Kids in the Kitchen

These recreational and vocational-focused youth programs aim to provide students with basic culinary skills and agricultural education.

Aspen High School: The school’s food service program emphasizes the relationship between food, health, nutrition, cultures, environment and business. Head of food service Tenille Folk and Aspen High business teacher Sheri Smith co-lead a farm-to-table class each fall, where students learn the fundamentals of culinary arts, food service and farming practices. (970.925.3760, AspenK12.net)

Food Lab: Boulder-based Food Lab offers an eight-week, after-school culinary program from September through November. There are three series to choose from: Basics, Touring Italy and Natural Foods. (303.953.8364, FoodLabBoulder.com)

Cooking School of Aspen: Offers kid-friendly classes for students 8 to 18 years old. Look for upcoming evening classes (and enjoy a kid-free date night); there are also summer camps. (970.920.2002 CookingSchoolOfAspen.com)

ProStart at YouthEntity is a Carbondale-based nonprofit that offers an acclaimed hospitality education program to registered high school students in the Roaring Fork School District. Students receive school credit hours as well as concurrent enrollment at Denver’s Metropolitan State University. Coursework includes culinary and knife skills, sanitation, and restaurant management. The program is affiliated with the Colorado Restaurant Association and funded entirely by donations. (970.963.4055, YouthEntity.org)