CulinArt has commenced services at AstroCamp, an 80-acre campus in Idyllwild, Calif., that offers science- and adventure-based summer camp experiences for youth of all ages as well as school field trips all year long.
Meals are served in a 125-seat dining hall during the school year for three- and five-day field trip participants, and during summer camps for one- or two-week stays. The camp offers a variety of activities ranging from rocket and solar experiments to Zip Lining, vine walking, and full-day hikes, among others.
Chef Manager Gianni Pucci oversees a staff of nine who prepare meals for between 80 and up to 300 campers depending on the time of year and reflecting occupancy. “Our role is to not only provide high quality meals for our campers,” explains Brian Armenio, RVP, “but also includes a large focus on the staff [of 50] and chaperone meals. By bringing our Food First approach to the camps, the goal is to increase camp staff retention and improve chaperone feedback scores for food—thus increasing return visits and potential new clients.”
AstroCamp is run by Guided Discoveries, and CulinArt’s partnership includes two other Guided Discoveries adventure camps on Catalina Island, located about 30 miles off the California coast south of Los Angeles. Campers and students participate in marine science studies and aquatic activities, and CulinArt is expected to begin providing dining services on Catalina Island next month.
