Okay, so I know the title here is rather harsh. Let’s be honest—I totally expected my 8-year-old daughter to eat junk food while away at her very first overnight camp last week. Both of my children (and my husband for that matter) have what I call a “stomach of steel.” They can eat just about anything with no ill effects whatsoever, so I knew there would be no immediate consequences (like a food sensitivity) for her to contend with while away from home.
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But just because one may feel fine after immediately eating highly processed junk food doesn’t mean it isn’t doing any damage. After all, according to Michael Pollan’s research, four of the top ten chronic diseases that kill most of us – coronary heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer – “can be traced directly to the industrialization of our food.”
Our Little Pre-Camp Chat
So even though my daughter has no specific food-induced medical conditions to worry about, we still had a friendly little chat before she embarked upon her very first week away from home without a parent or grandparent by her side. As I’ve shared before, I absolutely do NOT want my two young girls to ever “worry” about food (or anything for that matter). But that doesn’t mean I won’t educate them along the way when it’s appropriate (just as I will with many other important topics in life).
So I told her that there would be junk food at camp and eating it was totally fine, BUT my advice to her was to eat a lot of what she knew was good (i.e. for sure a whole food—straight from the earth) and just a little bit of what wasn’t.
And what did she do in my absence? She ate Froot Loops for breakfast daily, “with pineapple on the side!”. As I mentioned she is a completely typical 8-year-old so this is what happened when she was left to her own devices :) I guess I should be thankful for the serving of fruit? And truth be told, I was thankful for that and told her so. I was sure to reinforce the positive and not at all harp on any of the “negatives” of the week.
Some Good Decisions
And she actually did make some other really good choices on her own that made me very proud. She tried out the salad bar (like I had suggested before she left home), but how can I blame her for her boredom with it halfway through the week when it was basically the same drab salad bar night after night? This is my girl who honestly loves salads and vegetables even more than I do so I know she tried. She also followed some other advice I’d given her long ago about asking for a glass of water. I always tell both of my girls that when they are at friends’ houses or birthday parties they should always be gracious guests and accept what is served, but it is NEVER too much trouble to ask for a cup of water. I tell them if they are already eating birthday cake and candy and who knows what else – there is no reason to then wash it down with a sugary juice or soda – so just ask for water.
And to my surprise she actually remembered this advice at camp, and when dinner was followed with handouts of candy (Skittles to be exact) and a choice of soda or Powerade…what did she do (in addition to accepting the Skittles of course)? She politely asked for water! That’s my girl. Except she told me (in her own words) “they looked at me like I was crazy and didn’t have any water to offer.” So as a result she tried the Sprite (since she said it looked most like water). She apparently hated it and poured it out on the grass and finally settled on the bright blue Powerade (“which is actually good, mom!”). Is it just me or are sugary drinks really necessary to wash down the packs of candy? Just for the record, they apparently did give the campers water to drink earlier in the night at dinner because they weren’t allowed to have juice until they drank their water first (one of the more impressive food guidelines I heard about!), but unfortunately things seemed to go downhill in that department once the dinner hour was over.
Amazing Experience (with or without the junk food)
So, yes – her first camp experience (from a non-food perspective) was a once in a lifetime adventure. Her counselors were absolutely wonderful, she made some amazing new friends, and she LEARNED some pretty impressive new skills (water skiing, archery, sailing, horseback riding – and independence of course – just to name a few). BUT we did pay a pretty penny to be able to send her there for this experience (that she absolutely loved) so I feel I have the right to complain about the food. I absolutely knew it wasn’t going to be great, but as I am piecing things together through her various stories I admit the food situation sounds worse than I was expecting. Nachos with runny orange cheese anyone? Not to mention the kids who are more sensitive than she is and came home from camp not feeling well as a result of all that junk – including one of her cabin-mates in particular.
