The Menifee County Family and Consumer Science program hosted an educational Kid’s Can one-day camp at the extension office to teach youth about food preservation methods. Youth ages 8 and older were assisted by the FCS agent and county homemakers to learn the process of water bath canning.

In the morning session, youth made and canned strawberry jam. They practiced cooking skills such as chopping strawberries, measuring sugar and strawberries, mixing ingredients and cooking on a stove-top. Then, they were able to learn the canning method by ladling jam into sanitized jars through a funnel and processing jars in a boiling water bath for the appropriate amount of time so that jars would seal. A similar process was done in the afternoon with canning salsa. Students chopped peppers and onions, peeled tomatoes by first blanching them, and cooked all ingredients and seasonings on the stove. Youth learned about food safety by discussing acidic versus non-acidic foods and why this is important when choosing how to can different foods.

By the end of the program all participants had each successfully canned their own jar of strawberry jam and salsa and all were able to determine what foods are low acidic and high acidic through a matching game and worksheet.  All participants stated through a written evaluation that they would like to try water bath canning at home, with the help of an adult.