In order to provide more opportunities to practice cooking and safe kitchen practices, the Clark County FCS and 4-H agents partnered to offer the Superstar Chef Camp program to 18 students, ages 9-12, in July of 2023. Agents along with the 4-H program assistant, a dietetics intern, and a homemaker volunteer 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. Over 85% the participants increased their knowledge of proper knife holding and nearly 80% increased their knowledge of the four steps of food safety.

Almost all of the participants reported they felt confident they could follow recipe directions after the program as well as identify healthy foods. Many of the parents reported that their children went home and showed them some skills they had learned at the program, some even cooking a meal for the family. Several students indicated they wanted to continue to learn cooking skills and 4 of the participants actually signed up for 4-H beginning cooking club when sign-ups opened.