Snack Time at CRU
A Daily Campus Tradition | Twice a Day, Every Day
- Snack time happens twice a day. Once in the late morning and once in the mid afternoon. Exact timing varies based on the daily schedule, trips, and campus events.
- All snacks are peanut-free across every campus every day.
- Dairy allergy accommodations are always available for the frozen treat.
- Campers with other dietary needs can be accommodated with alternative snacks. Note allergies in your camper’s profile.
- Parents may send a snack from home. It will be stored in your camper’s lunchbox until snack time. Parents must inform the Group Leader in advance or the arrangement cannot be honored.
- Opt-out is available. Contact your campus director to arrange it.
- Snack selections rotate throughout the summer and are the same across all CRU campuses.
- Water and naturally sweetened drinks are available all day at drink stations with scheduled drink breaks.
The Savory Snack
Once a day, in the late morning depending on the schedule, every camper receives a savory snack. The specific selection rotates throughout the summer based on our food vendor, so there is always something a little different waiting. What stays the same is the quality, the timing, and the fact that every single camper on every single campus gets a snack.
Snack time does not happen on a rigid clock. It fits around the day. We are not going to hand campers chips right before they run laps in the gym. We work snack time into the natural rhythm of the morning so it lands when it is supposed to.
The Frozen Treat
The second snack of the day is the one campers start anticipating approximately six to seven hours before it arrives. Every afternoon, every camper receives a frozen treat. This is typically either a dairy or non-dairy ice cream option, with the specific selection chosen by campus directors the evening before. The frozen treat rotates so campers never quite know exactly what is coming, which is part of what makes it great. The only guarantee is that it is cold, it is good, and it is happening.
This Summer's Snack Lineup
For Summer 2026, our rotating savory snack options will include:
- Lay’s Sour Cream and Onion (1 oz)
- Linden’s Chocolate Chippers (1.1 oz)
- Cheez-Its (1.5 oz)
- All Sports Bites (1 oz)
- Pirate’s Booty (½ oz)
Please note: Snack selections are updated annually. This list reflects Summer 2026 offerings.
Hydration at CRU
Water and naturally sweetened drinks are available all day at drink stations throughout the campus, with scheduled drink breaks built into every day. Campers are encouraged to bring and use their reusable camp water bottle, and disposable cups are always available at the stations.
Allergy and Dietary Information
Every on-campus CRU snack is peanut-free. That is a standing commitment across every campus every single day of the summer without exception.
For campers with dairy allergies, a non-dairy frozen treat option is always available. No camper with a dairy allergy will ever be without their afternoon treat.
For campers with other allergies or dietary needs, snacks can be swapped for suitable alternatives. Please make sure your camper’s allergies are fully noted in their camp profile so our staff are prepared.
CRU is an allergy-aware program and takes the following precautions across every campus every day:
- Separate storage for lunches and snacks of campers with allergies
- Allergen-free tables cleaned between each lunch and snack period
- Pre-packaged treats with labeled ingredients required for any group celebrations
- Staff trained in allergy awareness, emergency response, and EpiPen use
For campers who are selective eaters or have texture sensitivities, parents are welcome to send a snack from home for their camper to have during snack time. The snack will be stored in their lunchbox until snack time arrives. Please note that parents, not campers, must inform their Group Leader about any brought-from-home snacks in advance. If the Group Leader does not know about the special snack, they will not be able to accommodate it on the day.
For parents who prefer to opt their camper out of the camp snack entirely, that option is available and fully respected. Please speak with your campus director to arrange it.
ationAdditional Food and Snacks at Camp
During the camp season, additional food or snacks may be added to the program during special events, theme days or field trips. We will update enrolled families with nutrition facts as they become available, and work with you if you need to make alternate arrangements so that your Camper(s) can participate safely. If you have any questions, please contact us.
This Tradition Is Part of Something Bigger
Snack time is one of the many daily traditions that make Camps ‘R’ Us what it is. Family owned and operated for over 30 years, CRU has always believed that the best summers are built from the details. The big trips, the Color Wars, the Talent Shows, and the Shindig days get the headlines. But it is the twice-daily moments, the savory snack that arrives exactly when everyone needs a break, and the frozen treat that every camper starts looking forward to the moment lunch ends, that quietly hold the whole summer together.
