Cooking up fun at the Gilford Youth Center

By Rachel DiMaggio

GILFORD — Each Tuesday, talented young chefs meet to learn new cooking skills in the Kids' Cooking Class offered by the Gilford Youth Center. Children in grades K-4 whip up a new recipe each week. Previous treats include banana muffins and roast chicken.

Karla Cooper, who runs the program, teaches cooking skills that support school learning and have lifelong value. Subjects like math and science are taught alongside cooking and teamwork. The $80 registration fee includes four sessions. The class meets on Tuesday afternoons from 3-5 p.m. at the Gilford Community Church, where students have access to a spacious kitchen full of cooking equipment.

Cooper has experience teaching Lunch Bunch Fitness, dance, and Mommy and Me classes. Interest in the cooking class has grown thanks to Cooper's engaging teaching style and commitment to helping children master a variety of skills, says GYC Director Scott Hodsdon. The class is so popular that a second session has been planned for March.

Hodsdon described the recent push for more children's programs. "We're working directly with Parks and Recreation, offering programs such as Junior Picasso for young kids. It introduces them to art and painting and sculpting. We also have our Lunch Bunch fitness class that's based around healthy living, being fit, and being active."

The GYC has more exciting kids' programs in the works. Hodson says there are "some wonderful ideas, new — this was just one of them."