08/03/2026
Curiosity, Food, Fun, and a Whole Lot of learning! This year ISU Dining, Thielen Nutrition Services, and Recreation Services teamed up for Kid Camp activities!The overall theme for all days was simple: Be curious about food! Rather than the “good food, bad food” mentality that kids are often exposed to, we encouraged them to explore food, listen to their bodies, and discover all the ways food can be interesting, enjoyable, and nourishing.
Day 1: Exploring Food with Our Senses
We focused on trying new foods in a low pressure environment. The kids created a rainbow of colors with the snacks provided and were encouraged to use all of their senses while eating to help them experience and enjoy their food. We played a mystery food game where they had to identify foods by touch, then explored where our food comes from and how different foods grow.
Day 2: Fueling & Listening to Our Bodies
We talked about how food and hydration help fuel our bodies and explored the different signals our bodies give us when we’re hungry, full, thirsty, tired, and more. The kids made their own fruit infused water, and had a blast with the buoyancy science experiments, making predictions about which fruits and vegetables would sink or float. We wrapped up the day by teaching the kids how they can make their own snacks at home. Our trail mix station was a big hit– they got to choose from a variety of foods and create their own snack mix
Day 3 Taking Care of Our Whole Selves
We played Health charades and nutrition bingo, which quickly turned into 50 simultaneous bingo winners when we realize all the cards were the same! We talked about body diversity and the importance of honoring all shapes, sizes, colors, abilities, and differences; we discussed how kids the same age can grow and develop at very different rates. Parents will also receive a resource packet highlighting what we discussed throughout kids camp, along with book recommendations, and additional reading resources to help families continue the conversation at home.
