Camp F.I.T. at Christ Lutheran Church is celebrating its second year of getting Cape Coral youth in shape over the summer months.
The camp, known last year as the Biggest Teen Loser Camp, gives youngsters a chance to get fit and learn the basics of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Approximately 30 campers attended opening day Monday, five of which participated last year.
Chris and Julie Casey, organizers of Camp F.I.T., said the program is administered after school at the city of Cape Coral Charter School System, but soon it will be available to any student in the city.
“Next year it will be an after-school program,” said Julie. “They can hop on their bus and come here from their school.”
She said she wants to expand Camp F.I.T. because it is only available to students in the city’s charter system. The summer camp is handing out “fit bucks” that can be redeemed for the new and improved after-school program.
Camp F.I.T. is almost identical to the Biggest Teen Loser Camp, the only difference being that it has been extended from four weeks to eight weeks, although not all of the campers will stay eight weeks.
“We give them a lot of time to get their lifestyle changes down,” Julie said.
Teens start their day by weighing in and participating in a warm-up activity such as stretching, walking or yoga. They play a game or activity and go through approximately 30 minutes of resistance training.
Chris said the students have at least two field trips a week to a local pool, park or hiking trail. They are also visited by guest speakers, such as doctors and professional chefs, and listen to lectures on health-related topics.
Campers attended the first weigh-in Monday morning and were handed daily journals to record what they eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Andrea Chandler participated in Camp F.I.T. in the summer of 2008. She said she learned a lot, including how to count calories and what she should avoid eating.
“I learned a lot of stuff,” Andrea said. “Like not to rush down the aisle (in the grocery store), to read labels and take your time.”
Campers often visit local fitness centers during the day to work out or play games.
Andrea said she enjoyed the camp last year.
“We went to a North Fort Myers pool and did aerobics classes,” she said. “And we played tennis at the Mid-Cape Racquet and Health Club.”
Incentives are offered to the campers, including the person who loses the highest percentage of weight winning two cruises for a family of four. Second place winners receive two weekend getaways.
Campers also receive weekly prizes such as gift cards to Target or Wal-Mart.