Afterschool · Ages 9–17
Youth Culinary Passport Afterschool Programs
Most children's cooking programs teach recipes. We teach life.
The idea
Cooking becomes the gateway to confidence, independence, and curiosity.
Students prepare new meals weekly while exploring the stories, science, geography, and traditions behind the food they create.
Enrolling now
Upcoming after-school sessions
Pick a weekday cohort and reserve your child's spot — mid-semester joining is welcome.
3-session programYouth Culinary Passport: American Foodways — The Harvest Table
Program Dates November\ Three weekly sessions (holiday-shortened), one afternoon a week after school\ Pick your weekday section when you book and keep it for the month Give your child the chance to explore the world through food in this immersive, month-long youth culinary experience. Youth Culinary Passport – American Foodways: The Harvest Table is a three-week series designed for curious young cooks who want to build real kitchen skills while discovering global culture — this month, right here at home. Each week, students explore American regional cooking through the lens of the autumn harvest. From Indigenous foodways and farm-to-table traditions to the melting-pot dishes that define American home cooking, students learn how a vast, varied landscape — coasts, farmland, and orchards — and the turning of the seasons shape the way we eat. Classes are fully hands-on — kids cook complete dishes from start to finish while building confidence, knife skills, kitchen safety, roasting and baking fundamentals, flavor balancing, and teamwork. To deepen the experience, music plays throughout each session, and visual displays provide cultural context such as maps of American food regions, the story of the "three sisters" (corn, beans, and squash), seasonal harvests, and the tradition of gathering around a shared table. The kitchen becomes a classroom where food, history, geography, and creativity come together. This program emphasizes curiosity and confidence. Students are encouraged to explore flavors openly — discovering how seasonal produce, simple technique, and a little care turn a harvest into a meal worth sharing. Every class is designed so there's something each child connects with, while gently expanding their palate and perspective. Program Structure Schedule: One afternoon a week, after school. Choose your weekday section when you book.\ Duration: Three consecutive weeks (no session Thanksgiving week)\ Class Size: Limited to 10 students Curriculum Focus – American Foodways American regional cooking and the autumn harvest How land and season shape food — coastal, farmland, and orchard traditions Indigenous foodways and the "three sisters": corn, beans, and squash Core techniques: roasting seasonal vegetables, baking, and building a soup or stock from scratch Cooking for a shared table — the tradition of gathering around food Please Note This is a progressive, three-week series and is designed to be taken as a full month. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.
3-session programYouth Culinary Passport: Asian Kitchens
Program Dates January 2027\ Three weekly sessions, one afternoon a week after school\ Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM (ages 9–11) or Wednesdays 4–7 PM (ages 12–17) This month: Asian Kitchens. Three weeks, three countries, and the students choose. Instead of a whole month in one place, January's Youth Culinary Passport visits a different Asian kitchen every week. Our students asked for it, and they get to pick the stops: enrolled students vote for their top three of the four cuisines we teach, and we announce the lineup before the month begins. China: a student favorite, with dishes like crispy wontons, stir-fried vegetables, and steamed ma lai gao. Vietnam: fresh, bright flavors, with dishes like crispy spring rolls and savory crêpes. The Philippines: comforting, crowd-pleasing Filipino home cooking. Thailand: the balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy, with dishes like green papaya salad and mango sticky rice. Each week, young cooks explore a country's geography, ingredients, and food traditions through its cuisine, with music and visuals from each stop filling the room. Classes are fully hands-on: young cooks make complete dishes from start to finish while building confidence, knife skills, kitchen safety, flavor balancing, and teamwork. Two Sections, by Age Pick the section for your child's age when you book, and keep it for the month. Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM · ages 9–11: Jan 12, Jan 19, Jan 26. Guided, playful, and confidence-building, with lots of tasting. Wednesdays 4–7 PM · ages 12–17: Jan 13, Jan 20, Jan 27. A faster pace, more advanced technique, and more independence in the kitchen. Program Structure Schedule: One afternoon a week, after school\ Duration: Three consecutive weeks, one country each week\ Class Size: 8 students on Tuesdays, 9 on Wednesdays Please Note This is a three-week series designed to be taken as a full month. The three countries are chosen by student vote from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Thailand, and announced before the month begins. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.
4-session programYouth Culinary Passport: February 2027
Program Dates February 2027\ Four weekly sessions, one afternoon a week after school\ Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM (ages 9–11) or Wednesdays 4–7 PM (ages 12–17) Destination announced soon. Give your child the chance to explore the world through food in this month-long youth culinary experience. Each month of the Youth Culinary Passport travels to a new country or food tradition, using its cuisine as a way into geography, culture, ingredients, and history. Past destinations have included Mexico, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, and American Foodways. Classes are fully hands-on: young cooks make complete dishes from start to finish while building confidence, knife skills, kitchen safety, flavor balancing, and teamwork. Music and visuals from each destination fill the room, so the kitchen becomes a classroom where food, culture, and creativity come together. Every class is designed so each child finds something they connect with, while gently expanding their palate and perspective. Two Sections, by Age Pick the section for your child's age when you book, and keep it for the month. Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM · ages 9–11: Feb 2, Feb 9, Feb 16, Feb 23. Guided, playful, and confidence-building, with lots of tasting. Wednesdays 4–7 PM · ages 12–17: Feb 3, Feb 10, Feb 17, Feb 24. A faster pace, more advanced technique, and more independence in the kitchen. Program Structure Schedule: One afternoon a week, after school\ Duration: Four consecutive weeks\ Class Size: 8 students on Tuesdays, 9 on Wednesdays Please Note This is a progressive, four-week series designed to be taken as a full month. The destination and menu are announced before the month begins. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.