Time for Change
But, I am not one to just sit here and complain without trying to do something about it (hence this blog of mine). I was the same way about their elementary school, but felt similarly in the fact that it was only respectful to spend the first year observing before I try to butt my way in and start suggesting changes :) I am sure there are all sorts of constraints that force the camp to do things the way they do (i.e. limited time, limited budget, limited space, picky eaters, etc.) – but I admit I am hard-pressed to find a reason why each night would HAVE to end with skittles and soda. Can you think of one?
During this first overnight camp experience of ours I came into contact with two other camp moms (who are acquaintances) that both happen to feel the same way I do – so I can only imagine there must be more who feel the same? Maybe they haven’t spoken up yet or just don’t know where to start (or think they are alone)? So I don’t know what the first step toward change will be yet, but one thing I do know is that it will be something. I was recently inspired by the changes Carrie Vitt with Deliciously Organic made at her own daughters’ overnight camp. She knew they could provide better choices as well and offered to give them some guidance – which they gladly accepted! And the changes she made – super fresh and wholesome food at a minimal increase in cost – were very well received by both the campers and the staff. The outcome was super impressive if I do say so myself and drives home the fact that it can be done. And even though I am sure it won’t be an easy road I can’t just sit back and not try.
Have any of you been through something similar with overnight camp and have advice to share? I am all ears!
I’m shocked that they didn’t have water available to the kids and they had to drink soft drinks. Water should be available at all times!
I’m really impressed with the balanced approach you are taking and how you are educating your daughter about food choices (both healthy and not-so-healthy). If your daughter was able to ask for water even when others looked at her as if she were crazy (in other words she went against the social norm), then you are raising a child not only with a lot of awareness but a lot of confidence–even when you’re not around. That is going to stand her in good stead her whole life and not just with her food choices. Kudos to you–and her!
I have no suggestions about how to help the camp provide better food options, but I suspect the more parents that speak up about that, the better (to create a new social norm). And given your balanced and positive approach with your daughter, I’m confident you’ll find a balanced and positive approach with the camp, too. :-)
Wow Shawn, hostile much? I don’t believe she was taking about a hostile takeover of their kitchen or a fanatical protest on their door step! Maybe that is one of the problems with the “majority” of us….. We go with the flow too much instead of respectfully and genuinely try to help people out and produce change that is good for everyone! just sayin…….
Lisa,
If you are able to positively influence the camp food, it will be a good experience for both campers and counselors, plus parents. Maybe the staff think the kids deserve treats since it’s a cool vacation for them, but that doesn’t mean they can’t have fresh veggies over nachos for dinner. Good job for trying! I’m sure you will find a way to approach them in a loving manner, so they’ll be receptive.
Instead of trying to push your views on someone else that might like that camp, maybe you should go to another. You probably should have researched a little before taking her there. Here is a novel idea take her camping yourself and have fun as a family then you can give her what ever you want. Let her bring a couple of friends so it feels like the camp you sent her to. To many people in this country want everyone else to change to their view instead of leaving other people alone and letting them live their own lives. I agree kids shouldn’t be eating that stuff but it’s not my or your place to tell someone else not to. If enough people stop going there they will stop doing it or go out of business
Shawn, Wow?! Really?! That is the most ridiculous thing I may have ever read. Thank God Women’s Rights and Civil Rights leaders didn’t share your limited point of view or we’d still have women with no right to vote and slaves. Really, you might think about expanding your limited ideas. I don’t think she’s planning on going in with both guns blazing demanding change but if you were paying hundreds of dollars (though I do not know that is what they paid – I’m only basing that on my own overnight camp experiences) for an experience for your child I don’t think it’s unreasonable to suggest that, perhaps, WATER of all the crazy things is available to CAMPERS OUT IN THE HEAT AND SUN at all times. And to follow with your limited view, you know that this blog is about REAL FOOD and about trying to encourage change in our world so if you are shocked and offended that writer of this blog is thinking about (GASP) going out and trying to encourage change perhaps you might find the McDonald’s Corporate blog better suited to your taste? Just a thought.
