Teaching Kitchen

Teaching Kitchen

The Teaching Kitchen at The Sampson Family YMCA was established between 2012 and 2014, with the generosity and vision of the Sampson and Eden Hall Foundations, in order to provide healthy cooking classes to the community. It is one of a handful of teaching kitchens in Pennsylvania that operates as part of the nationwide Teaching Kitchen Collaborative and the first community-based organization to join that initiative, created by The Culinary Institute of America and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, to promote healthy living.

Our programming is safe, accessible, exciting and educational for individuals at every stage of life and prioritizes overall health and wellness, disease prevention and management, and delicious and nutritious meal creation on limited budgets.


Cooking & Canning: Preserving the Harvest

Sampson Family YMCA
8/11/26 - 8/25/26
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Join us in the kitchen as we explore tasty ways to preserve the summer harvest. Canning will be led by our very own Laura Hamilton, who will show us how to safely use a water bath to can and seal our delicious creations.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Chef Oliver – [email protected]



Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
4/30/26
@ 08:00 AM
12/31/26 Online / Front Desk $ 15.00$ 25.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Special Rate
08/11/26
Garden Fresh Hot Sauce & Sweet Chili Sauce - Tu - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
$15 - $25 Register  
08/25/26
SALSA! Pico De Gallo and Peach Salsa - Tu - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
$15 - $25 Register  

Cooking Duos! Family Friendly Cooking Class!

Sampson Family YMCA
7/23/26 - 10/12/26
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Are you a parent and child that want to take a class together? Or perhaps two friends, a couple or other cooking Duo? This class is for you! Come cook with us in the Teaching Kitchen as we celebrate the beginning of Spring with delicious opportunities to cook together (with a special welcome to young chefs.) This class is recommended for cooks of all ages who can handle tasks like whisking, stirring, cutting with child friendly knives and following instructions around a hot stove with relative ease, so please be mindful when registering.

Individuals, Friends, Couples, Parents and kids are encouraged to register

Each Registration covers the cost of two attendees.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email Chef Oliver – [email protected]



Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
3/4/26
@ 08:00 AM
12/31/26 Online / Front Desk $ 25.00$ 35.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Special Rate
07/23/26
Pork Chops with Zucchini Salsa - Th - 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
$25 - $35 Register  
08/06/26
Sesame Noodles & Vegetables with Peanut Chicken Salad - Th - 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
$25 - $35 Register  
09/14/26
Key Lime Bars - Th
$25 - $35
Registration
will open on
08/03/2026
@ 08:00 am
09/21/26
$25 - $35
Registration
will open on
08/03/2026
@ 08:00 am
10/12/26
$25 - $35
Registration
will open on
08/24/2026
@ 08:00 am

Grilling and Chilling, Poolside

Sampson Family YMCA
8/3/26 - 8/21/26
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Join us Poolside for good eats, grilled meats, and a great way to beat the heat!

For additional questions, diet or allergen concerns, or accessibility needs, please contact Chef Oliver at [email protected].



Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
4/30/26
@ 08:00 AM
12/31/26 Online / Front Desk $ 10.00$ 20.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Special Rate
08/03/26
Hamburgers and Watermelon Margaritas Poolside - Mo - 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
$10 - $20 Register  
08/21/26
Tiki Night: Grilled Peach Waffles, Ice Cream & Punch - Fr - 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm
$10 - $20 Register  

Lunch and Learn with CCAC’s Nutrition and Dietetics Program

Sampson Family YMCA
10/6/26 - 10/13/26
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Join the CCAC Dietetics program in the Teaching Kitchen for snacks, occasional hands-on making, or visual food demonstrations, and discussion of the nutrition behind eating for the management of health conditions. We will also discuss core food groups to learn more about why your trainer or doctor is always telling you to add more protein or fiber to your diet. 

January 20 – Eat your Protein!

February 3 – Eating to Manage Inflammation

February 17 – Eating for Blood Pressure Management

March 3 – Eating for Bone Health and Osteoarthritis Management

March 17 – Eating for Diabetes Management

April 7 – Eat your Fiber!

