Nutrition, Health & Wellness

Health

The health and safety of our campers and staff is our top priority.  We have worked over the last year to develop new protocols and procedures to ensure our campers and staff members return to a safe camp. Our safety plan is made under the guidance of the Center for Disease Control, the New York State Board of Health guidelines and recommendations from the American Camp Association.

Sprout Lake has a brand new, 1900 square foot Health Center, equipped with 2 exam rooms, living quarters for 3 medical staff, a triage center, and can accommodate over 32 campers who require overnight medical care. We have between 1-2 nurses and a doctor on site at all times, 24 hours a day. All camper medications are administered by the medical staff either at mealtime or at the health center. The health center is open any time of day to take care of any camper needs.

Camp has access to a nearby hospital located in Poughkeepsie.

Food & Nutrition

All campers eat together, by bunk with their counselors, in our bright, air-conditioned dining hall. Nutritionally sound foods are the backbone of our menu. We work very hard to reduce our use of trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, MSG and bleached flours. We are peanut and tree nut aware.

Each meal at camp is prepared in our kosher kitchen by an incredibly talented kitchen staff. CYJ Sprout Lake provides a menu of healthy and delicious meals. Our chef creates kid-friendly favorites out of wholesome foods, with many meals made from scratch.

Is your child a picky eater? At Sprout Lake, we offer a large variety of options, so no camper goes hungry throughout the day. Our staff knows the importance of eating a full meal to have energy for a full day of activities, so no camper leaves a meal without eating. Our diverse menu options and choices will ensure the even the pickiest eater will find something enjoyable to eat.

Our brand new eco-friendly water fountains are available throughout the camp and a refreshing snack is given twice a day. Fruit is also always available throughout the day!

Special diets & food allergies

Camp Sprout Lake can accommodate certain food allergies and dietary restrictions. Please notify us as soon as possible and before May 1, if your child has special dietary needs. This will give our Health Center and Kitchen staff adequate time to prepare.

Camp Sprout Lake’s Kitchen regularly stocks Lactaid, soy milk and rice milk. These products are available whenever we serve milk in the dining hall. Additionally, dairy-free meals are available for campers with known and previously communicated dairy allergies.

We can accommodate the special diets associated with Celiac Disease. Campers needing a gluten-free diet will receive menu options that closely mirror what is being served during a particular meal. To help with this effort, families of campers needing gluten-free diets are asked to contact the camp office and at times provide certain food items for their camper to supplement the gluten-free foods stocked in the Camp Kitchen.

Food allergies, particularly nut allergies, are a growing concern across America. To help protect the health of campers and staff, we do not use peanuts, tree nuts or nut oils in the preparation of food in our dining hall or at outdoor cooking. Although Camp Sprout Lake does not serve peanut butter, a delicious soy alternative is available. We will not serve items where the label indicates that the food contains peanuts or tree nuts, but we may serve packaged items that state that a product has been produced in a factory or on machinery where nuts may have been present or similar language.

Although serious efforts are being made, Camp Sprout Lake cannot guarantee an entirely nut free facility. Nut products and gluten are not always clearly labeled.

Our professional food service staff is available for consultation regarding food allergies starting in June. We will work together to provide healthy and safe options for your campers to confidently enjoy wholesome meals at camp.