Healthy Habits Summer Camp for Kids and Teens: Fitness, Nutrition and Screen-Time Reset

A typical day at Camp Pocono Trails combines structured activity with choice. Campers take part in fitness and strength sessions with personal trainers, nutrition and culinary classes, and traditional camp activities on the lake and across the 350-acre property. The camp describes its approach as balancing structure and choice, skill-building and fun.

There are three main tracks. The weight loss and health and fitness track is for campers who want to improve fitness, strength and body composition. The technology habit track is a clinically based programme run by qualified therapists for campers who overuse video games, smartphones or other screens. The self-esteem track uses a cognitive-behavioural approach, also led by qualified therapists, and can address specific issues such as difficulty making friends or being bullied at school, including role-play of social situations. The self-esteem and internet habit reversal tracks are elective.

Nutrition is a core part of the programme. Campers learn how to eat right and cook healthy meals, and the camp runs a partnership with Clean Eatz, a national healthy food chain with over 100 stores. Some Clean Eatz food will be served at camp, and campers get access to a discount offering after the summer.

Parents of past campers have reported a decrease in loneliness, anxiety, tense feelings, sadness and irritability, and improvements in communication and organisational skills. The camp has been featured on MTV, CBS, CNN and NPR.

The camp is not a good fit for every child, and it asks families to call to discuss whether their child is suitable before booking. It has worked with campers aged 7 to 18 and young adults aged 18 to 21 from around the world.

What's included

- Residential summer camp place on 350 private lakefront acres - Fitness and strength training with personal trainers - Weight training programme - Nutrition classes - Culinary classes - Elective self-esteem track led by qualified therapists - Elective technology habit reversal track led by qualified therapists - Traditional camp activities - Meals built around whole, nutritious foods - Some Clean Eatz food served at camp - Access to a Clean Eatz discount offering after the summer

What's not included

- Travel to and from camp - Personal expenses - Items not listed by the camp - Costs of any arrangements made directly with the camp outside the published programme