Mishpacha Mag. and kids buying food at canteen in camp.

amother

Mint ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 4:13 pm

I was shocked and disgusted. Why on earth are we encouraging this kind of spending and indulging on extra food by kids and teens? My kids are camp age but haven't been to camp yet. I'm definitely not sending them to a camp with this type of culture. This is the kind of food we buy for a siyum or a birthday, not stam because we're in the mood. I hate that they have these impossible standards.

watergirl ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 4:13 pm

amother Heather wrote:

Bc the food is really not great

If they can make good canteen food, they can make good regular food that is included in the already astronomical price.

My teen read that article and his response was that he feels terrible for the kids who can hardly afford camp, much leas pay for this added expense. It’s sounnecessary.

Ema of 5

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 4:14 pm

amother OP wrote:

I understand about Teens. A 10 year old should not be up at midnight.

Of course a 10 year old is up at midnight when they have night activity! That’s sleep away camp.

↑ LovesHashem

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 4:46 pm

Ema of 5 wrote:

Of course a 10 year old is up at midnight when they have night activity! That’s sleep away camp.

We had night activity every night I remember. It was from like 8-9 or the latest 10. Our curfew was 10/11pm. Lights out, no talking, don't leave bunkhouse kind of thing....

amother

Raspberry ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 5:25 pm

Dunno. My 16 year old daughter went to camp. I put $40 in as suggested. She used $5 and got $35 back in cash at the end of camp- that she brought to me as soon as she got off the plane.

Amelia Bedelia

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 5:29 pm

amother OP wrote:

Parents are paying top dollar for camp. The food is not edible? 300 kids in camp and the food is not tasty and no complaints? Camp is $ 8000 to $10.000 for 2 months. Plus new clothing, shoes, sneakers, misc. plus add more money for the canteen. (child is age 10.)

Which camp is this? I'm not paying anywhere near these prices! I can send three children for the price you're paying for one!

amother

Taupe ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 5:41 pm

I send to Sternberg, which in general is pretty low key, and a girls camp. They have smoothies and waffle sundaes and of course pickles, which they've had for awhile. Most girls start camp with about 50 dollars in canteen and that's what they have. They usually budget themselves, or don't and run out. Apparently most girls get the fancier things occasionally, often when they really don't like the meal being served, and the rest of the time they get slushies or chocolate bars or the like. Fyi, Magen Av, similarly low key, had steak sandwiches over ten years ago.

Also important to note that at least one of the camps in the article is a kiruv camp. They often feel the need to have tops to get kids to come. Similarly, Kaylie has a pretty great canteen lineup- they specifically have perks so the neurotypical kids will want to come.

amother

↑ Taupe ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 5:46 pm

Other note- I have been approached several times to help fund sleepaway camp for kids of families in my town. When I do, I specifically put some of the money into their canteen account.

↑ keym ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 5:50 pm

amother Raspberry wrote:

Dunno. My 16 year old daughter went to camp. I put $40 in as suggested. She used $5 and got $35 back in cash at the end of camp- that she brought to me as soon as she got off the plane.

Does this include water?
My camps recommend $100. My boys use between $50 and $80 usually.
But the camp also doesn't allow us to send water on the truck and the first thing everyone does is buy 2 cases of water for starters. ($15 right off the bat)

amother

Scarlet ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 5:58 pm

keym wrote:

The camp doesn't have water for the kids to drink? Why do you have to buy extra water?

amother

↑ Raspberry ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 5:59 pm

keym wrote:

My daughter’s camp allowed packages for the first week, recognizing that we might not be able to send everything due to luggage limits. I sent her an Instacart from the nearby Walmart with water and some other food basics she wanted.

amother

↑ Taupe

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 6:09 pm

Many camps do water separately- you order in advance and pay, and either they deliver ot to your bunkhouse or you go pick it up. But yes, sometimes when you ask about water you get told to put in x amount to canteen and the kid can go get it day 1.

↑ keym ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 6:18 pm

amother Scarlet wrote:

The camp doesn't have water for the kids to drink? Why do you have to buy extra water?

The tap water is not very good

HonesttoGod ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 8:51 pm

My sons camp have real food in the canteen and I’m so so happy about it.
I include $x in my “package” when I apply for camp so it gets divided over all the payments. And any extra my sons have to use their own money.

They love the camp food AND they also sometimes want something more or something different. When you have 700 people + on campus you will never please everyone with food choices.
So instead of going to their bunk and eating noodle soups and potato chips and sour sticks, or going to the canteen and buying a slushee or soda and a cookie, they can buy pizza and fries or schnitzel sandwich or chicken salad. There are options.

There are always the kids who spend $$$$$ but there are also the kids like my boys who don’t spend that much at all. Usually $150 over 8 weeks which I don’t see as that much at all especially since $50 of it is their own.

amother

Quince

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 9:14 pm

I send to Lakewood camps. Bh bh bh. I do not have a canteen problem.

I put $50 towards my daughters canteens. They come back with $40. Bless you BRC.

I put $75 to $100 for boys depending on camp. A nice chunk goes to laundry and dry cleaning (for whatever reason they fund that through canteen).

My boys still come back with close to or sometimes more money! No end of canteen incentives for learning sedarim, winning contests, etc. So really boys can "earn" alot of their canteen.

The high school boys bring their own food and grill it. I spend about $50 on nosh and frozen meat.

Now this year I sent my first son before high school age. On Friday, when he had been there 4 days, he informed me he spent $26 in a Walmart trip. I think my streak of not spending down canteen is about to end.........

amother

Pearl

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 9:25 pm

The food at camp and Israel seminary is terrible usually. It’s so infuriating most girls come back heavy from Israel and they have to start shiduchim than Crying

amother

↑ Latte ↓

Sun, Jul 30 2023, 9:58 pm

amother Raspberry wrote:

Dunno. My 16 year old daughter went to camp. I put $40 in as suggested. She used $5 and got $35 back in cash at the end of camp- that she brought to me as soon as she got off the plane.

Be proud! You have a great dd. May you have much nachas from her.