Purdue News
Purdue News
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June 1, 2004 Purdue youth fitness camp steps up the action with math, scienceWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University's National Youth Sports Program has helped improve the fitness habits of children the past two years, and now the camp is adding math, science and writing components to give the campers' brains a workout.
"The camp has an audience of 300 children, so why not go beyond our present curriculum and add activities that reinforce and expand their studies in math and science, as well as writing?" says Thomas Templin, director of the Department of Health and Kinesiology and program administrator. "These subjects will be added with healthy living in mind. Writing will be assigned in health education classes. Science field trips, planned for local parks and nature centers, will include some walking. The bottom line is that we are finding ways to engage children in healthy lifestyles that will result in better life decision-making skills."
Children, ages 10-16, will attend Purdue's third National Youth Sports Program weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 17 to July 23. Last year 240 children participated. The camp is free for campers who were referred by their schools in Tippecanoe County. By introducing new sports and providing basic skill instruction, Templin and his camp staff expect to see these children improve their activity level and nutrition habits so they can better avoid heart disease, early Type II diabetes and obesity, which are more prevalent in America's youth. In addition to the new science and math activities, the program also will introduce a community service project and a counselor training program. Purdue's program is still young, but the camp has been consistently recognized for its achievements in attracting children. "After our first year, the camp was recognized as the best new camp in the nation, "Templin says. "Now, Purdue has been given approval to begin teaching math and science a year earlier than usually allowed." Greg Louk, science teacher from Lafayette's Jefferson High School, will coordinate the math and science lessons. To keep with the spirit of the program, these new activities will be hands-on, Louk says. The students will conduct water studies at the local nature center, run spectral analysis of light sources and build earthquake-proof models. Campers will be divided into teams that rotate between the math and science activities to different sports, such as volleyball, tennis, soccer and swimming. About 30 college student-leaders run the physical activities and health education courses. A select group of older campers, ages 15 and 16, will be invited to participate in a counselor training program. "As part of our pledge to teach children strong decision-making skills, it is only appropriate that our oldest campers learn how to be leaders as well," says William Harper, professor of health and kinesiology and the program's activity director. "The campers not only find swimming in Purdue's Boilermaker Aquatic Center thrilling, but they also find their new friendships with the college student-leaders just as exciting." Campers of all ages will have a chance to participate in the local community service project. The project has yet to be determined. "While at camp, these children receive a lot, including new swimsuits, hearing and speech screenings, and medical and dental exams," Harper says. "So we want the campers to understand how to give back, and what it feels like to give back." The camp costs more than $250,000 to run. The federal program contributes $66,000, and the local community, including Purdue and the health and kinesiology department, fund the remainder. The School of Liberal Arts, the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, Division of Recreational Sports, Residence Halls and Intercollegiate Athletics also contribute. "The program may be called a sports program, but being healthy is so much more than picking up a ball," Harper says. "That is why we continue to find more ways to educate the children about substance abuse, nutrition, career choices and how to be good citizens." The National Youth Sports Program started 34 years ago and now operates at more than 200 colleges and universities, including the University of Indianapolis, Notre Dame and Indiana University. More than 1.8 million children have participated in the program. Writer: Amy Patterson-Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu Sources: Thomas Templin, (765) 494-3178, ttemplin@purdue.edu William Harper, (765) 494-1518, wharper@purdue.edu Greg Louk, (765) 449-1351, scienceguy@verizon.net Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu PHOTO CAPTION: A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2004/NYS04-exam.jpg PHOTO CAPTION: A publication-quality photograph is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2004/NYS04-exam2.jpg
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