home to share with family. They’ll go home with a pasta making kit to continue to wow their family and friends with their new skills!
Dec. 3, 2023
11am – 3pm
The Chopping Block
4747 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL
APPLY BY NOV. 10
Join us for our third annual Holiday Baking Boot Camp! ’Tis the season for showing loved ones how much they mean to you — and what better way than sharing holiday treats baked by you! You will learn invaluable baking basics from our esteemed instructor, bond with students from other schools and end the day with a buffet of baked goods!
How are campers selected?
There are three selection methods utilized by the Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp. A number of spots are awarded via C-CAP’s junior culinary competition that takes place in January. Students who did not participate in the junior competition can apply to the camp and will go through a selection and interview process. A few spots are made available for CPS students who show great culinary interest and potential but are not part of a district offering C-CAP. These students are recommended to the F4CA by academic field recruiters and will undergo a similar selection process to the C-CAP students.
Who are our campers?
Our campers are a diverse group of students from under-resourced communities currently enrolled in the Chicago Public School system. The students are both male and female ranging from 13-18 years of age.
65% of Campers are Female
91% of Campers are Black and Latino
How Can I Get Involved?
Sponsor a camp | Sponsor a camper |
Donate | Volunteer | Partner
Each level of sponsorship comes with unique promotional opportunities—press coverage inclusion; inclusion in all FFCA-generated promotional and marketing materials; corporate branding opportunities; and more. All donations are tax deductible to the full extent as allowed by law.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact Executive Director Catherine De Orio at info@f4ca.org.
Camp Application Scholarship
Currently enrolled Chicago Public High School students whose family income falls within the definition of “Economically Disadvantaged”, as defined by CPS, may apply for a scholarship to attend the Yes, Chef! Culinary Camp by clicking the button below.
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