KBK Sparks Baking Project At Camp Fire USA

Camp Fire Boys and Girls
Thursday, 24 January 2002

Camp Fire USA, one of the nation's premiere youth development organizations, recently accepted a donation of 1,000 KBK Activity Kits, featuring KBK cookie and cake decorating tools and mixes. "The Kidz Baking Klub (KBK) products fit so well into our new modular curriculum that we were delighted to take advantage of this opportunity," comments Kathy Hermes, project coordinator for Camp Fire USA.

"Because Camp Fire USA has never received such a unique donation, the program staff tested everything. Our coordinators were fascinated with the edible papers and food color gel markers and paints," said Hermes. "These products were a lot of fun and we know the kids will really enjoy them."

The donation was made in conjunction with a project initiated by the Home Baking Association (HBA), of which Chicago Metallic, the parent company of KBK, is a member. HBA developed a curriculum to encourage families and their children to get into the kitchen and cook together. The program includes 30 activities for children from kindergarten to grade five. KBK projects are being incorporated into the lower grade lesson plans.

Chicago Metallic's Director of Marketing John Cooper, developer of KBK, explains the background: "Our goal at KBK was to make baking and decorating easy for kids by providing them with the tools to create fabulous looking cookies and cakes the entire family could enjoy. Using the DecoEdible™ papers and food color gel markers, paints and crafting tools, we turned baked goods into a new, fun crafting medium."

The new HBA curriculum will be integrated into a number of Camp Fire USA's programs, including its new Community Family Clubs, which will bring parents and children together in a variety of settings, including schools and churches for regular meetings and family activities.

Chicago Metallic, The Bakeware Company, is based in Lake Zurich, IL, and has been a well-respected name in specialty gourmet retailers and commercial channels for more than 100 years. For more details on the entire Kidz Baking Klub program (for kids ages 5 and up), log on to the club's web site, www.kidzbakingklub.com.

Camp Fire USA is one of the nation's leading not-for-profit youth development organizations, serving over 650,000 participants annually. Camp Fire USA, with national headquarters in Kansas City, Mo., provides all-inclusive, coeducational programs in hundreds of communities across the United States. Founded in 1910, Camp Fire USA's outcome-based programs include youth leadership, self-reliance, after school groups, camping and environmental education and child care. Camp Fire USA's mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders.

For more information, or to contact Camp Fire Boys and Girls, see their website at: www.campfire.org