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A WEEK OF CAMP FOR A LIFETIME OF HEALTH
INNOVATION IN HARVESTING by Jeffrey Javier Michele Hylton photo
MESQUITE PODS
by Liza Pluto Jacob Chinn photo lton Jimerson, 11, says what he Francine Gachupin, camp
Alearned last year during his director and assistant professor in
esquite trees not only decorate the weeklong stay at the American Indian the UA’s department of family and
MUA campus, they also provide tasty Youth Wellness Camp changed his life. community medicine, says the
bean pods that can be harvested and used “I experienced sports and activities camp’s goals are to teach children
for cooking. However, when the trees bloom like lacrosse for the first time and really the importance of healthy eating
in the summer, they drop their pods. This enjoyed it,” he says. “And I ate vegetables and to promote routine exercise.
not only litters the campus but also ends the like corn, broccoli and lettuce that I The program brings about 50
opportunity to harvest the pods, because didn’t think would taste good but I really children ages 10 to 15 from several
once they are exposed to the ground they like eating them now.” tribes to Whispering Springs, near
can develop life-threatening aflatoxin, a Before his camp experience, Alton Prescott, Arizona. Camp activities
metabolite of certain fungi, . didn’t think exercise could be fun and include learning traditional native
Now, the UA Office of Sustainability has didn’t consider how important it was to games, playing sports, planting
partnered with the College of Architecture, eat his vegetables. But a year later, he is seeds and more.
Planning and Landscape Architecture to member of his school’s cross country Gachupin says that data collected
create an efficient, net-based system to and wrestling teams. His siblings have from in-depth physical assessments
passively gather the pods. A universal net was also started emulating his healthy helps guide the program and
designed that can mold to each tree, collecting behaviors. curriculum. Check-ins that occur
most of the pods as they fall. The system A successful crowdfunding several months after camp help
minimizes the effort involved in harvesting campaign is helping to cover room and solidify good eating habits and
while also reducing the risk of aflatoxin. board costs so that other children like regular exercise at home.
Alton can have the same experiences “We use the data to focus
this summer. The funds also help on behaviors that are identified
continue work that addresses an as troublesome and design a
epidemic of Type 2 diabetes in American curriculum that addresses those
Indian adolescents, more than half of behaviors,” Gachupin says.
whom are overweight or obese and at
risk for the disease.
2016 American Indian Youth Wellness Camp attendees
SUMMER 2017 13
