Brooklyn Apple Academy

Cooking Camp

South Park Slope, Brooklyn
Exact location provided upon booking.
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Run a Luncheonette Cooking Camp, hosted by Brooklyn Apple Academy and led by chef, puppeteer, and educator Erin Orr alongside Noah Mayers, is a one-of-a-kind summer experience for kids. The week-long camp immerses children in the full culinary process—from learning about a featured cuisine (like Indian food), to cooking with fresh, seasonal ingredients, and finally serving a beautifully prepared meal to their families. Each day brings hands-on exploration, flavorful dishes, and meaningful connection to food, history, and culture. Gluten-free and vegetarian cooking is emphasized during the summer sessions.

Recommended Ages
inquire for other ages/counselors in training welcome

Ages: 7-13

Days and Times

Summer Session: July 28-August 1st ; Times: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Style
Day ProgramSocialLocalDeliciousHands-OnInclusiveOpen and GoDrop-Off

Our goal is to nurture the spirit of inquiry and play that children naturally bring to everything they do. We provide the space, the tools, and the opportunity for children to use their hands to develop their minds.

Our students learn to read, write, and create in the context of our projects, play, and travels. We learn at our own pace and at the insistence of our curiosity. We encourage the development of self-motivation and self-discipline, and watch our students grow with every game they invent and nail they hammer.

We learn to write while making posters, composing songs, and drafting the invitations to our performances. We learn to count, add, and subtract while selling lemonade and cookies at a stand at the farmers market. We learn to divide so we can see if there are enough snacks for everyone to have seconds (or thirds!) We learn to read in order to decipher important subway signs on our field trips.

Self-Direction
E means highly structured. A is basically unschooled, completely self-guided.
How much do students guide their own learning in this course?
A
B
C
D
E
Enrollment
Regular price $600.00 USD
Cooking Camp
From $150.00 USD

Skills

What kids will learn

Our mission

Why Brooklyn Apple? Our mission is to provide a home base for homeschool families to meet up with other homeschoolers and create community. We are place to make friendships, make messes (and clean them up), and use tools and equipment that is difficult to own in small NYC apartments. Our HQ has a kitchen, a woodshop, a library, and a big meeting room with a rather large board game collection. We are here for you in Brooklyn since 2011.

Our story

Cooking Camp began as a one-week experiment at the Sunview Luncheonette in Greenpoint, where kids from Brooklyn Apple Academy took over the space to plan, cook, and serve meals to friends and family. What started as a playful hands-on project quickly became a beloved tradition, teaching kids real-world skills like budgeting, collaboration, and time management through the joyful act of feeding others. Now hosted at Brooklyn Apple, the camp carries forward the same spirit of creativity, responsibility, and community that was sparked in that little luncheonette.

Dive into Brooklyn Apple Academy

Watch Modulo's Interview With Noah Mayers, Founder of Brooklyn Apple

FAQ: Additional Details about Cooking Camp

A day at Run a Luncheonette Camp might begin with kids gathering around a table to smell and toast whole spices, grinding them into a fragrant garam masala before stirring a bubbling pot of dal on the stove. Midday might include shaping paneer, frying fresh pakoras with farmshare veggies, or blending chutneys bursting with mint and mango. Between cooking, campers might share stories, taste-test dishes, or head out on a field trip to Jackson Heights for momo and barfi. The day wraps with planning, plating, and laughter as they prepare for the big family meal at week’s end.

An ideal learner for Run a Luncheonette Camp is a curious, hands-on child who loves to explore new flavors, ask questions, and take pride in making things from scratch. They don’t need to have prior cooking experience—just a willingness to try new things, work alongside others, and dive into the joy of learning through food, culture, and creativity. It’s a great fit for kids who enjoy sensory experiences, real-world learning, and collaborative projects with a meaningful goal.

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Brooklyn Apple is located at 545 5th Avenue in South Park Slope, Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Apple uses a child-centered approach to education. We believe that kids should have autonomy over their education. The guide is there to lead the group, but we focus on meeting children where they are and giving them agency over their own education.

Children with ADHD often thrive in this camp’s dynamic, hands-on environment, which allows them to move, create, and engage with real-world tasks, though they may need support with transitions or sustained attention during group discussions.

For children on the autism spectrum, the camp’s routine mixed with real-life unpredictability in a bustling kitchen may offer valuable social learning but could also present sensory or communication challenges that require preparation or individualized support.

Learners with dyslexia are generally well-supported through the camp’s visual and experiential approach to instruction, though written tasks like labeling or recipes may need adaptation.

Children with sensory processing challenges often thrive at BAA because of all the outdoor play. If a student has pronounced sensory processing challenges, the loud, boisterous environment can be overwhelming so we suggest you have a conversation with us to see which program can best meet your child's needs.

Gifted children often find the camp deeply engaging and intellectually stimulating, with its real-world challenges, opportunities for creative problem-solving, and space to take initiative in a collaborative kitchen environment.

To get the most out of camp, come with an open mind, a big appetite, and a willingness to try new things. The experience is best for kids who are ready to participate in all parts of the day, from cooking and setting up to serving and cleaning. Bringing curiosity, patience, and a collaborative spirit will help your child get the most out of this unique hands-on learning environment.

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Meet Noah

Noah is the founder of Brooklyn Apple Academy and has led more than 600 field trips around NYC and the Tri-State area. He’s obsessed with NYC, history, systems, infrastructure, politics, and art.

Modulo's thoughts

Our learning specialists give their honest evaluation
ManishaCEO and Founder

I love this camp because it brings kids into the heart of real-world learning: collaborating, creating, and discovering the joy of feeding others. It’s hands-on, meaningful, and full of delicious surprise

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