Teen Chef Volunteer Program
Culinary Education & Community
Tuesdays and Wednesdays 3:30-6:30pm
Revive & Thrive Project has volunteer opportunities for teens in Grand Rapids, Michigan who are interested in learning culinary skills, teamwork, leadership, and healthy eating.
To participate, teens must be at least 14 years old and in 9th grade (or rising 9th graders during the summer).
No long-term commitment is required and sign-up is flexible to accommodate school, sports, and other extracurricular activities. On average, teens participate with Revive & Thrive Project for 18 months.
Teen chef participants must be able to work in a fast-paced environment, take direction, work as part of a team, and be active for 3 hours without significant breaks. No formal kitchen experience is required.
A Day at the Kitchen
Every day in the Revive & Thrive kitchen is different and includes new opportunities to learn about nutrition, cooking, and serving your community. Here is an example of our teen chef shifts:
Tuesdays: cooking and baking recipes for healthy meals
- Follow a recipe to create a delicious, fresh pesto sauce
- Bake sugar-free applesauce cookies from scratch
- Craft a hearty salad with a house-made vinaigrette
Wednesdays: put the finishing touches on healthy meals
- Arrange 65 vegetarian burrito bowl entrees to look appetizing and include correct portion sizes for each client
- Chop fresh herbs and citrus for garnishing meals
- Prepare a special snack for the team to enjoy after meals are picked up and the kitchen is cleaned
Hands-on Learning
Teens in the Revive & Thrive teen chef program have expressed growth in the following areas through their time participating in our kitchen:
Culinary education - how to prepare a healthy, whole-food meal.
How to learn from different perspectives through interacting with kitchen mentors and fellow teens.
How healthy eating is linked with personal well-being.
How to make healthy food choices.
How to work as a team, both as participants and as leaders.
How to become an effective catalyst for positive change and an engaged community member.
Skills that will enable them to be successful in school and prepare for future employment opportunities.
Guiding Principles
The Revive & Thrive Project teen program aims to create a vibrant space where young adults can learn cooking skills, gain kitchen experience, and make a positive impact by providing meals for those in need.
We strive to empower teens, foster collaboration between generations, and celebrate their creativity and compassion. By offering a fun and supportive environment, we aim to nurture the social, emotional, and business competencies of teens while promoting community connectivity.
Program Benefits
Revive & Thrive Project’s teen chef program builds foundations that support life-long success in addition to developing culinary skills:
Creating healthy habits
Making plans
Taking action to meet goals
Understanding the importance of teamwork
Caring for others
Building skills for a resume