Hey shawn, “Here is a novel idea,” how about taking your own advice and “instead of pushing your views on someone else” maybe you should go to another blog. “You probably should have done a little research” on what the mission of this blog is all about.
Hi Shawn,
I worked 2 summers in a row at a children’s camp in the kitchen. I was really surprised with the amount of processed crap that was severed to the kids. There were some healthy side options such as fresh fruit, raw veggies, and salad but a the majority of the food was made from processed ingredients. I was surprised because of the fees parents were paying for their children to attended. It seemed the camp spent more on junk food and other gimmicks to make the camp more appealing than providing wholesome meals for them campers. Also campers could bring money for the tuck shop or ice cream island or their parents sent up accounts for them as part of the payment for camp. It was crazy the amount of candy and junk some of these kids were buying. Also snack after camp fire was usually something surgery. After hearing many of the difficulties trying to get their kids to quiet down for bed I really began to question the food choices the camp was making. Actually so did some of the parents after their kids came home and were ill when they came home because of all the junk. I know things started changing because of parental input. Yes camp is fun. Yes it’s alright to have a treat but camp doesn’t have to be a place to over indulge and overload your system.
Hi!
Wonderful post!
As a food-conscious college grad who has both attended various summer camps throughout my childhood, as well as worked at a summer camp during my college summers, I have definitely seen both sides of the camp food spectrum. When I attended camps, the ones I spent my summers at were definitely rife with junk food – though I do distinctly remember the “no juice before finishing water” rule.
As a staffer in my college years (a Kitchen Staffer one year, at that!), I was fortunate to work at a camp where the food director was very intentional with feeding the camp kids and staff well. She was a mother of two kids herself and know the significant impact that food made not only on her kids well-being, but also their morale, energy, and ability to focus and get along with others. She took this knowledge and brought into the camp. One would think that your average camper and college staffer would be upset at her food “policies,” but campers and staffers alike have always raved about the quality of the food served.
Personally, I see there are still areas for improvement (GMO & Organic conscious, etc.), but I’ve listed some of the key things she did that made a huge difference:
-There was absolutely NO soda at camp… Milk was the treat that was served after finishing one’s glass of water.
-There was dessert after dinner (mostly homemade), but there was NEVER any candy except chocolate and marshmallows for a cabin’s s’mores night.
-We used real eggs in everything,… even for a camp’s-worth of scrambled eggs. I definitely remember cracking manyyyy of them.
-Many of the meals were made from scratch or almost from scratch (I can attest to this from my experience as one of their kitchen staffers, my end-of-summer gift to my fellow kitchen girls was a cookbook with our favorite camp recipes. Baked oatmeal or foccacia bread anyone?
-During Staff Training, the Kitchen Director educated the entire camp staff on why good nutrition made for happy, healthy campers that, in turn, make for happy, healthy staffers.
The primary unfortunate part, is that despite the camp’s excellent food program (for a camp, anyway), is that it is an incredibly expensive camp.
Growing in nearly all ways at camp is hard to achieve but my 14 and 12 year olds have had just that at Camp Celo and Camp Eagle’s Nest in their last four summers. Beyond bonding in play, responsibility and fellowship they have learned about how food is grown and prepared. They come home from their three weeks of camp healthy and happy AND wanting more of the good choices offered them at both. I say come to the beautiful mountains of NC if models elsewhere fail to raise the culinary standards!
We started school this week and what is tomorrow’s lunch menu? Cheesy breadsticks and marinara sauce! How is that a ‘meal’? We will be packing lunches tomorrow…
You are a very realistic Mother & gave your daughter great advice. And you accepted her right to make her own decisions. Very wise. During the years my children attended camp I spent a few of those years as an adult advisor (unpaid) to a specific group of kids & their counselor. It was a great experience for both kids & adults. The focus of the camp was not food & the food was convenience food, served by unskilled college kids who only worked all over the campus, including the cafeteria. Skilled professional cooks have to have jobs where they work more than just 3 months a year so there were no professional staff at the camp. The camp had a goal of funding as many low income kids as possible to have the camp experience. The cost seemed expensive but not unreasonable by middle class parents. Food costs did not occupy a big percent of the budget. Evening snacks were not provided by the camp, but were either purchased by the kids at the snack bar or provided by the counselors as a treat for the kids. My point is if you want great food for your kids be prepared to spend a lot of money to send them to a more upscale camp.
