GIG Summer Camp

It is that time of year again when we need your help. School is getting near the end and our kids are planning their summer vacations. Those plans include summer camp.

We are looking for volunteers to help out at the following locations:

Camp Sealth
Vashon Island, Washington
Session 4: July 20 - 25, 2011
Session 5: July 26 - 29, 2011
Session 4/5: July 20 - 29, 2011

Volunteers will work in the kitchen and will work 6 hour shifts. If you are interested in helping to make this a great time for our celiac kids, please send an email to gigcamp@gluten.net with your name, contact information, and the day(s) you are available to volunteer.

Hope to see you at camp!

Stacey Juhnke
GIG Camp Coordinator

GIFTS - Gluten Intolerant Families Teamwork and Suppport, Portland

February 19 will be the first meeting of GIFTS, a support group for gluten intolerant kids and their families. 
The meetings will be held every other month on the third Saturday and will have an activity for the kids as well as speakers from various backgrounds.

Where:
The meetings will be held from 2 to 4 PM at Wendy Cohan's house.
6108 NE 45th Ave, Portland OR 97218.  This is 1 block East of Fernhill Park, on 45th between Ainsworth and Holman.  (This is also the location that we held our January GIG meeting).

More on GIFTS:
Wendy has an exciting schedule in the works with fun themes and activities.  Check out the GIFTS website for the tenative schedule for 2011 and more information at http://www.gifts-pdx.org/


Topic:
The speaker of the February meeting will be Krista Anderson-Ross, ND. Her topic will be Nutritional Deficiencies in Gluten-Free Kids.  Krista Anderson-Ross, ND, will present information about what symptoms to look out for and practical strategies for treating nutritional deficiencies in children, particularly those who are gluten intolerant. She’ll also give advice on how to plan ahead and deal successfully with: birthday parties, school and community events, holidays, etc.. 
Krista Anderson Ross ND is a licensed naturopathic physician with a fam

ily practice at Heartspace Center for Healing in Lake Os

wego.  Dr. Krista is also a blogger, lecturer and mother of three gluten-free children.

 

http://wholefoodmatters.net  and http://wholefoodmatters.net/blog

Gluten-free Back-to-School Tips and Recipes

If it hasn't started yet, school's just around the corner for millions of gluten-free kids. That means a gluten-free plan for breakfast every morning, and for gluten-free lunches, and in-school and after-school snacks.

Dana Korn, author of Kids with Celiac Disease, makes some excellent suggestions for getting an early handle on any gluten-free challenges or resources that may await your child at school.

Her suggestions include:

• Empower Your Child: Encourage even young children to understand their diet, the importance of following it, and to have the confidence to mention it to adults and other kids as needed.
• Provide Written Instructions: Provide the teachers, principal, school nurse, dietitian, or any food preparer, with clear, concise written materials explaining celiac disease and your child's diet. Include lists of safe foods and unsafe foods.
  
• Communication:Make sure everyone in the school food loop knows the importance of your child remaining gluten-free. Help to make them aware of any alternative snacks or food you may have packed, along with a list of safe and unsafe foods.

Evaluate the School's Gluten-free Options: Schools often prepare food for numerous children with lactose or gluten-intolerance, peanut allergies, or other food restrictions. Talk to the dietitian or person in charge of food preparation. Review menus, furnish lists, and talk about the importance of avoiding cross-contamination. If you feel comfortable with the personnel's ability to provide a gluten-free diet, give them the chance to do so. If you're not comfortable, or if it doesn't work out, you can always pack a lunch. The Gluten Free Lunch Book offers lunch suggestions for days when children can't eat cafeteria food. Online, the blog onlysometimesclever offers up some excellent gluten-free food recipes for school day meals.

Talk to Lunchtime Supervisors:
So the best you can do is explain to your child why she cant trade food with her buddies, and make sure the lunch area monitors are keeping an eye out for swappers.

Provide Teacher with Gluten-free Treats
Get a schedule of classmates birthdays and scheduled holiday parties. Plan accordingly. If your child's birthday falls on a school day, consider celebrating with gluten-free treats for the whole class.

