Summer Camp?

[gf4life]

My kids are going to summer camp for a week at the end of July. This is their first time away at camp, and I am trying to do my best to prepare them and the camp staff for their stay. I typed up a two page cover letter explaining their food issues, and 4 pages of lists of safe and not safe foods! And that doesn't even cover all of what the camp staff needs to know to feed my kids for a week.

My friend runs the camp though and we have talked about gluten intolerance for the two years we were being tested. She is also my kid's sunday school teacher and assures me that they will be able to keep the kids on their diet. Of course it is also up to the kids to make good choices when they have free time and money to spend!! I plan to send most of the breakfast, lunch and snack foods with them, but dinner they will have to have prepared for them.

Are there any experienced parents out there with advice for those of us who are new to handling gluten free at summer camp??

This is the only year for the next three years that my boys will be able to go to the same camp together. The camps are split up by grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. I want them to have a great experience, so I know they will be able to handle it alone next year.

Thanks and God bless,

Mariann

[ryebaby0]

We are new to this issue as well, but you sound like you are doing all the sensible things. We set up a meeting with the kitchen staff and also provided a photo of our son taped to the Rubbermaid container with his food/dishes in the kitchen. My husband will be there (this is Scout camp) and will have extras in the car, but the kitchen staff was really receptive to putting some gluten-free items into the freezer and understood the importance of cooking them separately; but for simplicity's sake I am sending simple, easy to reheat selections. After all, camp is less about the food and more about the fun so I didn't want everyone obsessing about what was going in his mouth. Did you talk to them about handling any ingestion accidents and what to look for as far as symptoms? He's also taking some simple snacks (gorp, mostly) to eat as he wishes if/when he gets hungry.

[veggf]

Hi,

I direct youth programs including camps. From my experience I think that you both have the right idea. I would also recommend including some literature from a med/research org about celiac disease. That way, if there is anyone on the camp staff who doubts celiac disease, they will be able to read about celiac disease from a professional resource.

A lot varies depending on the camp and the cooks. But I've found it easiest both for my food and for campers that we've had with dietary restrictions to have the clearly labeled frozen meals. I often eat in the dining hall during the summer or programs, I use to try to eat the gluten-free items that the cooks could prepare and supplement it with my food but I still got sick. Cooks are busy people and the easier it is for them to prepare a gluten-free meal (i.e. rewarm you gluten-free meal) the better.

As you well know, kids eat way more at camp then they normally do--they are running around burning up calories nonstop.

Good luck!

[gf4life]

The photo thing is a good idea.

I haven't actually talked to the kitchen staff yet. They aren't there yet and the camp is a few hours from home. It is owned by our city in Central California, but the camp is on the coast. My kids are in the third session, so I figured I will find out when is a good time for us to visit during one of the first two sessions and go speak to them. This would give me a chance to take any freezer items ahead of time as well.

I explained about gluten accidents and symptoms, and what to do for them. I was gluten-free before my kids, so I knew what to do about the gluten-free diet. My kids have not had any bad gluten accidents, so I am not sure what a bad accident would be like.

You are lucky to have your husband there with your son. I will probably be expecting the worst everytime the phone rings while they are away!

God bless,

Mariann

[flagbabyds]

I went to a spanish immersion camp/weekend in February adn there waas no prroblem. the kitchen staff didn't speak much english but that was okay because my mom talked to the director and i was allowed to go into the kitched and get any of the food my mom left me at any time. i didn't get sick, even though it was only 2 nights there and 3 days i had a great time and i never had to worry about geting sick

[gf4life]

Thanks guys for the help.

I will think about the frozen meals. I just worry that it would take up a large section of their freezer, given that it is two kids and 6 nights.

I plan to prepack all thier lunch and snacks. And they always have gluten-free cereal or toast for breakfast. I am sending a toaster clearly labeled for gluten free bread only, and the frozen gluten-free bread. Plus lots of extra foods (and treats) for them to eat whenever they are hungry or the others are having candy/treats.

I really feel meeting with the kitchen staff will be a big help to both my kids and the staff. I hope I am able to arrange it.

God bless,

Mariann