Improving Health and Safety at Camp.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has created recommendations for health appraisal and preparation of young people before participation in day, resident, or family camps and to guide health and safety practices at camp. These recommendations are intended for parents and families, primary health care providers, and camp administration and health center staff. Although camps have diverse environments, there are general guidelines that apply to all situations and specific recommendations that are appropriate under special conditions. This policy statement has been reviewed and is supported by the American Camp Association and Association of Camp Nursing.

Perceptions of Health Care Professionals on the Effects of Residential Summer Camp in their Patients.

PURPOSE: A growing body of literature exists regarding medical specialty camps for children. However, very little of the research focuses on the perspectives of healthcare providers. This study explored perceptions of pediatric healthcare providers on a medical specialty camp for children. DESIGN AND METHODS: Interviews with five volunteer physicians and five nurses were conducted and analyzed using inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Results showed that healthcare providers perceived camp to be a positive influence on campers' normalization and healthcare ownership, and to strengthen patient-provider relationships. Providers contextualized their assertions by discussing the settings of camp and of patients. However, providers also identified multiple barriers perceived as limiting a camp experience's ability to create lasting changes in patients' attitudes or behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: While healthcare providers in this study perceived camp as being a positive opportunity for patients, the potential for long-lasting effects was seen to be hindered by factors external to the camp and changes in patients' attitudes or behaviors can be difficult to ascribe to the camp experience. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Healthcare providers can reinforce and extend positive health behavior messages from camp at follow-up appointments. Adding inquiries about camp attendance and experiences to patients' visits can provide healthcare providers with additional insights about patients. Health outcomes before and after camp could be measured to assess change. Camps can send home patient protocols on successes and challenges.

Comparing Campers' Physical Activity Levels Between Sport Education And Traditional Instruction in a Residential Summer Camp.

BACKGROUND: To date, studies examining physical activity (PA) levels have largely been dedicated to the school setting, while there is little known about the activity levels of children who participate in traditional or summer day camps. METHODS: Participants were 83 11- to 12-year-old campers who partook in either Sport Education or traditional instruction at a large residential summer camp. All lessons were video recorded and coded using the System for Observing Fitness Instruction Time (SOFIT), which categorizes PA levels as well as contextual characteristics. RESULTS: Results indicated that campers who participated in Sport Education spent a higher percentage of time (61.6%) engaged in moderate to vigorous activity than campers in the traditional activity unit (42.2%). In addition, campers spent less time idly within Sport Education (27.9%), than its counterpart (39.5%). CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that utilizing the Sport Education model may provide campers with higher levels of PA within this context.

Variabilidad glucémica y estrés oxidativo en niños con diabetes tipo 1 asistentes a un campamento / Glycemic variability and oxidative stress in children, with type 1 diabetes attending a summer camp

OBJETIVOS: Analizar variabilidad glucémica, el estrés oxidativo y la relación entre ambos en un grupo de en niños y adolescentes con diabetes tipo 1 (DM1) que asistieron a un campamento. Pacientes y método: Estudio transversal que incluyó a 54 niños con DM1 entre 7 y 16 años de edad que asistieron a un campamento de verano de 7 días. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos, clínicos y valores de glucemia capilar medidos con un glucómetro Accu-Chek Nano(R). Se calcularon los marcadores de variabilidad glucémica: desviación estándar (DE), índice de glucemia baja (LBGI), índice de glucemia elevada (HBGI), amplitud media de las excursiones glucémicas (MAGE) y media de las diferencias diarias (MODD). El estrés oxidativo fue evaluado mediante la medición de 8-iso-prostaglandina F2 alfa (PGF2α) en una muestra de orina de 24 h recogida en 14 niños al final del campamento. RESULTADOS: La mediana de DE, MAGE y MODD se encontraron en un rango elevado (61, 131 y 59mg/dl, respectivamente), LBGI en la categoría de riesgo moderado (3,3) y HBGI en la categoría de riesgo bajo (4,5). La media de HbA1c fue del 7,6%. La media de la tasa de excreción urinaria de 8-iso-PGF2α fue 864,39pg/mg creatinina. No se encontraron correlaciones estadísticamente significativas entre marcadores de variabilidad glucémica y 8-iso PGF2α urinario. CONCLUSIONES: Se ha objetivado una alta variabilidad glucémica en niños y adolescentes con DM1 asistentes a un campamento de verano. Sin embargo, no se han encontrado correlaciones entre marcadores de variabilidad glucémica y de estrés oxidativo medido por 8-iso-PGF2α urinario

