Long before there was a childhood obesity epidemic, before the low-carb revolution, there was Camp Shane, a caring community created to promote healthy diet and lifestyle among children. More than just a "fat camp," Camp Shane was founded in 1968 to teach the children wellness.

At Camp Shane, getting physical is the name of the game, but it is barely done in boot camp format. There is a wide variety of fun, physical activities that go from scaling walls to paintball to mountain biking. At Camp Shane, these happy campers get to select from every outdoor activity under the sun.

Of course the nutritional component of Camp Shane is of the utmost importance. After all, the bottom line is that the kids attending Camp Shane want to form healthy eating habits they can sustain for life.

With a registered dietitian and a master chef on staff, the Camp Shane crew not only teach the kids what they should be eating -- they also show them how to cook their meals as well.

But it is not just stuffy diet food. In fact, campers sink your teeth into pizza, pasta, chicken nuggets, hamburgers, fresh fruit, popcorn, ices and much more. Every day, campers get three balanced meals and two healthy snacks based on the food pyramid. The goal is to teach the campers habits that they can use after the summer has come to an end.

Costs for summer sessions look like this, although there is financial aid available for campers who qualify.

SESSION 1: June 20 - July 9 $3,100

SESSION 2: June 20 - July 30 $5,350

SESSION 3: June 20 - August 18 $7,150

SESSION 4: July 9 - August 18 $5,350

SESSION 5: July 30 - August 18 $3,100

What makes the camp even more appealing for overweight children is that they are being taught the lessons of healthy living in a positive environment where they're surrounded by a support system, as well as other kids who face the same struggles.

The campers are losing weight while having fun. The end goal is to get kids to maintain their new habits long after the summer has ended. Besides targeting young children, Camp Shane offers a program for young ladies 17-25.