Navigating Scouts with Food Allergies
Written by Anna Batz – Special Needs and Disabilities Committee Member
Food allergy parents aren’t always the obvious ones in the crowd at recruiting events until the floor is open for questions. All the other parents in the room will ask about activities, camping, advancement, costs – but those food allergy parents will almost always ask about everything related to food. When your child has a food allergy, it can be all-consuming as you navigate the world. After all, we all must eat, and food is everywhere. You can’t go on a campout for a weekend or even a full day day-camp and avoid food.
When my oldest joined Cub Scouts as a Tiger back in 2010, those were certainly the questions on my list as I listened to the Cubmaster’s pitch at our local elementary school’s recruiting night. At that time, my son was extremely allergic to milk, eggs, and peanuts. Fast forward 15 years, and he’s now a Venture Scout at age 20. He has long since outgrown the milk and egg allergies, but the peanut allergy is still his constant foe. But, even after going to numerous weeks of summer camp, Sea Base, Okpik at Northern Tier, and completing 2 treks at Philmont and one summer as Philmont staff, he can still proudly say that he has never had an allergic reaction at Scouts. Thanks to his proactive parents, his own diligence, and the support of 2 Packs and 5 Troops in 4 councils and 2 countries as we moved around the world with the Navy, we were able to keep him safe with very few restrictions. As they say, it takes a village.
Due to my own family’s great success with food allergies in Scouting, when Kelly came to Pack 3283 in 2022 asking questions about what to expect if she enrolled her own child with nut allergies in Cub Scouts, we were prepared to give a positive outlook. Kelly is the mom of 4 boys, who at the time were twins in fourth grade, a first grader, and a preschooler. Her first grader had an extremely severe nut allergy – not just peanuts, but all nuts. Even products that were produced on equipment that touched nuts could set off an anaphylactic reaction, requiring an epi pen at home, a second epi pen in the ambulance and an ER visit. Cross-contamination was a huge concern. We immediately tagged in our camping chairs and event coordinators to allay her concerns. With some tweaks to our standard menus and snack offerings, we have been able to offer a safe space for her son, while not diminishing the experience for any of our other Scouts.
Kelly and husband Jon have been instrumental in this process. Kelly has been very hands-on in helping to plan events. When we have an idea that involves food, we immediately consult Kelly to find out how we can include their son safely. This may be substituting Jimmy Johns subs with Subway, or other changes that we may not have considered without her assistance. The Pack has her review all menus and she tells us what brands are safe and which are not (for example Mott’s fruit snacks are made on shared lines and Welch’s fruit snacks are not made on shared lines), and when it’s time to shop, she goes along and shares the knowledge of brands that are safe without requiring everyone to stand in the aisle reading labels. Kelly has also been proactive with our local Scout camps regarding food at summer camp and Polar Cubs. Sometimes it means they must pack in their own safe food, but even that inconvenience is outweighed by watching their sons experience all that Scouting has to offer.
Skip ahead to 2025, and Kelly’s young Tiger is now a Bear, enjoying every moment of Scouting with no fear. While his food allergies are still at the forefront of all planning for Pack activities, the Pack knows that Scouting is for all and will always strive to keep him safe first and foremost. It has been amazing seeing 3 of her boys be active in Scouts and soon her youngest will be joining as a Lion.
Sadly, this happy outcome has not always been their family’s experience for activities outside of Scouting. “Food allergies have prevented my kiddo and our family from attending church, school, sports, and community events. A t-ball family would get peanuts from the nearby farmers market and toss peanuts all over the stands. I couldn’t bring my toddler to watch his brother’s t-ball games. We knew baseball was ruled out of our future along with other activities and environments that did not feel safe. My child didn’t go to school the day of the class field trip to the MN Twins Stadium - we just couldn’t find a workaround to make that safe,” Kelly said.
However, we know that all it takes is some careful planning, preparation, and vigilance to invite kids with food allergies into the fold. I remember their family’s first campout and the relief and delight in her eyes as her son turned to his friend who recruited them and asked, “Why didn’t you tell us about Scouting earlier?!” Their boys loved the entire weekend, and it was very special and welcoming. “It was the first time our son had ever been fully included in a meal and walked up to a table of snacks where everything was an option. The anxiety of being in a room full of children, with sticky hands, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches was erased. Everyone was enjoying foods that were safe (tacos, spaghetti, chicken nuggets, etc.) It was a whole new experience for us to let our guard down. Jon and I knew we found a home where our child would be safe, and all our kids would grow through enriching experiences.” Now we have Jon camping regularly with the Troop and their oldest sons and Kelly is serving on our Pack Committee – and all 4 boys get to have wonderful adventures with Scouts. “The Pack’s thoughtfulness when choosing activities, willingness to make the simple swaps, willingness to say no to pot lucks, pick a basketball game over a baseball game, and willingness to let the parents volunteer and be a part of the planning has created the only environment outside of our home where my child gets to fully participate. At church, school, and sports, he’s the different kid who doesn’t get to eat the meal, the special snack, the birthday treat. He handles it very well most days, but it means the world to go to Scouts. We leave our anxiety at the door and he gets to fully participate and be just like every other kid. It is worth the time volunteering for the reward of experiences, community building, and the friendships we’ve made.”
Food allergies can be scary, and they can be challenging, but they don’t have to be. With a strong partnership between family and unit, there’s no reason a Scout should not be able to participate fully in the program. If you have questions or concerns about food allergies, sensitivities, intolerances, or special dietary needs, the Special Needs and Disabilities Committee can help. Contact the SNDC at: Northern Star Special Needs and Disabilities
For more information on how to include youth with food allergies into Scouting, visit: Inclusion Toolbox: Food Allergies
For more information about food allergies, please visit:
Foodallergy.org – Food Allergy Research & Education
Kidswithfoodallergies.org – KFA/Kids with Food Allergies
Aafa.org – Allergy and Asthma Foundation