TOP CHEF — Academics + Cooking
STEM4Kids · Learn & Play Full-Day Camps
Full-Day Camp for Ages 5–10 · Mornings for Math & English · Afternoons for Cooking
Ages: 5 – 10 Skill Level: All levels
Timing: 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM Focus: Grade-leveled Academics + Hands-On Cooking & Food Craft
Overview of the Week
⭐ Bottom Line
The Top Chef Camp at STEM4Kids is a full-day camp for children ages 5–10 who love food, hands-on fun, and learning that lasts. Every morning is dedicated to grade-leveled academics — math and English taught in small groups matched to your child's grade — so campers keep their skills sharp all summer long. Every afternoon, young chefs head to the kitchen to make simple, kid-friendly dishes and dive into food-themed crafts, math, and science. Each child takes home their very own recipe book at the end of the week. Located at our Cupertino and San Jose campuses, this camp is ideal for working families in Cupertino, Monta Vista, West San Jose, Sunnyvale, and Saratoga who want reliable full-day care and real learning under one roof.
The Week at a Glance
Monday — Morning: Math & English Academics · Afternoon: Pasta & Garlic Bread + Food Craft
Tuesday — Morning: Math & English Academics · Afternoon: Pizza Party + Food Craft
Wednesday — Morning: Math & English Academics · Afternoon: Fiesta Day (Guacamole, Cheese Quesadilla, Boiled Corn)
Thursday — Morning: Math & English Academics · Afternoon: Dessert Day (Cookies & Brownies)
Friday — Morning: Math & English Academics · Afternoon: Chef's Choice + take-home recipe book
About the Camp
In the Top Chef Camp, children learn to follow a recipe, measure ingredients, and make simple no-cook and assembled dishes — all guided by our instructors, with grown-ups always handling any heating. Cooking is paired with food-themed crafts and a hands-on "Food Lab," so kids are quietly practicing real skills the whole time:
Reading & writing — following and writing out recipe steps, menus, and food reviews
Math — measuring, fractions, doubling a recipe, and graphing favorite foods
Science — predicting and observing how ingredients change
Creativity & confidence — designing menus, chef hats, and restaurant signs
Children take home a recipe book of everything they made during the week, so the learning continues in your own kitchen.
Sample Day
Camp Hours & Daily Schedule
TimeActivity08:30 – 9:00 AMAM Extended care available (extra fees)09:00 AMCheck-in09:15 AMMath — grade-leveled, small groups10:15 AMMorning break (campers bring snacks)10:30 AMEnglish & Language Arts — grade-leveled12:00 PMLunch01:00 PMCooking & Food Craft02:30 PMAfternoon break (campers bring snacks)02:50 PMCooking & Food Craft continues03:30 PMPickup03:30 – 6:00 PMPM Extended care available (extra fees)
Camp Key Elements
Grade-leveled morning academics in math & English, taught in small groups matched to each child's grade
Full-day care (9:00 AM – 3:30 PM) with AM/PM extended care options
Hands-on cooking with simple, kid-friendly dishes (all heating staff-handled)
Food-themed crafts, math, and science woven into every afternoon
Take-home recipe book at the end of the week
Low student-to-staff ratio with age-appropriate grouping for ages 5–10
Allergy and dietary needs collected at registration