Keeping Campers Refreshed: The Importance of Beverage Solutions for Summer Camps

Summer camps are a cherished tradition in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, bringing thousands of children together each year to explore nature, build friendships, and develop lifelong skills. According to the American Camp Association (ACA), approximately 20 million children will attend a summer camp this year.

Whether kayaking in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, playing soccer on a field in the beautiful nature that is the Poconos, or hiking in the Catskills in New York, one thing is constant: summer in the Northeast, especially when it hits, can get hot.

Effective beverage solutions are a nice-to-have and an absolute necessity for Northeastern summer camps. In this article from Sea Breeze, we’ll explore why thoughtful beverage planning is critical for your local summer camp. We'll outline how it impacts camper health and safety and what beverage systems and options are most effective in keeping kids happy, hydrated, and energized.

Why Hydration Matters: A Deeper Dive for Camp Directors

Ensuring children stay properly hydrated at camp is far more than a simple comfort measure; it's a fundamental pillar of their well-being, directly impacting their physical capabilities, mental acuity, and overall safety. Prioritizing access to healthy and refreshing beverages is critical to their duty of care, safeguarding every child's experience.

For camp directors, the implications are clear. Providing easy and appealing access to water and other healthy, refreshing beverages isn't a hospitality gesture – it is a cornerstone of their responsibility to protect every camper's safety and overall well-being. This includes:

• Strategic Placement of Water Stations: Water must be readily available throughout the camp, especially near activity areas and dining halls.

• Scheduled Hydration Breaks: Implement regular reminders and opportunities for children to drink, especially during active periods and hot weather, rather than relying on them to remember independently.

• Educating Campers and Staff: Children should be taught the importance of hydration and recognizing early signs of thirst or dehydration. Staff should also be trained to monitor campers for these signs and understand the protocols for preventing and responding to heat-related illnesses.

• Offering Appealing Options: While water is best, offering fruit-infused water, juices, sports drinks, or other healthy, low-sugar hydrating options can make drinking more appealing to children.

• Leading by Example: Staff should also prioritize their hydration, modeling good habits for the campers.

The Beverage Solution Strategy for New Jersey Summer Camps

Effective beverage solutions at summer camps are critical to camper well-being, safety, and overall experience. They extend far beyond the simplistic approach of just setting out water coolers. Thoughtful planning in this area encompasses a multitude of factors. 

A comprehensive strategy should consider these six critical factors:

1. Hydration as a Health and Safety Priority:

• High Activity Levels & Heat: Summer camps are synonymous with outdoor activities, sports, and play, often under a hot summer sun. This significantly increases the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke. A robust beverage strategy is a primary preventative measure.

• Accessibility and Reminders: Water availability is not enough; it must be easily accessible across all activity areas. Regular, scheduled hydration breaks and visual cues or staff reminders are crucial, especially for younger campers who might not recognize their thirst cues.

• Electrolyte Replacement: Water alone might not be sufficient for particularly strenuous activities or very hot days. Planning for beverages that can help replenish electrolytes (like sports drinks in moderation or naturally electrolyte-rich options) can be important.

2. Variety and Appeal:

• Beyond Water: While water should be the primary beverage, offering some variety can significantly increase overall fluid intake. Campers, especially pickier ones, might drink more if they have appealing options.

• Healthy Choices: This doesn't mean loading up on sugary sodas. Consider options like:

  • Fruit-infused flavored water (lemons, cucumbers, berries)

  • Unsweetened or lightly sweetened iced tea

  • Milk (dairy and non-dairy alternatives) at mealtimes

  • 100% fruit juices in moderation

• Temperature: Ensuring beverages are cold and refreshing is key to their appeal in hot weather. This involves adequate refrigeration and insulated beverage dispensers.

3. Dietary Needs and Allergies:

• Allergies: Milk allergies (dairy, soy, nut), sensitivities to artificial sweeteners or dyes, and other dietary restrictions must be accounted for. Clear labeling and dedicated, cross-contamination-proof options are essential.

• Medical Conditions: Campers with specific medical conditions (e.g., diabetes) may have particular hydration and beverage requirements that must be addressed in consultation with parents and medical staff.

4. Logistics and Infrastructure:

• Quantity and Replenishment: Accurately estimating the volume of fluids needed for the entire camp population throughout the day is a significant logistical challenge. This includes planning for peak demand times.

• Hygiene and Sanitation: Regular cleaning and sanitization of coolers, dispensers, and any reusable cups are paramount to prevent the spread of illness. Single-use cups might be necessary in some situations, but this raises environmental concerns.

• Staff Training: Staff need to be trained on the importance of hydration, how to identify signs of dehydration, procedures for replenishing beverage stations, and hygiene protocols.

5. Sustainability and Environmental Responsibility:

• Reducing Single-Use Plastics: Encouraging campers and staff to bring and use reusable water bottles is a key sustainable practice. Providing bottle-filling stations can support this. This is one of the main advantages of using a fountain dispenser versus water bottles.

• Waste Management: If disposable cups are used, adequate recycling and waste disposal systems must be in place to protect the environment.

• Source of Beverages: Considering locally sourced options or bulk purchasing to reduce packaging.

6. Age Appropriateness:

• Younger Campers may need more assistance, smaller cups, and frequent reminders to consume liquids. Beverages should be easily accessible at the correct height.

• Older Kids: These campers can be given more responsibility for their hydration, but still benefit from readily available and appealing options.

As Northeastern summer camps evolve, innovative, scalable beverage solutions are needed. From health and safety to fun and sustainability, how camps approach hydration can make or break a camper's experience.

By investing in the proper infrastructure, offering appealing beverage choices, and educating staff and campers alike, camps can ensure hydration becomes a seamless, enjoyable part of the summer adventure. Let's keep our campers healthy and ready to take on every hiking trail, kickball match, and sing-along summer offers.

Need Help Building a Beverage Strategy for Your Camp?

Contact the Sea Breeze team today for a free consultation or browse our catalog of hydration stations, mobile coolers, and kid-friendly beverage kits explicitly designed for New Jersey, New York & Pennsylvania summer camps