🍳 Cooking & Culinary

Meridian, ID

City of Meridian's parks and recreation department, offering youth camps (Camp Mer-IDA-Moo for ages 6–11 at Discovery and Siena Elementary; Outdoor Adventure Camp for ages 9–14), recreation classes, youth sports leagues, and reservation services for Settlers Park and 30+ other city parks. Registration via REC1 portal.

Nampa, ID

City of Nampa's parks and recreation department, anchored by the 140,000 sq ft Harward Recreation Center. The Rec Center has five indoor pools (including a 53-foot waterslide and 88-degree recreation pool), an indoor track, and offers year-round American Red Cross swim lessons, WINGS Gymnastics, homeschool PE and swimming, Kids in Action summer day camp, Shooting Stars Youth Basketball League, baseball/softball/t-ball leagues, traveling playground programs, and preschool classes for ages 3–4.

Star, ID

City of Star's recreation department. Wide-ranging youth programming: art, cooking, dance, exercise, music, paint, sports (baseball, basketball, soccer, martial arts), open play, outdoor, STEM, adventure, jewelry making, ballet, yoga, mindfulness. Ages 0 months - 18+. Park amenities: Riverhouse, Riverwalk Park, Skatepark, Hunter's Creek Sports Complex (soccer, baseball, walking trails).

Emmett, ID

Independent recreation district serving Emmett (Gem County). Mission: enrich quality of life through community programs. Programs include STEM Club, Page Turners book club (kids), TOPS adult fitness, First Thursday Senior Day. Event center available for rentals. Programming for all ages from young children through adults.

Eagle, ID

City of Eagle's parks and rec department: introductory-to-intermediate youth sports camps for ages 2-13, Eagle Adventure Camp (M-F 9am-4pm) for school-age youth, and youth leagues in soccer, basketball, baseball, and lacrosse.

Caldwell, ID

Back-to-the-basics, all-weather outdoor school in Caldwell's Sand Hollow area (formerly Coyote Willow). Situated on natural farmland with little woods, gardens, seasonal stream, and pond: operating on the C&S Legacy farm with horse riding lessons and homesteading-type learning opportunities. Classes can be combined individually to match each child's interests as an addition to a homeschool routine. Programs span Academic & Social (Rangers 1-4 ages 5-16), Skills & Explore (Chess Club, Cooking, Farm Kids, Forge & Woodworking, Hearth Makers, Nature Art, Nature Explorers, Nature Wilder), Family & Pre-K (Wilding Family, Nature Farm Family, Woodland Wilds), and Summer 2026 camps (Archery 'Bullseye', Jr Adventures Day Camp, Mighty Bugs & Frogs Camp, Forge Summer Camp). Fully indoor classroom, heated tipi, and large shelters available year-round.

Meridian, ID

Combination indie bookstore + cooking studio in Meridian, opened August 2025. Curated book selection alongside hands-on cooking classes for all ages: explicit kids programming including after-school cooking classes, teen cooking nights, summer cooking camps, and baking clubs. Bookstore is browse-friendly drop-in space; cooking classes run on scheduled session basis.

Boise, ID

Boise School District's Community Education program (register online at boiselearns.org). 300+ enrichment courses across Fall, Winter, and Spring sessions, including a 'Kids & Family Fun' youth track (kids dance, hula, karate, youth fitness) and parent/child night classes. Open to residents region-wide: no additional fee for Meridian, Eagle, Emmett, or Kuna students. Classes are held at Boise school sites; registration is online.

Boise, ID

Recreational hands-on cooking school in downtown Boise offering kids, teen, and family classes alongside adult programming. Kids/teen classes serve ages 8–17; family classes welcome ages 5–7 with an accompanying adult. Also runs school-break and holiday kids' cooking camps plus after-school programs.

Boise, ID

Nonprofit outdoor-education garden school operating a 3/4-acre teaching garden and kitchen at Comba Park. Serves roughly 10,000 youth a year through culinary and garden camps, hands-on cooking classes (produce grown on site), an outdoor preschool, on-site field trips, and in-school outreach lessons. Registration is handled by City of Boise Parks & Recreation.