The Power of Food with Chef Ashley
“Ashley has made campers feel welcome and supported through her warmth, love, and delicious meals at camp. Below she talks a little about her experience, and the best thing you can do to ensure we keep having the tastiest meals ever at camp AND get to experience them for yourself? Check out her $9 recipe book. Trust me it is the best 9 bucks you can spend this holiday season.” - Jack
Ashley spearheaded special diets for camp in 2018. She reinvented how we think about our meals and food at SG.
My first day working for Camp Stomping Ground as their special diets coordinator was the first time I had ever been to a summer camp. It was never part of my childhood and I truly had no idea what to expect. If you’re familiar with Camp Stomping Ground, then you know that they find every opportunity and more to get kids (and staff) involved in hands-on learning experiences, and this includes cooking. Before I knew it, I found myself teaching kids a host of fun stuff in the kitchen and to my surprise, I was absolutely loving it. I loved it so much that when Stomping Ground went virtual this summer, I ran cooking classes over Zoom for campers. I gained so much and learned a lot while working in SG’s kitchen and running virtual options this year. My biggest takeaway? Cooking is a magical little gem that can serve so many purposes within the camp community. To break it down, cooking does 3 very cool things:
It fosters confidence.
Ashley camp loves you and misses you!
One of my favorite parts of running online cooking options for campers this summer was seeing how stoked they got over their creations. We would snap a picture at the end of the class, and everyone would hold up their finished product. Seeing everyone show off their work was just the best. I wanted to introduce some healthier, plant-based recipes to our crew of cooks but I wasn’t sure how they would be received. Would kids want to cook a quinoa salad or a basil pesto with me? Would they be interested in smoothies or a veggie soup? I was pleasantly surprised to see how excited the kids got over these recipes. They would come prepared with all of their ingredients, ask lots of questions, and would do a really great job cooking! They were so incredibly proud of themselves and their creations, and couldn’t wait to show everyone what their finished product looked like. These cooking options usually took place in the late afternoon, and some campers would tell me that their whole family would sit down and eat the food they made during our cooking option for dinner. They would be absolutely beaming as they told me this. Cooking provides kids with an opportunity to take control of a project, exercise their decision-making skills, and put their own personal flare on a recipe. Cooking fosters confidence in so many ways. Working up the courage to show someone your finished meal can feel vulnerable, but in a safe and supportive space like camp, they can overcome that fear and embrace their creations! This activity allows campers to be in charge and lead the way, creating that sense of accountability and accomplishment. It cultivates a trust in their own creative process and serves as a platform to share that creativity with the world.
It fosters a welcoming environment.
We’ve seen how much connection and conversation happens at the dinner table, both at camp and elsewhere. Sharing a meal together is a special time at camp. For a lot of kids however, camp meals can sometimes be an alienating and anxious affair. For the kids with food allergies and/or special dietary preferences, sitting down for meals in the dining hall usually means sticking out and having to eat something different than everyone else.
My mission when I worked at SG was to create incredible food for the campers whose meals were usually an afterthought. Food that would make them proud to eat it at their table with the other kids. Food that they would go home and talk to their parents about recreating. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free meals that were as safe for them to eat as they were delicious.
I’m a firm believer that connection and inclusion can be fostered in small ways on the plate, because I’ve seen it happen. Campers feel more valued, more included, and more accepted when their needs are not only met, but exceeded. When they don’t have to stress about meal times, they are free to relax and put their energy elsewhere. Prioritizing fresh, homemade meals for all campers allows for more connection and less frustration when kids sit down for a meal.
Prioritizing food that makes all campers feel comfortable at camp can be a daunting task. This is why I was so proud to work for a summer camp organization that made it clear that this was a true priority of theirs. They hired a kitchen staff member whose sole purpose was to ensure all campers had wholesome meals to enjoy, no matter their allergies or dietary restrictions.
The warm fuzzy feeling of belonging at camp extends from the outdoor games to the cabins to the dining hall. Food is a part of the camp experience and culture. Let’s ensure it works for everyone!
It fosters empathy.
Our camp director, Klee, made a recipe from Ashley’s E-book. It was AMAZING!
Showing campers how to create nourishing meals for themselves and their families was insanely rewarding. Why? Because these are life-long skills that I believe are very important. Learning to cook our own food creates an interest in ingredients and processes that may be different than the ones we grew up with. For me, cooking has become a form of self-care and a way for me to learn more about where my food comes from, and who is affected by my food choices. Radical empathy for other humans and non-humans that we share the world with is reflected on our plate as well. We have a beautiful opportunity to help bridge the disconnect between people and their food for the next generation. Cooking is a great start to that conversation, as we can use our own two hands to create something beautiful from mere ingredients. We can start to learn where the ingredients come from, who grows them for us, and all the work and effort that is put into that ingredient making its way to our kitchen. That work starts in the kitchen with fun recipes, hands-on experience, and genuine conversation about different foods and flavors.
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I’ve seen firsthand how kids and adults alike can have a blast in the kitchen, step up and out of their comfort zones, and share a special part of themselves through food. I’m on a mission to help kitchens become a more welcoming place for everyone, no matter their diet. I wrote a little ebook with vegan holiday recipes that I think can serve as a great resource for those of you who are looking to incorporate more plants into your camp or personal kitchen. I hope it serves as a helpful tool this winter season and inspiration to try some new recipes. The book prioritizes whole food ingredients over processed alternatives, and can be a great way to cook up some vegan food at camp! I’m a big fan of holiday comfort food, so get ready for some seriously cozy recipes. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
