Youth ages seven to 11 recently participated in a special opportunity: the Michigan State University Extension Branch County FRIENDS Camp, a weeklong health and nutrition camp that teaches youth about healthy eating and physical activity.
“Obesity and diabetes rates in children are increasing, and MSU Extension hopes to help slow this growing problem,” said Suzanne Pish, MSU Extension educator. “FRIENDS Day Camp is a way to educate youth about making healthy lifestyle choices.”
To support Branch County's We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children¹s Activity and Nutrition), a national program from the National Institutes of Health, and as a part of Coldwater Community Schools' Meet Up Eat Up summer food service program, MSU Extension and Branch County collaborated to increase physical activity and the amounts of fruits and vegetables eaten by Branch County youth at FRIENDS Day Camp. Including activity assistants and youth counselors, 87 youth took part.
Campers prepared healthy snacks every day to learn how they can replace high-calorie, no-nutritive-value snacks with healthier alternatives. They participated in lessons about Go Slow Whoa Foods and learned about how much sugar is in their favorite drinks. The United Dairy Industry of Michigan contributed to the camp by paying for the dairy snacks during the week. Some dairy snacks the kids made were yogurt parfaits and fruit smoothies, and a trip to the MSU Dairy Store was included among the week¹s activities.
Youth learned about healthy relationships and how to handle bullying situations through Be SAFE, taught by an employee of Branch County¹s Coalition Against Domestic Violence. Adult counselors led games and recreational time to teach campers new ways to enjoy fitness activities, such as 4-H Awareness, water fun with water balloons and a scavenger hunt through the 4-H Children¹s Gardens.
“Our hope is that these campers have an increase in healthier food and drink choices and an increase in physical activity levels after leaving camp,” said Sarah Johnson, MSU Extension educator. “We want these kids to realize that physical activity can be fun, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money to be active. Simply playing a game outside is a fun, free way to be healthy.”
To learn more about this year’s FRIENDS Day Camp or to see what next year’s camp will hold, contact Sarah Johnson at (517) 279-4311 or john3017@anr.msu.edu, or Suzanne Pish at 517-279-4311 or pishs@anr.msu.edu.