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Camp activities burn calories while kids have fun



Exercise is a great side effect of camp

Exercise is a great side effect of camp

The daily activities that make summer camps so memorable offer an added benefit to youth: healthful exercise.
Children need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity each day, according to current pediatric guidelines.

Many campers easily exceed daily activity recommendations because of the full schedule of outdoor play and movement. Estimates vary, but a 75-pound child may burn 150–300 calories per hour depending on the activity.
That level of exercise, combined with a healthy diet and professional supervision, offers campers the opportunity to learn healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

But while camp activities can help kids burn calories, there are some other safety issues kids need to keep in mind. Campers can expect hours of sunny, outdoor activities - and that means camp staff have to be on top of ways to prevent sunburn.

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Campers can expect hours of sunny, outdoor activities — which means camp staff need to stay on top of sun-safety practices. “Sunburn is a preventable injury,” says Linda Ebner Erceg, RN, MS, PHN, who helps lead the Certificate in Camp Nursing Program at Bemidji State University. “It simply shouldn’t happen to staff or campers. If someone gets sunburned, the camp’s risk manager should determine why.”

Erceg, who worked with the CDC’s melanoma initiative, helped develop these Sun Protection Strategies for Camps:
  • Follow the “Shadow Rule.” Seek shade when your shadow is shorter than you are tall.
  • Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher (many dermatologists now recommend SPF 50 for children outdoors all day).
  • Maximize shade-time activities so direct sun exposure is saved for activities that truly require it, like swimming or field sports.
  • Conduct a “shade assessment.” Camps should regularly evaluate where shade exists — and where more is needed — to reduce unnecessary sun exposure.
  • Wear a hat with a brim of at least 4 inches all the way around.
  • Choose UV-rated sunglasses. UV exposure contributes to cataracts and other eye damage.
  • Wear long sleeves when possible. Most cotton T-shirts have an SPF of only 6–10, so they don’t provide enough protection on their own.
  • Use the ABCDEs of melanoma when checking moles: Asymmetry, Border irregularity, Color variation, Diameter larger than a pencil eraser, and Evolving changes.


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