Members: $10 Class

Non-Members: $25/class

For information or questions about dietary restrictions message Chef Oliver at [email protected]



Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
Members and Non-members 12/15/25
@ 08:00 AM
12/31/26 Online / Front Desk $ 0.00$ 10.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Special Rate
10/06/26
Cancer & You: Eliminating Risky Foods, Increasing Protective Foods - Tu - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
$10 Register  
Closes
10/31/2026
10/13/26
Managing Osteoporosis with Diet - Tu - 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
$10 Register  
Closes
10/31/2026

Master Chef Kids: SUMMER EDITION!

Sampson Family YMCA
7/27/26 - 7/30/26
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Hey Master Chef Kids! Join us for our Summer Edition in July! We’ll be cooking up lots of kitchen and garden fun for two weeks, one at the beginning of July and one at the end! Sign up for each week or for the classes that most interest you!

Session 1 – Mon July 6th to Thu July 9th

9:30am to 12:30pm

July 6th: Garden Grub | Nachos and Salsa

  • Potting Tomato Plants or Herbs to take home with instructions for care
  • Making Salsa together in the kitchen then using it to make lunch 
  • Build your own Nachos Bar, we will cook the toppings together (ground chicken or beyond beef for vegetarians)
  • Lunch of Nachos

July 7th: Baking Basics: Berry Pies and Oatmeal Cookies

  • Video on how flour is made from milling grain
  • Grinding our own grain (oats) to make oatmeal cookies
  • Intro to pastries – easy pastry dough for summer pies
  • Blueberry or strawberry pies 

July 8th: DIY Picnic | Shish kebabs and  Loaded Baked Potato Salad

  • Loaded Baked Potato Salad
  • Kebabs with Herby Dressing
  • DIY Picnic Baskets / Assembling the ultimate Picnic Basket
  • Build your stacked Picnic Basket 

July 9th: Cartoon Food!| Gravity Falls & The Owl House

  • Apple Blood (Apple Juice Based)
  • Fried Orbs (Cheesy Rice Balls)
  • Infinite Pizza
  • Griffin Noodles (Sauteed Zoodles)

Session 2 – Mon July 27th to Thu 30th

9:30am to 12:30pm

July 27th: Is it a sandwich?

One of life’s greatest questions will be asked and answered in 3 ways

  • Arepas
  • BLTs with garden lettuce
  • Ice-cream Sandwiches

July 28th: Gaming World Food

Fortnite Meets Minecraft

  • Durr Burger
  • Med-kit Rice Krispie Treats
  • Slurp Juice
  • Grass Blocks

July 29th: Garden Pasta – Ravioli and Fettucine

  • Plant Herbs to Take Home
  • Harvest Herbs and Greens from the kitchen garden to make our sauce
  • Make Pasta from Scratch
  • Make Marinara Sauce from Scratch

July 30th: Summer Picnic Take 2

  • S’mores Bars
  • Watermelon and Peach Salad
  • Grilling Hot Dogs for a Loaded Hot Dog Bar
  • Picnic in the Garden!


Registration Information  

Open Close Register At MemberNon-Member
6/18/26
@ 08:00 AM
8/8/26 Online / Front Desk $ 25.00$ 40.00

Available Sessions

Date(s) Minimum Deposit Special Rate
07/27/26 - 07/30/26
All of Week 2 - Mo,Tu,We,Th - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
$ 100.00 $100 - $150 Session is Full
07/27/26 - 07/30/26
Is it a sandwich? - Mo - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
$ 0.00 $25 - $40 Register  
07/28/26
Gaming World Foods: Fortnite Meets Minecraft - Tu - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
$ 0.00 $25 - $40 Session is Full
07/29/26
Garden Pasta - Ravioli and Fettucine - We - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
$ 0.00 $25 - $40 Session is Full
07/30/26
Summer Picnic Take 2 - Th - 9:30 am - 12:30 pm
$ 0.00 $25 - $40 Session is Full