This month we are going to focus on summer camps. Whether you are going to a day camp or a sleep away camp, your camp experience will be full of adventures and fun. Most importantly, it can be a full camp experience even if you follow a gluten-free diet. Many camps collaborate with support groups and gluten-free manufacturers to provide gluten-free options. Check our downloads (Letter for camp staff and the gluten-free safe handling tips ) this month for a list of camps that provide gluten-free options, a sample letter for the camp staff, and even a information sheet for the camp cook to avoid cross contamination.

More good news is that camp activities are usually gluten-free. Swimming, boating, hiking are all safe and great fun. However, make sure to have the cook or counselor pack a gluten snack for you.

Arts and craft activities can also be great fun and a wonderful way to express yourself creatively. However, some arts and craft materials can contain gluten. Items like paper mache, and play dough are wheat based and therefore care needs to be taken when using these materials. There are a few options to avoid gluten exposure. One would be to use plastic gloves when working with these materials. Another option would be to make gluten-free substitutes for the materials. The third option would be to be very diligent on hand washing to make sure all remnants of the materials is removed from the hands – even under the fingernails. The children could also focus on other activities that do not contain gluten such as painting, molding clay, or even popsicles and woodworking. Whatever activity your camper chooses make sure they and the staff understand the importance of avoiding any cross contamination with snacks and meals or on their hands.