Snack Squad: A Brief History

Every afternoon, around the halfway point of our daily schedule, camp collectively hits the pause button. The games stop. The whistles quiet down. Everyone makes a beeline for the Canteen to cool off, rehydrate, and refuel.

Today, we call this magical oasis Snack Squad.

But it hasn’t always been called that.

The history of Snack Squad is rich, storied, and perhaps a bit exaggerated over the years. Here’s the abbreviated version.

Iteration #1: Milk Squad

Yes. Really.

Back in the day, afternoon activities paused so campers could enjoy a refreshing cup of…milk.

On a hot summer afternoon.

The milk had been poured into little plastic cups at some point in the distant past and sat waiting for us on benches. Alongside it? Two of those sugar cookies that somehow managed to both dissolve instantly and scrape the roof of your mouth at the same time.

And yet…we happily drank the milk. We ate the cookies. We thought life was pretty great.

Camp kids are a resilient bunch.

Iteration #2: Juice Squad

Sometime in the 1990s, cooler heads prevailed. Someone looked around and said, “Maybe warm-ish milk isn’t the ideal beverage after an hour of soccer.”

Thus, Milk Squad became Juice Squad.

More specifically: Bug Juice Squad.

A major upgrade.

This era also gave birth to one of Camp Green Lane’s greatest cultural achievements: The Juice Squad Song, lovingly created by our female supervisors decades ago. It’s still sung every single day, which means if your camper comes home chanting about Juice Squad, don’t be alarmed. It’s tradition.

The cookies, however, remained.

Some things are sacred.

Iteration #3: Snack Squad

These days, we’ve evolved into what may be the pinnacle of afternoon snacking.

Every afternoon, Aunt Jaime and the Greeks transform the Canteen into a snack headquarters stocked with ice-cold Gatorade, plenty of water, and a rotating lineup of treats. Depending on the day, campers might find frozen Go-Gurts, peaches, cheese sticks, or – if the camp gods are smiling upon us – Oreos.

It’s still fun. It’s a little healthier. (Mostly.)

And after a quick recharge, everyone heads back out for another round of activities.

Like any good franchise, Snack Squad has its special editions.

Super Milk Squad, a legendary event reserved for extra-special occasions, most notably Country Club Day, the day after Color War ends. The Canteen transformed into an all-you-can-eat brunch buffet with donuts, danishes, juice, popsicles, muffins, and just about every carbohydrate known to mankind.

Nutritionists everywhere looked away.

Campers were thrilled.

Because sometimes, the best camp memories aren’t made during the biggest events.

Sometimes they’re made while sitting with your friends on a picnic bench, trading Oreos, singing the Juice Squad song, and taking a break before the next adventure begins.

– Aunt Robin