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Youth at last year's camp in Kenwood play a game of nutrition bingo.

TAHLEQUAH, OK - More than 70 Cherokee 5th and 6th graders from Adair, Sequoyah and Delaware Counties are expected at each of the Cherokee Nation’s Summer Youth Fitness Day Camps.

The camps this year will focus on diabetes prevention through exercise and healthy lifestyles.

"Healthy Nation Summer Youth Fitness Camps provides area youth with the opportunity to learn and practice behaviors that prevent diabetes and promote a healthy lifestyle", said Margie Burkhart, a Cherokee Nation Healthy Nation educator.

"Diabetes is at near-epidemic levels in many Cherokee communities", said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. "We want to teach our kids how to live a healthy lifestyle at an early age."

The youngsters will participate in physical activity and listen to health information. Some of the physical activities offered are skating, swimming, kickboxing, basketball, soccer, aerobics and team-building games. Campers will be treated to a martial arts demonstration, Cherokee language lessons, and participate in classes on cultural crafts, such as beadwork, mini-stickballs and cornhusk dolls.

The Adair County day camps will be held Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Zion School day camp will be held July 8th through 12th and Stilwell School day camp will be held July 22nd through July 26th. For additional information or applications call Shirley Cochran or Tonea McGee, phone: 918-696-8800 (ext 8852).

The Sequoyah County day camp will be held at Dwight Mission on July 1st to July 3rd. Contact Patty Green, phone: 918-774-1490 for further information.

The Delaware County day camp will be held at Jay School on July 22nd to July 26th. The contact person is Betty King, phone: 918-253-4271 (ext.248).