“I signed a lease before we really knew what was happening,” said chef Tiffany Cavegn. “And then sports started shutting down, schools started shutting down, and we just didn’t know.” Didn’t know if she would be able to open this year at all. After a few months passed talk of reopening began.
Since then, she’s been working to get ready – keeping up with requirements for schools and for summer camps, making sure she knew what she needed to do.
“As the weeks went by, there were more and more documents that came out for guidelines. I probably have 170 pages worth of documents between the CDC and the American Camp association that we’ve been using to make sure we keep everything clean and follow the right protocols,” said Cavegn.
The school opened for its first summer camp this week. Between the reduced capacity of students and the extra cleaning protocols, income is down and expenses are up.
“Not only in the supplies, which are a lot more expensive than your regular glass cleaner, but also they are very hard to come by and they’re in high demand. And, it’s extra hours for our staff. And it’s a lot of worry just to make sure we got it all.”
The school has cleaning protocols in place for before the students arrive. The students stay at their cooking station and don’t share any materials. The room is cleaned throughout the day, and at the end of the day as well.
“And then each week between different groups of students we have another weekly set of protocols.”
So far there haven’t been any state or federal grants to help the school get by. It is a non-profit school, and most of the relief programs in place only apply to for-profit businesses, leaving Cavegn to wait and hope.
“I do believe that something will happen. Something will come through. We will be open and we are going to make it through.”
The Kids Cooking School has week long day camps most weeks this summer, and some still have openings. If the school survives the summer, and more restrictions are lifted, Cavegn hopes to offer single day camps on days when there is no school and have opportunities for adults as well.
