Let's see, what'll it be for dinner tonight? Mac and cheese, grilled cheese or chicken nuggets? Sure, you could try something different, but why bother? Those are the only food groups your kids will eat, right? Wrong. Turns out, when kids get to participate in the preparation of their food, they're willing to try all sorts of things you'd never expect. Need proof? Send them to a Spring Break Camp or Summer Camp at HealthBarn USA in Ridgewood, New Jersey and all of a sudden, they'll be telling you to finish your broccoli.
HealthBarn USA is an award-winning educational experience where kids learn to plant and grow their own food in a lovingly maintained teaching garden that has been certified as a sustainable habitat by the National Wildlife Federation. Depending on what's in season, campers will have the chance to harvest from the garden and use the fruits (and veggies) of their labors to prepare their meals in the HealthBarn test kitchen. Plus, since the garden is organic, kids will have the too-infrequent pleasure of being able to taste the food they just picked. Best of all, parents don't have to pack meals for their campers. Breakfast, lunch and snack will be prepared by your kiddos. Food allergies will be accommodated upon request.
Spring Break Camps will be held the week of March 21-25 and April 11-15 for kids ages 5-13. Camp hours are 9:00 am-3:00 pm and campers can choose to attend 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 days. Much of the camp day will be spent outside (weather dependent) composting, working in the garden, going on hikes, playing games and, of course, cooking. This healthy-lifestyle immersion experience transforms kids into adventurous healthy eaters by supporting their culinary skills development both in the HealthBarn kitchen and at home!
For kids who would like more time at "the Barn," HealthBarn USA offers year-round seasonal programs, held after school and on weekends. Kids ages 3 and up will have the opportunity to see where their food comes from and how it's grown, learn age-appropriate kitchen and cooking skills, practice good hygiene and, most importantly, gain new skills and an appreciation of new foods and flavors. Sessions are 10 weeks long and limited to 10 participants per session. Returning families are eligible for a discount in appreciation of their loyalty and support. Registration for spring sessions is going on now.
If you've just realized that summer is only a few short months away and you're low-key panicking because you haven't even started to figure out what to do with your kiddos once school is out, HealthBarn has your back. They're hosting a full schedule of summer camps beginning the week of June 27 and running through August 31. Each week of camp will follow the hands-on curriculum, but will also have a special theme. Each week, the Friday Finale will showcase the theme. For example, campers will open their own restaurant in the Friday Finale of Be A Chef week. During Be a Farmer week, kids will start a farm stand complete with marketing, packaging and pricing of produce and food dishes. Kids ages 4 and up will learn the tools to build strong bodies and healthy minds in a hands-on, fun, and educational environment for summer seedlings, too.
HealthBarn USA also hosts private events, scout troops, birthday parties, adult culinary evenings and more. For additional information, please visit the website. Bon appetit!
