Grifton Summer Camp

GRIFTON — Students are getting more active at summer camp this year as local schools are taking the initiative in stopping unhealthy eating habits and starting healthier lifestyles.

Grifton’s Summer Day Camp, co-sponsored by the Town of Grifton and Pitt County Community Schools, is one such camp, with students participating in a variety camp that is both educational and active.

"It’s a very nice variety camp," camp teacher Liz White said. "The kids love it. They just seem to enjoy themselves."

The camp, which serves both the Ayden and Grifton communities, has teamed up with a Summer Ventures Group to teach students about making good, healthy food choices. The Summer Ventures Group was established through a Fit Together grant from the NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund Commission, according to Rose Anne Simmons, Health and Wellness Coordinator for Pitt County Schools.

Simmons said when the grant was received, she sat down and tried to identify ways to work with the Summer Programs to teach kids  to “Eat Smart, Move More.”

“The whole effort,” Simmons said, “is to reduce childhood overweight and decrease sugar intake, just to include a healthier diet. This grant has given us the opportunity to do that.”

“I’m able to reach out to all these little programs.”

The results in Grifton are through “Project Yeah,” where the kids are encouraged to fill out activity cards noting all activity, which they turn in at the end each week for prizes.

At the beginning of the month, students in the Summer Ventures Group made their way, along with Simmons, to Grifton School to provide different lessons on the healthy foods and different activities.

Simmons said the effort to reduce childhood obesity is important because of not only the appearance issues it may cause, but also the cost issues. Simmons said that in the 2002 NC Prevention Report Card, physical inactivity cost $6.2 billion and obesity cost $4.9 billion.

“It’s so important because we know the cost to North Carolina for being inactive and having poor nutrition are estimated at $11 billion dollars,” Simmons said. “And those are two areas we have control of as individuals. We can reduce medical costs and improve the quality of life.”

“It’s not just an appearance issue, it’s definitley tied to quality of life and cost.”

The Summer Ventures group spoke with Grifton students about fruits and vegetables, asking about the different colors of fruits and vegetables. and which ones they enjoyed the most.

The group then got into an activities that got the students out of their chairs and moving around the classroom.

Simmons also presented the class a lesson about healthy food choices and staying active, encouraging the students to eat more fruits and vegetables.

Grifton’s Summer Camp is a 6-8 week long program that takes place after the school year has ended.

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