Rollins Dining Maintains Sustainability Commitment Through Summer Camps

With the spring semester wrapped up, Rollins College has shifted into summer mode, welcoming children’s camps to campus. While students take a seasonal break, the dining halls remain active—serving hundreds of young campers each day. Through this transition, Rollins Dining continues to uphold its strong commitment to environmental responsibility.

To accommodate the younger crowd, the dining team has swapped out traditional dishware and metal utensils for compostable plates, cups, cutlery, and napkins. These alternatives are safer for children and support the college’s long-standing sustainability goals.

While foam or plastic products might carry a lower upfront cost, Rollins has chosen to invest in compostable materials that align with its environmental standards and reduce long-term impact.

“It’s important to us that our summer dining program reflects the same values we prioritize throughout the academic year,” said Cristina Cabanilla, Director of Rollins Dining. “Using compostable materials allows us to maintain our sustainability efforts while creating a safe, practical environment for our younger guests.”

In addition to their safety and environmental benefits, compostable items cut down on the need for dishwashing—conserving water and energy during the busy summer season. This added efficiency supports both operational goals and the broader campus sustainability plan.

The summer dining model reflects Rollins’ ability to adapt without compromising its core values. The dining team views the seasonal shift not as a disruption, but as an opportunity to demonstrate that sustainability can work at any scale and for any audience.

“We approach every meal with the same mindset, whether we’re serving undergraduates or young campers,” Cabanilla added. “Our goal is to offer thoughtful meals in a way that’s responsible and consistent with who we are.”

The setting may change with the season, but the mission doesn’t. For Rollins Dining, environmental responsibility is not a side effort—it’s part of everyday decision-making.