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.