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A “NEAT” Family Camping Experience

When reports showed that low-resource families in Orange County were struggling to find inexpensive but nutritious meal choices, and they had limited opportunities for family vacations, activities, and interaction, the Virginia Cooperative Extension Orange County Office developed a special summertime program to address these issues.

The families were invited to attend a Nutrition Education and Activity Together (N.E.A.T.) family camp to learn more about nutrition and to strengthen family bonds. “We targeted low-income families to allow them to experience what it would be like to go on vacation at no cost to them,” says Jill Garth, family and consumer sciences Extension agent.

Ten families – 42 individuals in all – “visited” four international ports-of-call in a cruise-themed program. They enjoyed foods and activities related to each country on four consecutive evenings at the Orange County Extension Office. Garth and her colleagues, Kaci Daniel, 4-H youth development agent, and Martha Thorn, Family Nutrition Program assistant, collaborated to provide activities for adults and children.

“Each parent helped prepare a portion of that evening’s meal, and they also received information on preparing balanced meals and food safety,” says Garth. Recipes were selected to meet the family nutrition-program guidelines; the local food bank donated ingredients.

While parents cooked dinner, the children participated in physical activities such as relay games and dancing. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed a family-style meal.

The families went home with a family activity book, a guide with recipes for the dishes prepared during the program, and games and recreation equipment for home use.

The agents followed up with families after the camp and found that 70 percent of camp participants repeated the recipes at home, 40 percent increased the amount of time they engaged in physical activity, and 35 percent spent more time together after the camp than before.