The Viking Culinary Club is giving third and fourth grade a hands-on opportunity to explore cooking, learn how nutrition fuels their bodies, complete with mini chef stations.
For Hannah Anderson, Dean of Upper Elementary at Vanguard, the club is part of a bigger goal.
“One of my goals last school year was to provide more extracurricular opportunities to our third- through fifth-grade students,” Anderson said.
“My hope is that the Viking Culinary Club introduces students to cooking at an early age while building confidence, creativity, and healthy habits,” Anderson said. “We wanted to create a fun, hands-on environment where students could explore food, teamwork, and basic life skills.”
That focus on confidence and life skills reflects NHA’s Moral Focus™ curriculum, committed to developing the whole child academically, morally, and socially.
Why Third and Fourth Grade?
Anderson intentionally targeted third and fourth-grade students.
“They’re independent enough to follow recipes and safety rules, yet still enthusiastic and curious about trying new foods and experiences,” she said. “They are also my grade levels that don’t have many extracurricular opportunities. I wanted to provide them with a non-competitive activity that they may not have a chance to participate in elsewhere.”
The result is an inclusive, welcoming space where students can participate without pressure, just aprons and teamwork.
What’s on the Menu?
During the three-session program, which meets Wednesday afternoons from 3:30 to 5 p.m., students will prepare simple, kid-friendly recipes such as smoothies, wraps, salads, healthy snacks, and easy no-bake or low-heat dishes.
The dates for the remainder of the school year include:
- Session 2: March 18, March 25
- Session 3: April 22, April 29, May 6, May 13, May 20
Whenever possible, students enjoy what they make during the session. In some cases, depending on the recipe and food safety guidelines, they may even bring items home to share.
Powered by Community
Like many initiatives at NHA schools, the Viking Culinary Club is powered by partnership.
The program is funded through a combination of school support, donations, volunteer efforts, and funding from Grand Valley State University, Vanguard’s authorizer. To bring the idea to life, the team created an Amazon Wish List of supplies and reached out to chefs, food lovers, and the school community.
So far, more than $900 in kitchen supplies have been donated.
And who knows taste-testers may be needed!
You can keep up with what the Viking Culinary Club has on their menu on their Facebook page.
About Vanguard Charter Academy
Vanguard Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Wyoming, Michigan, serving students in Young 5s through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes over 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
Visit Vanguard Charter Academy's blog to read more stories like this.
Vanguard Charter Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Wyoming, Michigan, serving students in Young 5s through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes over 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
Visit Vanguard Charter Academy's blog to read more stories like this.