2026 YES Summer Food Science Chemistry Camp

Can Chemistry Solve Food Insecurity?

We believe the next generation of scientists will be the ones to end hunger. Our Summer Food Chemistry Young Emerging Scientists program that teaches students (Grades K-8) how to use food chemistry to make our food systems more sustainable and equitable.

July Saturday Series: Snacks, Soil, & Science! 🧪🍎

Get ready for a three-Saturday summer blast this July! This high-energy camp turns Des Moines into a giant laboratory where science is messy, edible, and everywhere. Over three action-packed Saturdays, students will transform into Food Scientists and Dirt Detectives to uncover the secrets of the snack drawer and the world beneath their feet.

The Upcycled Snack Lab: Dive into the fascinating world where science meets snacks! Students will become food scientists on a mission to solve food insecurity. Using the power of chemistry, we’ll turn "ugly" fruit into gourmet Juice Poppers through molecular gastronomy and transform kitchen scraps into "Umami" Chips using dehydration science. We’ll explore how chemical "shields" can stop food waste, learn why bread rises, and even make ice cream in a bag to study freezing-point depression. It's a deliciously fun way to see that science can help feed the world!

The Dirt Detectives: Beyond the kitchen, we’ll dig deep into the city’s soil to see how we can grow food anywhere—from parking lots to rooftops. The adventure culminates in a grand-finale field trip! It’s the ultimate Saturday series for kids who want to get their hands dirty, their bellies full, and their minds blown by the science of the city!

Give your child the tools to see the world—and their kitchen—differently.

K-8th grade

July 11th, 18th, 25th from 9am-12pm

Located at 1620 Pleasant Street Des Moines, IA 50314

Space is limited!

Contact: info@jewelsacademy.org with questions!