Kids Cooking Classes and Birthday Parties

Summer Camps 2021

SCHEDULE

BALLSTON:

DULLES TOWN CENTER:

Hello Parents! Welcome back!

We have a new registration system this year on Sawyer. This system allows for payment plans, daily drop-in sign up if your child only wants to take a few days of camp instead of the entire week, and we’ve brought back the 10% sibling discount for up to three siblings.

Again, we are socially distancing, and with 6000 square feet and six kitchens, we will spread children out to ensure a safe and fun week.

Our camps registration is open to “all ages,” for system ease of use. We will separate children based on age groups 8-12 and 13+.

What’s the difference between morning camp and afternoon workshop? Our morning session menus are a bit more fun, and a little less technique based. Our afternoon session is geared towards the culinary explorer who is up to trying something new. Our afternoon recipes are a bit more intense, but still super fun! Kids will certainly have the chance to learn the basics in both sessions i.e. knife skills, techniques, sanitation, sauces, plating, garnishing and all those little things that make culinary school so special.

Right now we have BOTH Ballston Quarter camps and Dulles Town Center camps posted. See the links above.

Camps Explained:

We have four ways for students to participate this year:

1) The morning camp at 9:30am – 12:30pm, and includes an option for an early drop-off at 8:30AM before camp.

2) The morning camp has an option for an extended afternoon camp that ends at 5PM. Sign up your child in the AM camp and the extended afternoon camp for an all day experience.

3) The afternoon workshop, 1:30pm-4:30pm.

4) If you would like to skip the extended afternoon camp, because older kids might not enjoy it as much as the younger kids, then we suggest signing up for both the morning and afternoon workshops to have a full day experience.

What’s the difference between morning camp and afternoon workshop? Our morning session menus are a bit more fun, and a little less technique based. Our afternoon workshops are geared towards the culinary explorer who is up to trying something new. Our afternoon recipes are a bit more intense, but still super fun! Kids will certainly have the chance to learn the basics in both sessions i.e. knife skills, techniques, sanitation, sauces, plating, garnishing and all those little things that make culinary school so special.

COVID PROTOCOLS

At Ballston Quarter and Dulles Town Center, we plan on allowing only 10 students per chef instructor, per kitchen. Ballston Quarter is 6K square feet with 6 kitchens. Dulles Town Center is 2K square feet with three kitchens.

Dining after class: Generally we box up all meals so that kids can enjoy them in the dining room or they can take what they made to share at home. If you are not comfortable with your child dining maskless after class with other kids, please let them know they are to sit and wait, without eating, until they are picked up.

Please let your children know the importance of keeping their mask on at all times. If they need mask breaks they can step out into the mall (with parental consent) or go into the bathroom. All Cookology instructors are vaccinated and will take all precautions to ensure your children are safe.

Please read about our teaching philosophy below!

OPTIONAL Extended Day Camp:

Our FULL EXTENDED Day Program is an extension from the morning camp into the afternoon and ends at 5pm. The cost is $275 in addition to the AM camp price of $395. To sign up for the extended full day, please select the option at checkout.

This afternoon class will bring you the fun, creative, scientific, education potion of culinary. Each day we will be taking a deeper dive into the world of culinary, and all of its magic. The extended camp topics will include, menus will be provided day or and are subject to change. Age groups 8-11 and 12+ will work separately.

Monday: Agriculture: The importance of Herbs and Spices
Your child will be able to plant their very own herb! We will discuss the importance of agriculture, how to distinguish seasonal fruits and veggies, and how to properly plant and care for the greenery.

Tuesday: All About Bread
Each week we will be diving into the wonders and deliciousness that is bread. During the students will be able to bake both a quick bread, and a yeast bread. We will distinguish the differences and how to properly prepare, and proof yeast doughs from start to finish.

Wednesday: Culinary Science and Taste Analysis Lab coats and aprons on! We will tap into what makes food taste the way it does and how to make it taste better. We will be conducting several tests on the different channels of taste and how our taste buds work.

Thursday: Plating
I am sure everyone has always wondered how to create the most beautiful appetizing plate. On Thursdays we will talk about specific elements of plating that are appealing to the eye. We will discuss the importance of garnish, and of course how to snap the perfect picture.

Friday: Food Preservation
Friday is the ultimate jam. We are going to talking all about how to make food last. We will be pickling our own seasonal vegetables, as well as making a delicious jam to accompany it.

Enriching cooking experiences for kids of all ages.

Our award-winning kids' cooking program has taught thousands of children since 2009.

We have created a safe, nurturing environment for kids to learn how to cook.

During this time of Covid-19, we are offering children’s classes virtually, including birthdays and other private parties. We have partnered with Sawyer Tools to bring your the best and easiest way to sign up for both a party and classes. Please visit our Marketplace page.

In our kids’ hands-on cooking classes at Ballston Quarter and Dulles Town Center, children as young as three learn to measure, mix, and roll, while tweens and teens learn to reference recipes, ingredient identification, and proper measuring techniques. In every class they’ll work with our professional chef to learn true culinary techniques: knife skills, sautéing, grilling, boiling, braising, baking, and more, all while exploring new world cuisines, healthy menus, and seasonal dishes, vegetable cookery, pasta making and even gluten-free baking as they make sophisticated, delicious dishes!