Gluten-free Lunch Tips
Toast gluten-free bread before making sandwiches. Also, most gluten free bread travels better wrapped in a paper towel and placed in a reusable plastic container than it does in sandwich bags. Consider keeping bread separate from sandwich ingredients. Include spreads on the side. For information on children's legal rights to reduced-cost school lunches, see section 504 of Kids with Celiac Disease.
Last, find Gluten-Free School Lunch Recipes and information on How to Pack a Gluten-Free Lunch, along with gluten-free back-to-school resources, tips and food ideas at:

• onlysometimesclever.wordpress.com
• Kids With Celiac Disease
• The Kids are Back in School - Tips for Making the (Gluten-Free) Grade
• The Gluten Free Kid: a Celiac Survival Guide
• Gluten-Free School Lunch Recipes
• How to Pack a Gluten-Free Lunch

Source: http://www.celiac.com, written by Jefferson Adams

Gluten-Free Summer Camp - One Session Left

Midway Farms is has a gluten free summer camp available for grade school aged children. We always serve a gluten free menu as the Kapple family who owns Midway Farms suffers from Celiac disease. Midway Farms is located in Albany OR. If anyone is interested in our day camp they can find more information at:
http://midwayfarmsoregon.com/GlutenFree/
www.midwayfarmsoregon.com/camp

The Midway Farms "Farm Experience Day Camp" provides your child with the opportunity to develop character, learn valuable life skills, make new friends, and discover new interests, all while experiencing real life on a biodiverse local family farm.

www.midwayfarmsoregon.com
info@midwayfarmsoregon.com


Dates Available: (June 28 - July 2), (July 12 - 16) and (August 23 -27).

Camps Daily Routine

We begin with a structured morning routine from 10:00 to 10:30 am. We will feed and water the cow, pony, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese, then collect the eggs. At 10:30 we provide a snack. The snack will be gluten free and fit the day's events. Afternoons begin with lunch at 12:00 noon. After lunch we have a less structured time for reflection and review of the day's lessons through art projects and free time. Campers are provided with log books to write or draw pictures about what they are learning and experiencing.

Gluten Free Summer Camp at Midway Farms

Midway Farms is offering a gluten-free kids camp this summer. Three different sessions are available for either a whole week or just one day.

Midway Farms is has a gluten free summer camp available for grade school aged children. We always serve a gluten free menu as the Kapple family who owns Midway Farms suffers from Celiac disease. Midway Farms is located in Albany OR. If anyone is interested in our day camp they can find more information at www.midwayfarmsoregon.com/camp.

The Midway Farms "Farm Experience Day Camp" provides your child with the opportunity to develop character, learn valuable life skills, make new friends, and discover new interests, all while experiencing real life on a biodiverse local family farm. www.midwayfarmsoregon.com info@midwayfarmsoregon.com

Dates Available: (June 28 - July 2), (July 12 - 16) and (August 23 -27).

Camps Daily Routine
We begin with a structured morning routine from 10:00 to 10:30 am. We will feed and water the cow, pony, chickens, ducks, turkeys, and geese, then collect the eggs. At 10:30 we provide a snack. The snack will be gluten free and fit the day's events. Afternoons begin with lunch at 12:00 noon. After lunch we have a less structured time for reflection and review of the day's lessons through art projects and free time. Campers are provided with log books to write or draw pictures about what they are learning and experiencing.

"Way to be Gluten-Free" Kids' Day Camp

TAGS and GIG® Present:
"Way to be Gluten-Free"
Kids' Day Camp

February 13, 2010
10:00 am - 2:00 pm (9:30 check-in)
Cost: $15 per child

PCC Natural Market, Greenlake
7504 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, WA

This fun and practical workshop is designed to empower kids with gluten intolerance to participate in meal planning and preparation. Kids will learn which foods contain gluten, where to look on labels for gluten information and what key words to look for, and then they will apply that knowledge by shopping for gluten-free ingredients in the PCC store. Our goal is to help kids work towards self-sufficiency and to become proactive in their own care.

This workshop is intended for children aged 6 to 10 years old. Parents are welcome.

Schedule:
Introduction (10 minutes)
Lesson: What is Gluten and Where Do I Find It? (15-20 minutes)
Where's the Gluten? Label reading activity. (30 minutes)
Gluten-Free Shopping Spree -- Kids go on a scavenger hunt in the store for gluten-free lunch ingredients. (30-45 minutes)
When Do We Eat? -- Kids prepare a delicious gluten-free lunch... and then eat it! Includes free discussion time and clean-up. (60-90 minutes)
Gluten-Free Bingo -- A twist on Bingo that teaches kids to identify gluten in foods. (20-30 minutes)

"Way to Be Gluten-Free" will be conducted by TAGS teen volunteers (Teen Advocates with Gluten Sensitivities) and Cynthia Kupper, executive director of Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG). To register for the workshop, visit our website at www.gluten.net, call (253) 833-6655, or email Rebecca.Powell@gluten.net. Space is limited to 15 kids. Cost: $15 per child.