“The kitchen is my playground,” says April Hamilton, the locally based food blogger behind April’s Kitchen Counter. With a love for cooking that demands to be shared, Hamilton says she couldn’t shake the idea of starting a cooking club at a school in Baton Rouge.

Thrive Academy has a unique take on education for students who have obstacles in their lives. Focusing on small class sizes, mentor-led dormitory living, and interactive after-school activities, the school officially launched its new cooking club, with the help of Hamilton, at the beginning of this school year.

In the club’s meetings, the students cook and discuss science and math while Hamilton adds nutritional motivation, asking them, “Who wants to be strong, smart and successful?” It’s important to Hamilton that the children are reminded of the importance of making good food choices.

The groundbreaking for the new school building, which took place last September, was catered by the cooking club. “It truly is a joy to play in the kitchen with them at this life-changing school,” adds Hamilton.

For more insight on Thrive Academy, Hamilton’s cooking club and some of their delicious recipes, check out the full story in the January issue of inRegister, on newsstands now.