Types of Classes:

Mommy/Daddy/Grandparent/Caregiver & Me – In these fun, hour-long cooking classes kids learn and play with tastes and textures as they get their hands dirty mixing, measuring, and rolling to create their own homemade treats with mom, dad, or caregiver. These classes are a great way to spend quality time with your child and introduce them to cooking and eating in an exciting and interactive way!! We only charge a fee for the child not the parent.

Family Classes: Our family classes are fun and interactive. As a group, from parent and child, to parents, grandparents and children you can learn to make something really fun including memories. The menus might be a bit more simple for most adults, but there is always something to learn, and we don’t want anyone ever to be bored in our classes, so you can guarantee everyone will walk away learning something new. Please notice the age groups listed on each family class.

Ages 5-7: At this age, it’s all using motor skills to improve motor control by stirring and mixing. We work to keep ingredients inside the bowl, measuring ingredients while we explore ingredients, their origin, and how things are made by using taste, smell and touch.

A Word About 7 Year Olds: We know at the age of 7, they seem old enough to go into the 8-18 year old class, especially if they spend a lot of time cooking at home, and we encourage those baking prodigies to join us in the 8-18 year old camp for just baking and pastry. However, we do not accept 7 year olds in any class where we use a knife. We have consulted with pediatricians who believe motor skills required to handle knives do not start until they are 8 years old. If they insist, and if you insist, we will still not allow them to use the chef’s knives that the older children are using. We are absolute sticklers for the rules that keeps your kids safe.

Siblings of Differing Age in Same Class: If you would like two or more siblings to work together but who are not in the same age category, we will absolutely allow that, but give the younger child a different cutting tool, or we will prep for them. The key is to let us know when signing up.

Ages 8-11: At this age, they are adorable and goofy, and love to learn to cook. We use our adult menus but slow down the pace considerably when teaching. We also limit the amount of things they learn to make. They might be picky eaters but many picky eaters are eating everything by the end of class.

Knife Skills: Our favorite part is when we teach knife skills–which we do in all classes/camps for kids ages 8+, except baking and pastry. They feel empowered that they are entrusted with the responsibility of using a knife. It’s at this age, we see so many kids fall in love with cooking–hence all those kids cooking shows.

Ages 12-18 – At this age, we teach recipes that we pull from the adult menus. Kids this age are more serious, and can understand and do what is required of them, so often we stack a class full of recipes and techniques to try to cover as much as possible. It’s no different than it is in school where this is a time of immense peer pressure, but because they have their own ingredients and can work at their own pace, they are usually quite happy to be a part of the class.

16+ Year Olds Can Take Adult Classes: Kids at the age of 16 and older are permitted and encouraged to take adult classes with or without an adult, although if they have no prior cooking experience, we ask that they cook alongside an adult. It’s also a great way to spend some time with your growing teens.

Allergies & Substitutes: We’ve never met an ingredient we couldn’t substitute. Please let us know if your children have allergies or are vegetarians, do not eat pork, or have a gluten allergy. What ever the issue we can work around it.

Browse Classes

Cookology Camps

In every Cookology Summer Camp, young chefs learn essential skills to prepare and execute delicious meals of varying themes. Throughout the multi-day camps, our professional chefs will train your child in proper kitchen safety, knife and heat skills for appropriate ages, and a multitude of techniques that will stay with them forever.

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Who We Are

Our instructors are not kids home from college or high school, or a retired chef who decided to open a cooking class for kids one day. They are professional, ServSafe manager certified, culinary trained chefs with years of experience teaching at Cookology, or specifically trained by our trainers for weeks before working with your children. We have taught approximately 100K+ kids since 2009.

We use several highly rated food distributors such as Saval Foodservice, Metropolitan and Capitol Seaboard to ensure our ingredients are safe. They vet organic farms and deliver food we can be sure is safe and follows freshness guidelines!

Our commercial kitchens, in both locations, are health department regulated. We hold business licenses in Loudoun County and in Arlington County.

All cooking is done under high powered hoods with a sprinkler (ansel) systems, and we use induction burners and not flames to keep your kids from burning themselves.

Your children are in great, highly qualified hands!

Since 2014, a Washington Parent readers’ poll has voted us Best For Families, specifically for Kid’s Cooking Classes.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 703.433.1909 or email us at [email protected] Your children are our priority.

Cookology Birthday Parties

At a Cookology party kids will make delicious appetizers, entrees, and desserts with help from our chefs. Cooking parties are hands-on and fully customizable based on your child’s age and interests.

• Ages 3-4: Mommy/Daddy & Me; Two menu choices (appetizer + entree or entree + dessert)
• Ages 5-7: Two Menu Choices (appetizer + entree or entree + dessert)
• Ages 8-12: Three Menu Choices (appetizer, entree, and dessert)
• Ages 12-18: Three Menu Choices (appetizer, entree + side, dessert)

Call us at (703) 433.1909 or contact us book your child’s party at Ballston Quarter or Dulles Town Center!

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