The Immediate and Lasting Effects of Resident Summer Camp on Movement Behaviors Among Children

Abstract

This study aims to examine the immediate and lasting effects of resident summer camp on movement behaviors among children with repeated pre-, during-, and post-intervention measurements. In total, 21 children (aged 10.3 ± 1.2 years, 17 boys and 4 girls) participated in a 31-day nature-based resident summer camp in Japan. Daily children's movement behaviors (moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), sedentary behavior (SB), and sleep) were continuously monitored before, during, and after the summer camp (i.e., 75 continuous days). It was found that the children engaged more time in MVPA (9.6%), less time in SB (58.0%), had more steps (22,405 steps/day), and an earlier midpoint of sleep (0:24 a.m.) in the summer camp as compared to the other periods (before and after the camp). However, the children engaged in unfavorable behaviors [reduction in MVPA (3.6%), increased SB (67.3%), and a later midpoint of sleep (1:32 a.m.)] during the summer vacation after the camp. This study indicates that the resident summer camp was effective in improving children's movement behaviors during the camp. However, the lasting effects were negligible or at least limited after its completion.

Keywords: physical activity; sedentary behavior; sleep; summer vacation; youth.

Figure 1

Study overview. PA, physical activity; SB, sedentary behavior; BMI, body mass index. PRE, prior to the summer camp (date: between July 9 and July 22, 2021); CAMP, during the summer camp (date: between July 23 and August 22, 2021); VAC, during the summer vacation after the camp (date: between August 23 and the start of the new semester); POST, during the new semester after the summer vacation (date: between the start of the new semester and September 21, 2021). ↓, Measurements for screen time or BMI. → , Daily measurements for PA, SB, and sleep for the entire study period.

Figure 2

Differences in movement behaviors between weekday and weekend for PRE and POST periods. SB, sedentary behavior; LPA, light-intensity physical activity; MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; PRE, prior to the summer camp; POST, during the new semester after the summer vacation. (n = 21). At PRE, accelerometer wear time (minutes per day) for weekday and weekend were 861.1 ± 61.8 and 795.3 ± 101.5, respectively. At POST, accelerometer wear time (minutes per day) for weekday and weekend were 824.1 ± 79.5 and 794.1 ± 81.3, respectively. **Significantly different from weekdays (p < 0.05).