Piedmont High alum Angela Guidici is bringing the joy of baking to youth with her “Baking Wellness” classes at Piedmont Community Church. Guidici has led two eight-week sessions, one in the fall and one in the spring, and registration is now open for a one-week summer baking camp, running July 28 to August 1.
Guidici’s program has goals that go beyond teaching how to use a convection oven or measure ingredients precisely.
“I wanted to create something that combined my background in youth work with my personal passion for baking. I want to emphasize the benefits that creative outlets like baking can have,” said Guidici.
While the items are in the oven, students participate in team-building games and answer reflection questions related to wellness, such as “How can you tell when you are stressed?” or “What do you do when you are having a bad day?”
“Baking is an incredibly mindful activity, and in a low-pressure baking environment, it can be really relaxing. For myself, I really just focus on the recipe, and my brain just kind of becomes quiet,” she said.
A 2009 graduate of Piedmont High, Guidici has maintained close ties to both Piedmont and Piedmont Community Church (PCC).
“I grew up going [to PCC] with my family, and I currently volunteer there with their youth group on Sundays,” she said.
While a popular adage defines baking as a science and cooking as an art, Guidici sees baking as both.
“People can be intimidated by baking because of its need for precision, and maybe it’s more scientific because of that. But there’s totally space to play, and it’s really tactile to be a part of what you’re doing and what you’re feeling. So I think baking qualifies as an art for sure,” she said.
Guidici also shared her personal secret to baking.
“I really like to set up the environment, so I put on good music, and just kind of get into a rhythm with it. Baking can be a bit tedious, so I set it up to be a more meditative experience to bring out the joy of it,” she said.