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CAMPS BATTLE CHILDHOOD OBESITY, TEACH HEALTHY EATING
With childhood obesity affecting one in five children, the battle against
childhood obesity has stepped not only into the national spotlight,
but also into homes and schools. A recent The New York Times article
reported that schools in some states have begun sending home a student's
Body Mass Index (BMI) with his or her report card as one tactic in
the battle against childhood obesity.
Camps continue to play a vital role in turning back this national trend.
Camps are important partners for parents and children who want to make
positive changes that keep kids active and eating right all year long.
Camps and their staffs make sure that camp programs offer opportunities
for healthy and active living. If your children begin to change some
of their food and activity habits at camp, they might be able to transfer
some of these behaviors when they return home.
Many camps look for innovative, fun, tasty
ways to provide healthy choices and decision-making
skills to their campers. The following
list includes some "tried-and-true" techniques
found at camps:
- Teach children to alter food preferences
by giving them good choices.
- Offer taste tests, expose children
to new foods.
- Encourage eating breakfast.
- Offer new exercise/activity programs.
- Reduce "fast food" and junk
food for snacks and side dishes (chips,
cookies, candy, etc.); provide healthy
options at the snack bar or camp store.
- Educate children about healthy eating
and knowing when to stop eating.
Camps can play a vital role in contributing to lifelong patterns of
exercise and excellent nutrition. Camp is a great place to offer good
food, great activities, a positive environment, a safe and secure location,
and most of all, fun.
For more information on how the camp experience promotes healthy lifestyles
in children, contact Public Relations at pr@ACAcamps.org.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Public Relations, American Camp Association
765-349-3317; 765-342-8456, ext. 317
pr@ACAcamps.org
About ACA
The American Camp Association® (ACA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance
the camp experience for children and adults. ACA-Accredited® camp programs
ensure that children are provided with a diversity of educational and developmentally
challenging learning opportunities. There are over 2,400 ACA-accredited camps
that meet up to 300 health and safety standards. For more information, visit www.ACAcamps.org.
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