Exploring Math Through Cooking: Austin Hatcher Foundation Children Learn Measurement at Culinary Arts Camp
Summer fun took an educational twist at the Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer during this year’s Cooking Up Fun Summer Camp. As part of the Foundation’s commitment to providing enriching experiences for children and families affected by pediatric cancer, campers explored hands-on math and science through the joy of cooking.
This unique camp blended STEAM learning with culinary creativity, allowing students to engage with core concepts in a fun and interactive setting. Throughout the week, they practiced using a wide range of measurement tools, building skills they could see (and taste!) in action.
The week began with lessons in linear measurement, using tape measures, rulers, and even a rolling measuring wheel to understand length and distance. Campers measured everything from furniture to floor tiles, applying both metric and standard units. They then used that knowledge to measure ingredients and bake a breadstick more than six feet long, learning how precision can make or break a recipe.
Next came mass measurement, where campers explored kitchen scales, bucket balances, and hanging scales to measure a variety of objects. These hands-on lessons prepared them to weigh ingredients for crepes, emphasizing accuracy and consistency in cooking.
To measure volume, campers used measuring cups, spoons, and graduated cylinders. They compared liquid and dry measurements, practiced leveling off dry ingredients, and observed how different tools gave them different levels of precision. These skills were then applied to make delicious, customized ice cream flavors!
For the camp’s grand finale, students combined everything they had learned to create original cookie recipes. Using their new measurement skills, campers experimented with ingredient quantities, mixed and baked their creations, and tested the results, tweaking ratios to improve their final product. It was a sweet (and sometimes crumbly) journey through trial and error, just like real chefs and scientists experience in the kitchen.
Not only did these campers sharpen their math and science skills, but they also built confidence, practiced teamwork, and most importantly, had a blast.
Camps like these are part of the Austin Hatcher Foundation’s mission to provide children with mental, emotional, and physical tools for a healthy future. Through innovative programs like Culinary Arts Camp, students affected by pediatric cancer are given opportunities to grow, learn, and thrive in safe, joyful environments.
By combining education with fun, this year’s Culinary Arts Camp proved that learning can be both meaningful and delicious.
Want to learn more about the Foundation’s enrichment programs?
Visit www.hatcherfoundation.org to learn more, see upcoming events, find volunteer opportunities, and support our mission.
