School break camps · Ages 9–17

School Break Culinary Camps

When school is out, the kitchen is open.

Why camp here

Camp should be more than supervision.

Hands-on culinary camps where kids build confidence, creativity, and lifelong life skills. Each day, campers prepare complete meals and desserts, learn professional techniques, explore global foods and traditions, build teamwork, and take on interactive culinary challenges.

When

Camp seasons

Thanksgiving Break

Registration open

Winter Break

Registration open

Spring Break

Coming soon

Summer

Coming soon

Enrolling now

Upcoming camps

Reserve your camper's spot — small groups, and siblings can attend together.

Youth Culinary Open House

Curious about Life Plus Youth Programs? Come see it for yourself. Our Youth Culinary Open House is a free, hands-on introduction for families interested in everything we offer for young learners — from our weekly Youth Culinary Passport to our Summer Camps. Step into our teaching kitchen, meet our team, and experience how Life Plus uses food as a gateway to history, culture, science, geography, music, and creativity. This is not a demo.\ This is an experience. What to Expect Kids will prepare a full meal from start to finish— this is not a sample or a quick activity This is a full 3-hour session, and kids should plan to stay for the entire experience Students are fully hands-on and actively involved every step of the way Parents are welcome to drop off so kids can fully immerse themselves If you prefer to stay, you’re welcome to relax in our café or in the front of our suite at the Sherman Oaks Galleria Meet our instructors and experience how we teach through culture, storytelling, and global cuisine Open Q&A for parents covering both Youth Culinary Passport and Seasonal Camps Why Attend? Your child will get a taste — literally and figuratively — of how our program works: We teach real kitchen skills in a supportive, confidence-building environment Every month focuses on a different country or cultural region Kids learn not just how to cook… but why dishes came to be, how people lived, and how food connects us across the world Students explore their own palates — discovering what they love, what they don’t, and how to adapt flavors Our approach nurtures curiosity, global awareness, and creativity Whether your child has experience in the kitchen or is just beginning, they’ll discover something new here. Perfect For Families exploring weekly after-school programs or summer options Kids who want to build confidence, independence, and real skills Parents comparing high-quality enrichment programs Anyone who wants to experience Life Plus before enrolling Who Can Attend Kids ages 9–17 Seats are limited and open houses run only now and then, so early registration is encouraged This open house is 100% free

Thanksgiving Camp: Harvest & Gather

Program Dates November 23–25\ Monday–Wednesday\ Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 1:30–4:30 PM (teens 13–17) Give your child the chance to cook their way to the holiday table in this hands-on Thanksgiving camp. Harvest & Gather is a three-day culinary camp built around the flavors of the fall harvest and the tradition of gathering to share a meal. Younger cooks join the morning wave, while teens take the same themes deeper in the afternoon. Throughout the camp, students cook seasonal, harvest-inspired dishes from start to finish — learning where autumn ingredients come from, how to prepare them, and how a few good techniques turn simple produce into a meal worth sharing. Classes are fully hands-on — students build knife skills, roasting and baking fundamentals, seasoning awareness, and teamwork in the kitchen. The teen afternoon wave goes further into technique and independence for cooks ready for more. This program emphasizes gratitude, generosity, and confidence in the kitchen. Students leave knowing how to contribute something real and delicious to their own holiday table. Program Structure Schedule: Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 1:30–4:30 PM (teens 13–17)\ Age Group: 9–12 years (morning) · 13–17 years (afternoon)\ Duration: Three consecutive days (Monday–Wednesday)\ Class Size: Limited to 10 students per wave Curriculum Focus Cooking with the autumn harvest — seasonal vegetables, grains, and fruits Roasting, baking, and building flavor from scratch Classic harvest-table dishes, made your own Knife skills and safe, confident kitchen habits Cooking to share — preparing food for a gathering Please Note These are half-day camps — each wave runs either 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or 1:30–4:30 PM (teens 13–17), not all day. The three days are designed as a complete experience. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.

Winter Camp: Holiday Bake Shop

Program Dates December 21–24\ Monday–Thursday\ Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 3–6 PM (teens 13–17) Give your child the chance to run their own holiday bake shop in this hands-on winter camp. Holiday Bake Shop is a four-day baking camp full of cookies, quick breads, pastries, and festive treats. Younger cooks join the morning wave, while teens take the same themes deeper in the afternoon. Throughout the week, students bake from start to finish — learning how doughs and batters actually work, how to measure and mix with care, and how to finish and decorate treats that look as good as they taste. Classes are fully hands-on — students build baking fundamentals, precision, decorating technique, and teamwork in the kitchen. The teen afternoon wave goes further into technique and creative finishing for bakers ready for more. This program emphasizes patience, precision, and the joy of sharing something homemade. Students leave with edible gifts and the confidence to bake for the people they love. Program Structure Schedule: Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 3–6 PM (teens 13–17)\ Age Group: 9–12 years (morning) · 13–17 years (afternoon)\ Duration: Four consecutive days (Monday–Thursday)\ Class Size: Limited to 10 students per wave Curriculum Focus Baking fundamentals — measuring, mixing methods, and how doughs and batters work Holiday cookies, quick breads, and simple pastries Decorating and finishing techniques Precision, patience, and safe kitchen habits Packaging treats as edible gifts Please Note These are half-day camps — each wave runs either 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or 3–6 PM (teens 13–17), not all day. The four days are designed as a complete experience. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior baking experience needed.

