LISD launches Health and Wellness Summer Camp

Caption: Jesus Lozano, Farias Elementary School third-grader participates in a non-elimination game during the Health and Wellness Camp at Farias Elementary.

As summertime hits Laredo, most schoolchildren are sleeping in, but not Alexis Carrillo, a third- grade student at Farias Elementary School. She starts her mornings with 30 minutes of intense power walking and jogging exercises followed by 30 minutes of vigorous non-elimination games. Just about every morning, you can see Alexis and her 25 classmates pumping their arms and kicking their legs to a healthier lifestyle.

As part of the new health and wellness initiatives, the Laredo Independent School District has started the Health and Wellness Summer Camp incorporating the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) Kids Club nutrition manual and activity box.

The CATCH Kid's Club is a curriculum specifically designed for summer enrichment programs that teach children the nutrition knowledge, skills, and self-reliance that empowers them to make healthy dietary and physical activity choices. The Kids Club is composed of nutrition education materials (including snack activities) and a physical activity component.

"The purpose of this camp is to provide students with an opportunity outside of the 'regular school year' to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity and nutrition education," stated Cordy Rodriguez, LISD Coordinate School Health Specialist for Curriculum and Instruction. "With the overweight/obese rate at LISD being approximately 41.9 percent, we feel it is vital to encourage families and communities in promoting the well-being of young people."

During the 15 day camp, over 400 students at all LISD elementary campuses will utilize the CATCH Kids Club nutrition manual and activity box. The children participate in nutrition sessions that include children stories, rhymes, games, songs, and healthy snack recipes. Nutritional facts and food label information are also part of the nutritional sessions. The kids also learn about nutrition and healthy lifestyles through fun vigorous non-elimination games.

"I chose to come to camp and I love it," said Carrillo. "We get to exercise and learn about foods that are healthy and those that are not healthy for you. I have more energy and have even lost a little bit of weight."

According to Rodriguez the program is geared toward second grade students who will be entering the third grade, typically about eight years of age. The district decided on this group of students because an increase in weight gain was identified between the first and third grade years of schooling. Because weight gain is evident in these very important young years, targeting this age group with additional physical and nutrition education would be beneficial in assisting them to make healthier lifestyle choices.

At the majority of the campuses, the program is run by the district's physical education staff. Since they are already familiar with the CATCH curriculum and because physical education is their expertise, physical educators were selected for this specific camp since it is a first time initiative.

"I think the camp is great," said Adriana Dovalina, Farias Elementary Physical Education instructor. "We may not see it in the numbers, but I know the kids have worked out like they have never worked out before. We want our students to learn the importance of healthy living, enable them to make healthy choices, and motivate them so that they may help themselves and others establish healthy behaviors designed to last their lifetime."

For more information, contact the Office of Communication at 795-3295.