The Times-Picayune (New Orleans)
SLIDELL, La. — Volunteers still are fired up about the success of the Fit as a Firefighter summer camp presented recently at Camp Villere.
According to Michelle Partridge, director of Women's and Children's Services at Slidell Memorial Hospital, 80 youths completed the free, weeklong camp presented by SMH and the St. Tammany Fire Protection District 1. An additional 100 youths were on the waiting list.
"It has been a life-changing experience for many of these kids," said Parenting Center parent educator Taffy Morrison.
Morrison and Partridge spoke of the success of the program at last Thursday's meeting of the SMH Women's Health Alliance, which supported the project through a financial sponsorship.
They explained that the program included involvement by 30 community service organizations and reached 350 family members who were hungry for the information that would lead their children and grandchildren to healthier, more active and safer lifestyles.
Follow-up is being conducted through the production of a monthly newsletter that is mailed to the youths, development of a Fit as a Firefighter Cookbook and the sponsorship of special events to which the youths are invited.
The project has earned the Innovator of the Year award presented by New Orleans CityBusiness and is in the running for other awards and grants.
"There definitely is a need for this program," said Morrison, noting that Louisiana currently ranks second in the nation, behind Mississippi, in obesity among children, teens and adults.
Copyright 2008 The Times-Picayune Publishing Company
