My husband and I just found out about this camp rating site. We are excited to tell you about this camp that both of our children attended last year and this past July. We have an 14 and 16 year old. They both are interested in cooking and Chef Kelly has made quite an empression on them. When you we arrived for the first time last year we attended the graduation. Both of our kids flew to Burlington Vt. and were picked up by camp counselors. So we had not seen the camp until the graduation. We were very impressed with the grounds and kitchen facility. It was a surprise to see this great camp is such a remote location on the Canadian border. The kids had prepared and served a luncheon for everyone. We then got a tour of the beautiful property, Both of our kids have really had a great time at the camp. The youngest one is going back next year to spend 3 weeks studying with the Pastry Chef. He wants to be a pastry chef someday. Very unique camp and worth the money.
Our daughter went to this camp a few weeks ago. We were reluctant to send her to the camp due to some negative reviews and the cost. We were very happy with her experience there. She loved it and wants to come back next year for their Spring and Summer sessions. We had met all of the counselors and Chef Instructors. We were very confortable leaving our daughter in such good hands. The Wednesday evening dinner was a good experience for her. We came from Texas, so we stayed in an Inn about 50 miles from the Kids Culinary. So we were able to come to the camp for the dinner. On Saturday was their delicious graduation. I am a single parent so paying the tuition was a challenge, however well worth the effort. My daughter does not want to leave the kitchen now. We found this camp on Face Book. Highly recommend this camp.
Just finished up the 2 week session. Our son really enjoyed it. He was a little nervous about this type of camp because all he had been to is typical camp before. This certainly is all that is advertised. He is already talking about wanting to come back next summer for 3 weeks. The staff paid close attention to him, Chef Kelly and the other chef instructors were fun and made learing cooking easy for him. The camp in not inexpensive but the value what is received is well worth it. Great speciality camp and beautiful grounds, gardens and farm animals. Both my wife and I are excited to tell everyone about this camp. It is a sleeper, more people should know about it. Kids learning to cook and be responsible in the kitchen. If I had to say one thing negative, it would be that our son only went for 2 weeks. After next year Chef Kelly says he is eligible for the Junior Counselors position. Not sure if I can leave my name and phone here for a reference. But it was great.
Our daughter attended the Kids Culinary Camp this past June. We were very happy with the stories she told us when she got back home. She has not stopped talking about the great time she had there. The knife kit she received from Chef Kelly has been in use every day since she left the camp. She wanted to stay for another week, but traveled from South Florida could not arrange it. We did come in a day early to pick her up and we visited the camp while the kids were in the kitchen. We were very impressed with the staffs attention to the kids. Between the activities outside with the animals and gardens, and in the kitchen/bakeshop the kids were busy. Chef Kelly asked us to stay for dinner so we did. Of course the meal was prepared by the kids and wow, spectacular. We would recommend this camp to anyone who is interested in learning cooking while having fun. We are already signed up for 2 weeks next year. Our daughter cant wait.
Our daughter attended the spring session to learn cooking skills and maple sugaring. she loved it She wants to go back this summer to spend 3 weeks. thanks for everyone there who made it a great time ...Chef Kelly you are great
The nicest thing about this camp is the web site. Our daughter attended a year ago, and although she enjoyed it the negative reviews here are accurate. For the high fee, there are limited activities, minimal instruction, and your child will be working to support the chef's commercial events that he hosts. At one point the kids were taken camping and other event guests were allowed to sleep in their beds. The food safety is appalling as well. When I picked up my daughter raw food was out in the open with flies all over it. Very disappointing.
I went to this camp when I was 12 years old, I am now 19 with a degree from Johnson and Wales University in Culinary Arts. I was shocked when I saw the reviews on this camp. It was an excellent experience for me, I feel I learned more from that camp than I did in my schooling at JWU. There was plenty of personal attention by Chef Kelly and the other staff. We took trips to Cabot Creamery, Ben and Jerry's, a local chocolate producer, and an excellent camping trip. Working on the farm every day was an awesome experience, working the animals, and the hydroponic system was eye opening. I never had an issue with there being a lack of food or water, and honestly don't understand where people came up with that, it's a kitchen there are sinks and well stocked fridges. I was there for the subway incident and can guarantee that it was the subway as in question had to recall the tomato products it was using. All over I had an excellent camp experience!
