Fueling the Races: Food and Waste Management at Regatta

Fueling the Races: Food and Waste Management at Regatta

21 May 2026Tema BC, Hope '26

Regatta weekend transformed Brentwood’s campus into an atmosphere of excitement, competition, sunshine, and lots and lots of boats. For three days, the campus was bustling with crowds and noise, as many races took place on the beautiful waterfront. Behind every great regatta is an equally impressive operation keeping everyone fueled and the campus clean.

Regatta weekend is a tremendous task for the Food Services Team, who are faced with the challenge of providing meals for an unusually large number of people. On top of the staff and students, meals had to be scaled to feed volunteers, parents, coaches, and very hungry athletes. Not only must they accommodate the sheer number of people using the dining hall, but also the hectic schedule of the weekend, and mealtimes that were extended to ensure that rowers competing at the crack of dawn or into the evening were still fed. A massive thank you to the Food Services Team for their adaptability, hard work, and care.

As always, the Entrepreneurship 12 food booths were a highlight of the weekend. The entrepreneurship students spent many months developing their businesses, planning menus and budgets, buying supplies, and building booths. They spent the weekend cooking up various dishes and providing friendly service to their customers. Clustered in front of the CIL with a clear view of the finish line, the booths created a hub of activity and excitement, where people gathered to cheer on the races while enjoying some delicious food. From acai bowls to Mexican to chicken tendies, the booths had something to offer for everyone.

With so many people on campus, unfortunately, there was more waste than usual, and someone had to make sure things went in the right places! Ms. Knorren and her group of volunteers were in charge of waste management for the weekend and had the goal of minimising waste and educating people about proper sorting, in hopes of keeping the campus clean. A waste-sorting station was strategically set up next to food booths, where the majority of waste was generated. The team worked in collaboration with the entrepreneur students (who served their meals in environmentally friendly packaging!) to ensure that waste was sorted properly, by collecting refundables, composting, and recycling items when possible, and making sure that no bins were contaminated. Ms. Knorren shared, “I’m proud that we have a waste management team. When we’re not here, things go in the wrong bins, because we’re here, we get to do a small thing to save the planet “. Throughout the weekend, the efforts of the waste management team played a crucial role in reducing the environmental footprint of the regatta.

Of course, it is the rowers and races that are the center of attention and excitement during regatta weekend, but we can’t forget the work that goes on behind the scenes to make this event possible, because good food and a clean campus are what allow us to focus on the races and enjoy the weekend. The dedication and hard work of the Food Services Team, Entrepreneurship 12 students and teachers, and the waste management team are greatly appreciated and demonstrate that this event is made possible through community and collaboration.

Tema BC, Hope ‘26

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