CulinaryCorps is excited to announce that we will be returning for a fourth time to Camp Sunshine for our 2018 outreach trip. A year-round facility on Maine’s Lake Sebago, Camp Sunshine has been supporting children with life-threatening illnesses and their families for over 30 years. We feel so lucky to have been a part of the magic that happens there each year; and we are honored to be invited to return.
The selected 10 person chef-volunteer team will once again launch our World of Flavors cooking program during the camp’s August 5th-10th oncology session. This CulinaryCorps designed curriculum includes internationally-inspired hands-on cooking classes for all ages and delicious family-oriented activities throughout the week.
To gain an even better understanding of what this trip will entail, please read our trip summary of 2015’s amazing visit. We will be replicating the same itinerary this year with a few minor changes. And for those of you who are more visual, take a peek at all the incredible camp moments from 2014 here.
Doing good never tasted better. Apply today! Trip details and application below:
TRIP DETAILS
Location: Camp Sunshine, Casco, ME
Trip Dates: August 4th (arrive by 2pm in Portland) – August 10th, 2018 (depart by 3pm)
Trip Fee: $375 per person (Includes housing, meals and ground transport. Does not include transportation to/from Portland, ME)
Trip Fundraising Requirement: $600 per person
Managing Trip Leader: Aimee Bariteau
Co-Leadership: Jessica Botta, Thomas Medrow
For general trip FAQs, please click HERE
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Application: Click HERE to fill out our online application*
Application Deadline: Friday, May 4th at 5pm EST
(Selection Notification: On or Before May 10th, 2018)
*If accepted, Camp Sunshine requires a secondary application and background check.
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS
- 21 years of age
- Minimum 1 year of professional culinary experience and/or culinary degree (Currently enrolled culinary students are also encouraged to apply)
- References and background check
- Personal health insurance
- Fundraising commitment of $600 plus trip fee of $375
PREFERRED SKILLS
- Hands-on experience in teaching others how to cook healthy meals.
- Previous experience working with children of all ages.
- Flexibility and adaptability both in the kitchen and outside of it.
- Willingness to get goofy, get dancin’ and get into the camp spirit!
OUR MISSION AT CAMP SUNSHINE
Camp Sunshine supports children with life threatening illnesses and their families. The camp has the distinction of being the only program in the nation whose goal is to address the impact of a life threatening illness on every member of the immediate family—the ill child, the parents, and the siblings. Since its inception, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for over 40,500 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds.
Our CulinaryCorps trip mission is to enhance the camp’s daily programming with cooking classes geared for campers of all ages including parents. Each class will be designed to teach culinary basics as well as healthful alternatives to unhealthy foods. And as always, we aim for every class to be a lot of fun! In addition, we will be hosting evening programming for families that will focus on fostering health and family-bonding through cooking. Finally, our lessons will be put to good use as each age group competes separately in their very own “Top Chef Sunshine” challenge.
It is our hope that cooking with these campers and their families will provide educational entertainment throughout the week, culinary knowledge to bring home to their own kitchens and a whole lot of long-lasting joy.
VOLUNTEER OVERVIEW
Throughout the week of service, our chef-volunteers will be tasked with the following:
- Introduce the flavors and culinary concepts that will be covered in the curriculum on the day of camper arrival through our “Test Your Tastebuds” event.
- Teach daily hands-on cooking classes for campers as well as the parents around a country’s culinary heritage incorporating not only food but music, books and history.
- The five 45-minute sessions per day will encompass the nuts and bolts of cooking including knife skills, palate expansion, sautéing, grilling, dough making, and healthy shortcuts as well as highlighting a country of origin.
- Each class will be slightly modified to fit the skill set of the age group (3-5, 6-8, 9-12, teens and adult) as well as adjust the lessons for allergies and/or disabilities.
- Facilitate an afternoon of crazy fun with our “Foodie Family Olympics!”
- Host a “Top Chef Sunshine” competition on the final day of camp where chefs and campers in each age group team up to create a stellar dish using a secret ingredient.
- High-five, hug, laugh, dance, tell jokes, sing on stage, smile, giggle, act goofy, get silly…all in the name of CAMP!
For a more in-depth description of the daily responsibilities of the CulinaryCorps volunteers, please read our 2014 daily overview HERE.
