Sleepaway camp is a coming-of-age ritual but for parents with kids who suffer from Celiac disease or allergies signing them up is cause for concern.  My kids who both have Celiac and my daughter who also has a peanut allergy have been begging to go to sleepaway camp with their friends and I would love nothing more than to say “YES! Sure, you can go!” But it’s a challenge.

We live in good times and there has been a lot of progress but we’re not quite there yet. Since there is a rise in allergens in kids, it is reflected in the camp population pushing camps to be better equipped if they want to hang onto their campers. I have inquired about several camps and each has their own system to deal with food allergies and Celiac. Many camps are beginning to recognize and trying to employ the detailed precautions necessary to manage allergies and Celiac.

I used to send my kids to a camp that had a strict peanut policy but did not prepare or handle Celiac food. In order for them to attend this camp I had to pack breakfast, lunch and supper to match the Camp menu each day for the extended time they went to camp. I froze all the meals and sent it up in a huge cooler. It was not easy, definitely time consuming and exhausting to do but I did it! I froze meals in microwaveable containers to ensure no cross contamination and I was 100% certain it was all 100% gluten-free. It’s one way to go! I have to say, it’s easier to count on yourself than to let go and trust others to take the same precautions you do with your own kids. Ok, so I am a bit of a control freak…..but sometimes it works!

The down side besides the obvious extra work? It can upset your child. At the time my son was embarrassed by all the fuss and special treatment at meal time. His homemade meals were better than what the other campers had to eat but somehow he still felt isolated and different. All kids want is to be like others….and this is what I want for my kids. Don’t you?

The trend for summer camps with my kids’ friends led us to our next camp. They had much experience handling gluten-free food as they have had campers with Celiac for over 8 years.  I further learned that that there was a rise in the number of campers this year of gluten-free kids. This is important because the more this is an issue, the more the kitchen staff is willing to accommodate them. This is fairly new territory for camps so it’s an ongoing process and learning experience for everyone concerned. I felt blessed that we landed on a camp that was willing to give it their all.

Once again, peanut policies were in place so this was not much of an issue. (However, epipens were always worn and extras were never far away).

After going through a series of usual important questions I was assured all kids with allergies could go to the salad bar first, that Celiacs had their own toaster oven and microwave and that there was cereal, plenty of gluten free bought snacks, etc…that all we had to do was just show up. Of course, slipping into “control freak mom” I did still supply my kids with their favorite snacks…..

My kids were safe this summer and had an amazing time. That is the good news. However, at visiting day I did learn that the kitchen staff this year had changed and was not accustomed to all the ins and outs as the previous years. There was a camp incident of a child being “glutened”. I have to admit, I was upset. Who wouldn’t be? As parents, when we entrust our kids to others, we just want to know that they’re getting the care they need. I go to great lengths to keep my kids’ diet clean for best health, and in one month, they eat gluten by mistake? This is a kink that needs to be ironed out for sure. 

After this incident took place, a knowledgeable Celiac advocate went to the camp to instill more strict policies and procedures in the kitchen. Stuff happens but it is always harder when we are not with our kids. 

What do you do? You teach your kids that this is life and that they are lucky to be in a closed environment that helps them eat safely. But nothing is 100% and mistakes do happen. You can go to a trusted restaurant and you can be glutened. You can buy a gluten-free product on the market and find out it doesn’t meet the Celiac standards. 

While it is easier to blame the camp, I need to teach my kids how to handle themselves in the REAL WORLD. I cannot shelter them and make them live in a bubble, even though my first instinct is to protect them at any length. Meanwhile, I’m happy (and grateful!) that the standards of the camp’s food policies have risen and I look forward to sending my kids back to overnight camp. 

Have you had any similar experiences with letting go and trusting others to care for your children while they’re in someone else’s care? 

Just remember that each incident in life is one to learn from. 

Please share your stories with me!

Miriam