According to Chantal Sahr, it’s never too early to learn your way around the kitchen.

If you made an afternoon visit to the Community Center in recent weeks, you might have noticed the heavenly aroma of things like calzones and cookies baking in the oven. That’s because Sahr has been running her popular Youth Cooking Classes this summer, introducing young chefs to the wonderful world of cooking.

During the class, students go hands-on with every aspect of the cooking process. They prepare the ingredients from scratch, mix everything together and finally visit the oven or stove to bring the dish to completion. Next up is the most important step of all: Enjoying their creation.

Sahr has hosted these types of classes in the past and said she enjoys working with youngsters.

“I try to pick a variety of dishes the kids will like,” Sahr said. “With the calzones, they made the dough and sauce from scratch, they prepped their own vegetables and peperoni and then we baked them. I try to pick things they can get hands-on with.”

Technique is another aspect of Sahr’s classes, showing her students different ways to prepare vegetables, garlic, basil and the like.

Sahr said 8-15 is a good age range to introduce kids to the kitchen, and she’s happy to adjust her teaching to the student. She may explain things differently to a younger chef, for instance, or give them plastic knives to use so they are more safe but still able to participate.

“From prepping to cooking to cleaning up, these are skills they can keep as they get older,” she continued. “Also, enjoying cooking. I enjoy cooking with them and I hope they enjoy it too.”

Judging by the excitement in the Community Center kitchen, Sahr’s students certainly seem to be enjoying the class as much as their teacher.

“I think they like it so much because it’s hands-on and they each have a job,” Sahr continued. “I usually put them in groups of three and have them work together, so they’re learning teamwork, too. They help each other out and they’re excited because, at the end, it’s something they made themselves.”

Sahr’s classes are one of the summer activities being offered by the Community Services department. Ond-day workshops for participants 8-15 cost $20 (additional $5 collected in class for materials) and are scheduled for three more iterations in the coming months. One will be held Thursday, July 19, from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m. Another is Saturday, Aug. 4, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. The final is Thursday, Aug. 16, from 5:15 to 6:45 p.m.

An additional four-day summer camp is set from Monday, June 18, through Thursday, June 21. This session will be $60 with an additional $15 collected at the first class for materials.

For more information on Youth Cooking Classes and other local activities, visit fh.az.gov/recreation or call 480-816-5130.

“Some kids are more advanced than others, but everyone is learning in these classes,” Sahr said. “I try to make the recipes fun, and the kids seem to like that. I enjoy getting to share cooking with them.”