Meals at Nor’wester; A Community Affair

Despite years of working at Nor’wester and other camps, when I picture mealtime at a summer camp, I picture the sloppy joe mess hall scene in the Mary-Kate and Ashley classic “It Takes Two.” While meals at Camp Nor’wester can contain a certain energy, the unbridled chaos represented in summer camp movies is not our reality. 

Mealtimes at Camp Nor’wester are valuable because they are touchpoints for the whole community. We eat all meals together as a community. Because of the technology-free nature of camp, mealtimes are the only time when you know where everyone will be and when they will be there. For this reason, meals represent a chance for staff to check in with each other, share information, and discuss upcoming events. Similarly, meals allow campers from different units to touch base with each other. You will often see siblings connecting on the lawn ahead of a meal. 

A bell marks time throughout the day at Nor’wester. A Jumper Bell is rung 20 minutes before each meal, signaling that activities should be wrapping up and that everyone should begin making their way to the Lodge. The first people in the Lodge are “Jumpers”- the campers assigned to set their unit’s tables. A large chalkboard in the Lodge maps out where units sit and indicates how many campers and staff seats are available at each table. There is one dedicated Jumper per table; their role is to set the table ahead of the meal and get food from the kitchen throughout. Having a single jumper minimizes the amount of traffic in the Lodge. Campers rotate through who jumps, allowing each camper to contribute. 

While Jumpers set the tables, everyone else hangs out on the lawn below the Lodge steps. When the meal is ready to start, a gong is rung. At this point, staff enter the Lodge and find seats according to the chalkboard seating chart. Unit Leaders eat breakfast and dinner with their units but often choose to mix it up at lunch. All other staff try to sit with their unit regularly and often fill in as needed. Once staff are situated, campers enter the Lodge by row to fill the space back to front. 

Before anyone sits down, the Music Staff leads a grace. Graces are short songs aimed at gratitude and reflection. We take a collective deep breath after grace. Jumpers then get hot food items from the kitchen. Meals are eaten family style, meaning dishes are passed around and each person serves themselves. Campers are encouraged to try the meal served, but there is often an option available for those who are truly not interested in what’s on the table. We also have a side table with options for community members with dietary restrictions. 

As the meal wraps up, the Jumper begins to clear the table. Someone else at the table sorts the utensils to be placed into bins for the kitchen to wash easily. One person at the table also steps up to bletch the dishes. “Bletch” is the noun that refers to the leftover food served to Camp’s pigs. “Bletch” is also the verb that refers to the act of using a spatula to scrape food on plates onto one “bletch plate.” “Bletcher” is the noun that refers to the person who is bletching. Not only does bletching reduce food waste, but it also helps conserve water. All dishes are washed by hand; the dirtier the dishes, the more times the water needs to be changed. 

After all tables are cleared and sanitized, we sing. Post-meal singing is one of the most beloved traditions at Camp Nor’wester. It doesn’t matter if someone is a good singer. What matters is participating in the community act of singing. If tables are ready to sing before others, there are many fun ways to occupy the time. Have the campers in your life explain some of their favorite mealtime games. 

All meals finish with announcements for the community. Anyone can make an announcement as long as it’s relevant and timely. Announcements include lost & found asks, scheduling updates, community reminders, and sometimes a “Nature Note” about something cool campers encountered.