Summer sports camp promotes sports skills,
 fitness, healthy life choices, and personal and social responsibility.
Over 230 local children between the ages of 9 and 16 participated in Purdue's National Youth Sports Camp during the summer of 2003. The 25-day program, free to those children who qualify, provided each child with an opportunity to participate in a variety of sports and fitness activities, as well as attend classroom instruction on health, nutrition, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
The program, beginning its third year in the summer of 2004, is part of a national summer sports program that held its first camp in 1969. Purdue's program is jointly funded by sub grants from the National Youth Sports Corporation and the USDA, internal support from Purdue University, and contributions from local sponsors in the surrounding community. Each child receives breakfast, lunch, and a snack. They also receive a swimsuit and a t-shirt. Camp participants are also given physical exams, vision screening, dental examinations, and screenings for speech, language, and hearing. Attendance incentive prizes, such as bicycles, are given away each week.
Purdue earned the "Best New Program of the Year" award for its 2002 camp. The 2003 camp was highly successful as well. Members of the planning committee wanted to make the 2004 camp even better. “This summer we are planning to offer instruction in math/science,” said Activity Director William Harper. "We are also planning to add a service learning component to the program, along with our other popular activities, including daily swimming, fitness, volleyball, tennis, soccer, and basketball.” Purdue NYSP is here to stay and the Department of Health and Kinesiology is proud to be associated with the national effort to help our next generation become healthy and productive citizens.
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