Washington DC Cooking Camp
We are the world’s biggest and best summer cooking camp. Our professional chef instructors teach students of all skill levels in commercial kitchens, making everything from scratch.
We have created an experience unlike any other summer program out there. We foster personal growth and development in the areas of independence, leadership, collaboration, self-care, empowerment, advocacy, creativity, and future-forward thinking.
Learn more about our day and overnight culinary summer camp below, and find out more about professional kitchens, our 100+ recipes, daily schedule, and more.
campusDC Program Details
2025 Dates
Session 1: July 6th – July 12th
Session 2: July 13th -July 19th
Day students: Attend Monday through Friday 10am-6pm
Residential students: move in Sunday; move-out Saturday morning after their session.
Ages
12-17 years old
Type
Residential or Day
Location
1810 K Street NW, Washington, DC
PROFESSIONAL KITCHENS
Our cooking summer camp commercial pro kitchen:
The Summer Culinary family of programs centers on the kitchen, offering professional-level summer cooking camps led by experienced chefs in a professional-grade kitchen setting.
We make all of our recipes from scratch; we have professional commercial kitchens to work in, and our staff is the best. Our campusDC kitchen is located at the Union Kitchen, a food and culinary incubator and commercial kitchen, it is such a cool space!
During our search for the best kitchens in the country we stumbled upon this incredible find – Union Kitch. This 10,000 sq ft facility boasts shared commissary kitchens, walk-in refrigeration, collaborative offices, ample storage, and an expansive event space where food and education can come together and create once in a lifetime experiences. Our kitchen facility features state of the art variable speed hoods, energy efficient lighting, and an emphasis on recycling and reducing waste. Union Kitchen’s mission and values align with Summer Culinary perfectly. We pride ourselves on being innovative and committed to creating community, and bringing food to the people. This is going to be a really excellent summer, and we can’t wait to get cooking.
It is a true professional kitchen, and it is an 8-minute walk to our dormitory! Pro kitchens, Pro Chefs.
DAILY SCHEDULE
Here is what an average day at campusDC looks like:
8am – 9am: Residential students get up, get dressed and have breakfast in the University dining hall.
9:30: Get ready and walk over to the kitchen, a lovely short walk.
9:45am – 10am: Day students arrive, get ready. Residential students arrive and get ready.
10am – 6pm: Students are in the kitchen, they make their own lunch and dinner. Chef instructors work on skill building, confidence, safety and deliciousness!
5pm – 6pm: All food is plated and readied for demo. Everyone takes pictures of their plated food. Chefs inspect, taste, discuss and encourage students. Then everyone eats and packs up.
6pm: Day students head home, residential students go back to dorm
6:00pm – 9:00pm: Evening activities. Curated events, games, excursions, it all happens now. Rogue Squads, karaoke, as much fun as we can dream up!
9pm – 11pm: Hang out and enjoy the residence hall facilities, our rooms, and chill with our new friends.
Overnight stays during cooking camp:
EXPLORE WASHINGTON D.C.
Evenings in Washington DC
Trinity Washington University is our home this summer. Just an 8-minute walk from the kitchen, Trinity is our oasis, our home away from home! And there is Metro stop just off campus that is our gateway to the explore Washington, DC. We especially look forward to the kind of fun, safe pop-up concerts and other events we just might visit, if it works. DC has more pop-up events than almost anywhere and when its cool… we are there! Join us!
After a long day in the kitchen, we will head back to the dorm to clean up, rest and get ready.
Next, we go out on planned, curated and always staff-accompanied excursions to locations we choose, or the students choose, sometimes as a group, and sometimes as Rogue Squads. Rogue Squads are when we break into small groups and each goes different stops, chosen by the kids.
Places we see as possible Rogue Squad destinations for campusDC:
- Famous Monuments and Memorials
- Ben’s Chili Bowl
- Smithsonian Museums
- National Mall
- Georgetown
- Much, much more!
RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM
GEORGE WASHINGTON
UNIVERSITY
A Taste of College Life: A 15-minute walk from the kitchen!
All campusDC culinary summer camp students will stay at George Washington University, located in the heart of our nation’s capital. This vibrant university offers all the amenities college students enjoy during the school year.
Conveniently located just a short walk from the Foggy Bottom Metro station, students will have easy access to all the attractions Washington, D.C., has to offer. Plus, the campus is only a 15-minute walk to iconic landmarks like the White House and the U.S. Capitol Building!
On-campus Experiences:
Our residential students will have breakfast in the dining hall before they head out for the day. After a full day in the kitchen, some of our kids just want to shower and relax. Others want to take advantage of the amenities of campus like the lounges, game room and more.
There is a campus shuttle to the metro nearby, so we can jump on the train and head somewhere if we choose to! A pop-up taco food truck competition? Sounds like somewhere we would show up!
Our staff live in the dorms and stay there to provide 24/7 supervision with the students. Male staff rooms are sprinkled in the boy’s hall, female staff rooms are in the girl’s hall. Overseeing all operations in the dorm is our live-in Program and Residence Life directors as well as the Health Director. Of course staff accompany the students anywhere they go off campus at all times, going back and forth, in the evenings etc.
Cooking Camps: Student Testimonials
“You come to Summer Culinary to cook, but when you leave it’s like leaving a family”
– 2022 Student
“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!!”
– 2018 Student
“An experience of a lifetime, to work with real chefs in a professional kitchen. We will definitely sign our son up for this program again next year.”
– 2022 Parent
“I made many friends that I will continue to talk to throughout my life. Every day when I got in the kitchen, I felt like I improved every time.”
– Max, age 14, Newport News, VA
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Learn more About our Cooking Camp in DC
Our cooking camp in Washington DC not only teaches your teenager the fundamentals of cooking, but also teaches them important life skills that will help them succeed in the future!
Washington, D.C., is a culinary melting pot, with restaurants representing every corner of the globe. Attending a cooking camp here is the perfect way to learn about different cultures and cuisines, and to develop your own culinary skills.
In addition to learning about food and cooking, your teenager will also get to experience all that Washington, D.C. has to offer. From its world-renowned museums and monuments to its vibrant nightlife, there is something for everyone in Washington, D.C.
A sleep away cooking camp is a great way for your teenager to have fun, learn a new skill, make friends, and memories that will last a lifetime.
Check out our other Summer Culinary Camp Locations
Los Angeles Culinary Camp – Get a head start on your path to stardom at our cooking camp in Los Angeles California!
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.
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!