Wearing their blue aprons, elementary school-aged children gathered around the Fran Russ Recreation Center’s kitchen countertop Friday, June 27.
The children were part of the Kids’ Cooking Camp, one of the summer camps provided by Wrightsville Beach Parks and Recreation.
Cooking instructor Stephanie Avery-Taylor has been teaching the camp for a little more than two years.
“We have students learning to cook recipes so they can cook at home,” Taylor said. “We already made cheese fries from scratch … calzones for lunch … and for dessert, snickerdoodles and homemade ice cream.”
The summer camp’s mission is to teach students basic cooking strategies and recipes.
“It’s to help them learn how to prepare healthy foods for themselves and their families,” Taylor said.
The camp also allows children to have a delicious and rewarding experience.
“I think [the camp] is good and fun,” said 10-year-old Hayley Thomas, who was also registered during the summer 2013 cooking camp. “My family says the food is really good, too.”
Many parents are also enjoying the extra set of small hands around the kitchen.
“I’ve got four kids so I figured 8 and 11 years old are perfect ages to start helping mom out in the kitchen,” said Stacey Bufalimi, mother of 11-year-old Isabella and 8-year-old Olivia Bufalimi.
There are two five-day summer camp sessions. Camp one session ran from June 23-27 and was open to rising third through fifth graders. Camp two session will run from July 28 to Aug. 1 and is open to rising sixth through eighth graders.
Both sessions are held from 1-4 p.m. at Wrightsville Beach Park’s Fran Russ Recreation Center. There is a $150 fee for Wrightsville Beach residents and $180 fee for nonresidents. Pre-registration is required.
Students will cover basic kitchen practices such as measurements, safety, identifying utensils, washing dishes and preparing meals and snacks.
“It’s fun and I can make stuff like new foods with my family,” Isabella Bufalimi said. “Sometimes, I bring food to them. My sister and brother really liked the calzones we made.”
For more information or to register, visit www.
townofwrightsvillebeach.com
