My intention to post a “picture a day” quickly fizzled out.
I did manage to take the photos, but by the end of a long day in the camp kitchen I often didn’t have the energy to write much. My husband kept urging me to simply post the pictures, yet most of them benefit from a little context so they make sense to others.
For instance, you might look at this photo and wonder why Melissa is wearing goggles:
It’s adorable, isn’t it? Melissa put on the goggles because every time Julia — our designated onion chopper for the week — diced onions, Melissa’s eyes would water and she would start to cry. The goggles solved that problem so Julia could chop without worrying about upsetting anyone nearby.
The woman standing to the right in that picture is Ann. She made the long trip from Kamloops, BC to spend the week helping in the kitchen. Her presence was both joyful and incredibly helpful; having extra experienced hands makes the week run so much more smoothly. Ann is also a fellow blogger, and she shares her thoughts online for those who want to read more about her projects and travels.
There’s a truth to the old saying “many hands make light work,” especially in a busy camp kitchen. This week a few other volunteers pitched in and made the workload manageable:
Sue and Laurel were part of the baking team, and the kitchen smelled amazing when Sue arrived to handle the baking for the week. She has a talent for producing large quantities of delicious baked goods, and the results are always worth the effort.
On a typical baking day, trays of Texas brownies come out hot from the oven, filling the air with a rich, chocolatey aroma that makes everyone pause. The raspberry coffee cake is another favorite—tender, fruity, and perfect for morning snack time. And then there are the cookies:
There were literally 1,500 cookies baked for the week—enough to keep snack time happy and to make sure every camper and staff member could enjoy a treat. It’s impressive what a small team can produce when they work efficiently together.
You might be wondering who we were preparing all this food for. Here’s the group that kept us busy and lively:
That week we fed 85 day campers (grades 1–6), plus 35 ranch campers, 35 CITS, and 45 staff members—about 200 people in total. The numbers keep the kitchen on its toes: planning portions, timing batches, and coordinating volunteers so every meal is served on time and every snack is ready when the kids need it.
By midafternoon the day campers headed home, and we took a deep breath and began preparing for the next arrival. New groups of campers come and go throughout the season, and each week brings fresh energy, new faces, and more opportunities for teamwork in the kitchen.
Running a camp kitchen is hard work, but it’s also deeply rewarding. From the laughter that comes with shared tasks to the satisfaction of seeing a table full of happy, well-fed campers, it’s a place where simple acts—like chopping onions, baking brownies, or stacking plates—make a big difference.
We’ll do it all again next week, ready to welcome another group and to turn ingredients into warm memories.
