Young Chefs Academy

Young Chefs Academy offers cooking classes, culinary camps, kids parties, workshops, field trips, group events, and adults classes. Seasonal and summer cooking camps provide an immersive culinary adventure with all new recipes, techniques, and subject matter every week, covering both the art of cooking and the science of baking. The program takes place in a “real” kitchen setting so that students can take what they learn at Young Chefs Academy into their own homes, with parties that include interactive activities for guests and cooking classes that follow a structured weekly program to build and sharpen culinary skills.

• Ages: 5–17 years old
• Schedule: Kids Culinary Camps are fully immersive 3-hour or multi-day culinary camps

Young Chefs Academy uses a curriculum developed and tested by the YCA team of expert chefs, with lessons created to encourage creative expression and discoveries and to offer something for all skill levels from beginners to more experienced young chefs. Young chefs are introduced to some of the latest trends in the culinary world and take part in fun challenges and competitions while learning basic and new culinary techniques, tips, and tricks. The program’s mission is to make a positive lasting impact on children and families through teaching the joy and value of cooking in a welcoming environment that encourages discovery and creativity. Young Chefs Academy was established in 2003 and has been a leader in teaching kids the joy and value of culinary arts for twenty years, with locations throughout the US and a setting that is described as welcoming and clean by families. The organization is led by founder and CEO Julie Burleson and is trusted by thousands of families to teach children positive and healthy activities, with Google ratings including 4.7 (1,359 reviews) and 4.9 (9,201 reviews), and has been featured on FOX and other large networks promoting healthy activities for kids and families.

Parents and kids describe their experiences as excellent, noting that children often ask to return, that teachers are professional, friendly, and give clear instructions, and that kids get hands-on experience with the food they cook and then eat it. Families also highlight that the chefs are nice, birthday parties are fun, and that the environment is welcoming and clean, with some parents saying they would like to visit again.

Last updated March 27, 2026.