EDITORS: to cover or shoot photos of the Bulldog Café, contact Tom Uribes at 278-5366 for schedule of activities and determine best photo opp times

A new summer camp under way at Fresno State this week, Bulldog CAFE, is providing 60 area youngsters with the chance to learn culinary and other valuable skills in a move designed to combat what organizers call “California’s youth health crisis” — issues concerning obesity in youth that lead to chronic diseases.

The first of three weeks of Bulldog CAFE — Cooking, Activity, Food Safety, and Eating — began Monday (June 14) and runs through Friday (June 18) for ages 9-11 from 8:30 am. to 12:30 p.m. in the Food Science and Nutrition laboratory on campus.

The camp resumes July 12-16 for ages 6-8 and July 19-23 for ages 12-14.

While class size is restricted to 20 each week, grouped by ages, a limited number of seats remain open for the final two weekly sessions in July.

The camp — sponsored by the Department of Food Science and Nutrition and taught by its faculty assisted by university dietetics students — is a culturally diverse nutritional program incorporating food preparation, food safety, agriculture, and physical activity, said Dr. Diane Golzynski, a Food Science and Nutrition professor.

Golzynski is a camp director along with Fresno State faculty colleagues Dr. Sandra Witte and Dr. Connie Schneider.

“This will be accomplished using hands-on educational activities in a higher education setting that demonstrate the connection between agriculture, food preparation, eating and healthy lifestyle,” she said. “This non-traditional setting will promote an understanding of the total food system and its health benefits.”

Initial funding for the two-year pilot project began with a small grant from California Food, Fibers, and Futures (CF3) to help develop the program ($30,588) over the next two years. CF3 grants

originate from the Kellogg Foundation and are administered by UC Davis to improve the diet and health of Californians.

Co-sponsors include the Fresno County Office of Education as well as several businesses and organizations.

The cost of the camp is $80.00 for the week, which includes a snack and lunch. Scholarships are available for children of families who are eligible for free school lunch programs. At the end of their week, campers receive a t-shirt, their recipes, educational materials and a Bulldog CAFE certificate.

Dr. Connie Schneider said campers develop basic culinary skills while preparing a nutritious lunch.

The daily menu and recipes include such items as Southwestern Chicken Quesadillas (Monday), Bulldog Breakfast Cookies in the morning and Sandwich Shapes at lunch (Tuesday);Won Ton’s and Rice (Wednesday); Burrito Fiesta such as Rainbow Burritos and Burrito Dulce; (Thursday); and Homemade Pizza and Pita Bread (Friday).

“Campers learn about safety in the kitchen as well as techniques to live a healthy life,” she said, explaining that the food consumption patterns of Americans have changed dramatically during the last 30 years including an increase in overweight children.

“California is facing a youth health crisis,” the Fresno State professors said in their proposal, noting that overweight among adolescents ages 12-19 increased more than threefold between 1963-2000 in the United States.

In Fresno County, according to the California Health Information Survey (CHIS), 29 percent of 0-11 year olds are overweight, with 6.8 percent of those children obese.

Among 12-17 year olds, 48.2 percent are overweight with 8.6 percent of those children obese. “Not only are the children of our community overweight, they are also physically unfit,” Dr. Sandra Witte said.

The California Center for Public Health Advocacy’s study noted one in four students are overweight and 40 percent of children in public schools are unfit. According to the California Department of Education Standards and Assessment Division, children in Fresno School Districts, grades 5, and 7-9 are not within a Healthy Fitness Zone for Body Composition.

“Children who have an unhealthy body composition and children who are overweight and obese are at increased risk for long term health complications,” Witte said.

The three Fresno State professors decided to do something about it and designed the camp.

Groundwork for the camp began last fall when undergraduate dietetics students at Fresno State, on an independent study, assisted faculty members who were working with the Nutrition Network in underserved schools in Fresno County.

Focus groups and interviews were conducted with students, parents and teachers for ages six through 14.

Elementary and middle schools within walking distance of Fresno State, including students who participate in Stone Soup near the campus, are involved with the pilot project.

Camp sessions include nutrition education, teaching of basic food preparation skills, regular activity breaks and tours of a variety of units at the University’s Farm (University Agricultural Laboratory).

Activity breaks are designed to assist participants in developing a daily routine of physical activity. Tours of the farm are designed to promote the participants understanding of the complete food system and how the food system can positively enhance the joy and adventure of eating.

In addition to improving diet habits in youth and teaching them how to prepare a diverse range of healthy foods, the organizers have another goal in sight: to encourage minority students to consider a career in the food science and nutrition profession.

“Children from different cultures will be able to interact with college students from different ethnic backgrounds,” Schneider said. “A long-term expected outcome will be to increase the percentage of ethnicity of professionals in food and nutrition careers.”

For information about enrolling in the final two sessions, call Extended Education (559) 278-0333 or the Food Science and Nutrition office at 278-2043.

Camp Partners include:

Nutrition Network — sponsoring one camp counselor, provided t-shirts, and prizes Save Mart – $2,400; providing grocery store tours

Fresno County Office of Education — provide Pentathlon physical activity equipment Division of Extended Education (Fresno State) — registration and marketing assistance

Agricultural and Food lndustry Donations

OK Produce Company — donated produce La Tapatia — donated tortillas and yogurt

Other Donations and Assistance

The Choinumi Indian Tribe – $1,000.

Wal-Mart — donated supplies

The Fresno State Chapter of the Golden Key International Honour Society – $320

The Student Dietetic Association of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition – $320 Clovis Roundup Transportation — Providing transportation at cost to Save Mart