Food is a big part of daily life at camp, so it’s always exciting to talk about our Dining Hall and the fun and meaningful nature of our meals.
In fact our mealtimes are so legendary — Thanksgiving Dinner anyone? — that our alums will of course fondly remember the kitchen staff we had for many many summers, led by Miss Hazel. We know you miss them, and we do, too! After decades of feeding ‘Ghany Girls, Miss Hazel’s retirement was more than deserved! But her hearty meals have lived on in camp memories, archives, and even recipes we still use (Miss Carrie’s Rolls!).
Throughout the years, and remaining the same today, there are comfort foods, balanced meals, and nutrient-packed goodies that have always helped fuel campers’ bodies and always will. And at the same time, mealtime is a source of enjoyment with some fun foods included, such as pancakes, biscuits, and desserts (or their allergy-free alternatives). And we always enjoy the general camaraderie of our time in the Dining Hall.
Meals at Alleghany
Meal times are a festive occasion at camp, with songs and cheers being sung by all. We also have Lunch Under the Apple Tree on Thursdays, an occasional dinner under the Apple Tree or other special outdoor meals, cookouts at Carnivals and other events, and special meals such as Banquet. Counselors can arrange for campers to go on meal hikes to sites around Alleghany for a fun bonding experience, cooking over an open fire, too! Whatever the setup, meal times are a great opportunity for the whole of camp to come together.
But any way you cut, when you’re feeding around 350 people three times a day — campers, counselors, support staff, guests, and family (and possibly for off-site events like hikes)— the entire operation depends on many things coming off just right. It’s one of the biggest jobs at camp! We need excellent menus, good planning, smart shopping, superior coordination (split-second timing on cooking and serving), planning and executing allergen-free foods for those who need it, along with timely and thorough clean up, and, best of all, fun cultural elements like announcements, songs, chants, social time, and trying new foods.
At Camp Alleghany, we extend our mission of inspiring growth through loyalty, honor, and friendship to the dining hall. As part of this philosophy, campers participate in our “Taste or Serving” practice.
This means that every able camper and staff member is expected to either take a small taste (at least a teaspoon) or a full serving of the meal being offered. This practice is introduced in a positive, joyful spirit and quickly becomes “just part of camp.”
While many campers arrive as hesitant or selective eaters, families consistently tell us that their campers leave camp more adventurous and confident around food. We prefer to think of this not as picky eating, but as brave eating — trying something new is an important life skill that often carries over well beyond camp.
Some campers and staff have legitimate dietary restrictions due to medical, allergy-related, or religious reasons (for example: food allergies, lactose intolerance, gluten intolerance, or vegetarianism for religious reasons). Camp Alleghany takes these needs seriously.
Families with these needs complete a Dietary Restriction Agreement, which allows us to:
- Ensure dietary restrictions are followed carefully and consistently
- Provide reasonable substitutions that mirror the camp menu when possible (e.g., gluten-free pancakes on pancake day, veggie or soy-based burgers on hamburger day)
Dietary preferences (such as vegetarian, pescatarian, or gluten-free by choice rather than medical necessity) are respected, but campers must commit to one consistent plan for the duration of their stay.
Because substitutions require additional planning and cost, a $15/week fee is added for non-medical/religious dietary preferences that require substitutions from one or more of the following: eggs, dairy, gluten, meat, peanuts, tree nuts, or soy.
If a dietary need is medical or religious and documented by a physician on the camper’s Health Form, this fee is not applied.
If a camper prefers to avoid certain foods but does not want substitutions (for example, a vegetarian camper who prefers to eat from the salad bar and standard vegetable sides), families may opt out of substitutions and the weekly fee will be waived.
Again, families who indicate a dietary restriction, allergy, or special diet on the Health Form will receive a Dietary Restriction Agreement by email prior to the session. For non-medical/religious dietary preferences requiring substitutions, the $15/week fee will be noted at that time.
As always, we are happy to answer questions and help ensure that every camper has a safe, nourishing, and positive dining experience at Camp Alleghany.