Winter Camp: Cozy Winter Kitchen

Program Dates December 28–31 · Monday–Thursday (ends New Year's Eve)\ Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 3–6 PM (teens 13–17) Give your child the chance to cook up warmth all week long in this hands-on winter camp. Cozy Winter Kitchen is a four-day culinary camp full of the warming, comforting dishes that make winter delicious — soups, stews, baked pastas, fresh breads, and more. Younger cooks join the morning wave, while teens take the same themes deeper in the afternoon. Throughout the week, students cook hearty dishes from start to finish — learning how slow cooking, good stock, and simple technique build deep, satisfying flavor from humble ingredients. Classes are fully hands-on — students build knife skills, stovetop and oven techniques, seasoning awareness, and teamwork in the kitchen. The teen afternoon wave goes further into technique and depth of flavor for cooks ready for more. This program emphasizes comfort, care, and confidence. Students leave able to cook a warm, satisfying meal for themselves and the people they love. Program Structure Schedule: Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 3–6 PM (teens 13–17)\ Age Group: 9–12 years (morning) · 13–17 years (afternoon)\ Duration: Four consecutive days (Monday–Thursday)\ Class Size: Limited to 10 students per wave Curriculum Focus Warming, comforting winter dishes — soups, stews, and bakes Building deep flavor: stocks, braises, and slow cooking, made age-appropriate Baked comfort classics (pasta bakes and fresh breads) Knife skills and stovetop confidence Balancing a hearty, satisfying meal Please Note These are half-day camps — each wave runs either 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or 3–6 PM (teens 13–17), not all day. The four days are designed as a complete experience. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.

Junior Chef Challenge

Program Dates January 4–8 · Monday–Friday\ Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 3–6 PM (teens 13–17)\ Team-based culinary competition · five days Start the new year in the kitchen with the Life Plus Junior Chef Challenge — a five-day, team-based cooking competition where students learn real culinary skills, then put them to the test. This isn't a one-day cook-off. Across the week, teams build genuine technique — knife skills, flavor balancing, cooking methods, plating, and teamwork — then use everything they've learned in a final showcase challenge judged by our instructors. Students cook real, complete food the whole way through. The competition is the fun frame; learning and confidence are the point. Every day is fully hands-on. Teams work together, coach each other, and grow more independent as the week builds toward the final. By Friday, students have cooked all week, solved problems on the fly, and presented dishes they're proud of — win or lose, everyone leaves a more capable, more confident cook. How the Week Builds The competition rewards what students learn that week — not who already knew how to cook. Everyone gets equipped first; the challenge comes second. Day 1 — Skills Bootcamp: teams form and learn the foundations — knife safety and core cuts, kitchen setup, seasoning, and how to taste and adjust. Day 2 — Technique Training: heat and cooking methods, flavor balancing, and building a complete plate, with more independence and responsibility for timing. Day 3 — The Challenge Revealed: the competition format is introduced, with a first coached practice round — planning a dish, dividing roles, working against the clock. Day 4 — Dry Run: a full practice competition with instructor feedback to refine teamwork, timing, and presentation. Day 5 — The Junior Chef Challenge: the main event — teams cook under a friendly time limit and present to a judging panel, with awards and a celebration to close the week. The Two Divisions Each wave runs as its own competition, pitched to its age group — same spirit, different depth. Morning · Junior Division (ages 9–12): approachable challenges with strong guardrails. The final is a friendly mystery-basket cook-off — required ingredients plus a pantry, a generous time limit, and instructors on hand. Creativity, teamwork, and fun over intensity. Afternoon · Senior Division (ages 13–17): a real step up — more advanced technique, tighter constraints, more independence, and judging that pushes teens to think like real cooks. Built to feel genuinely grown-up and earned. Judging & Awards Dishes are judged on more than taste, so effort and creativity are rewarded alongside execution: Best Overall Dish · Best Teamwork · Most Creative · Best Presentation · Best Use of the Mystery Ingredient. Multiple categories mean most students leave with real recognition. Program Structure Schedule: Morning 9 AM–12 PM (ages 9–12) or Afternoon 3–6 PM (teens 13–17)\ Age Group: 9–12 years (Junior · morning) · 13–17 years (Senior · afternoon)\ Duration: Five consecutive days (Monday–Friday)\ Class Size: Limited to 10 students per wave What's Included Five days of hands-on cooking and competition · all ingredients, tools, and equipment · a structured skills-to-showcase curriculum · awards and a final-day celebration. Please Note Team-based by design — shared pressure, built-in support, and a playful tone keep the week exciting rather than stressful, and every student has a real role. These are half-day waves (9 AM–12 PM for ages 9–12, 3–6 PM for teens 13–17), not all-day coverage. Best experienced as the full week: the competition rewards the skills-to-finale arc. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed — the week teaches everything the competition requires.

Jan 4, 2027

from $625

Book→

Good to know

How camp works

✓No previous cooking experience required
✓Small groups with hands-on instruction every day
✓Dietary accommodations available on request
✓Siblings can attend together
✓Kids bring comfy clothing & closed-toe shoes — we provide all ingredients & equipment

Where

Sherman Oaks Galleria campus

Campus: Sherman Oaks Galleria
Address: 15301 Ventura Blvd
Ages: 9–17

Reviews

What families are saying

★★★★★

“Took my 16 yr old and met a friend and her daughter for the Brunch class. We had the best time! Learned a lot, and made delicious food. Wonderful experience, even the kids loved it! Planning on meeting up again to take another class soon!”

HRHeather Ruggierovia ClassBento