Kitchen Cook

Children's Aid is a longstanding and highly respected nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the well-being and development of children and families in need throughout New York. Among its many impactful programs, Children's Aid operates a summer day camp located in Chappaqua, NY, that uniquely serves children from Manhattan, the Bronx, and Westchester. This camp offers a rare and valuable opportunity for children from diverse socio-economic, cultural, and racial backgrounds to come together in a safe and nurturing environment where they can enjoy traditional summer camp activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, sports, and horsemanship. The camp's central philosophy is to foster relationship building alongside recreation, helping children ages 6 to 13 build confidence, make new friends, and create lasting memories during their summer break. Transportation is thoughtfully provided with buses running daily to bring campers and staff to and from the venue, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all participants.

The Kitchen Cook role at Children's Aid summer camp is critical to the overall well-being of 350 campers each day. This position is responsible for preparing and serving a hot lunch that meets nutritional standards while catering to a large volume of children. Beyond daily meal preparation, the Kitchen Cook plays an essential role in managing kitchen staff, coordinating the ordering and storage of food provisions, and maintaining compliance with all pertinent health and safety regulations mandated by the Department of Health, USDA, the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), and the American Camp Association (ACA). Attention to cleanliness and hygiene in both food preparation areas and eating spaces is paramount to safeguard camper health. The Kitchen Cook must also facilitate special meals, such as those served during Parents Day, affirming the camp's commitment to providing an exceptional experience not only for campers but their families as well.

This hourly position offers a salary range of $23 to $26 per hour and demands a candidate with at least three years of professional experience cooking for large groups of 200 or more, alongside thorough knowledge of USDA guidelines and local health codes relevant to food service. Children's Aid is steadfastly committed to equal employment opportunity, fostering a work environment free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation based on a broad spectrum of protected characteristics. The successful candidate must be flexible regarding work schedules, adapting to in-person or hybrid models based on department needs, thereby ensuring effective teamwork and smooth communication within the camp's operations. Ultimately, the Kitchen Cook at Children's Aid summer camp is not just a food preparer but a valued contributor to a holistic environment that champions child development, safety, and community engagement during one of the most anticipated times of the year for young campers.