Cooking

Each Saturday, a group of our older youth participates in our cooking program. They prepare healthy, hot lunches for our participants and volunteers and are instructed in cooking techniques from trained staff.

This activity has helped take the mystery out of food preparation and the youth are serious about this endeavor. Each week, youth pick a head chef, who wears the red apron and leads the others on the day’s meal preparation.

‪The food program offers a variety of benefits. First our youth learn tangible skills such as how to use kitchen appliances, how to mix, measure and proportion ingredients and how to create a healthy and nutritious meal.

‪In addition, this experience builds confidence and leadership skills. The students take pride in the food they prepare and realize the rewards in preparing a meal for others.

We are always looking for experienced volunteers to teach the youth. If you are interested in sharing your cooking expertise, please fill out our volunteer application.

Field Trips

‪Our youth love our holiday movie day and our special Pixar screenings. They have also told us that they would love to experience new places even more. With financial and volunteer support, we could fulfill hopes of visiting a farm to pick fresh fruit or produce‬, a trip to the Exploratorium‬, an overnight camping excursion‬ or a day hike.

Respect and Recognition

Each Saturday, we make it a priority for the youth to feel valued and respected at the program. Written by our participants, our "Agreement" is;

• Be respectful to others and myself
• One mic (one speaker at a time)
• Try to do my best
• Have fun

At the end of the day we hold an "Appreciation Circle" where the youth share their gratitude for others. Youth may appreciate another participant whom they enjoyed getting to spend time with, a volunteer that took extra care to help them solve a math problem or someone who taught them how to play hoops outside.

Selected by the board members and volunteers, we reward youth that go the extra mile during the day’s activities and at the end of the program award the "Kid of the Day" with a special treat.