No Soda

Well...the time has come. We've finally made to decision to eliminate soda from the list of available canteen items for campers this coming summer. It probably doesn't surprise many people, since there's not of a lot of good one can say (health-wise) about soda. Of course, it tastes great and a lot of kids love it, but camp is also a place where kids have an opportunity to see things differently. They often get a deeper appreciation of creation, a sense of Christian community and the idea that the two are connected. Hopefully, just as we are helping them to see that we are called to care for the world in which we live, we can help them see that we are also called to care for our bodies.

Without making value judgments about what they do at home, we can help them learn to live for a week without soda, just as they live without their PC's, cell phones, ipods, video games, telephones and even air conditioning. Campers will still have options like fruit juice, sports drinks and bottled water. So this is a big step for camp, but one we feel is worth taking.

What do you think?

Comments

[Sandy McCaa]

Praise God you are taking a stand toward a more healthy generation of children. Hopefully, they will carry this habit back home with them and their other family members. My hat goes off to you!

[Tina]

My name is Tina, and I used to be the Canteen Lady a couple of summers ago. I loved working at Camp Pecometh. I have to agree with you 100% in that taking the sodas away is a great idea. It was never offered during meals, so why should it be offered for snack? Best of luck with this approach.

[Shannon Robertson]

Pecometh Family.

Toss the soda out the window. It doesn't quench thirst the way water will/does. And the kids will accept it as a part of camp.

Good move :o)

[Katy Schulte]

While I commend the idea of healthy campers, soda is just one unhealthy player in the canteen. If you are going to remove soda, you can also nix the 10% fruit drinks and the artificial sports drinks too. Both are full of sugar and just as bad for the kids - the only difference is dont have the carbonation. Also you serve ice cream, candy, chips...the list goes on. What about those? I'm not clear on how carbonation is the enemy when there are just as many other things to get at canteen that are junk. If you want to be healthier at camp you should look at your overall menus and the big picture. Best of luck this summer. Keep up the good thoughts.

[amy lofgren]

I remember as a counselor at Pecometh in 1987-1988 that with every meal and snack came "bug juice". That stuff, some no-name brand of Kool-Aid was so full of sugar it could probably rival soda. I don't know if it is still the staple drink at evey meal but the amount of it consumed everyday makes the one soda at canteen seem not so terrible. I also think that all those sports drinks are very bad for children. Each parent should research what goes into them and the effects on the body.