Art, Cooking & STEAM Exploration Camp

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About the Camp A week of exploration in art, education, and cooking led by Ana Rios, Sonia Mendoza, and Chef Gerardo Diaz. This camp will be taught in both Spanish and English. In the kitchen, students will learn basic knife and cooking techniques while creating delicious meals! They will cook their own delicious lunches every day. The menu is below. In the art room, they will explore crafts with Ana Rios using reused materials. With Sonia Mendoza, they will learn about the world and build their knowledge in STEM subjects. Our summer camps provide hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Engaging in artistic activities allows children to express themselves in unique ways, boosting their confidence and emotional intelligence. Our experienced instructors offer a supportive and engaging space where all children can discover their passions, build lifelong friendships, and develop a sense of belonging. Not to mention, our summer camps are fun! Snacks will be provided every day and the children will cook their lunches each day. Please send your child with a water bottle or beverage each day. Menu for camp: Monday: Dumplings and smashed cucumber salad Tuesday: Taco Tuesday Wednesday: Chicken nuggets with homemade chips Thursday: Grilled cheese sandwich with tomato soup Friday: Pupusas Esta semana será una semana de exploración en arte, educación y cocina dirigida por Ana Ríos, Sonia Mendoza, y el chef Gerardo Díaz. Los maestros van a enseñar las clases en español y en inglés. En la cocina, los estudiantes aprenderán técnicas básicas de cocina y cuchillos mientras crean comidas deliciosas. Cocinarán sus propios almuerzos ricos todos los días. En la sala de arte, explorarán manualidades con reciclaje. Con Sonia Mendoza, aprenderán sobre el mundo y unos temas de STEM. Nuestros campamentos de verano ofrecen experiencias de aprendizaje prácticas que fomentan la creatividad, el pensamiento crítico y la colaboración. Participar en actividades artísticas permite a los niños expresarse de formas únicas, lo que aumenta su confianza y su inteligencia emocional. Nuestros instructores experimentados ofrecen un espacio de apoyo y participación donde todos los niños pueden descubrir sus pasiones, forjar amistades para toda la vida y desarrollar un sentido de pertenencia. ¡Y además, nuestros campamentos de verano son divertidos! Se proporcionarán refrigerios todos los días y los niños van a cocinar sus almuerzos cada día. Se espera que los niños vengan con su propia bebida (o botella de agua) todos los días. Day Activity STEAM Focus Monday Design Your Own Stickers Art + Technology Tesuday Magic Slime Balls Science Wednesday Build with Clay Structures Engineering + Math Thursday Volcano Eruption Experiment Science Friday Create a Mini City or Park Engineering + Art + Technology Camps at the Center Our summer camps provide hands-on learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration. Engaging in artistic activities allows children to express themselves in unique ways, boosting their confidence and emotional intelligence. Our experienced instructors offer a supportive and engaging space where all children can discover their passions, build lifelong friendships, and develop a sense of belonging. Not to mention, our summer camps are fun! What to bring A water bottle or other beverage each day Sunscreen and a hat Their curiosity What we provide A lunch cooked during the camp Snacks & Water each day All supplies & Materials A safe learning environment Optional Early Drop-Off We are offering parents the option to drop their children off for camp at 9 AM rather than 10 AM. You will be asked if you are interested during the registration check-out. Early Drop-off is an additional $25 charge for the week of camps. We will accept your payment in person on the Monday the same week as camp. About your Instructors Gerardo Diaz Gerardo Diaz is a passionate individual with a love for the great outdoors, culinary arts, and family connections. Born and raised in Mazatlan Sinaloa Gerardo’s affinity for nature was fostered from a young age. His earliest memories are filled with the sights and sounds of the ocean waves sparking a lifelong passion for exploration and adventure. Beyond his love for fishing, Gerardo is also a skilled culinary enthusiast. He delights in the art of cooking, using fresh ingredients and innovative techniques to create mouthwatering dishes that tantalize the taste buds. From sizzling seafood caught on his own fishing excursions to hearty meals prepared with love for his family, Gerardo’s kitchen is always brimming with creativity and flavor. Above all else, Gerardo treasures time spent with his family. Whether they’re gathered around the dinner table sharing stories and laughter or embarking on outdoor escapades together, the bond they share is unbreakable. He believes that family is the cornerstone of happiness and finds true joy in nurturing those relationships through shared experiences and cherished moments. Ana Rios Ana Rios is originally from Guadalajara Jal, and has lived here in the valley for 20 years, of which she has been teaching adults and children for 10 years in different crafts and other topics such as Latino literature and Opening Doors . She is involved in different activities in the community. Membership has its benefits All Silver Memberships and above receive 10% off the registration cost for any class purchase over $40 . Materials fees are not discounted. Become a member today and find community, connection, and creativity. Class FAQ What is the process for cancelling my registration? We ask that you notify us at least 10 days in advance of a class if you need to cancel your registration. You may cancel by phone or email and we will gladly offer you a refund or credit toward a future class. If you cancel with less than 10 days’ notice, we will not be able to provide refunds , due to our contractual obligations and material purchases for each class. Sometimes, the Sonoma Community Center has to cancel a class due to low enrollment or unforeseen circumstances, such as a natural disaster or health emergency. If this happens and we do not offer a reschedule date, you will be refunded 100% of your registration fee (minus the payment processing and services fee), or credit towards a future class. If we are able to offer a reschedule date but you are unable to make the new date, we will gladly offer credit towards a future class. All credits must be used within 1 year. Where can I find your full class policies and guidelines? You can view our full class policies and guidelines here . Accessibility Needs & Commitment The Sonoma Community Center is committed to creating an accessible learning environment. If you require any special considerations(medical, physical, learning) please share them with Sean Baskin, Program Associate, by emailing him at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org so that he can forward them to the relevant Program Director and Instructor. What skill level is right for me? All Levels Welcomes participants from beginning through advanced. Instructor provides a balanced and flexible curriculum suitable for participants with any level of experience. Beginning Participant has little to no experience with this medium and needs or expects guidance at every step during the class. Participant wants to learn about materials, techniques, and vocabulary of the medium. Intermediate Participant is comfortable with the medium and expects both guidance and time to work alone with the medium. Advanced Participant is very confident with all aspects of the medium. Participant is self-motivated; ready to experiment and develop their artistic voice. Is there a building map so I can find my room ahead of time? Click Image to Expand Click Image to Expand Do you pro-rate late additions to classes? Late additions to any program, class, or workshop that has already begun will be allowed on a per-case basis depending upon the Program Director & instructors approval. Late additions will have to pay the full registration cost of the class, along with any materials fees, and will not be prorated for the time missed. You may reach out to the program directors directly, or the Program Associate Sean Baskin at sean@sonomacommunitycenter.org to request a late addition. I am interested in teaching, where can I find more information? We are always looking for new instructors. You can fill out the form directly here . Schedule Monday, July 6 – Friday, July 10, 2026 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM Optional: 9 AM Early Drop-off available. Learn More. This Session from Location Registration Registration Cost $375 Register Registration Button Financial Aid Overview Instructor FAQ