This summer, the Greenup County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent partnered with the Greenup County 4-H Youth Development Agent to offer the Superstar Chef Camp program to 15 local students. The program provided hands-on education in cooking, nutrition, and healthy living. Participants ranged in age from students who had completed 2nd grade to those who had completed 5th grade.

With the support of two trained volunteers, students engaged in interactive lessons focused on food safety, knife skills, accurate measuring techniques, and meal preparation. The program emphasized building confidence in the kitchen while reinforcing the importance of making healthy food choices.

To assess the program’s impact, a pre-test/post-test evaluation was conducted. The results demonstrated notable improvements in knowledge and confidence among participants:

Knowledge Gains:

• 66% more students correctly identified how to safely guide food while using a knife.
• 53% more could identify the four steps to food safety.
• 33% more knew when to use a meat thermometer.
• 13% more could accurately measure ingredients.

Confidence Growth:

• 20% more students reported confidence in preparing meals with vegetables.
• 20% more felt they could help prepare a family meal.
• 13% more believed they could follow a recipe.
• 20% more felt capable of using a handheld can opener.

Behavioral Intentions:

• 14 students could identify healthy foods and planned to drink more water.
• 11 planned to reduce soda consumption.
• 15 planned to increase physical activity.
• 13 intended to eat more fruit.
• 10 intended to eat more vegetables.
• 12 expressed a willingness to try new foods.

The success of the Superstar Chef Camp reflects the value of collaboration between Extension agents and community volunteers in delivering impactful youth programming. By equipping students with essential life skills and encouraging healthy habits, the program supports long-term positive outcomes for youth and their families in Greenup County.