San Francisco Cooking Camp 2025
Experience San Francisco’s as a part of the best teen cooking camp! Our expert chefs guide students of all levels in professional kitchens, creating delicious dishes from scratch. Choose either day/commuter option or residential / sleep-away options in the Golden City.
Summer Culinary is more than just cooking. We are out to foster confidence, self-expression, independence, leadership, and self-care while teaching culinary skills. Students arrive and get right to work in our professional instructional commercial kitchens, creating an environment which helps inspire and empower the next generation of young chefs.
campusSF Program Details
2025 Dates
Session 1: July 20th – 26th
Session 2: July 27th – Aug 2nd
Ages
12-17 years old
Type
Residential or Day
Located at 2325 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94107
PROFESSIONAL KITCHENS
PROFFESSIONAL CHEFS
Learn from professional chefs in fully-equipped commercial teaching kitchens:
At Summer Culinary, it’s all about the kitchen. Our programs are pro-level summer cooking camps led by professional chefs in state-of-the-art kitchens.
From 10am to 6pm, our days are filled with hands-on cooking in a state-of-the-art kitchen. Equipped with top-of-the-line tools, the possibilities are endless. What culinary masterpieces will you create this summer? It is called culinary arts, because cooking is an art form, and we love expanding the view of what is possible in the kitchen, from the perspective of artists: candied waves on a cake devoted to surfing in one example from last year.
In our state-of-the-art San Francisco kitchens, we create over 100 recipes entirely from scratch. Guided by our team of expert chefs and supported by top-quality facilities, every session is designed to provide a hands-on, engaging, and unforgettable culinary experience. Chefs instruct, they do not do the cooking. The students cook, and the instructors provide guidance and instruction, We want the students working like real chefs do, which includes cleaning as you go. Hygiene and sanitary precautions are taught and repeated all session.
We carefully choose our culinary camp locations, ensuring they meet our high standards. Our camps offer access to professional kitchens, expert instructors, and the opportunity for your teen to fully embrace their culinary passions. This immersive experience, paired with a structured curriculum and guidance from seasoned chefs, empowers students to unlock their true culinary potential.
DAILY SCHEDULE
A typical day at campusSF looks like this:
8am – 9am: Residential students wake up, get dressed, and have breakfast in the residence halls.
9:30: Get ready and take a short stroll to the trolley for a charming trolley ride straight to the kitchen.
10am – 6pm: Students start working from the moment they arrive, They participate in skill-building exercises, knife skills, and kitchen safety. The students prepare their own lunch and dinner. As part of the comprehensive culinary training, students cook meals from scratch, ensuring that everyone is hands-on in the kitchen!
5pm – 6pm: The food is plated and ready for the demo, and everyone has the opportunity to take photos of their creations. The chefs inspect, taste, discuss, and offer constructive feedback to inspire the students. Afterward, everyone enjoys the meal they’ve prepared before packing up.
6pm: Day students head home, while residential students return to the dorms or head out for an excursion around the city by the bay.
6:00pm – 9:00pm: Evening activities are packed with curated events, games, and exciting excursions. From Rogue Squads to karaoke, it’s all about having as much fun as we can imagine!
9pm – 11pm: Kick back and enjoy the dorms and time with new friends. This is the time when we screen movies, play music, enjoy games, and have fun!
Sleepaway at Minerva University
Evenings: explore the local area after cooking camps classwork ends
We live in Minerva University, conveniently located near the trolley and a bus stop, making it easy to head anywhere.
SLEEPAWAY STUDENTS: EVENING EXCURSIONS
campusSF Special Night Outings:
Our residential students go on adventures at night, accompanied by staff of course. We often find ourselves at some of the most amazing destinations in San Francisco! In the evenings, the students, as always, are accompanied by the staff. We break into small groups, each with a counselour, nd go do as much as they possibly can, staying in the safe, clean, beautiful areas of this great city.
The kitchen and dorm are located in the heart of San Francisco! Our nightly activities will take you to all the iconic sights the city has to offer, including exploring vibrant neighborhoods and enjoying scenic waterfront spots!
Summer Culinary Cooking Camp Testimonials
“My favorite thing about summer culinary was trying all different cuisines of food to eat and to make. It was also the most positive and fun experience and it felt like anyone could join and feel accepted.”
“I had so much fun at Summer Culinary! It was amazing to connect with other students over our shared love for cooking, and the amazing chefs and counselors!! The cooking was so much fun and I learned so much! Truly a unique and incredible experience! Best camp ever!!“
– 2022 Student
“We felt that Summer Culinary was the right combination of trying new things and building confidence in our young chef. The amount of knowledge gained in one week was absolutely fantastic! This experience boosted our daughter’s already strong passion for pastry arts!”
– 2022 Parent
“I loved having dance parties in the halls and cooking with my friends. Plus, the staff really cared about all of us having a great time.”
– 2022 Student
Discover more about our Culinary Summer Camp in San Francisco
Ignite your culinary passion at our exclusive teen cooking camp in San Francisco! Immerse yourself in a vibrant culinary experience where you’ll hone your skills in real professional kitchens under the guidance of renowned chef instructors. Explore the diverse flavors of the city through hands-on cooking classes and exciting supervised field trips, creating unforgettable memories and discovering your culinary potential.
We are more than just a cooking camp. Our goal is to create self-confidence, empowerment, leadership, communication and teamwork.
This parent says it better than anything we could say:
My son got to cook in a professional kitchen from trained chefs alongside other kids who share the same interest in cooking. We loved that it was a team effort the entire experience, which was great for building his interpersonal, social, and communication skills. The program was well organized and maintained a safe environment. The entire staff was welcoming and seemed to clearly enjoy what they were doing, which allowed me as a parent to feel comfort in trusting my son in the all-day/week-long experience. The registration process was structured and clear. We really appreciated having the payment plan option. The camp value was totally realized. It ultimately has felt like an investment in his future. His confidence in the kitchen, and in seeing himself as a future chef, has grown exponentially because of this camp experience. My son is looking forward to this being a part of his summers moving forward. – 2024 parent
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Check out our Other Cooking Camp Locations
New York Culinary Camp – Experience the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps. Learn how you can become a Michelin star level chef this summer in New York.
Seattle Culinary Camp – Soak up everything Seattle has to offer this summer, while you learn how to take your cooking skills to the next level.
Washington DC Culinary Camp – Learn more about America’s capital and advance your culinary skills this summer
Austin Culinary Camp – Get first hand experience in one of the best up and coming cities in the United States, Austin Texas. Learn to cook like a pro!