Cooking
🍳 Culinary Cottage – Building Confidence Through Cooking
Cooking together has always been one of the residents’ favorite activities! Many of the youth have never learned basic cooking skills, and these sessions help them build confidence, teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment — all while sharing something delicious.
You don’t need to be a professional cook — just someone who enjoys preparing food and encouraging others. You can use our collection of simple, tried-and-true recipes or bring your own favorites to share.
Two easy ways to get involved
Cottage Cooking Teams
Commitment: Every other week — 3:30–5 PM or 6:30–7:30 PM
Team size: 3 volunteers per cottage (10–17 youth per group)
What you’ll do:
- Lead or assist in preparing a simple meal or recipe with the youth.
- Teach kitchen basics like measuring, chopping, and teamwork.
- Cook alongside the same group each time to build consistency and trust.
We provide: ingredients, utensils, recipes, and staff coordination.
Roles: lead, co-lead, or assistant — all comfort levels welcome.
Volunteer requirements & next steps
- Background check and brief orientation are required before your first session.
- Once cleared, you can audit a current cooking session before joining your own team.
- Scheduling is flexible — day and time will be decided by you and your cottage/living unit of 12 to 17 youth.
Ready to bring warmth to the kitchen?