Our family is now on its third generation of campers and camp workers at a specific Michigan camp. Junk food has always been banned, except for one or two nights during the two weeks that a special treat was given and enjoyed immensely due to it being so rare. There are numerous healthy messages for both mind and body (zero waste, being kind, building like-long relationships etc.) encouraged daily. While crafts crafts, sports, and other activities are part of this experience, they are only a piece to what makes the camp experience so life-changing and fun. Making healthy choices for oneself and the planet are pillar beliefs at many very successful camps around the country and I would encourage other camps (or camp staff) who feel that junk is a must to examine the models that don’t. Many campers LOVE camp because it is not the real world, and while eating healthier might be a challenge for some, so is the high ropes course, being away from mom and dad, and leaving new best friends – all aspects of what make camp the wonderful experience it is.
As a former camp counselor I have a few ideas on why the skittles and sports drinks.
– dehydration is a big issue, you take every opportunity to get fluids into your campers (even junk). Many kids come to camp already dehydrated and aren’t used to drinking. Camp well water tastes funny. Some campers ate scared of the outhouses and will avoid drinking to avoid peeing in an outhouse. Any incentive to drink anything is good.
– some kids won’t eat dinner Because they dont like what is being served and have been picky eaters at home. They will be hungry at bedtime unless there is something to eat. Bedtime is also when homesickness tends to set in, esp if a kid is miserable/hungry. But a fun snack (candy, s’mores) will fill tummies and make potentially homesick kids happy. (“I miss mom, but we had skittles, it’s not so bad here!”)
– just to have fun! Camp isn’t so much about teaching kids to eat their veggies. It is more about learning to waterski, and use an outhouse, building a fire, and being independent without mom. Those are big scary things, and if skittles help, we would give the kids.
I know this will be unpopular, but We are camp counselors, not parents.
I actually had the same thought as Julie… camp is one of those once a year things where you get to have a “break” from normality. I’m all for eating whole foods daily, and I’m aware that there will always be a special occasion to celebrate, but it’s just one week of junk. I’m not sure it’s worth it to get so frustrated and upset about it. Make suggestions and offer advice, but don’t pour too much time and energy into it, because camps are working with the odds against them (budgets, picky-eaters, homesick kids, etc.). I do applaud the work with the schools (something that happens on a daily basis and NEEDS to be reformed). But, I’m not really sure that in the grand scheme of things that it needs to be such an issue.
Also, probably not going to be a very popular train of thought, but that’s my 2 cents.
YOu don’t think it’s important to refuel the body properly after a day out in the sun and with physical activity? It’s ok “for just a week” to consume preservatives, chemicals and likely hydrogenated oils contained in processed foods that actually CHANGES the cellular DNA make up? To be overloaded on sugar when in confinement with so many other kids and thus lower the immune system rendering the child useless to fight off impending viruses? So many kids come home from camp and a week later are sick, wonder why? There’s the answer. I’m all about having fun but there needs to be moderation, the focus on whole real foods and then some fun treats later. The treats don’t need to be packaged and nasty, kitchen staff need to stop being lazy! One week of nasty food during their “week of fun” only reinforces that that type of food equals fun and is necessary. It will translate once again over to birthdays and other celebrations and trickle down to eventually to “I deserve candy because I read a book” and using food as a reward. It’s a messed up system and definitely a week can have lasting effects not just physically but psychologically as well.
I do get this, but…
Do you really want kids throwing up at night because their tummies hurt? Offer PB & J (or sunbutter) as an option for kids who don’t like the main dishes.
