VEGAN ACTION
Scott Williams
Plant-Based Camp for Kids
By Lucía RiveraFor Scott Williams vegan advocacy is about peace, love, and compassion. As the founder/owner of the Virginia-based physical education camp, Camp4Real, Williams engages kids with not only healthy exercise but also healthy, plant-based diets.
"I wanted to feed the kids healthy foods and obviously I wouldn't feed the kids anything that I wouldn't eat. As a vegan of 11 years, vegetarian for 12, I was not going to serve them animal products," Williams said.
When working with his campers and students, Williams blends excitement into education, like acting out nutritional concepts. When it comes to vegan meals, he makes it all based on choice, emphasizing options and variety as part of his gentle vegan advocacy.
"I try to throw in little things here and there that aren't too extreme for anybody or judgmental, because the way the kids internalize things [is] very unpredictable sometimes. I try to be as gentle as I can,＂ he said.
Williams is an athlete himself and has experienced the benefits of healthful plant-based eating firsthand.
"I don't have my own kids, but I love these kids like they are my own. So I want them to know all the things that have helped me throughout my life,＂ Williams stated.
"[I] still try to find creative ways to bring up being an animal lover and adopting a vegan diet. That's a little bit tougher, but I find ways to kind of get them thinking about it on their own.＂
For example, he has explained to campers why they don't engage in fishing activities but rather "leave the fish alone＂ and "co-exist with the fish.＂
Despite an estimated 99% of the families attending Williams' camp are nonvegan, he focuses on encouraging others.
"I frame it to where they are. No families or no parents are going to disagree with ＇Eat more plants,'＂ Williams said. "They may get a little defensive, or not be as willing to be open if I'm telling everyone to be vegan, ＇You got to go 100% in.' Framing it to where they are, it's not as intimidating. I've been there before so I totally understand it. However long that journey is, however small the steps are, anything that you're taking in that direction is positive, and I'm there to support them however I can.＂
In the future Williams hopes to expand Camp4Real both nationally and internationally, reaching more kids with his fun physical education program and message of peace, love, and compassion for all.
To learn more about Williams or Camp4Real, visit camp4real.com
Lucía is a college student and long-distance VRG intern from southern California. She has been vegetarian for 11 years, vegan for one year, and spends her spare time volunteering, reading, and baking.
