THE MOMENT “I CAN’T” BECOMES “I DID”: LITTLE KITCHEN ACADEMY OPENS REGISTRATION AT ITS NEW THOUSAND OAKS FLAGSHIP
Families can now enroll their children in Little Kitchen Academy, the premier Montessori-inspired cooking academy for ages 3 to 18, where real tools, real ingredients, and real responsibility build the independence and confidence a child carries for life.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 24, 2026
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Little Kitchen Academy (LKA), the premier Montessori-inspired cooking academy for children and teens ages 3 to 18, today announced that registration is now open at its new flagship location at The Oaks in Thousand Oaks, California. Serving the greater Conejo Valley community, the academy brings LKA’s signature hands-on, Montessori-inspired culinary education to families across the region, with classes beginning November 1, 2026.
“Opening registration in Thousand Oaks is a milestone we have been building toward alongside the incredible ownership team at The Oaks, Stockdale Capital Partners, and this amazing community of families and educators, and the response has already been tremendous,” said Brian Curin, Co-Founder & CEO of Little Kitchen Academy. “LKA is where a child who has never held a real knife discovers they can feed themselves and the people they love. It is the moment where ‘I can’t’ becomes ‘I did.’ That is the moment they start to believe they can do anything. We cannot wait to welcome Conejo Valley families into our kitchen.”
Because every class is capped at 10 students, space is genuinely limited. Families can secure their child or teen’s place now at littlekitchenacademy.com. To welcome the community, LKA Thousand Oaks is opening with two early-registration commitments rooted in the brand’s mission of changing lives from scratch.
Give Back to the Conejo Valley Community
For the first 300 families who register for a month-long session, LKA will donate a class to an under-served child or teen in the community through the Changing Lives From Scratch Fund. These classes are distributed through local schools and charitable partners, extending hands-on culinary education to more children and teens across the region.
Register Early and Enter to Win the Ultimate Cooking Package, Valued at More Than $3,000
Every family that registers for a month-long session before classes begin on November 1 is entered to win the Ultimate Cooking Package, built from the same real tools LKA puts in its kitchens. The package includes: A Free Private Class for 10, BIRKENSTOCK Chef Shoes, HexClad Cookware, Click & Grow Home Garden, Personalized LKA Chef Coat by Chef Works, LKA Knife Set, and more.
The Thousand Oaks flagship joins LKA’s growing network across North America and Southern California, building on the brand’s presence at LKA LA Westfield Century City. LKA gives children and teens the real tools, real ingredients, and real responsibility to cook from scratch recipes in three-hour Montessori-inspired classes, along with monthly sessions, camps, and private classes, in a premium, thoughtfully designed environment. Every session is built so parents can confidently step back while children safely step up, guided by Montessori structure and age-appropriate progression. Whether it is a curious three-year-old who has never held a whisk or a skeptical teenager convinced they cannot cook, LKA meets every child exactly where they are, and develops the life skills that follow them from the kitchen to college and beyond.
“Children are capable of far more than we often imagine. When we trust them with meaningful work, real responsibility, and the freedom to learn through experience, they develop confidence in themselves and their abilities,” said Felicity Curin, Founder, President & Chief Learning & Curriculum Officer of Little Kitchen Academy. “At Little Kitchen Academy, our Montessori-inspired sessions empower children to create, problem-solve, and contribute in meaningful ways. As they learn to prepare food independently, they also develop concentration, resilience, decision-making skills, and a sense of purpose. These experiences help children discover that they are capable, valued, and able to make a positive contribution to the world around them. That’s the foundation of a healthy, independent, and fulfilling life.”
Register Today
Families can register for classes running November 1, 2026 through Summer 2027. With class size capped at 10 students, families are encouraged to register early to secure their preferred dates. Learn more at littlekitchenacademy.com. Join us in changing lives from scratch.
ABOUT LITTLE KITCHEN ACADEMY
Little Kitchen Academy is the premier Montessori-inspired cooking academy where children and teens develop independence, confidence, and healthy eating habits that empower them to make informed choices and positively impact their communities. More than a cooking school, LKA is a movement dedicated to changing lives from scratch. LKA proudly partners with leading brands including HexClad, BIRKENSTOCK, ChefWorks, Click & Grow, Emeco, IKEA, Küssi, PRISE Inc., Scrub Daddy, and Welcome Industries, and is guided by an esteemed group of special advisors including Iconic Celebrity Chef Cat Cora, Hollywood Legend Supermensch Shep Gordon, NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook, and Hollywood Changemaker & Actor Oliver Trevena. In alignment with its mission to serve a brighter future, Little Kitchen Academy supports impactful charitable organizations including the Changing Lives From Scratch Fund in partnership with Russell Westbrook’s Why Not? Foundation, Crisis Text Line, Kids Help Phone, and One Tree Planted. For a taste of LKA, visit littlekitchenacademy.com or join the LKA community on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
MEDIA CONTACTS
| Little Kitchen Academy |
| Monica Grippo monica@littlekitchenacademy.com |
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