The best cooking camps for kids in NYC

The teachers at Taste Buds Kitchen help children create scrumptious, sweet and savory dishes. Each day, campers learn a new skill thanks to themes such as Culinary Cocoa and Tasty Tales. Kids and teens are guaranteed to bring home many new kitchen techniques. For the first time this year, there will even be an advanced teen program. Ages 4–17.

Have future foodies on your hands? Sign them up for a summer at Butter Beans—one of the best cooking camps for kids in the city. Here, youngsters work on their confidence and take in new experiences with the help of a farm-to-table approach. By the time they're through, you'll hardly be able to keep them out of the kitchen—they'll probably be the ones cooking dinner. The Corlears School, 324 West 15th St · International School of Brooklyn, 192 Luquer St, Brooklyn. Ages 6–10. 

Visit international destinations without leaving the city thanks to one of NYC's most beloved cooking camps for kids. In addition to mastering basic kitchen techniques such as accurate measuring, grating and knife skills, campers at Chef Toni's get a practical education in the venue's farm-to-table philosophy. By focusing on a new cuisine each week, kids are able to explore the art, music and culture of exotic locales to understand the traditions behind the food they prepare—a global adventure without the passport. Ages 5–14.

The overall focus at Camp Zeke is wellness, so children will learn the value of a healthy lifestyle. In addition to participating in electives such as Krav Maga, yoga or boating, those interested in food have the option to try the culinary arts program. Campers often help prepare the wholesome dishes served in the dining hall using organic, locally sourced ingredients. If you have a few kiddos who like the idea of cooking camps but want to explore other possibilities, there's also dance and circus arts programs. Ages 7–17.

With delicious weekly themes such as Taco Time and All About Baking, kids really get to prepare food they love with this cooking camp. A typical day might start with a pitstop to a local farmer's market and end with a trip back to camp to whip up something delicious. While you'll need to pack the kiddos lunch Monday through Thursday, Fridays are pizza party days. Kids will have the opportunity to create their own pizzas from scratch. Added bonus? There's ice cream for dessert. Additional location at W. 93rd St and Broadway. Ages 4–11. 

Have a little ones who wrinkle their nose at dinnertime? One way to cure picky eating is to get kids in the kitchen! They’ll feel grown up practicing their cooking skills and will feel more likely to eat something when they see what exactly goes into it. Chefs are split up according to age groups during these cooking camps. Ages 2–15. 

Home Cooking might only provide week-long cooking camps, but the programming is jam-packed with plenty of delicious activities for kids. Each day, children will tackle a different cuisine or theme, such as Northern Italian, Mexican or brunch. By the time the week is complete, they'll be worldy chefs who could show mom or dad or thing or two in the kitchen. Ages 6–11. 

Camp Can-I-Cook will provide a summer your kiddos won't forget. They'll learn new culinary skills, try their hand at original Young Chefs Academy recipes and of course meet other budding chefs in the making. This is bound to be one delicious summer. All ages. 

For the first time this year—to help usher in its newly renovated space—New York Botanical Garden's Edible Academy will host two week-long cooking camps titled "Grow It, Cook It, Eat It," which focuses on promoting a healthy lifestyle. Little ones will get to see their dishes come full circle—from planting, cooking and of course, eating. Ages 5–11.