Wellspring Camps are 1-week to 8-week summer weight loss camps located in New York, North Carolina, California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Vancouver, Canada, and England. Wellspring Camps is affiliated with Wellspring, which also operates after-school programs, adult adventure vacations, and Wellspring Academies—weight loss boarding schools located in California and North Carolina.
Wellspring Camps serve children, adolescents and young adults ages 5–24. Fifteen per cent of Wellspring campers come from outside the U.S. – Canada, Mexico, Europe and the Middle East.
Outcomes
Research conducted by Dr. Daniel Kirschenbaum, Wellspring’s Clinical Director and Director of Chicago’s Center for Behavioral Medicine & Sport Psychology, tracks Wellspring's long-term outcomes as compared to other summer weight loss programs. According to Dr. Kirschenbaum’s research, campers consistently demonstrate average weight loss of 4 lbs. per week, and 30 lbs total in 8 weeks. In 6-12 month follow-up studies, the average camper goes on to lose more weight– an additional 5-8 lbs., on average. Over 70% of campers maintain weight loss from camp, or continue losing more weight.
Wellspring differentiates itself from traditional fat camps, where the focus has historically been on short-term weight loss rather than long-term lifestyle modification. The New York Times reports that more than half of all campers attending traditional weight loss camps are repeat customers, indicating that most of these campers regain substantial amounts of weight within the first year. Wellspring’s research indicates that over 70% of their campers maintain weight loss from camp, or continue losing weight. Wellspring claims to employ a more scientific approach to diet and activity management and a more comprehensive cognitive behavioral therapy program compared to traditional fat camps .
Camp activities
Activities vary by camp location. Campers have a varied schedule of activities every day, which may include aerobic kick boxing, mountain climbing, Color War, ropes course, surfing, sea kayaking, hiking, white water rafting, camping, snorkeling, beach sports, biking, tubing, volcano climbing, outrigger canoe racing, scavenger hunts, weight training, mini-Olympics, basketball, soccer, and football.
Locations
Wellspring currently operates camps throughout the summer in 11 different locations. Accommodations and activities vary depending on the camp location.
California: on Cal Poly campus in San Luis Obispo, CA. For Boys & Girls, Ages 11 -– 18.
Florida: located at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg, FL. For Boys & Girls, Ages 11 -– 18.
Hawaii: at secluded retreat on the slopes of Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii. Boys & Girls, Ages 11 – 24.
New York: at Paul Smith’s College, a women-only camp for Girls, From ages 11–24.
North Carolina: an adventure-based experience at Camp Hope in Canton, NC. Boys & Girls, Ages 11 -– 18.
Pennsylvania: on Washington & Jefferson college campus outside Pittsburgh, PA. Boys & Girls, Ages 11 -– 18.
Texas: on private school campus of San Marcos Baptist Academy in San Marcos, TX. Boys & Girls, Ages 11 -– 18.
Vancouver: at Quest University in Vancouver, British Columbia. Boys & Girls, Ages 11 – 18.
UK: on King’s Bruton campus in Somerset, UK. Boys & Girls, Ages 11 -– 24.
Wisconsin: at University of Wisconsin-Plattesville, WI campus. Boys & Girls, Ages 11 -– 18.
Family Camp: at Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, NC. For families, Boys & Girls, Ages 5 – 15 with at least one parent.Wellspring Plan
Wellspring Camps are based on the Wellspring Plan, a fitness and weight loss plan designed by individuals considered to be experts in the fields of fitness, weight loss and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). The Plan combines scientific research with an approach that is designed to be simple and sustainable. The goal of the Wellspring Plan is to help campers gain skills and motivation for lifelong healthy living.
The scientific foundation for the Wellspring Plan is based on original research and peer-reviewed journal articles. Wellspring’s Scientific Advisory Board is composed of pediatric obesity professionals. Wellspring’s long-term outcomes—including sustained weight loss and improved health, mood and outlook—have been presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Wellspring differentiates its camp program from fat camps, on the basis that the Wellspring Plan is designed for long-term behavioral change, not a quick fix for rapid weight loss. While fat camps often succeed in helping campers lose weight quickly, they are known for having little long-term success. A recent study found that 70 percent of Wellspring campers had maintained the weight or continued to lose in the six to nine months after camp ended; the weight loss afterward averaged 7.4 pounds.
Activity management
The Wellspring Plan is based on the belief that, for weight controllers, simple, clear and easily-measured goals help them stay focused. Research has shown that 10,000 steps of activity every day does such things as increase metabolic rate all day and accelerate metabolism of fat. Given that more than 85% of high school students fail to achieve 10,000 steps per day, this is a central goal of Wellspring’s activity management program. This level of activity in adults produces notable health benefits, including a decreased risk of stroke, coronary heart disease, diabetes, fatty liver disease, asthma, depression, and many forms of cancer. Wellspring recommends 10,000 steps per day (each and every day) as the goal for young weight controllers with the belief that, if they hit that goal or surpass it, they'll achieve far more consistent activity than their peers and improve their long-term prospects to lose weight and keep it off
Diet
Wellspring’s nutrition plan is based on a low-fat, low-calorie diet that is designed to be sustainable once campers return home. Wellspring claims that this is achieved by teaching campers to cook, order, and identify healthy food choices. Daily menus include three meals and two snacks and have been developed by registered dietitians. A typical day of controlled foods will include 1,200 calories, 10 g of fat, 50 g of protein, and 30 g of fiber. In addition, Wellspring campers are permitted to have as much "uncontrolled" food as they wish, as long as they measure and self-monitor their eating. Uncontrolled foods include selections such as fat-free yogurts, cottage cheese, egg salad, tuna salad, fresh fat-free soups, fruits, vegetables, salads. Some campers choose 2,000 or more calories per day. Campers are asked to write down everything they eat, so that it can be processed and discussed with their Behavioral Coach. The reason this diet seems to work is because it is all a hoax put on for parents when really campers at Wellspring are starved in order to make them lose weight. Then when they get home it is often heard that they become bulimic or anorexic because of the lack of nutrition they received while losing weight at these camps.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Wellspring’s fitness and weight loss camps provide cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for every camper because CBT has been proven in many scientific studies to help children, teens, and adults change diet and activity behaviors better than providing just education or advice. Specifically, cognitive-behavioral therapy involves goal-setting and tracking, problem solving, and stress management training to help weight controllers change permanently. Wellspring employs Masters- and Doctoral-level therapists (called behavioral coaches) to provide both one-on-one and group therapy sessions for campers. Behavioral Coaches also stay in regular contact with families and campers for the year following camp as part of Wellspring’s Continuing Care Program.
Family Involvement
2-day family workshops are scheduled at the end of each camp session. Attending families participate in all aspects of the program and learn the details of the Wellspring Plan and the key behaviors they can support at home.
Continuing Care
Wellspring offers a Continuing Care program that lasts until June 1 of the year following camp attendance. They believe that participation in their Continuing Care program improves long-term outcomes. Therefore, campers who remain consistently active in the Continuing Care program for 3 months after completing camp receive a full refund of the cost of the Continuing Care program ($500 as of April 22, 2009). Campers and their families access online accounts for daily logging of food intake, goal setting, journaling, and weekly weigh-ins. Wellspring Behavioral Coaches observe campers' progress and communicate with them in private online discussions.
History
Wellspring opened their first two summer camps in June 2004 under the corporate name Healthy Living Academies. Camp Wellspring, located in the Adirondack Mountains of New York, accepted women ages 16 – 23. Wellspring Adventure Camp, in the mountains of North Carolina, ad
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