Kitchen Hero Academy (KHA) is a 10-week summer garden-to-table nutrition program for students in middle school. Students learn basic kitchen skills and safety that include reading recipes, healthy nutrition, knife skills, budgeting, grocery shopping, gardening basics, fishing and more. Field trips are incorporated into the program to a dairy farm, wheat farm, grocery stores and fishing at a local pond. Kitchen Heros grow their own garden and use the produce grown for the meals that they prepare. At the end of the program, a "Family Celebration Dinner" is held where the students create the menu then cook and serve the food. This year's KHA meal was Roasted Pear & Mixed Greens Salad with toasted pine nuts for the appetizer, the main course was Eggplant Parm, Tofu Tacos and Vegetarian Dumplings and for dessert there were Mini Cheesecakes with strawberries and homemade cinnamon whipped cream. The KHA graduates receive awards at the family celebration and a brand new set of cooking utensils. 

Kitchen Hero Academy began in 2021 at Spark United Church in partnership with Dr. Megan Bartley, OTD, OTR/L, who is the program director. The academy was created to address food insecurity and is a free program for participants. Reverend Kelcie Exline with Spark United is the Kitchen Hero Academy Assistant Director. Payton Thiessen was KHA's Intern in 2024 and Teanna Cravens volunteered this year with KHA. Many local businesses and donors have helped support and sponsor the program.

You can contact Dr. Megan Bartley or Rev. Kelcie Exline to find out more about the program at kitchenheroacademyhutch@gmail.com.