The Illinois Park & Recreation Association and the American Cancer Society have partnered together to provide recreation professionals in Illinois a unique toolkit designed to fight the growing childhood obesity epidemic. Camp Fusion is a turnkey healthy living and activity toolkit that can be incorporated into your day camp or youth programming initiatives!

With obesity on the rise in the United States it is crucial that we, as recreation professionals, focus on physical activity and healthy living amongst children. Regular physical activity during the childhood and adolescence years improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Positive experiences with physical activity at a young age helps lay the basis for being regularly active throughout life. Children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate-vigorous activity 5 days a week. Unfortunately, participation in physical activity declines strikingly as children age, and vigorous activities like basketball may become replaced by more sedentary activities such as playing video games, watching television or using a computer.

Statistics:

• The prevalence of overweight children ages 6-11 has increased from 7% in 1980 to 16% in 2002. (cdc.gov)
• Most children and adolescents spend more time watching television that they spend in the classroom. (medicinenet.com)
• Children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to be overweight or obese as adults.
• Overweight adults are at an increased risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and some types of cancer and gall bladder disease. (cdc.gov)

Camp Fusion Objectives:

• Engage children in interactive activities/crafts/recipes where they can learn healthy behaviors and still have fun.
• Learn and understand the importance of physical activity, nutrition and healthy living at all stages of life.
• Decrease the percentage of obese children in Illinois.

Included in the Camp Fusion toolkit:

• Overview of all Camp Fusion program and activities for all age levels, K-5th grade (view Overview)
• Age specific turn-key programming ideas
  Activity lesson plans (view K-2, view 3-5)
  Craft ideas (view K-2, view 3-5)
  Physical activity lesson plans (view K-2, view 3-5)
  Healthy and fun recipes (view K-2, view 3-5)

Note, in order to view the free online Camp Fusion kits you must be an IPRA member and logged into the IPRA site with you member name and password (information found under the Resource Library/Childhood Obesity folder). You also have the option of ordering a pre-assembled, ready to use Camp Fusion kit for only $20 (IPRA members) or $40 (non-members). View Order Form

Thank you for joining in the fight to help eliminate the childhood obesity epidemic. If you have any questions about implementing the Camp Fusion program please contact the Illinois Park & Recreation Association at (630) 376-1911.