In the magical land of Illinois, stretching its broad shoulders from the bustling streets of Chicago to the tranquil fields of southern prairies, there was a unique group of kids who called themselves the "Sizzling Sorcerers." They were not ordinary kids, oh no! They were master wizards in the enchanting art of Cooking! These Sizzling Sorcerers could whip up gustatory wonders from the simplest ingredients. Potatoes were transformed into crispy golden fries sprinkled with unicorn dust, and tomatoes were turned into swirling red rivers of pizza sauce that you'd swear were poured from the jug of an Italian gondolier. Each Sizzling Sorcerer hailed from a different corner of Illinois. There was Max from the Windy City, who could make deep-dish pies soar in the air, and Ellie from Springfield, whose pumpkin pies were so good; you'd think they were baked in the ovens of the Fairy Queen herself! Lucas from Rockford, with a flick of his wrist, could make roasted corn dance on the cob. And Maya from Naperville, who twirled pasta with such grace, it was like watching a ballet of noodles! Their leader was the great Chef Cheddar, a giant mouse with a toque blanche, who taught them the essence of cooking. "Remember, my little sizzlers," he would say, his whiskers twitching with excitement, "cooking is not just about feeding the belly but also warming the heart." In Illinois, the Sizzling Sorcerers filled the air with flavors, laughter, and the magical aroma of their marvelous creations. Each dish was a delightful adventure, a testament to their friendship and the joy of cooking together.
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What began in a humble New York City apartment with just a single student, Spark, has since blossomed into an enriching program impacting thousands of children. Our unique educational approach combines the elements of art, yoga, meditation, and nature to create a holistic learning environment. This distinctive blend is what sets Spark apart, allowing us to reach and inspire a multitude of children in truly meaningful ways. With an array of offerings to accommodate various schedules and needs, Spark has something for everyone. Our services extend beyond the standard after school and weekend classes to include holiday and summer camps, birthday parties, portfolio preparation, private classes, and custom pods. We also welcome homeschool groups and are thrilled to announce the recent addition of a forest school program to our repertoire. You can find Spark on-site in various schools and at our main studio located in the Upper West Side. But we're not stopping there - we're also planning to expand to the Upper East Side and Brooklyn. For our families in Pennsylvania, we run the program from our family studio there. And if you're not in close proximity to any of our locations, don't worry. We offer in-home instruction and virtual options to ensure that Spark can reach you, no matter where you are. We invite you to explore all the ways you can experience Spark and look forward to helping bring our program to you.


The Talking Farm is a not-for-profit organization founded in 2006 with a goal of connecting communities to the benefits of a healthy local food system. Today, they are achieving this goal in a variety of ways, from producing, distributing, and selling locally grown, nutritious food to teaching communities about sustainability, urban agriculture, horticulture, and biodiversity. The Howard Street Farm in Skokie, Illinois is the site for their 2.5-acre urban farm project. In the past decade, The Talking Farm has provided over 12 comprehensive, hands-on educational programs and over 3,000 learning hours at the Howard Street Farm. In addition, they have distributed over 21,000 pounds of locally grown produce to the community and have plans to distribute over 60,000 pounds by 2022. With the help of generous donations, The Talking Farm hopes to continue to expand the Howard Street Farm to include 2.5-acres of growing fields, edible woodlands, fruit and nut trees, a Greenhouse, and a Welcome Center that doubles as an indoor learning space.