ETON, Ga. — Over the past 20 years, Rob Lang has seen campers grow heavier.
“We’ve seen some changes in our culture and the average camper who comes to camp now is heavier, and they are struggling more with obesity,” said Mr. Lang, director of Cohutta Springs Youth Camp.
So this year — in addition to the array of other camp options — Cohutta Springs is offering a three-week “Fit For Life” camp that educates youth about healthy eating and exercise.
“It is really about health and wellness and fitness all together,” Mr. Lang said.
A professional dietitian teaches about general wellness habits, such as getting enough sleep. Fit For Life instructor Jaela Carter shows children and teens how to exercise without a gym membership and how to prepare low-fat food, such as vegetable pizza.
“Every day we cook at least one meal,” she said.
Area legislators and educators over the past year have started to focus more on fitness for children.
Sen. Don Thomas, R-Dalton, a physician, often reminds listeners that this is the first generation with a shorter life expectancy than its parents. Exercise is essential, he said.
In April, Gov. Sonny Perdue signed the Student Health and Physical Education Act, which requires students who take physical education to have an annual fitness assessment.
State education officials also are creating performance standards that will set class requirements and create benchmarks for students. The information from the yearly physical assessments can be used to compile the state standards.
Mr. Lang said he was drawn to help after seeing so many people who have weight and health problems.
“We are hoping that (the camp) is going to help young people who are struggling with health and fitness to be able to develop some healthy habits now, and they won’t become an unfortunate statistic,” he said.
Marietta resident Timothy Voair, 10, had just finished running a trail at midday on Tuesday and said it felt good.
“(I like) the feeling that you are really, actually trying to lose weight,” he said.
From rock climbing, mountain biking and skateboarding to paintball, basketball and golf, the youth camp offers many “teen specialty” options, allowing campers to focus on their favorite activities.
“If a young person is just head over heels for a certain activity, they can do that all day long, all day every day,” Mr. Lang said.
The camp, which is run by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, also offers a broader option that allows visitors to try activities, such as learning about Appalachian craft-making in Mountain Lore. From basketweaving to candlemaking, campers learn to make crafts that they can take home.
Atlanta resident Emma Hesler, 10, said her favorite part of camp takes place at the end of the day.
“At night, we have something called campfire,” she said. “We go to a lot of benches and we sit and sing and watch a little skit.”