Taking care of our campers is not something we do only during the big events. It is something we do every single day, twice a day, one snack at a time. That is what thirty years of doing this teaches you. The details matter. The small moments matter. And a good ice cream on a hot Long Island afternoon matters more than almost anything.
CRU is one of Long Island’s most trusted day camp experiences, proudly offering a premium summer program at a price built for families, for campers from Pre-K through 8th Grade. With campuses across Nassau and Suffolk County including Syosset, Farmingdale, Massapequa, Bellmore, Hicksville, East Rockaway, Saint James, Kings Park, Williston Park and more, we offer families a screen-free, activity-packed summer built around confidence, friendship, and adventure. All programs are ACA accredited.
FAQ
Every camper receives two snacks per day. A savory snack in the late morning, which rotates between our Summer 2026 options including Lay’s Sour Cream and Onion, Linden’s Chocolate Chippers, Cheez-Its, All Sports Bites, and Pirate’s Booty, and a frozen treat in the mid afternoon, which is typically a dairy or non-dairy ice cream option chosen by campus directors the evening before.
Yes. All CRU snacks are peanut-free across every campus every single day of the summer. This is a standing commitment with no exceptions.
A non-dairy frozen treat option is always available for campers with dairy allergies. No camper will ever go without their afternoon treat. Please make sure the allergy is noted in your camper’s profile so staff are prepared.
Parents are welcome to send a snack from home for their camper to have during snack time. The snack will be stored in their lunchbox until it is needed. The most important thing to remember is that parents must inform the Group Leader about this in advance. Campers cannot arrange this themselves and if the Group Leader does not know, they will not be able to accommodate it. Please reach out before your camper’s first day.
Yes. While it is uncommon, parents can elect to opt their camper out of the camp snack program entirely. Please speak with your campus director to arrange it.
Snack times vary from day to day depending on the schedule, activities, trips, and campus events. CRU works snack time into the natural rhythm of the day to make sure it always lands at the right moment. Exact times are not published in advance as they shift based on what the day looks like.
Yes. Every campus across all CRU locations receives the same snack selections on the same day throughout the summer.
Snack selections are determined by our food vendor and campus directors and rotate throughout the summer. Individual snack requests are not available. Parents who have specific preferences for their camper are encouraged to use the bring-from-home option.
No camper is ever required to eat anything they do not want to eat. Snack time is low pressure and judgment-free. If your camper has consistent preferences or sensitivities, the bring-from-home option is the best solution.
Water and naturally sweetened drinks are available all day at drink stations throughout campus, not just during snack time. Scheduled drink breaks are built into every day and campers are encouraged to use their reusable water bottle. Disposable cups are also always available.
Candy, lollipops, gum, and similar items are not allowed at camp. Honestly, between Edible Art class, the afternoon frozen treat, and the occasional cookie at snack time, our campers are not exactly going without. We have the sweet tooth situation well under control.
No. There is no snack bar or canteen at CRU. Snacks are provided twice daily as part of the program, and additional food experiences happen through special events, Edible Art class, and theme days throughout the summer.
CRU is an allergy-aware program with the following protocols in place across every campus: separate storage for lunches and snacks of campers with allergies, allergen-free tables cleaned between each lunch and snack period, pre-packaged treats with labeled ingredients required for group celebrations, and staff trained in allergy awareness, emergency response, and EpiPen use. In the event of a severe allergic reaction, parents are contacted immediately and in serious cases 911 is called and the camper is transported to the nearest emergency room.
Staff are trained to recognize and respond to allergic reactions, including administering prescribed medication and epinephrine auto-injectors. Parents are contacted immediately. In severe cases, 911 is called and the camper is taken by ambulance to the nearest emergency room. Please make sure all allergies, medications, and emergency contacts are fully updated in your camper’s profile before the summer begins.
Yes, with family support. Please send appropriate snacks or lunch for your child if needed. For pizza days or special food events, contact your Campus Director in advance to arrange an alternative so your camper can participate fully and safely.
Yes. Snack selections are updated annually in partnership with our food vendor. The list on this page reflects Summer 2026 offerings and will be updated before each new summer season.
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