Using Food to Build Confidence and Connection to Postsecondary Learning

The Burger Club – St. Lawrence College / Enactus SLC

Role: Dan Hendry

Year: 2015

One of the more unique community‑based learning initiatives I supported through my work with Enactus SLC was an experience known as The Burger Club. The project was built around a simple but powerful idea: using food as a way to connect younger students with post‑secondary learning and help them see themselves in a college environment.

At the time, I was working at St. Lawrence College as the Manager of Community‑Based Learning & Innovation and serving as an advisor to Enactus SLC. My role focused on supporting post‑secondary students as they designed community‑focused learning experiences and helped transform student‑led ideas into structured, safe, and meaningful programs.

The Burger Club invited Grade 7 and 8 students onto the St. Lawrence College campus to collaborate directly with the College’s culinary and foods program. Together, they worked in professional kitchens to make burgers from scratch—learning not only how food is prepared, but also what it feels like to learn in a post‑secondary setting. For many of the participants, it was their first time setting foot in a college classroom.

My contribution centred on creating the conditions for the program to succeed. I supported Enactus students in shaping the project so it was both educational and accessible, with a strong emphasis on mentorship, inclusion, and safety. I also helped coordinate the logistics of bringing younger students onto campus, ensuring alignment with faculty, facilities, and student volunteers.

Strong coordination was essential to delivering the Burger Club effectively. I worked closely with the St. Lawrence College foods program, which provided professional kitchen spaces and instructional support, and acted as a bridge between college staff, Enactus student volunteers, and community partners to keep the initiative aligned with its learning objectives.

The impact of the Burger Club extended well beyond learning how to prepare a meal. By welcoming younger students into a college environment and giving them the opportunity to work alongside post‑secondary learners, the program helped demystify what college can look like. It offered a tangible glimpse into future pathways and reinforced that hands‑on skills and post‑secondary learning are both valuable and achievable.

This initiative reinforced something I’ve seen repeatedly in community‑based learning: food is a powerful connector. The Burger Club demonstrated how even a simple, well‑supported idea can build confidence, spark aspiration, and create a genuine sense of belonging and curiosity about learning.

Related Links: Burger Club feeds hunger for learning | The Kingston Whig Standard