THISNOVEL PROPOSAL IS IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE AFRI CHILDHOOD OBESITY PREVENTION CHALLENGE AREA ALIGNING WITH THE USDA STRATEGIC PLAN. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF OUR ENHANCED TEAM NUTRITION-BASED INTERVENTION, "SUMMER HARVEST ADVENTURE," IS TO PROMOTE OBESITY PREVENTION STRATEGIES (IMPROVE DIET, PHYSICAL ACTIVITY) AND HELP FILL THE SUMMER MEAL GAP FOR CHILDREN, AGES 8-11 YEARS, RESIDING IN LOW-RESOURCE COMMUNITIES. THE HEALTHCARE COST OF EVERY OBESE CHILD IN THE U.S. OVER A LIFETIME IS $19,000 MORE THAN HIS/HER NORMAL-WEIGHT COUNTERPART. THESE FINANCIAL COSTS ARE IN ADDITION TO THE DEVASTATING EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, AND MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF OBESITY. WHILE MODEST PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE, CHILDHOOD OBESITY REMAINS A SIGNIFICANT HEALTH ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN DISPARATE POPULATIONS AND DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS, WHEN MILLIONS OF CHILDREN LOSE ACCESS TO SCHOOL-BASED FEEDING PROGRAMS AND SUFFER GAPS IN MEALS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO AN OBESOGENIC ENVIRONMENT. TO COUNTER THESE TRENDS, WE WILL IMPLEMENT AND TEST THE EFFICACY OF THE "GREAT HARVEST ADVENTURE," MODIFIED FROM AN EXISTING USDA TEAM NUTRITION CURRICULUM FOR YOUTH CALLED THE "GREAT GARDEN DETECTIVE ADVENTURE."OUROBJECTIVE IS TO CONDUCT A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL TO TEST THE EFFICACY OF A COMPREHENSIVE GARDEN-BASED BEHAVIORAL, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERVENTION FORVULNERABLECHILDREN (AGES 8-11 YEARS). OUR SUMMER-BASED INTERVENTION ENHANCES THE USDA CLASSROOM-BASED CURRICULUM AND INCLUDES: 1) REMOTE AND GROUP COACHING USING A FOCUSED MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING APPROACH; 2) WEEKLY FRUIT, VEGETABLE, AND HERB HARVESTING TO INCREASE SUMMER FOOD ACCESS; AND 3) GROUP EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES IN A SOCIAL SETTING. OUR INTEGRATED AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAM FULLY EMBRACES THE THREE COMPONENTS OF THE AGRICULTURAL KNOWLEDGE SYSTEM (EXTENSION, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH), ALL CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM AREA PRIORITIES: 1) DEVELOP AN EFFICACIOUS BEHAVIORAL, SOCIAL, AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERVENTION TO INCREASE DIETARY INTAKES OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES; 2) INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN; AND 3) INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, EDUCATORS, PRACTITIONERS, AND RESEARCHERS WHO RECEIVE TRAINING TO ADDRESS THE COMPLEX PROBLEM OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY.