campusNYC

campusNYC is a week-long culinary summer camp for teens aged 12 to 17. It is the flagship of Summer Culinary, which also runs camps in San Francisco, Washington DC and Seattle. Now in its 19th summer, it offers sleepaway and day options. Each student picks a concentration. Pastry campers use large professional mixers and speed racks to make fruit tarts, creme brulee, macarons, pies and cakes from scratch. Savory campers cook a paired appetizer and entree every day, such as chicken satay with pad thai on Thai day.

Everyone learns knife skills, plating, sanitation and how to clean as they go. In the evenings campers go out to taste food at the source, like dim sum followed by a tour of Chinatown. Sleepaway campers live at St. George Towers in Brooklyn Heights, about 16 minutes from the kitchen door to door.

No experience is needed, and many campers are beginners. Some past students have gone on to win Chopped Junior and MasterChef Junior. Google reviewers give it 5 stars across 20 reviews. All 2026 sessions sold out, and families can join a list for next year.