I don’t think the food has to be kale and spinach casserole to be “healthy”…or even that expensive.
A baked potato bar, tacos, even homemade macaroni and cheese are all good “unprocessed” alternatives to nacho cheese sauce from a can.
And s’mores fall into a different category from skittles and soda. S’mores are awesome. Yes, you want to have those happy, fun, carefree times at camp. But you don’t want to make them sick!!
Hi,
My sons go to camp at Green River Preserve which is in Cedar Mountain NC. They have never been served the types of food that your daughter’s camp offered. Green River has their own farm which provides some of the veggies cooked in the camp kitchen and the meals are healthy ones. I do not think I have ever heard of Froot Loops or any other highly processed cereal being served for breakfast. That being said they do have desserts after dinners, usually pies or cakes made onsite. Snacks on hikes are usually fruit (apples, bananas, etc) or some type of granola bar. Water is served with meals.
I totally get the soda/water thing. My daughter is 8 and has never tasted it, I know people look at her like she’s crazy also.
I was a camp counselor for 3 summers (2007-2010). I would always get sick for the first 3 weeks of camp adjusting to the crappy food- even available to the counselors. The only hope for getting half-way decent food was to say that I was a vegetarian when I am fine with eating leaner red meat, chicken, and fish. Because we didn’t get paid a lot (food and board is included in your pay) I would try to stretch my paycheck and buy healthier staples for myself. I would have to quickly eat my food privately (because we weren’t supposed to eat staff food in front of the kids) and then sit and not eat anything at meal times. Management got mad at me for doing this but when I explained about their food they said I should be grateful it was “paid” for.
Multivitamins were also a must- I felt that I never got enough nutrients eating their food and running around all day with the kids. At the end of the summer when I’d go back home I’d get sick again re-adjusting to healthy foods. ugh… camp food.
Wow! I spent MANY years at camp as a child and the only candy we were allowed to eat was purchased at the canteen. There was never any soda. The food was somewhat healthy, always fresh options and our drink choices were milk or water with “bug juice” on the weekends. Dessert wasn’t offered daily either.
I agree with other readers, find a new camp. I know that when we have kids I will do whatever I need to do to ensure my kids can have an overnight camp experience. One of the best childhood memories I have!
Aaaaa….camp. What fun memories!! Candy at night was a tradition, but not passed out by the camp. They made you bring your own money for that crap. I feel like the camp could’ve gotten away with doing the candy/soda routine on the last night, but the reality sounds insane.
At my son’s day camp, I was disappointed that they served pop tarts for a snack. No nutritional value whatsoever!
Even just from the perspective (forgetting all the health problems) that sugar before bedtime is not going to make getting heaps of excited kids to bed easy, it boggles my mind to think that the camp hands out candy after dinner. surely they realise that they are making bedtime harder for themselves?
I’m so sorry your daughter’s camp offered evening snack of that variety. I have worked in organized camps for many years. Often we used to offer (gross, sugary, chemical laden) popsicles for afternoon snack but evening snack for over a decade has only been fruit or possibly freshly popped (not microwave) popcorn depending on what the activity was. Most afternoon snacks are trail mix, fruit, carrots and celery, etc. My camp was a bit more hippy than many but I’m glad to know we were able to provide better food to our campers. Most of these changes were a result of our staff stating they didn’t want their campers full of all that sugar and other products–particularly when heading to bed (that and our staff wanted better choices for themselves)! Also, we require all of our campers to drink at least one glass of water before they can have juice at meals and we do not provide any alternative drink besides water with snacks. None of these changes were particularly difficult but changing the mindset of the kitchen staff did take some effort. Putting out a bowl of fruit was no more work than a bowl of Oreos, and now our kitchen staff is great. Good luck.
I agree with Catherine Phillips. Pick a different camp. Camp Merrie Woode is a WONDERFUL girls camp with much healthier alternatives and NO candy. There are sweets, but they are in moderation. There is an ever changing salad bar at all meals and even a vegetarian option.
