Child 1 Age 8 - 9 (Male)
Program(s) focused in Baking/Decorating, Nutrition
(5) Overall experience
My son loves every minute of COOKSMART Day camps! He was excited to go in the morning and excited to tell me about his day and what he learned after. He pays more attention to healthy vs unhealthy snacks now which is awesome. He makes better snack choices and now eats raw veggies which he wouldn't before. This matters to me as I can now pack him a healthier lunch for school and he is teaching other kids why eating healthy is important. He has gone two years in a row now and we know we will be there next year!
(5) Reason for choosing the program
My son loves to cook and the health and nutrition info I liked. COOKSMART seems to incorporate more than just cooking and offers a fun program. To me, it seemed like a fun day camp that included health and nutrition on top of arts and crafts and science. I felt the price was very reasonable. As food is included, if you break it down it is about $14 per hour which is less expensive than a babysitter. And it includes all the food so I don't have to wake early and prepare a day's worth of food for him. That part was very convenient.
(5) Program quality and activities
Keeping my son focused can be a challenge sometimes, but here he was busy and fully engaged and enjoyed all activities. He loved the art component and he really loved the gardening component. He was so proud he planted some bean seeds and is still taking care of them today. He loves to share his knowledge of nutritious foods with me and friends and his classmates at school. He's less afraid and more aware of kitchen safety, especially around the stove and oven. This gives me more confidence when he is in the kitchen.
(5) Social dynamics and experience
My son made some great friendships at camp. Starting on the first day, he made a friend and was sad his friend wasn't there the 2nd day but he made more friends and was happy when his first friend returned the third day. He didn't experience any kind of bullying or negativity while at the camp, which is always a nice.
(5) Skills and growth
My son came home the first day so proud of himself claiming he makes the best scrambled eggs! He then made me breakfast and a week later while visiting a friend he made her his famous scrambled eggs also! His second favorite dish was vegetable lentil soup which we continue to make to this day. He is not great in art but with motivating councillors, he felt comfortable and motivated to try, which I think is great.
(5) Staff/Instructors/Counsellors
We were greeted with kindness and smiles upon arrival and departure. The staff were friendly and courteous, and the camp seemed very organized and clean. There were no conflicts to measure. They take attendance every morning and parents sign off on pick-up in the afternoon. Very well structured. I really liked how the councilors greeted the kids full of smiles and excitement.
(5) Advice and tips
If your child likes to cook/bake this is an awesome program! If your child is a fussy eater, again this is a great program as it encourages kids to try new foods while educating them about nutrition and where food comes from. My son came home with an awareness of healthy foods and choices. This is exciting to me!
I grew up attending a variety of COOKSMART camps and classes, where I developed a lifelong passion for cooking. I have now worked at COOKSMART for the last two summers, sharing my passion for cooking ...
