Children discover the pleasure of cooking with real food: healthy, local, unprocessed food with real flavours, textures, aromas, rich history and cultural contexts. They gain the confidence and skills to create meals and to make healthy food choices at home.
see how Project CHEF comes to life in classrooms
SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Our school programs are currently offered in elementary schools in the Vancouver School Board (VSB). The program structure includes cooking demonstrations taught by chef-teachers followed by hands-on cooking in small student groups, supported by the chef-teachers, classroom teacher, assistants, parent volunteers and volunteers from the community. Our school programs are designed to support student learning (Big Ideas, Curricular Competencies and Content) from the B.C. Ministry of Education curriculum.
One-Week Program
The one-week program is designed for Grades 4-5 classrooms. We platoon into a school for a one-week period to teach four or five lessons to two classrooms. We bring the equipment, food and everything needed to facilitate the program. The program can be run in any classroom with a sink, and with access to a fridge in the school. Children are immersed in the process of cooking from preparation and clean-up, to the enjoyment of eating.
In-Residence Program
The in-residence program is designed to immerse entire elementary schools in the Project CHEF program. Every class in the school (yes, primary too!) has the opportunity to experience the one-week program while we are “in residence.” Just like the one-week program, we set up everything needed to facilitate the program in one location in your school, and then classes come to us to experience four to five lessons of cooking together. At the end of the in-residence program, a whole school event is often organized to celebrate our time together – cooking, eating and learning about nutritious, whole foods.
Check out our Teachers page to learn more.
SCHOOL PROGRAM SUMMARY
- The Project CHEF platoons into a school for a one-week period to teach four or five lessons to students in grade four and five.
- The program is designed to support student learning (Big Ideas, Curricular Competencies and Content) from B.C. Ministry of Education Curriculum.
- The program focuses on teaching children knowledge, skills and attitudes to promote healthy cooking and eating to develop cooperative learning skills.
- The program can be run in any classroom with a sink (or sinks) and easy access to a fridge.
- Seven cook stations are set up in the room each consisting of a cook-top, electric frying pan and a bin of small wares.
- The program structure includes a lesson and demonstration taught by the chef-teacher followed by hands-on cooking in six small groups, supervised by the chef-teacher, classroom teacher, two chef assistants and parent volunteers.
- The children cook culturally diverse recipes using fresh, non-processed food incorporating a variety of cooking skills and food knowledge that is consistent with Health Canada’s Food Guide. The groups then enjoy the pleasures of sharing food around a table.
- Classes are two hours and fifteen minutes in length. This allows time for the entire cooking process, from preparation to clean up.
- Two classes (approximately sixty children) are taught each day for four or five consecutive days and then the equipment is packed up and the program is ready to move to another school.
- A wide variety of resources are outlined for classroom teachers to assist them in planning units and activities to reinforce and build on the goals and key learning outcomes of the program.
See how Project CHEF comes to life
community programs
Camps
We offer a variety of spring break and summer camps through our partnership with Choices Market. Our camps are generally one-week in duration and are offered for children aged 7 – 13. The camp experience includes multi-course menus with BC’s summer bounty, including lunches and snacks all while meeting new friends and learning new cooking skills – what’s not to like? Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about our upcoming camps.
Intergenerational
We believe in the power of learning from someone older and wiser than you! We are proud to partner with Tapestry at Wesbrook Village to bring kids and seniors together to cook, learn and have fun. Members of the Tapestry senior living community often volunteer in our in school programs, but they often host children in their community too – for facilitated cooking sessions. Contact us if you’re interested in learning more about our intergenerational programs.