Your daughter did what every kid does when they’re away from their parent’s “prying eyes” – they experimented with food and ate what they are not allowed to eat at home! :) My mother runs the food services at a Jewish summer camp, and kids attend for the entire summer from all over the world. There’s usually a group of 20-30 kids from Israel who are Kosher. By the middle of the summer, they are eating EVERYTHING that all the other kids are eating.
I think if we can instill good eating habits and good food choices in our children, and provide them with good food on a daily basis, we can trust them to make, mostly, good choices on their own. But they are going to taste the forbidden fruit now and then, and I think that’s okay.
I’m glad your daughter had such a positive experience at summer camp, and I can’t wait until my kids are old enough to go! :)
I don’t have a camp experience, but I have been really impressed with a local private school in our area that has commissioned a locally owned organic restaurant to provide their cafeteria food for Pre-K through 12th graders. I hope this trend continues to catch on and that schools (as well as camps, daycares, etc) begin to realize what an impact our children’s food has on their health and well-being.
I started taking my 2 and 3 yr old to toddler time at our local library this summer. It starts at 11am and they do a craft or play a game or do an activity and it’s all been very good. But then around 11:30am out roll the bags of Capri sun and pre packaged Rice Krispie snacks, animal crackers, wafer cookies, etc and we are all offered on of each! I mean, it’s nearly lunchtime and these snacks are totally not necessary to enjoy our time at the library. I recently just accepted one jc and one snack and said my kids would share and the librarian was kinda pushy a out taking more– even for me! It was kinda awkward. They also get a ice cream ” treat” for every 10 books I read to them. Yikes–major overkill– in my experience kids don’t need these kinds of “encouragements” to love books.
Amen, Sister! Yikes. Parents of toddlers always have their own snacks along, completely unnecessary!!
My girls recently attended a camping themed library program. They were served a fruity beverage and a s’mores snack (golden grahams, marshmallows and chocolate chips) at the end. I understand the s’more theme, but our family does plenty of camping and we mostly drink water. Plus, it was right after my kids had eaten dinner and just before bedtime so the last thing they needed was a surplus of sugar. Thankfully, I was able to water down my girls beverage and limited them to 1 serving of the s’mores snack. When I declined seconds from a parent passing them out, she looked at me like I was crazy. Why does every kids program seem to involve food?
Thank you! I did a blog in Feb or March I can’t remember (http://www.happilyunprocessed.com/2013/02/11/camping-trip/) about an overnight trip my daughter and I took with the scouts. I too experienced the awful food choices they made. There were donut holes for breakfast, hot dogs and chips for lunch, Smores, soda and just all processed garbage.
I felt compelled to blog about it b/c I was beside myself in disbelief that they couldn’t come up with something more nutritious than this. Some of these girls are so overweight already and my daughter and I watched in shock as some of them had 2 and 3 hotdogs for lunch with (like your daughter experienced) Gatorade or soda to wash it down.
I’m so glad you posted this. More moms need to speak up about the garbage our kids eat at parties, events, school functions etc. As I am writing this I have now motivated myself to contact the leader of her troop and ask that we do a healthy eating segment at our house this year to teach the girls about eating foods that aren’t processed.
Thanks Lisa!
That is crazy that Girl Scouts isn’t trying to be more aware of nutrition!!
In our Cub Scout pack, it’s parent led, so the planning is up to individual parents. Some parents do better than others with the nutrition.
But in Boy Scouts, it’s boy led. They’re trying to teach the boys to be leaders. They do the food planning for their trips, and they are very aware of nutrition, and need their “menu plans” to be balanced.
Maybe we just lucked out with a great troop, but they are very good about keeping the food balanced.
I’m horrified that water was not available at all times – I really think that there is no excuse for that.
Regarding the skittles and sprite after dinner- as an ex camp counselor, I cannot imagine why anyone would think it was a good idea to get the kids on a sugar high like that right before bed. We used to have ice cream every thursday after dinner (that was the only real dessert option) and it would take HOURS to get everyone to calm down again!
