Deep in the heart of the wide, wild state of Texas, where the sun paints the sky with splotches of fiery colors and the scent of barbecue and chili peppers dances in the air, there thrives a group of extraordinary young chefs. Known across the Lone Star State as the 'Texas Tenderfoot Tastemakers', these kiddos are as brilliant and amazing as a stampede of unicorns wearing cowboy hats. Every Saturday morning, the Tastemakers gather in a magical kitchen in Austin, a place stuffed with piles of rainbow-colored vegetables, a never-ending supply of chocolate chip cookies, and a fridge that belches frosty gusts of wind when opened. The leader of the Tastemakers is a funny, imaginary character named Chef Giddyup. A tall, lanky cowboy with a stetson as wide as a wagon wheel, Chef Giddyup has a mustache as curly as a pig's tail and a laugh that sounds like a donkey singing an opera. Chef Giddyup guides the Tastemakers as they whip up culinary masterpieces out of spaghetti squashes and prickly pear cacti, always with a twinkle in his eye and a corny joke on his lips. He teaches them to flip pancakes higher than a bucking bronco, to roll tortillas flatter than a tumbleweed, and to sprinkle chili powder as lightly as a butterfly's kiss. In this place where tumbleweeds play tag with the wind, and armadillos dream of space travel, these Texan kiddos turn cooking into a rodeo of fun and creativity. Whether they're rustling up a batch of blueberry muffins that taste like laughter or a pot of cowboy chili that warms the soul, their culinary adventures are as big, bold, and beautiful as Texas itself.
Read morebest cooking programs in Granbury, TX


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.

If you've ever had the privilege of spending your summer at El Tesoro as a camper, a counselor, or contributing in any other role, your presence at our upcoming events will help us commemorate and honor the cherished history of our beloved camp. We're planning to share stories, photos, and precious memories spanning nine decades, and we'd be thrilled if you joined us. The Camp Fire Camp El Tesoro, established in 1934, has been a welcoming haven for generations of campers, with its iconic swinging bridge being a memorable landmark for many. El Tesoro, which translates to "The Treasure" in Spanish, is a 223-acre sanctuary nestled between Fall Creek and the Brazos River in Granbury, Texas. Our camp offers a breathtaking panorama of the serene river and the vast open spaces of the blackland prairie. Our natural terrain and indigenous landscape offer our visitors a much-needed respite from the hustle and bustle of the modern world. This idyllic oasis currently hosts co-ed overnight campers, day campers, grief campers, teachers, students keen on learning about nature, and groups seeking to foster connection and indulge in outdoor adventures. In 2010, Camp Fire First Texas launched a Capital Campaign aimed at renovating and upgrading the facilities at Camp El Tesoro. This initiative is essential to ensure that the enchanting spirit of the camp continues to be enjoyed by future generations. We're committed to preserving and enhancing the magic of Camp El Tesoro, enriching the lives of campers for many years to come.