Testing the Feasibility and Preliminary Effect of Summer Camp

Testing the Feasibility and Preliminary Effect of Summer Day Camp on Excess Summer Weight Gain in Children From Low-income Communities

This pilot randomized controlled trial was designed to assess the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of randomizing children, ages 6-12 years from two low-income communities in Rhode Island, to attend a summer day camp (CAMP) or to experience summer as usual (SAU). Children randomized to CAMP attended a Boys and Girls Club summer day camp for 8-weeks in summer 2017 or 2018. As part of the consent process, children randomized to SAU agreed to experience an unstructured summer (i.e. not enroll in more than one week of summer camp, summer school or other structured summer programming). Primary feasibility outcomes included retention, engagement and completion of midsummer measures. Secondary outcomes, change in BMIz (a proxy for excess summer weight gain), physical activity engagement, sedentary behavior, and diet (energy intake and diet quality), were collected by blinded research staff at the end of the school year, midsummer and the end of the summer.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Qualify for free or reduced-price meals at school
• Speak English (for purposes of camp participation)
• Agree, along with their parent(s), to randomization.

Exclusion Criteria:

• A medical condition that interferes with participation in physical activity
• Enrollment in summer programming (camp, summer school, etc) for more than one week