3-session programYouth Culinary Passport: March 2027
Program Dates March 2027\ Three weekly sessions, one afternoon a week after school\ Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM (ages 9–11) or Wednesdays 4–7 PM (ages 12–17) Destination announced soon. Give your child the chance to explore the world through food in this month-long youth culinary experience. Each month of the Youth Culinary Passport travels to a new country or food tradition, using its cuisine as a way into geography, culture, ingredients, and history. Past destinations have included Mexico, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, and American Foodways. Classes are fully hands-on: young cooks make complete dishes from start to finish while building confidence, knife skills, kitchen safety, flavor balancing, and teamwork. Music and visuals from each destination fill the room, so the kitchen becomes a classroom where food, culture, and creativity come together. Every class is designed so each child finds something they connect with, while gently expanding their palate and perspective. Two Sections, by Age Pick the section for your child's age when you book, and keep it for the month. Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM · ages 9–11: Mar 2, Mar 9, Mar 16. Guided, playful, and confidence-building, with lots of tasting. Wednesdays 4–7 PM · ages 12–17: Mar 3, Mar 10, Mar 17. A faster pace, more advanced technique, and more independence in the kitchen. Program Structure Schedule: One afternoon a week, after school\ Duration: Three consecutive weeks\ Class Size: 8 students on Tuesdays, 9 on Wednesdays Please Note This is a progressive, three-week series designed to be taken as a full month. The destination and menu are announced before the month begins. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.
4-session programYouth Culinary Passport: April 2027
Program Dates April 2027\ Four weekly sessions, one afternoon a week after school\ Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM (ages 9–11) or Wednesdays 4–7 PM (ages 12–17) Destination announced soon. Give your child the chance to explore the world through food in this month-long youth culinary experience. Each month of the Youth Culinary Passport travels to a new country or food tradition, using its cuisine as a way into geography, culture, ingredients, and history. Past destinations have included Mexico, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, and American Foodways. Classes are fully hands-on: young cooks make complete dishes from start to finish while building confidence, knife skills, kitchen safety, flavor balancing, and teamwork. Music and visuals from each destination fill the room, so the kitchen becomes a classroom where food, culture, and creativity come together. Every class is designed so each child finds something they connect with, while gently expanding their palate and perspective. Two Sections, by Age Pick the section for your child's age when you book, and keep it for the month. Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM · ages 9–11: Apr 6, Apr 13, Apr 20, Apr 27. Guided, playful, and confidence-building, with lots of tasting. Wednesdays 4–7 PM · ages 12–17: Apr 7, Apr 14, Apr 21, Apr 28. A faster pace, more advanced technique, and more independence in the kitchen. Program Structure Schedule: One afternoon a week, after school\ Duration: Four consecutive weeks\ Class Size: 8 students on Tuesdays, 9 on Wednesdays Please Note This is a progressive, four-week series designed to be taken as a full month. The destination and menu are announced before the month begins. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.
4-session programYouth Culinary Passport: May 2027
Program Dates May 2027\ Four weekly sessions, one afternoon a week after school\ Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM (ages 9–11) or Wednesdays 4–7 PM (ages 12–17) Destination announced soon. Give your child the chance to explore the world through food in this month-long youth culinary experience. Each month of the Youth Culinary Passport travels to a new country or food tradition, using its cuisine as a way into geography, culture, ingredients, and history. Past destinations have included Mexico, Spain, Italy, China, Japan, and American Foodways. Classes are fully hands-on: young cooks make complete dishes from start to finish while building confidence, knife skills, kitchen safety, flavor balancing, and teamwork. Music and visuals from each destination fill the room, so the kitchen becomes a classroom where food, culture, and creativity come together. Every class is designed so each child finds something they connect with, while gently expanding their palate and perspective. Two Sections, by Age Pick the section for your child's age when you book, and keep it for the month. Tuesdays 3:30–6:30 PM · ages 9–11: May 4, May 11, May 18, May 25. Guided, playful, and confidence-building, with lots of tasting. Wednesdays 4–7 PM · ages 12–17: May 5, May 12, May 19, May 26. A faster pace, more advanced technique, and more independence in the kitchen. Program Structure Schedule: One afternoon a week, after school\ Duration: Four consecutive weeks\ Class Size: 8 students on Tuesdays, 9 on Wednesdays Please Note This is a progressive, four-week series designed to be taken as a full month. The destination and menu are announced before the month begins. Dietary considerations can often be accommodated if shared in advance. Knowledge Required Beginner-friendly. No prior cooking experience needed.