I completely agree. I’ve been a camp counselor, and now as a young mom, I don’t at all comprehend why they would give the kids sugar, sugar, and more sugar in between dinner and lights out. Furthermore, they should ALWAYS have water available, especially in the summer in the south!
Oh, and not all camps have the stereotypical “camp food.” The camp where I worked offered healthy, nutritious, varied meals with a full salad bar.
You should check out Gwynn Valley camp in Brevard. They have their own working farm with cows, goats, chickens a d even a working mill where the campers can grind wheat and corn in flour and cornmeal. Mostly everything they eat comes from their own farm. They did have sweet treats but they were mostly homemade in their kitchen. Even the ice cream was homemade! My daughter went thus simmer and it was amazing!! Check it out for next year!
Yep, there are camps that provide TRULY healthy food options. I REFUSE to support any camp that doesn’t. Just don’t send your children there, don’t give them your money! If they are that unconcerned with your child’s physical health, why would you think they care about them in any other way?
Oh, man.
I take a very similar approach with my kids and food…two are junior high age, so they are away from me plenty and need to make their own food choices. I will say that they prefer home cooking and healthy choices to junk food…because they DO have sensitive stomachs. So, a night of nachos means they’ll be on the john all night…not fun! :-/
They went to boy scout camp this year, and said the food was really good. The salad bar was good, so they had salads along with their main courses, which sounded like mostly homemade “camp” food. Tacos. Burgers.
There was always sunbutter and jelly (and both wheat or white bread options), so that was good!
They had desserts, but they were cobblers and cakes. The camp store sold “junk” if you wanted it, but they weren’t passing out candy.
The boys were VERY active at camp, so I was glad to hear that they did a pretty good job providing fuel.
I would totally complain to the camp. It’s one thing to have some junk…another to make it ALL junk. Sounds like a recipe for a lot of kids with tummy aches! :-p
Find a different camp! In North Carolina, Camp Gwyn Valley is amazing. No junk food and there’s a farm that supplies much of the food (and that the kids help with). It was where I learned my first healthy food lessons as a kid – I remember eating some Quaker Oat squares cereal (a “healthy” cereal in my little-kid mind) after being at camp and being struck by how sweet it tasted!
Catherine, you beat me to it! I was also going to suggest Gywnn Valley! Several of my cousins have attended here and loved it. http://www.gwynnvalley.com. Plus, it is less than 3 hours from Charlotte.
But that doesn’t help all the other kids who will continue to be subjected to this food and without the benefit of parents who have taught them to be discriminating.
I don’t have camp experience, but I have noticed this in many school and church situations. I am stunned that people in leadership think it is okay to give kids pop, candy, processed junk food, and then add a little more sugar on top. Then, we hear reports about obesity and diabetes being on the rise among children and people are shocked. Really?
I sent a respectful email to request that pop not be served at a school field day. I listed my reasons and got a too bad, so sad response. It was frustrating. I let it go because I’m still new to the school, but at some point I’m going to need to start being pushy. Our kids, not just mine, but all of “our” kids, need health too bad for us to sit by and serve them pop and other junk at functions that are supposed to promote health and learning.
My boys went to camp this year, oldest to church camp and then both to a 4-H camp for military kids and both said that for the most part they were given healthy foods, not so healthy snacks from time to time, water was the drink that was offered throughout. They had a popcorn night the last night, it was popped over the campfire, so a fun experience and not nearly as bad as microwave.
And I totally agree the camp she went to could absolutely do a better job with food/snacks. Skittles and soda…that’s a bit overboard. Healthier options like whole wheat pita & hummus w/ veggies, or a cheese & fruit pack or trail mix, yogurt or other healthier options would be good to have. It seems like this place had more junk than healthy options. Should be reversed.
