Mitchell’s Culinary Arts program hosted a Kitchen Independent Living Skills summer camp to empower individuals with alternative cognitive needs to find confidence in the kitchen.
“I have close friends with a son who is nonverbal autistic and I just wanted to do a camp for students with special needs because it’s something that means a lot to me,” commented Chef Bob Williams, Program Chair for the Culinary Arts program, when asked how the idea for the course came about. “I wanted to give them the experience of working in a kitchen.”
Throughout the camp, participants developed basic cooking skills for independent living, earned culinary knowledge about proper food storage, and gained an understanding of food safety.
“I hope these students took away the fun times we had, memories made, the bond and teamwork they learned by working in groups,” said Chef Bob.
At the end of the camp, students received a chef hat and kept the aprons that had aided them throughout the class.
“The friendships I made with each student in the camp warmed my heart. Those individuals love life and love people. I learned so much from them as they did me,” said Williams, who hopes to see the camp return next summer.
Learn more about Mitchell’s Culinary Arts program via this link.
