South Kent School’s North Campus has become a dynamic hub for sustainability and practical learning, where students are embracing hands-on experiences in both culinary arts and sustainable building projects.
Led by three skilled chefs, our Culinary Program, with its flagship “Friday Night Cooking School,” is engaging 25 students in all aspects of food preparation, cooking, and presentation. Together, they have crafted dishes like filet of beef with all the trimmings and a pasta night with a variety of house-made sauces, impressing everyone who attended. These Friday evening cooking sessions, which will continue through the end of the year, foster teamwork and build practical skills that students can carry forward.
Next up, the kitchen team plans to enter the town of Kent’s annual gingerbread building contest, applying their culinary creativity in a fun, festive competition.
Beyond the kitchen, students have been hard at work on projects that support the School’s commitment to sustainability. More than 30 students have taken on the construction of 26 raised garden beds, crafted from durable wood and metal materials, which are now set up in the School’s large hoop house. Several of these beds have already been seeded with winter rye as a cover crop, and the students are cultivating seven different cold-weather crops from seed to continue harvesting through the colder months.
Additionally, students are assembling shelving units for the walk-in refrigerator, which will be used to store produce and other perishables in the North Campus kitchen. The projects do not stop there—upcoming initiatives include building a compost bin to support a closed-loop food system and designing chicken tractors that will be used in the spring for rotational grazing.
“Our North Campus initiatives are creating an incredible momentum, combining practical skills with a deep sense of responsibility and respect for the environment,” said Brian Sullivan, Head of School. “South Kent has a long-standing tradition of teaching environmental stewardship, civil service, and reverence for the natural world. Seeing our students actively engaged in these sustainability projects—whether they’re preparing meals, constructing garden beds, or planning for future growth—is inspiring. It’s a powerful reflection of the values we hold dear and our commitment to developing thoughtful, self-reliant young men.”