Rising fifth- through 10th-grade students from the Rochester City School District are on the SUNY Geneseo campus through July 24 investigating the culture and science of cooking during the college’s annual Rochester Young Scholars Academy camp (RYSAG).
During the two-week “Food Fusion Showdown” camp, the 82 students are focusing on the science of food, cultural wisdom and the art of cuisine by attending workshops on culinary arts. They are applying concepts of mathematics and chemistry in understanding food preparation and making wise dietary decisions. It’s the ninth year the college has conducted the highly successful camp. Camp themes from previous years have focused on topics such as global water issues, forensic science and archaeology.
“The students are having a great time learning more about something they have been around all of their lives -- food,” said Susan Norman, camp director and director of Geneseo's Xerox Center for Multicultural Teacher Education. “The work they are doing will empower them with skills and information so they can make informed decisions throughout life about healthy eating.”
Geneseo faculty members are teaching the students food chemistry and other scientific techniques as well as communication skills. Recreational activities are interspersed with the classroom work with Geneseo undergraduate and graduate students, college alumni and Rochester City School District staff serving as counselors.
Major funding for the camp is being provided by the Rochester City School District, Xerox Corp., the Farash Foundation, the Greater Rochester Summer Learning Association and SUNY Geneseo.
The camp will culminate in a closing ceremony July 24 from 10 a.m. to noon in the MacVittie College Union Ballroom on campus. The RYSAG program continues during the school year through a Saturday school program at the Rochester Public Library, where Geneseo education faculty and students do academic follow-up with the RYSAG students involved in the summer camp to continue developing their critical thinking skills.