Just over one year ago the Illinois Park & Recreation Association introduced a partnership with the American Cancer Society to provide recreation professionals in Illinois a unique toolkit designed to fight the growing childhood obesity epidemic. This program, called Camp Fusion, is a turnkey healthy living and activity toolkit that can be incorporated into your day camp or youth programming initiatives!

Given concerns with the rising obesity rates in our country - especially among our children - hundreds of Camp Fusion toolkits were downloaded last year by IPRA members. The toolkits are still available for download and we encourage every agency to have a Camp Fusion toolkit on hand this summer.

Included in the Camp Fusion toolkit:

Overview of all Camp Fusion program and activities for 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)

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).

Join 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.

Did you incorporate any of the Camp Fusion programming ideas into your day camps or programs? Let us know what you thought by posting a comment.