This summer, Wakulla 4-H partnered with Sunchaser Fitness, the UF/IFAS Family Nutrition Program, the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth, and the Florida Center for Prevention Research at Florida State University to offer a new, teen-focused camp. The new program, Wakulla 4-H Teen Fitness Camp, was offered for two weeks this summer, one week in June and one week in July.  The camp program was held onsite at Sunchaser Fitness and focused on fitness and wellness for middle and high school aged youth.  Youth had the option to participate in one or both weeks and more than half the youth chose to return for the second week in July.

Physical Fitness

Sunchaser Fitness Coaches Rochelle Thayer and Brian Jones designed fast-paced physical fitness activities with an emphasis on safety and proper form.  Youth were encouraged to measure their personal progress against themselves over engaging in competitive comparison with other participants.  Youth participated in activities and games to help build their confidence, stamina, and strength throughout the camp weeks.

Nutrition

During each camp week, Family Nutrition Program (FNP) educator Amy Frazier imparted essential life skills to the campers, teaching the youth about label comparison for healthier choices and leading discussions on the nutritional benefits of various fruits and vegetables. The FNP lessons emphasizing moderation, particularly in choosing sugary drinks and snacks, as a core educational objective. The FNP segments of camp including engaging games and activities that facilitated conversations on portion control, the occasional treat approach, and strategies for balancing  indulgences with healthier options. Each lesson included hands-on activities, such as preparing nutritious fruit smoothies as alternatives to milkshakes. Key takeaways for the students during the camp weeks included prioritizing water over sugary beverages and striving for predominantly whole foods in their diets to sustain energy and concentration throughout the day.

Wellness

Prevention Training Specialist Karen Zak provided instruction as part of the Drug Free Communities Wakulla Support grant funding in partnership with the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth. Zak’s programming segments included interactive games and experiential learning activities designed to help youth develop essential life skills needed to make choices that support health and wellness goals.  Areas of focus included developing media literacy skills, how to understand peer influence, and how to navigate complex social relationships.  Additional skills and developmental topics were incorporated into Zak’s lessons to build on the core social skill set to help broaden the youth’s sense of self-efficacy as well as build confidence. Lessons were tailored to the intellectual, cognitive, and social development of the participating youth.

Working Together: Expanding Reach Through Community Partnerships

The Wakulla 4-H Teen Fitness Camp included current teen participants and also brought new teens into the 4-H summer day camping program.  The partnership with Sunchaser Fitness, the FNP program, the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth, and the Florida Center for Prevention at Florida State University exemplified how innovative public-private partnerships can bring multiple sectors together to create dynamic extension programming. The Teen Fitness Camp collaboration included a local fitness entrepreneur, a coalition of youth and family focused service providers, and educators from two state universities who worked together to create a new program that engaged teens in positive youth development activities.  Wakulla 4-H agent Rachel Pienta recruited the partners, planned the camp week, and managed logistics for daily snacks and meals. Camp enrollment was conducted in the 4-H online system.  Camp marketing was implemented through partner email newsletters as well as print and social media.  Camp instructors enrolled in the 4-H online system and became Level 2 screened volunteers.  Prevention Training Specialist Karen Zak has plans to continue as a volunteer during the 2024-25 program year.

Camp participants agreed that the camp taught them to identify healthy food choices, how to complete exercises safely, and how to demonstrate proper form for using gym equipment. Campers agreed that they felt more confident in their weight training skills. One camp participant remarked, “I am stronger than I thought I was!”

For more information about Wakulla 4-H or other Wakulla Extension programs, please visit our office located at 84 Cedar Avenue in Crawfordville or call us at 850-926-3931.

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