Jamboree scouts to champion daily activity needs
Monday, 11 January 2010
More than 10,000 kids will get active at the 22nd Australian Scout Jamboree
Ten scouts (5 boys and 5 girls) from around Australia have been chosen as the 22nd Australian Scout Jamboree-2010 (AJ2010) ‘Active-Kids’ champions. These scouts will motivate more than 10,000 kids attending AJ2010 to get active at the jamboree.
The ‘Active-Kids’ champion program will highlight the need for all Australian children to increase their activity levels to fight Australia’s childhood obesity epidemic.
AJ2010 Director of Health Services Dr Allan Kirkpatrick will manage the ‘Active-Kids’ champion program and will monitor the scouts’ activity levels using Heart Foundation pedometers.
“For 10 days, 10 scouts will participate in the Active-Kids program to highlight not just how important it is for kids to be active, but also to show how easy and fun it can be. The kids will then promote their activity and tips through onsite media and messages for all the camp to learn and mimic,” says Dr Kirkpatrick.
AJ2010 starts on Monday 4 and finishes on Thursday 14 January 2010 at Cataract Scout Park Sydney. The 160ha Park will provide the champions and their fellow scouts with acres of ground for Scouts to participate in a variety of extreme activities such as the flying fox, bush tracking and navigation and off site activities such as water sports, scavenger hunts and flying.
The champions will:
- Have a full physical at the beginning of the camp
- Receive a briefing from Dr All Kirkpatrick about being active – and what it takes
- Record their daily movements using the Heart Foundation pedometers across the 10 days
- Have a final physical to record the changes
“It’s important for parents and kids to really understand what a healthy lifestyle is. Creating a peer led champion program over the 10 days of jamboree will give the kids an opportunity to lead through example and to put a spotlight on childhood health in Australia,” says Dr Kirkpatrick.
Heart Foundation guidelines state that growing kids need to be active for at least 60 minutes every day and have no more than two hours a day of screen time (watching TV, surfing the net or playing computer games).
“One in five of our kids is overweight or obese, which puts them at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes than ever before,” said Tony Thirlwell, Heart Foundation CEO – NSW.
“Teaching young Australians about the importance of regular physical activity is critical if we are to tackle our growing childhood obesity epidemic.
“The ‘Active-Kids’ champions will be fantastic role models for other children and will also provide a practical example for parents who want to address health issues and get active as a family over summer,” Mr Thirlwell added.
To help get Australian families moving, the Heart Foundation has developed a practical guide entitled ‘Healthy Ideas for Young Hearts: Practical Ideas for Parents and Carers.’ The booklet is full of great ideas for being active – indoors and out – and enjoying healthy eating. To get your free copy call 1300 36 27 87.
Dr Kirkpatrick and his on-site medical team will be conducting full health checks at the beginning and end of the study to measure the impact of the 10 children’s daily routine at AJ2010.
“We expect to see a marked improvement in the participating scout’s activity levels and a shift in their weight levels. The jamboree is a great example of how to get our kids up and moving. A little huff and puff each day is good for them,” says Dr Kirkpatrick.
