St Michael Indian Elementary School
St. Michael Indian School proudly hosted its first-ever Yum Lab Summer Camp, designed for children eager to learn the basics of cooking. Parent volunteer Ora Nez led the hands-on sessions. Two age groups participated: Kindergarten through 3rd graders, who mastered strawberry shortcake from scratch, and older elementary students and up, who explored canning peaches, making peach jam, and baking fresh yeast bread. Each child left with delicious treats they prepared themselves. Beyond cooking, children gained valuable skills such as teamwork, following instructions, and measuring with accuracy.
The space not only emphasizes the importance of teaching healthy cooking skills in school but also provides teachers with the unique opportunity to bring stories and curriculum to life through hands-on kitchen experiences. This summer’s Yum Lab follows the spring semester’s health and nutrition class, which was the first to utilize the newly renovated kitchen space. Once an older convent kitchen, the area has been transformed into a modern teaching classroom thanks to collaborative grants from multiple foundations and private supporters. The Yum Lab proved to be a flavorful success, inspiring future culinary opportunities for SMIS students.
