MISSISSIPPI STATE – Mississippi State University will hold two camps this summer to teach kids and teens that there can never be too many cooks in the kitchen.

MSU’s Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion is offering “Fun with Food” camp for third- through sixth-grade students and “Culinology for Teens” camp for ninth- through 12th-grade students. Both camps will provide participants hands-on food discovery experiences.

“Fun with Food” takes place on campus from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. June 22-26 and will include activities to spark children’s interest in food and give them an understanding of how food makes its way from the farm to their tables. Sylvia Byrd, an associate professor in the department, and Roland Parny, coordinator of culinary activities, will lead the camp.

Campers will take trips to Mayhew Tomato Farm, MSU’s cheese plant and dairy farm, the food processing plant and sensory laboratory, and the grocery store. Each day will include a cooking experience that will teach them about nutrition, health and the culinary arts. Campers also will learn more about mathematics, specifically fractions, by measuring ingredients.

“Our camp can be beneficial to the whole family,” Byrd said. “Grandparents who have their grandchildren for summer visits find it to be a great chance for the kids to have fun. But what is even better is that the children bring the lessons home, creating some memorable activities grandparents can enjoy with the children.”

The $200 registration fee for “Fun with Food” includes snacks and lunch. To register, visit http://www.fsnhp.msstate.edu or call Byrd at (662) 325-0919. The registration deadline is June 15.

“Culinology for Teens” will be held from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. July 13-17 on campus and is open to all teen-agers interested in discovering how to have fun with food. The camp blends the culinary arts with food science.

Jason Behrends, assistant Extension and research professor in the department, will lead the camp’s activities. Campers will learn proper knife skills, cooking methods and about the role specific ingredients play in recipes.

“The camp is the perfect blend of fun with food and science,” Behrends said. “The students will learn everything from pastry and soup making to preparing stocks and sauces.”

The $250 registration fee for “Culinology for Teens” includes snacks, lunch and course materials. To register, visit http://www.fsnhp.msstate.edu or call Behrends at (662) 325-3200 or Elizabeth Dimino at (662) 325-8632. The registration deadline is July 1.

Writer: Karen Templeton