Methacton Summer Cooking Camp Teaches Kids That Cooking Can Be Fun

The first day of Methacton Community Education Summer Camp’s “Cooking is fun!” classes began with a snack of instructor Melissa Lloyd’s homemade cinnamon buns and ended with another snack of chocolate fondue that the campers had made, all by themselves.

Each 1-week session of the 2-hour cooking classes runs from Monday through Friday.  The first week, this week, involves 10-to-12-year olds and the second week, the week of July 22, involves 8-to-10-year olds.  They are taught by Arcola Intermediate School teacher Melissa Lloyd in a kitchen-equipped classroom in the Methacton High School in Lower Providence.

Lloyd, an avid home cook with her children, started the first camp day with some basics: proper hand-washing technique (begin to wash hands and say the entire ABCs before rinsing) and the introduction of clean, white aprons, which were doled out to the campers, who decorated them with markers to make them their own.

According to Lloyd, something else that they will learn this week is how to prepare chicken and then use it in different kinds of dishes.  “I think not all kids have the opportunity to be involved in the kitchen,” she said, adding that sometimes parents can be too busy to teach kids how to cook.  

After a stove-safety lesson, Lloyd explained the idea of fondue to the campers and presented the recipe they would use, which she described as her modification of a Food Network online recipe that was originally by Tyler Florence.

The campers were divided into two groups and took to the stove to stir together chocolate, cream, and a caramel topping until they melted.  After the fondue was ready, the kids snacked by dipping pineapple, pound cake, and bananas into the chocolate.

Camper Brianna likes to cook and was enjoying herself.  “It’s fun because it’s something different that you can do,” she said.

According to Janeen Marzewski, Methacton’s Coordinator of District Services, they district has held summer enrichment courses for the children for more than a decade.  Besides cooking classes, there are science camps, art camps, and more.  This year over 600 children are enrolled.  

“We continue to try to provide interesting and educational programs for our students,” wrote Marzewski in an email to Patch.

For more information about the program, click here.

Melissa’s adapted recipe for chocolate fondue:

(Prep time: 15 minutes)

(Servings: 4-6)

Ingredients:

-16oz chocolate (milk, dark, or semi-sweet), broken into pieces

-1/2 pint heavy cream (8oz)

-1/2 cup caramel topping (note: Melissa used the Smuckers brand in class, as it has a convenient squirt-top)

Directions: Place all ingredients in a pot over low heat.  Stir constantly until the mixture is melted and smooth.  Do not allow to bubble.