Nutrition & Health

Our experienced culinary staff serves up a delicious, nourishing menu of foods that are eaten under the wooden rafters of our classic,1940s-era dining hall. Our balanced meals blend traditional camp favorites with internationally-inspired cuisines.

  • Campers choose from an assortment of hot food at each meal. 
  • Always a vegetarian alternative
  • Daily snacks of fresh fruit, pretzels or crackers as well as evening snacks
  • Kids can serve themselves staples such as cereal for breakfast and self-made sandwiches, salads and ramen at lunch and pasta and salad at dinner
  • We are tree nut and peanut free
  • Sundays we have special meal times, with make your own sandwiches for lunch and a BBQ dinner on the front lawn
  • The following milk choices are always available: Cow’s milk, Lactaid, Soy milk, Rice milk, Oat milk and Almond milk.

Eaten alongside a piano to fuel spirited sing-alongs, kids come home from Camp Chateaugay with many fond memories made during mealtimes. Community spirit surrounds each table, and in between bites, the mealtime atmosphere is electric, with:

  • Music
  • Singing
  • Cheers
  • Dancing
  • Birthday celebrations

Mealtimes are traditional times for bonding – especially at camp.

Our Sample Menu

Breakfast: Pancakes with maple syrup. There are always eggs, fruit, yogurt, cereal, and any variety of toasted bread, English muffins or bagels.

Lunch: Pizza and French fries. There is always a salad bar with 25 different items and a sandwich bar including sun butter & jelly, egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad. Instant Ramen is made to order.

Dinner: Oven roasted turkey, mashed potatoes and green beans. The salad bar is still available and there is also a pasta bar with red sauce and white sauce, butter or olive oil. Instant Ramen is made to order.

Dessert: Chocolate chip cookies

Serving Kids with Special Dietary Requirements

We’re experts at inclusive eating, and create meals for kids with special dietary requirements that are nearly identical to the general meal being served — just minus the food that your child needs to avoid. We can meet most dietary needs and preferences, such as: 

  • Vegetarian or vegan 
  • Lactose intolerance
  • Gluten free 
  • Nut allergies (We are both tree and peanut free.)
  • Some Fish Allergies
  • Egg Allergies
  • Kosher style (no pork and no meat and cheese served together)

We strive to provide the safest and tastiest dietary experience for our campers. Please contact us to discuss your camper’s specific dietary requirements and we will partner to ensure that camp dining is a safe, fun and inclusive experience for them. 

The Pill Box

At Camp Chateaugay our Health Center, also known as the “Pill Box,” is staffed by experienced medical professionals who are available 24/7 to provide medical attention and care to campers. The health center is fully equipped with medical equipment and supplies, including an on-site pharmacy and emergency medical equipment. At any given time throughout the summer we have licensed doctor on site as well as 3 New York State licensed registered nurses.

Camp Chateaugay strives to provide a safe and healthy environment for campers to enjoy a range of activities while also receiving necessary medical care. We are always trying to promote healthy living and physical activity. The camp offers a wide range of activities, including sports, hiking, swimming, and other outdoor activities that are designed to keep campers active and engaged. In addition, the camp offers a variety of healthy meals and snacks that are designed to meet the dietary needs of each camper.

Each camper has a Unit Leader who takes on a ‘Parent style’ role to try and encourages healthy eating, nutrition, personal hygiene, and the importance of regular exercise. Camp Chateaugay also employs a ‘Camp Advocate’ who is a licensed mental health professional, available to provide counseling and support to campers who may be experiencing emotional or mental health issues. To find out more, please follow this link.

Overall, Camp Chateaugay’s health and nutrition program is an integral part of the camp’s mission to provide a safe and healthy environment for campers. With full-time nurses and doctors on staff throughout the summer, the camp is well-equipped to handle many medical issues that may arise, while also promoting healthy living and physical activity among campers. We take campers and staff to CVPH (Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital) in Plattsburgh, NY (40 minutes from camp)which is part of the University of Vermont Medical Center for medical issues that we cannot treat at camp.