Build a Healthy Camp with Road of Life

The Road of Life accreditation recognizes Camp Robin Hood's commitment to the health and well being of campers and staff. Camp Robin Hood's meals, programming, staff training and health-related policies are all compliant with the guidelines established by the Road of Life organization.

What makes a camp healthy?

Nutrition

• Each meal includes: whole grain carbohydrates (i.e. wheat, oats, and rye), lean red meat/poultry/fish/soy, fruits and/or vegetables.
• Snacks are high in nutrients (i.e. banana, granola, and yogurt).
• At least half the recommended grain servings are whole grains (i.e. wheat, oats, and rye) to meet fiber recommendations.
• Foods containing calcium such as milk, yogurt, cheese, soy products, plus dark green leafy vegetables are served daily.
• Lean red meats, poultry, and fish offered. We bake, broil or grill (with little or no added fats) as opposed to deep frying or other methods that use a lot of oil or fat.
• The majority of servings from the fruit group come from whole fruit (fresh, frozen, canned, dried) rather than juice.
• Beverages:
  • Water
  • Milk (nonfat or 1%)
  • 100% fruit juices
  • All beverages are non-caffeinated

Physical Activity

• We encourage participation by inspiring, motivating and creating enjoyment in physical activities.
• The philosophy of "no pain, no gain" is not appropriate for children.
• Stretching and warming up are most important during periods of rapid growth, such as during the adolescent growth spurt.
• Physical activity addresses:
  • Aerobic capacity (endurance)
  • Strength (Note: strength training doesn’t have to mean lifting weights. Push-ups, stomach crunches, pull-ups, climbing, gymnastics, etc. all help to make kids stronger.)
  • Flexibility (through stretching)
• Children are not inactive for periods of 2 hours or more during the daytime hours.
• Children are encouraged to drink before they feel thirsty, because mild dehydration occurs before one feels thirsty.

Sunscreen

• Camp provides sunscreen for campers who don’t have it, and we promote application twice daily, especially during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when ultraviolet rays are most intense.
• We suggest use of hats and sunglasses because UV rays from the sun can cause eye damage. Incidence of cataracts and corneal sunburn increase with sun exposure.

Staff Training

 We address the following in our training sessions:

• How to talk about food
• How to promote physical activity (i.e. identify physical goal for each camper)
• How to identify eating issues
• How to serve as healthy role model
• What it means to be healthy:
• How to encourage social, mental and physical health (i.e. peer relationships)
• How to promote a healthy relationship with food; food = energy
• Encourage an optimal fitness level

It is the staff's responsibility to insure:

• hydration
• routine sunscreen application
• hand-washing – particularly before meals
• balanced meals and appropriate snacks
• proper sleep
• hygiene (i.e. bathing, brushing teeth, wearing clean clothes)
• positive relationships
• a smoke free camp