Camp Food at Growing Routes
Twigg Farm, our camp home, is a peaceful lakeside farm surrounded by woods, gardens, an apple orchard, fields, and water. From the beginning, food has been a central part of camp life — not an add-on, not an afterthought, but something we plan for with real care and intention. If you’re searching for an overnight girls summer camp in Maine with great food, you’re in the right place.
One Thing Campers Always Talk About After Camp?
The Food.
Families often tell us that our food is one of the things that truly sets Growing Routes apart.
Campers enjoy fresh, delicious, and diverse meals—often made with ingredients they help grow and harvest from our own gardens. Meals are nourishing, healthy, simple, and made mostly from scratch with whole foods to minimize processed foods. Think homemade bread and snacks, fresh pasta, vibrant produce, and real meals that feel comforting, satisfying, and genuinely good.
We eat together in a cozy dining room, and when the weather allows, we picnic or cook outdoors. Meals are unhurried and shared, creating space for connection, conversation, and a sense of belonging.
From Garden to Table
Food just tastes better when you’re part of the process!
Campers are invited into the full food story at camp —
Harvesting raspberries straight from the garden
Snipping bunches of basil
Gathering lettuce for salads
Kneading dough and helping prepare meals
Campers are also always encouraged to dream up ideas at camp! If someone gets excited about a meal they want to try making—or we’ve just picked a huge bowl of blueberries and someone starts talking about blueberry pie—we lean into it. Camp food is responsive and playful, shaped by curiosity, seasonality, and what’s growing around us.
Through these small, hands-on moments, campers learn where food comes from and build a deeper connection to the land—and to what it means to nourish themselves and others.
How We Approach Food at Camp
Food at Growing Routes is grounded in care, simplicity, deliciousness, and intention:
Fresh, nourishing meals made on-site
Produce grown in our gardens
Cooking from scratch as much as possible
Minimal processed foods
Meals that feel both healthy and joyful
We aim to foster a positive, relaxed relationship with food that supports growing bodies!
A Healthier Relationship With Food
Meals at camp are not rushed or eaten on the go. They’re shared, enjoyed, and respected as an important part of the day.
Many campers leave with:
A greater openness to new foods
More confidence around meals
A deeper appreciation for fresh ingredients
A few new favorite vegetables
Increased desire to cook & bake at home
Allergy & Dietary Accommodations
We know food choices and needs are very personal and unique to each individual.
We thoughtfully accommodate allergies and dietary needs, and we work closely with families to ensure campers feel safe, included, and well-fed. Our small size allows us to pay close attention and respond with care rather than relying on one-size-fits-all systems. We are nut aware and do our best to meet all camper needs.
If you have questions about specific allergies or dietary needs, please reach out before registering!
Is Growing Routes the Right Fit?
If you’re looking for a girls summer camp in Maine on a lake with great food, where meals are homemade, nourishing, and part of daily camp life, Growing Routes may be a wonderful fit.
We’re always happy to answer questions, even if you’re just exploring options and not ready to register.
👉 Learn more about Growing Routes Summer Camp
👉 Contact us with questions about food, allergies, or camp life
We believe the best camps are the ones where kids feel at home.
“One surprising highlight was the excellent food! This was her first time going to overnight camp and she is a very picky eater — textures are a challenging thing! The meals at camp sounded like they always had many options for her. She also said the staff always checked in with her to make sure she got enough to eat. We loved knowing that they made a lot of their food from their own gardens!”