Kids camping takes the challenge!: Use healthy messages to make the camp experience AWE-some!

Camping Magazine, Jan, 2002 by Vickie L. James, Claudia L. Hohnbaum

Camping EVEN BETTER than most summers? What was this young camper referring to? This story begins with Carrie Schroyer, director of Chalk Hills Camp, a camp of the Fox River Area Girl Scout Council, located one hundred ten miles north of Appleton, Wisconsin, on the Menominee River. Chalk Hills Camp prides itself in offering a variety of camping experiences for the campers, ranging from the introductory program for day campers, to specialty sessions featuring science, theatre, art, or adventure camping, to a very specialized wilderness trip program. "We try to offer a progression in all our programming so girls will come back year after year and continue to be challenged each summer," explains Schroyer. The beautiful habitat that nature offers this campsite, combined with the dedicated staff, some forty members strong, offers an outstanding camp experience for Girl Scouts. So what kind of improvements was Chalk Hills Camp seeking?

Let's begin with an entry from my journal. I'm Vickie L. James, a registered dietitian and the national director of Healthy Kids Challenge (HRC), a school- and community-based health initiative that has as its mission to provide an adaptable school/community approach to educate, motivate, and link kids and adults (KidLinks) to make healthy living a habit.

"Today I received an e-mail from a Girl Scout camp director wanting to know if Healthy Kids Challenge could go to camp. I was reminded of the HKC philosophy of taking healthy messages not only to schools, but everywhere kids live, learn, and play. What a great place to increase opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity, the camp experience! I know it's time to take Healthy Kids Challenge to camp!"

What is Healthy Kids Challenge and what is our match to kids camping? Healthy Kids Challenge is a nonprofit foundation that assists elementary schools and programs with increasing healthy eating and activity opportunities for kids and their families. We have developed an award-winning program with our KidLink concept that focuses not only on healthy messaging for kids, but, also for all who are connected with kids. Healthy Kids Challenge, created by Cooking Light in 1998, developed from a one-week, one-school trial in 1998-99, to a four-school pilot in 1999-2000, to over 600 schools/programs on board at the end of school year 2000-2001. Today over 700 schools/programs in thirty-three states, Australia, Japan, British Columbia, and Canada, are now Taking the Challenge.

Healthy Kids Challenge revolves around two primary concepts.

1. Healthy change is led by a KidLink team -- KidLinks is a leadership team of people who connect with kids and have the opportunity to influence choices that kids make with eating and activity. Key Kidlinks include school administrators, teachers, school meal staff, families, community partners, and kids themselves.

2. Make the healthy changes AWE-some Change--Healthy Kids Challenge helps link kids, schools, families, and communities for what we call AWE-some C.H.A.N.G.E!

A -- Appealing and fun

W -- Welcome and inviting

E -- Easy and simple

C -- Connect

H -- Health

A -- And

N -- Needs

G -- Get

E -- Excited

That's where kids camping entered the Healthy Kids Challenge picture. Education of the child does not stop at the classroom door, but extends itself from school, to the home, and out into the community. After-school programs, intramurals, youth organizations, and yes, kids camps are jumping on the bandwagon, along with schools!

Read now from yet a third journal entry that of Chalk Hills Camp director, Carrie Schroyer: "For several years now, one of our goals at camp has been to help girls feel more comfortable with who they are and how they look. We have challenged our staff to celebrate their own uniqueness, and to role model that satisfaction. 'Fat talk' is not allowed at our camp. After two years of no fat talk, it's time to step up and do even more to promote a healthy image! The Healthy Kids Challenge information appeared on the Web site and my wheels are turning!"

Through much long-distance correspondence, Healthy Kids Challenge was able to do a thorough review of the existing menus, snacks, activities, and classes offered at Chalk Hills Camp. Goals were set for healthy change for the campers, and for leadership provided during the camp experience.

Take the Challenge goals set for campers included:

* Have fun.

* Feel good about yourself.

* Enjoy the meals and snacks.

* Learn how to make healthy choices and create healthy habits,

* Increase opportunities to practice healthy choices at camp.

Take the Challenge goals for leadership included:

* Serve as role models for the campers.

* Develop ownership for the healthy Challenge.

* Feel good about yourself and the campers.

* Be motivated to develop and implement healthy messages through the camp experience.

* Develop a personal weliness plan.

* Enjoy meals and snacks.

* Offer feedback regarding camp changes.

* Have fun.

What kinds of healthy change recommendations were made and what were the outcomes at Chalk Hills Camp? We started with the menu, where the focus in the past had been on cost savings, and ease of preparation, not healthy choices, variety, or balance. Soon, a two-week menu cycle evolved, with over sixty new healthy menu choices added, many being kid friendly versions of Cooking Light recipes -- tasty, yet lighter in fat and sodium content than many existing camp recipes. Low fat ground turkey was substituted for part of the ground beef in main dish recipes; skim milk was offered instead of whole or 2 percent; more fresh fruits and veggies were added to the menu by adding a salad bar; and milk and water were substituted as the beverages of choice at meals instead of sugar-flavored drinks.