Abstract
BackgroundMillions of children attend residential summer camps each year. However, few studies have examined the potential of camps for obesity prevention efforts. Research in the domain of positive youth development has shown that camp programs as short as one week have both short- and long-term positive effects on self-esteem, self-efficacy and other youth outcomes. The objective of the present study was to highlight the potential of resident camps as promising venues for the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in the children who attend.MethodsData for this study came from the American Camp Association 2007 Emerging Issues Survey. This survey assessed camp professionals’ perspectives on a diverse array of issues, including the healthy eating and physical activity of children. Data analysis focused on responses from 247 camp professionals whose camps offered resident camp programs.ResultsDescriptive and Chi-square statistics were calculated. Ninety-two percent of camp professionals reported that the healthy eating and physical activity of campers was an “important” or “very important” issue for camps. The majority of camps reported offering vegetarian options, healthy snacks and salad bars, and allergen-free options. Additionally, 86% of camp professionals indicated that they had implemented one or more strategies to address concerns related to the unhealthy eating behaviors of children, with top strategies including increasing the availability of fruits and vegetables, increasing the availability of healthy drink options, and improving the nutritional quality of menus. Fewer camp professionals (50%) indicated they had implemented strategies to increase children’s physical activity levels, but many professionals indicated that their camp programs were inherently active and additional strategies to promote physical activity were not necessary. Associations were found between camp affiliation and food options available to campers.ConclusionsThe majority of camp professionals believe the healthy eating and physical activity of children are important issues for camps and have implemented strategies to address these issues. An important question for future research is to examine whether these strategies are effective in promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in children, as well as ways that camp programs could be improved.
Highlights
Millions of children attend residential summer camps each year
As a first step towards understanding how the residential summer camp experience may influence children’s eating and physical activity behaviors, the present study explored camp professionals’ perceptions of: 1) the importance of promoting healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in children; 2) the food options available at their camps; and 3) any strategies they have implemented at their camps to promote healthy eating behaviors and physical activity in their campers
The idea that structured summer programs such as resident camps can promote healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in children is not new [48], but has received little attention when compared to research focused on other youth-serving organizations
Summary
Millions of children attend residential summer camps each year. few studies have examined the potential of camps for obesity prevention efforts. The objective of the present study was to highlight the potential of resident camps as promising venues for the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity behaviors in the children who attend. The diets and physical activity behaviors of American children and adolescents need improvement. 8-18-year-old children watch an Interventions aimed at improving children’s eating and physical activity behaviors have focused on a number of contexts within which youth spend their time, including homes [6], schools [7], and community-based organizations [8]. Camps accredited by the ACA serve a diverse array of children: 90% of these camps offer financial assistance to children who are from economically deprived families or experience other hardships that may interfere with their ability to attend camp [10]. Summer camps provide access to a large number of children, many of whom are at higher risk for poor dietary intake and high prevalence of obesity
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