JUMP ROPES AND JESUS-Creation of a healthy lifestyle summer camp for youth at an African American church in South Los Angeles

Introduction: Faith-based institutions are increasingly recognized as valuable settings for health promotion. In 2014,  Children’s Hospital Los Angeles launched a 2-year pilot partnership with a large African-American church in South Los Angeles to address diabetes and obesity through faith-based, family-centered lifestyle interventions. Creation of a wellness-focused summer camp was a response to the challenge the team faced delivering the evidence-based Kid N Fitness©(KNF) weight-management intervention as originally designed -- stand-alone sessions scheduled during the week at times that often conflicted  with church activities.

Approach: Using a community participatory model, the team designed Camp HEAL, a summer camp for children ages 5-13. Elements of the KNF curriculum were integrated into all aspects of the camp activities and design. Healthy lifestyle messaging pertaining to nutrition, physical activity and healthy behavior was woven into bible study, arts and crafts, songs, sports, and meal times.  Enrichment activities and field trips encouraged children to be active while exposing them to their community and greater Los Angeles. 

Results: 36 children participated in 2, two-week sessions of camp. Retention rates (83%) surpassed traditional KNF classes and children showed increased nutrition knowledge when assessed 2 months post camp. Unanticipated benefits included increased church involvement and children influencing their parents to eat more healthfully.

Discussion: Camp HEAL is a successful model worth replicating. It fulfilled summer-time childcare needs, and allowed for full days of repeated exposure to healthy messaging and role-modeling using varied modalities and multiple opportunities to influence learning and behavior change that a traditional class could not.