Free · Nothing to commit to
Not sure yet? Come try a class, free.
Our Youth Culinary Open House puts your child into a real session at the Sherman Oaks Galleria. Three hours, fully hands on, a whole meal cooked start to finish. It is not a demo and not a taste: they cook the way our students cook every week.
- ✓Drop off, or stay in the cafe at the front of our suite
- ✓Meet the instructors and ask anything, about the Passport or the camps
- ✓Ages 9 to 17, no kitchen experience needed
The next open house
Seats are limited and we only run these now and then, usually when a weekday cohort has room.
How the month works
A new country every four weeks
- 1
Weeks 1–3 · Explore a country
Progressive, hands-on cooking through a featured country each month, with the cultural context behind every dish.
- 2
Week 4 · Family tasting
A culmination experience where students cook for — and share the table with — their families.
What they take home
Skills far beyond the recipe
- ✓Knife skills & kitchen safety
- ✓Organization & time management
- ✓Independent confidence
- ✓Teamwork & communication
- ✓Problem-solving
- ✓Cultural curiosity
- ✓A healthy relationship with food
What makes it special
More than a cooking class
- 1
An immersive room
Regional music and cultural visuals set the scene alongside the cooking.
- 2
Always hands-on
Every class involves active cooking — never watching from a stool.
- 3
Rewards that motivate
Stickers for attendance, monthly rewards, and milestone recognition.
- 4
Flexible enrollment
Multiple weekly time slots, and mid-semester joining is welcome.
Where
At our Sherman Oaks Galleria campus
- Campus
- Sherman Oaks Galleria
- Address
- 15301 Ventura Blvd
- Ages
- 9–17
In the kitchen
Real kids, real skills
Reviews
What families are saying
“Our two kids have really enjoyed Chef Marc and team's cooking classes at Life Plus. They look forward to each session and come home excited to share what they have learned. Life Plus has helped build their confidence in the kitchen and encouraged a greater interest in cooking at home. Marc and team do a great job connecting with the kids, making the classes engaging and approachable. His patience and encouragement made a positive impression and we all appreciate the experience this class has provided. We would highly recommend it to other families!”
Hilary and Ian Joynervia Google“My 8 year old daughter loved the summer camps, all the different dishes she was cooking and trying new flavors. She always came back home with amazing stories of the cooking class new tips she learned in the kitchen. I definitely recommend it for curios kids that are not afraid to try new foods.”
Reyna Francovia Google“My daughter had an amazing time at the cooking camp at Life Plus Los Angeles! She looked forward to going every day and came home excited to tell us about everything she learned. She loved making all kinds of different foods, trying new recipes, and, of course, getting to enjoy everything she made! The staff was incredibly friendly, welcoming, and supportive. They made her feel comfortable from day one, as if she had been part of the Life Plus Los Angeles family forever. It was such a positive, fun, and encouraging environment, and she can’t wait to come back. I highly recommend this camp to any family looking for a fun and engaging experience for their child!”
Esther Fritzvia Google“Took my 16 yr old and met a friend and her daughter for the Brunch class. We had the best time! Learned a lot, and made delicious food. Wonderful experience, even the kids loved it! Planning on meeting up again to take another class soon!”
“We had an absolutely wonderful experience at Life Plus Schools! Marc was instrumental in helping bring my daughter's Wicked-themed birthday party to life, and it met all of our expectations! From the very beginning, Marc guided me through every step of the planning process with exceptional attention to detail, professionalism, and care. His communication was always prompt, thoughtful, and incredibly helpful. He made what could have been a stressful planning experience feel seamless and enjoyable. The party itself was pure magic! Marc created the perfect playlist that had the children singing along while baking, and every detail reflected the theme beautifully. Watching my daughter's face light up throughout the celebration was priceless. He truly helped make her dreams come true. The entire Life Plus Schools team was fantastic. Every staff member was warm, engaging, and wonderful with the children. Their energy, patience, and ability to connect with the kids created such a fun and welcoming atmosphere. If you're looking for a unique, memorable, and professionally executed birthday experience, I cannot recommend Life Plus Schools enough. Thank you, Marc, for creating such a special day for our family. We can't wait to come back!”
Ryan Jordanvia Google“Such a great night with my kids! We love Camila and made delicious sushi!”
Marni Schapirovia Google“We had such a great time in this class with my daughter! James was incredibly knowledgeable, engaging, and made the experience both fun and educational. He guided us through creating a delicious meal and made everyone feel comfortable throughout the process. We’ll definitely be back the next time we’re in town. Thank you for making this such a memorable and worthwhile experience!”
Lydia Evansvia GoogleGive your kid the Passport.
Multiple weekly slots — and it's never too late to join mid-semester.