Estill County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent collaborated with Emma Lee, ANR Agent, Cheyenne Lamb, intern, Jessica Webb, SNAP Ed assistant, and LaDonna Dawes, 4-H assistant to offer the Superstar Chef Camp program to seven students. Four volunteers worked with students in a hands-on educational setting to teach important life skills. A pre-test/ post-test evaluation was conducted to determine learning outcomes.

As a result of the program, students gained the following knowledge and skills:

•            One hundred percent recognized foods that are part of the protein group.

•            One hundred percent identified the right way to hold a knife.

•            One hundred percent identified the right way to guide food when using a knife.

•            One hundred percent identified how germs get transferred to food.

•            Seventy-five percent identified the four steps to safe food.

•            Seventy-five percent understood how to read nutrition labels.

•            One hundred percent identified when to use a meat thermometer.

•            Eighty-eight percent identified how many minutes a day they should be physically active to stay healthy.

•            One hundred percent identified the correct technique for accurately measuring ingredients.

•            Eighty-eight percent recognized the best way to clean fruits and vegetables before eating.

Following the program, students also gained confidence in their food preparation skills:

•            One hundred percent more students agreed that they could help make a family meal.

•            One hundred more students agreed that they could measure ingredients correctly.

•            Seventy-five percent more students agreed that they could use a handheld can opener.

In addition, because of attending the Superstar Chef Camp program, students plan to make the following behavior changes:

•            One hundred percent can identify healthy foods.

•            Eighty-eight plan to eat more vegetables.

•            Seventy-five percent plan to try new foods.

Two parents stated that their children “enjoyed the program and could not stop talking about it”.   One of the parents stated that their child “wished it could be a full week.”  Some of the students saved some of the food to share with family members so they could show what they made.