** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** DURING THE SUMMER PERIOD, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY THOSE FROM IMPOVERISHED SETTINGS, COULD LOSE UP TO 30% OF LEARNING GAINED DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR. THIS LEARNING LOSS, ALSO KNOWN AS THE SUMMER SLIDE, IS ESPECIALLY PRONOUNCED AMONG CHILDREN FROM FAMILIES AFFECTED BY POVERTY. ADDITIONALLY, THE LOSS IN LEARNING IS ACCOMPANIED BY RISK FOR OBESITY. OBESITY IS A CRITICAL PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM THATAFFECTS APPROXIMATELY 1 IN 5 AMERICAN CHILDREN AND ADVERSELY IMPACTS CHRONIC DISEASE RISK. CHILDREN'S DIETARY INTAKE, PARTICULARLY OF NUTRIENT-DENSE DARK GREEN LEAFY VEGETABLES, HAS PERSISTENTLY FALLEN BELOW DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS. SIMILARLY, THERE HAS BEEN A DECLINE IN CHILDREN'S AEROBIC FITNESS SINCE THE 1970S. THEREFORE, WE NEED RESEARCH AND EDUCATION EFFORTS TARGETING CHILDREN AFFECTED BY POVERTY DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS TO PROMOTE THEIR HEALTH AND SUPPORT LEARNING.THE PROPOSED WORK WILL AIM TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BY CONDUCTING AN8-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM (ICAN) TO PREVENTSUMMER LEARNING LOSS AND PROMOTE HEALTH BEHAVIORS AND REDUCE RISK FOR CHILDHOOD OBESITY AMONG CHILDREN AFFECTED BY POVERTY. ADDITIONALLY, OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO EDUCATE FUTURE PROFESSIONALS IN NUTRITION, DIETETICS, KINESIOLOGY, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, AND COMMUNITY HEALTH, IN SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND HOLISTIC APPROACHES TO SUPPORTING CHILDHOOD HEALTH.THE PROPOSED WORK HAS A HIGH POTENTIAL TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF CHILDREN GIVEN ITS FOCUS ON NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY APPROACHES TO PREVENT SUMMER LEARNING LOSS WHILE PROMOTING PHYSICAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AMONG CHILDREN AFFECTED BY POVERTY.