OBJECTIVE: To assess glycemic variability, oxidative stress and their relationship in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) attending a summer camp. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional study that included 54 children and adolescents with T1DM aged 7-16, attending a 7 day summer camp. Sociodemographic information, clinical data, and blood glucose values measured using an Accu-Chek Nano(R) glucose meter were recorded. Glucose variability markers (standard deviation [SD], low blood glucose index [LBGI], high blood glucose index [HBGI], mean amplitude of glycemic excursions [MAGE] and mean of daily differences [MODD]) were calculated. Oxidative stress was assessed by the measurement of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2α) in a 24-hour urine sample collected at the end of the camp in 14 children. RESULTS: The Median SD, MAGE and MODD indexes were in the high range (61, 131 and 58mg/dl, respectively), LBGI in the moderate range (3.3), and HBGI in the low range (4.5). The mean HbA1c was 7.6% and the median urinary excretion rate of 8-iso-PGF2α was 864.39pg/mg creatinine. The Spearman correlation coefficients between markers of glycemic variability (SD, HBGI, MAGE, MODD) were significant. Non-significant correlations were found between markers of glycemic variability and urinary 8-iso-PGF2α. CONCLUSIONS: High glycemic variability was observed in children and adolescents attending a summer camp. However, no correlations were found between markers of glycemic variability and oxidative stress measured by urinary 8-iso-PGF2α. Further studies are needed to address the relationship between oxidative stress and glycemic variability in children with T1DM

Healthy eating in summer day camps: the Healthy Lunchbox Challenge.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development and evaluation of Healthy Lunchbox Challenge, a nutrition program targeting staff, parents, and children in summer day camps (SDCs). METHODS: A single-group, pre/post-assessment design was used during summer, 2011(baseline) and 2012 (intervention). Four community-based SDCs in South Carolina participated. Intervention components were applied over the 11-week SDC program (2012) and consisted of (1) parent/staff education on Building a Better Lunchbox, and (2) a child/staff incentive program. Child and staff foods and beverages were assessed via direct observation (1,977 children and 241 staff). Percentages of foods and beverages brought by children and staff during the intervention were compared with baseline measures using mixed-effects regression models. RESULTS: The percentage of children bringing fruits, vegetables, and water increased from 31% to 42% (P = .01), 5% to 16% (P = .01), and 47% to 60% (P = .01) from baseline to post-assessment. Staff fruits and vegetables increased from 30% to 47% (P = .03) and 9% to 22% (P = .03). A slight decrease was observed for staff water (64% to 58%); however, this was not statistically significant. Decreases in low-nutrient-dense foods and beverages were also observed. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: The Healthy Lunchbox Challenge represents a low-cost, innovative way to influence the nutritional content of child and staff foods and beverages in SDCs.

Health appraisal guidelines for day camps and resident camps. American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on School Health .

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that specific guidelines be established for health appraisals of young people before participation in day and resident camps. Camp guidelines should include reference to health maintenance, storage and administration of medication, and emergency medical services. Although camps have diverse environments, there are general guidelines that apply to all situations and specific recommendations that are appropriate under special conditions. This policy statement has been reviewed and is supported by the American Camp Association.

Summer camp: effects on function of children with autoimmune diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of a summer camp experience on joint range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, and overall function of children with autoimmune diseases. METHODS: Two physical therapists measured ROM and muscle strength of 44 children pre-camp, post-camp, and at a 4-month followup clinic visit. The parents reported the children's functional status using the Children's Health Assessment Questionnaire (CHAQ) at each time period. RESULTS: Immediately after camp, all ROM and strength measures improved. These improvements were not maintained. The parents reported no functional change post-camp or at the 4-month followup clinic visit. There was mild correlation between the improved ROM and strength and eating and dressing skills (CHAQ). The effects of camp were similar for all children regardless of disease status or functional level. CONCLUSION: The camp experience affected the physical condition of children with autoimmune disease by temporarily improving ROM and strength, but not functional level.

Therapeutic camping for children with end-stage renal disease.

Therapeutic camping experiences for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have proliferated in the United States and abroad. This report is based on the results of a survey designed to accumulate data on the development and implementation of 20 such camps. Children attending camp ranged in age from 1 year to 19 years. Single disease-specific camps were most common, while camps for children with a variety of chronic illnesses, including ESRD, and mainstream camps were also conducted. Facilities were available for hemodialysis and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis, but not automated peritoneal dialysis, in the majority of surveyed camps. Dialysis nurses, pediatric nephrologists, dietitians and social workers were the medical personnel that most frequently participated in the camps. On average, 32 dialysis/transplant patient campers (range 6-100) attended camp for a 1-week session. Therapeutic camping experiences for children with ESRD are extremely successful and attempts to increase the availability of similar camps should be encouraged.