Both of our children enjoyed this culinary camp. They came home cooking and wanting to attend this year We have read some of these reviews and cannot understand why these comments are made. We will be sending our children back again this year for further training in the kitchen. A fun time for the kids.We found the staff to be professional and able to deal with kids. Chef Kelly had to spend extra time with one of our kids on sauces, now our son makes all the sauces at home. Both my husband and I were very happy with the whole experience at the Kids Culinary Academy
Both of our children attended the kids culinary of Vermont. At first we thought it was a little expensive, but after a week at camp we realized what a fantastic program it is. Our kids received professional uniforms, knife kits and cake kits , this motivated them to learn about cooking. Chef Kelly and the professional staff provided a wonderful experience. We felt the time spent at the camp was great and a memorable time for our 2 kids. They are planning on going back next year, We have already signed up. A really wonderful camp.
I agree with most of the negative comments here. My kid did not get what Kelly Dietrich promised on the website. There was supposed to be all sorts of extra curricular activities throughout the week and they didn't happen as described. He uses the kids to prepare for his parties, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if he actually was teaching them how to actually cook in the process. Shame, Shame, Shame on Kelly Dietrich. Parents, i believe your kids will get so much more "instruction" by simply watching food network and going to some of the online sites, and at a fraction of the cost. I hope enough parents see this site. We spent a great deal of money on travel getting there also. What a waste of money this was for us. I just lost my job and spent valuable money to give my kid a dream summer. It didn't work out as planned. I learned a hard lesson just like others.
Dismal experience and was one of 5 parents who pulled their child out early. Not an academy, not a camp. Not enough instruction, kids have way too much downtime and get bored. Chef watches TV in bedroom, while kids wait for instruction. Unclean bathrooms, bedrooms. Website misleading. Excursions dull. No pool or way for kids to cool down other than showering. Very disappointing. No milk during the week my child there. Not a wide array of recipes prepared, very different from what website promised. No milking of cows, no lessons on where food comes from. No gardening or understanding how to plant.
This camp provided my son (12 yr. old) the time of his life. He doesn't enjoy the typcial sports camps like most kids his age. Rather his love for the kitchen and helping me in it has blossmed over the last couple of years. When we found this camp online it looked to good to be true -to our delight, it delivered on it's expectations (which were set high by my son)! The culinary skills, the social experience, and the memories camp created will live with him forever. He talks about "chef taught me how to make a beef broth" and "I learned to pipe flowers" to our family friends all the time. I encourage anyone to send their child to Kids Culinary Academy!
My son, now 13,will be returning to this camp for the third year in a row. Chef Kelly and his staff run a terrific program. They have a fantastic, fully equipped kitchen, sleep in a lovely and scrupulously clean farmhouse on a fully working farm. My son has smoked out bees to get honey, picked veggies for dinner, collected eggs from the hens for a fresh breakfast and milked a goat. He has also learned to cook and built lasting friendships. Every day the kids go on a field trip and learn something new. The program culminates in a delicious meal cooked for by the kids. The staff is warm and wonderful and they are terrific with the kids. I'm surprised by the negative reviews because all of the children who attended with my son (including his best friend, one year) seemed to have a wonderful time. Last year, my son even got the chance to cook a meal at Chef Kelly's restaurant. This camp has made my very thin picky child into an innovative cook and more adventerous eater.
Staff: As others said - actual chef only "directs" kids for a few hours a day - and what they do is actually prep meals for his restaurant in Burlington. When we showed up - chef was in bed - which is 2 doors down from the girls rooms. I was told that a woman slept outside the doors (make-shift bed) - she did not. Boys from downstairs snuck upstairs into the girls room - fortunately, the girls kicked them out. Facilities: the kitchen is great. The rest is OK. I thought that they would get lots of instruction about the cool aquaponics, etc. - Nope. They were shown it once. Personal attention: Some from other staffers. My child loved the staff - except for chef, whom she said interacted with them very little. My child had a blast - but there was very little supervision. The kids received a nice knife set - and were promised another knife. Never received. No one else did either that we know of. Lovely setting. Poor execution. Poor skills learned. Child had fun though.
