Meals
Healthy, nutritious, and camper-friendly
All food – and nutrition – related planning is conducted by Robyn Perry, our Lead Registered Dietitian who also holds credentials of LDN (Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist), CDE (Certified Diabetes Educator), and CDOE (Certified Diabetes Outpatient Educator). Camp Surefire has been fortunate to have collaborated with this dedicated RD since 2011. Since we moved to Camp JORI in 2023, Robyn’s role now includes a much greater level of responsibility as she oversees all food services (e.g., planning camp week menu, sourcing and ordering all ingredients, honoring Camp JORI’s Kosher kitchen, reviewing all allergies and food restrictions, hiring cooking staff, managing volunteers, mentoring dietetic students, facilitating nutrition education sessions, overseeing the composting and food waste management program, etc.). It is a huge and critical role at camp!
Each meal provides a unique opportunity for campers to learn from the staff and peers at their table in the dining hall. We try to help our campers become more independent and learn how to best estimate carbs when they are out in the “real world” – eating at a friend’s house, at a restaurant, or at school. There are large menu boards that outline the options for each meal and the corresponding carb counts. Our campers decide what they would like to eat, determine how many carbs that will be, test their blood sugar, and work with their counselor and med staff to calculate (and administer) their needed insulin. We also run different diabetes education sessions and “nutrition nugget” sessions during the week to help enhance carb counting skills.
Camp meals are healthy, nutritious, and camper-friendly. We have found over the years that not liking dinner is the quickest way for a tired camper to feel homesick. Our meals include spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, tacos, chicken tenders, and grilled cheese sandwiches. There are always lots of fruit and veggie options available at every meal. Picky eaters know who to find if they would like an alternative option (e.g., leftovers from a favorite meal or a PBJ sandwich). We are all well-fed and enjoy all of the amazing choices during the week!
One of the biggest concerns many parents/guardians have is about food allergies and restrictions. Camp Surefire can accommodate any food allergies (gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, etc.) and provide options for those following a Vegetarian, Kosher, or other diet. Our team does an amazing job keeping the options as close as possible to the “main” meal. For example, if we are having waffles for breakfast, there are also GF waffles available. Any allergies, restrictions, and concerns should be included on the appropriate camper registration forms so that we can plan accordingly. If additional guidance is needed, a call with our lead Registered Dietitian can be arranged.
We are so grateful to Robyn (back-of-house manager), her husband Rob (front-of-house manager), and our cooks (Joe, Robin, and Rich) for all their hard work ensuring the kitchen runs smoothly. We also greatly appreciate the amazing RDs who volunteer their time during the week and the incredible volunteers who keep us well fed all week!
“Camp Surefire has become an irreplaceable part of our daughter’s diabetes care. Connecting and building lasting friendships with other kids who understand the day-to-day grind of type 1 diabetes has been a powerful experience for her. She always leaves camp feeling confident and empowered to tackle her needs with T1D head on. Camp week has become Anna’s favorite week of the year!”
~ Greg, Camp Parent