Determining Camp Food Needs
Our first advice in regard to food for camp is to make it as easy as possible both for the leaders and the families. You want your Hope in the Church – food! to add to the experience in a positive way. Your meal plan will be dependent on the length of the camp and how many meals, snacks, and refreshment you need to provide along with the location you are using.
As you making your plans for camp, be sure to ask yourself a few questions:
-Does your location require you bring in everything already-made or is there space/ability to cook? Depending on that answer will lead to other questions.
Will my Hope in the Church-food! need:
-Are your families available to bring what you need or will you bill them for what you buy?
-Beyond the food, make a plan for all the extras such as paper goods, utensils, condiments, etc.
-How will you serve and clean up for meals and snacks? Options include:
*Assign specific parents as needed for the entire camp.
*Create a schedule for both serving AND clean up. Make teams of the campers who, along with parent help and fill out the schedule you’ve made.
-Be sure to ask about any special requirement or needs for the campers and do your best to accommodate them. If a specific camper requires a special diet, perhaps it is easiest to ask the parents to provide that while you provide a safe and secure location for it to be kept.
-Is there an opportunity to have any traditional camp meals such as hot dogs or s’mores over a campfire? Here are some ideas:
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/campfire-recipe
Specific Meal Ideas for 2025 Hope in the Church – food!
With American Catholic History as one of our badge choices, your menu could highlight a few All American meals. How about a menu of famous Chicago foods for Pope Leo? Chicago deep dish pizza? There is also the Chicago hot dog that includes a pickle and tomato slices.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Cuisine_of_Chicago
For dessert? You have to have BROWNIES, as those came out of the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago in 1893!
Is there a cuisine your area is known for? Here in Maryland we might be having crab soup and those in Pennsylvania might have a Philly Pretzel or cheesesteak. Be sure to share with your campers the “why” behind your food choices if it makes a good story.
On the other end, you can highlight the Mission badge and have an international menu of Italian, Mexican or any other country that sparks your interest. If you decide to take this route, perhaps you could find out the names of some missionaries/saints who made a difference in that country.
Take full advantage of the diversity of your families! Is there a family who is known for a specific delicious dish? Are they able to provide it for camp?
Finally, as mentioned at the beginning, do not let planning the food for the camp be a distraction from the content and enjoyment for you or the campers. We don’t want anyone to go hungry or thirsty but we also don’t anyone getting frustrated about making an elaborate menu. The focus of our camps is always faith mixed with fun and friendship!
Here’s an example of a tentative schedule for a three day camp, so you can see how long meals are and how many you may need. https://beholdpublications.com/home/tentative-schedule/
(Top image – Mark Wilson from Pixabay)
