Ben Age 3 baking christmas cookies with mommy

As a mom of 4 I know all too well that kids are eager to help us in the kitchen when they’re little, so why not harness that energy and put it to good use! My son Ben first attended Rooks to Cooks summer camp 2 years ago when he was 7 years old. I was absolutely blown away to see how much the kids could safely accomplish in the kitchen with the right support. Through their summer camps, march break camps, birthday parties and workshops, Rooks to Cooks gives kids ages 4-15 an amazing opportunity to learn how to feel confident in the kitchen.

Honestly we have tried other cooking programs, but none so far have compared to the quality of programming that Rooks to Cooks offers. Needless to say I was thrilled to partner with them this year to bring you this review of our experience, and some important details (and perks!) parents needs to know about.

Ben helping peel potatoes for dinner at home

I think what sets Rooks to Cooks apart is the environment they provide. With experienced Chefs teaching campers at a ratio of 1:6 (for optimal safety and education), campers are able to get hands on experience prepping 4-5 recipes per day! That means kids aren’t sitting around bored waiting for their turn. They’re all actively engaged and helping in some capacity.

Kids learn so many transferable skills through cooking and food prep. I was amazed to see not only Ben’s kitchen skills improving, but also his math skills, his ability to problem solve, his ability to work as a team (even offering to take on the less fancy tasks that needed to get done at home in the kitchen, like clean up!), and his ability to work through a procedure from start to finish.

Check out this amazing list of what is included in your Rooks to Cooks Registration:

Daily Lunches: Made by the kids! So there is no need to send a lunch. This is a HUGE Bonus for exhausted parents. Plus it exposes your kid to a ton of new foods.
Daily Samples: sent home to share with the family. To be honest it was hard to decide on a favourite last time, but I think it had to be the donuts ;)
Professional Gear: Chef Coat, Apron & Non-Cut Glove
NEW Camp Swag Bag: Hat, Water Bottle & Goodies
Session Recipe Booklet: It’s so fun to look back at the recipes with your kiddo and make their favs at home.

Registration starts at $430 a week with all these amazing perks included! A few important things to note:

Save On Multiple Weeks! Use code “Multiweek” to save on 2 weeks or more.
March Madness! Register for Summer Camp during the month of March and you will automatically be entered for a chance to WIN a FREE Rooks to Cooks Birthday Party package for your child and up to 6 friends ($500 + value)!! 🎂🎈 (Multiple registrations mean multiple entries)
Payment Plans: Available until April 30th!
Before & After Care: The standard camp day runs from 9am-4pm. Extended care is available for an additional fee.

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One of my absolute favourite parts as a parent, is the end of week pop up restaurant known as “Petit Chef.” Parents can purchase tickets to enjoy a 3 course meal all prepped, cooked and served by the campers. I highly recommend attending. It’s both adorable and absolutely inspiring to see what they’re capable of. Check out this quick video to see what it’s like.

delicious 3 course meal prepped, cooked and served by Rooks To Cooks campers for parents at the weekly petit chef pop up restaurant - Example from August 2018

Rooks to Cooks has camps running from June 22nd-August 28th at 16 locations throughout Ontario, so make sure to check it out for your little chef. For more information head to rookstocooks.ca, send their helpful team an email, or give them a call at 1-833-243-3862.

Please feel free to comment below with any questions.

- Care

*This is a sponsored post which means I was provided compensation and/or products/services for this post. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. I only partner with companies that I genuinely love and want to recommend.