I think it is wonderful that she tried to make good choices while away. It’s good that she wants to be healthy but isn’t afraid if there are other options served. I recently came across this article and it educated me that while I strive to be healthy & eat the right things, there is such a thing as going too far. I’m glad you are educating your kids that the goal is to eat the best they can, but junk food is reality and they will be faced with it and it’s ok to have it from time to time and you aren’t going to die or get sick. If you have it all the time or eat too much of it, well of course that’s a different story. Moderation is key. http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/060109p40.shtml
Summer Camps are wonderful growth opportunities for children, and should be healthy ones for them. I’m glad that your daughter’s first experiences was a positive one.
I am the director of Eagle’s Nest Camp in North Carolina. We believe in nurturing the positive growth of our campers – which includes providing them with healthy foods and with the tools for learning to make smart food choices and either continue, or learn, healthy eating habits. Our campers sit with “table families” that include two counselor “parents” for the entire time that they are at camp. When they sit down to the meal, the table is already set with food on the table to be enjoyed family style. All of our food is made from scratch, and may of our veggies come from our garden or from local farms. When the cooks introduce the meal, the campers learn that the kale (yes – they eat kale) in the stir fry, or the tomatoes used for the soup our from our garden. They also eat pizza made from fresh dough that their cabin may have prepared (every cabin gets to learn how to make bread with our baker. Every cabin also gets to take the compost down to the garden and see the veggies that we are growing). For snack at the end of the day we nourish those hungry, growing bodies with fresh oatmeal cookies or pumpkin bread baked by our baker. And for all the vegans, vegetarians, and campers with special diets (like nut or gluten free campers) we have options for them too. Camps can and SHOULD promote the overall healthy growth of our children. Many camps are doing this with their food programs already. I’m sure that if you look around you’ll find some great models. And if you’d like more information, I’d be happy to connect you with our chef and with our garden manager for more ideas: paige@enf.org.
I was intrigued by what you had to say about Eagle’s Nest Camp and so I just spent some time on the website. What an INCREDIBLE sounding place! When my husband and I have camp-aged children (we are foster parents) I would so love to send them there.
If you are looking for another overnight camp in North Carolina for next year, check out Camp Chesnut Ridge in Efland, NC – near Chapel Hill and Hillsborough. My daughter went as a day camper this summer. They have their own garden, and I was amazed at how healthy the food choices were at meals. And she says it is the most fun that she has ever had!
I call the nacho cheese and other highly processed “cheese” plastic cheese. I’d love to see a food revolution in this country! It starts at home, but getting our children to eat healthy is an amazing first step!
There are many camps here in North Carolina that serve real, wholesome, nutritious, and delicious foods. Camp Celo south of Burnsville and Camp Eagle’s Nest close to Brevard have their own gardens, cooking opportunities for the kids and great food. We regularly use their cookbooks to make our own real and healthy foods at home. I agree with the above post that offered that you should vote with your pocketbook!
I think a lot of people still think that veggies in any form are “good for you.” So, when you have corn dripping in butter and broccoli boiled to death and covered in cheese, they consider that a healthy choice. Our kids’ camp had a LOT of processed food and very few healthy snack options. Also, we did not have water readily available throughout the day, which was odd. It was up to the kids to refill their bottles in the morning. I left a comment on the survey form about the food and hopefully, others did, too. That’s the only way the camp staff will know that there need to be changes made. I do feel like most people are open to positive suggestions.
My daughter has been going to the same camp in North Carolina for a few years now. One of the things that most impressed me, and I was very impressed by the camp in general, was the fact that every bit of the food is made from scratch – right down to all of the bread that is served. Their menu is better than most of my meals that I make at home – eggs benedict for breakfast one day and every morning a huge fruit bar with oatmeal and all of the natural fixings to go with it. The morning snack is a golf cart that drives around camp with apples or peaches or watermelon. That is not to say they don’t have treats, but they are exactly that… a treat. I keep waiting for mommy camp, no such luck. Oh and all of the food is made by local high school kids, who apply early for the coveted “kitchen staff” positions.