Volunteers in a number of capacities are sought to work with Camp LION, a wellness and weight management camp for teenage boys that implemented last summer by Marsha Novick and Ronald Williams from the Department of Pediatrics, Division of the Pediatric Multidisciplinary Weight Management Program, Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Over the past decade, Novick and Williams have seen the weight in children skyrocket which brought them to the vision of starting a weight loss camp for children. After many months of meeting and planning, the Medical Center, in collaboration with the Boy Scouts of America, formed Camp LION, which took place last July at the Hidden Valley Scout Reservation in Perry County. Fourteen teenage boys attended the four-week overnight camp. The camp received financial support through the community and grants from the Children’s Miracle Network and the Faculty and Friends Association at the Medical Center.
From a medical standpoint, Camp LION was highly successful. Campers learned about appropriate portion size, how to make healthier food choices and gained cooking skills. Self esteem and confidence improved, as did physical activity endurance. For the 11 campers that finished the program, the average weight loss was 21.1 pounds, an 8.7 percent reduction in weight. All campers had a drop in their blood pressure, cholesterol and insulin levels.
As they continue to plan for future camps, the biggest need is for volunteers to help with paperwork, Web site design and hiring counselors. Anyone interested in helping to combat the childhood obesity epidemic can contact Danielle Ehrgood at (717) 5311595.