Camper Success

When kids, teens and young adults lose weight at Wellspring, amazing things happen in their lives—they become happier and more positive, perform better in school, have closer relationships with friends and family, and gain the confidence to take on new challenges in their lives.

Weight Loss Boot Camp

Below are the stories of a number of recent Wellspring Campers—just a few of the thousands of individuals we’ve helped reach a healthier weight.

Click a name below to read more.

Katelynn lost 26 pounds and found the best within herself at camp…
Hank’s life changing experience at camp also transformed his father…
Catie’s mom is amazed at her daughter’s newfound confidence…
Matt feels great returning to school 43 pounds lighter…
Marena was dreading 4 weeks at Wellspring. But much to her surprise…
Daniella’s amazing change: 74 pounds and 5 pants sizes …
Keri’s family was concerned about her unhappiness…
Andrew sees a future of possibility after years of struggling, …
Rachel feared that Wellspring would be another failure in a long list…
Susan lost 33 pounds at camp and found a second chance at life…

Katelynn S.

Wellspring has given me opportunities, I never thought possible.

Katelynn S., Port St. Lucie, FL, lost 26 pounds in 8 weeks at camp, with a sustained total weight loss of 38 pounds.

I now walk through the halls as a freshman, with my head held high, completely confident. I'm not perfect, no one is, but Wellspring helped me be the best me, I could be.

I hope to one day return to Wellspring as a counselor, to proceed to help teens struggling with the same issue that I once did. Wellspring gave me the tools, knowledge, and self-esteem I needed, in order to live a long, successful, and most of all, enjoyable life!

-- Katelynn S., Port St. Lucie, FL, lost 26 pounds at camp and an additional 12 pounds at home.

From Katelynn’s Mom: I am proud to report she has maintained her commitment to the Wellspring Plan as well as losing additional weight over the last 12 months. She started high school two weeks ago and has started cheerleading; she is so happy and confident!

--Rachel, Mom of Katelynn

Hank S.

Hank S., Vero Beach, FL, lost 63 pounds in 8 weeks
at camp, and an additional 30 pounds in 4 months at home.

Going to Wellspring gave me the tools I needed to achieve lifelong weight loss. I was 293 pounds on June 3rd, 2009 and lost 63 pounds during camp by August 8th, 2009. Since I have been home I have continued to use the program along with my Dad and am now down another 30 pounds since getting home from Wellspring and weigh 195 pounds. My father has lost 30 pounds as he continues to get his steps by walking 9 holes of golf each evening after work and is down to 220 pounds also. We use the program together and that’s what helps me keep going. The parents training classes on July 4th weekend helped him get a head start and have the house and kitchen prepared for my return home in August.

No one can ever believe the difference this has made in my life. Can you even imagine the difference in the way I feel after leaving school for the summer at 300 pounds and returning at almost 200 pounds? The way people now treat me compared to before and the way I feel about myself is so wonderful.

It was very hard work during camp and sometimes you felt like you could give up but the staff and your fellow campers all pull together and encourage each other to keep pushing. In the end, I believe it is the most positive life changing experience an overweight kid can ever go though. Thank you Wellspring!

--Hank S., Vero Beach, FL, lost 63 pounds at camp and an additional 30 pounds at home

Catie B.

Catie B., Conroe, TX, lost 18 pounds in 4 weeks at
camp, and an additional 27 pounds at home.

Catie had so much fun and made so many friends at Wellspring. Never in a million years did either of us think she could do the things that she accomplished at camp, but she did it! Now, she's lost almost 50 pounds (18 at camp and another 27 at home).

Yesterday she even completed her first day of holiday boot camp at the YMCA and she was beaming when she got home, saying it felt great to be able to say she did it!

Wellspring gave me back my daughter - with a newfound confidence! Today - thanks to Wellspring - she knows there's nothing she can't accomplish!

--Jill B., Conroe, TX

Matt Z.

Wellspring was so much fun I didn't feel like it was work. I made good friends and we helped each other through the program. When I went back to school in September everyone was so happy to see what I accomplished and I felt so good about myself.

--Matt Z., Vero Beach, FL, lost 43 pounds at camp and has continued to lose weight at home.

Matt Z., Vero Beach, FL, lost 43 pounds in 6 weeks at camp and has continued to lose weight at home.

From Matt’s Mom: Thank you and your incredible staff at Wellspring for transforming Matthew into a happier young man. As the school year approached Matt and I spent much time discussing the challenges he would face returning to boarding school. I am thrilled to report the year has started off incredibly well. All who knew Matt last year were taken back with his accomplishments this summer. He religiously wears his pedometer and works out at the gym.

Matt's positive attitude is a direct result of his weight loss. He feels so much better both physically and emotionally. I am so proud of Matthew's hard work. I thank all of you for being a part of his wonderful journey!

--Karyn, Mom of Matt

Marena D.

Marena D., Kamuela, HI, lost 20 pounds in 4 weeks
at camp and an additional 20 pounds at home

My name is Marena and I am 16 years old. I am NOT the type of person into sports and exercise. I am a singer and an actress. Last summer, I came across Wellspring and thought it would be terrible. I went in with the mindset that I was about to encounter the worst four weeks of my life and I would just hold my breath and work as hard as I could until it was over. I did not in any way think I would have fun or enjoy anything I did. After two days I was already having so much fun!

We did so many different activities. My favorites were- Karate, Swimming, Dance, Yoga, Pilates, and Canoeing. I also thoroughly enjoyed Culinary. To my surprise, the food was AMAZING. I have been going to sleep away camps since I was 10 years old and the experiences I’ve had at all these camps put together doesn’t even compare to the experience I had at Wellspring. I lost 20 pounds in 4 weeks and by 3 months after camp, I lost 40 in total.

The friendships I made at Wellspring are the strongest friendships I have with anyone and I still talk to so many of these people every day. My roommate is my best friend and I love her and all my other friends from Wellspring so much! Wellspring changed my life forever. I’m so happy I went and I learned so much and gained (and lost ;] ) so much from this experience.

--Marena D., Kamuela, HI, lost 20 pounds at camp and lost 20 more pounds at home.

Daniella G., Tel Aviv, Isreal, lost 28 pounds in 4
weeks at camp and an additional 46 pounds at home.

Daniella G.
After losing 5 pants sizes and 74 pounds, I can definitely say that Wellspring changed my life! Wellspring taught me not only dieting and exercising but also exposed me to a whole new lifestyle and way of behavior!

I feel so much better about myself, and more confident of how I look and behave. I’m proud of myself for making the change! It’s totally worth it!

--Daniella G., Tel Aviv, Israel, lost 28 pounds at camp and lost 46 more pounds at home.

Keri K.

Keri K., Laurel, MD, lost 31 pounds in 8 weeks at
camp and an additional 15 pounds at home.

I went to Wellspring this past summer, and it changed my life. Before I went to Wellspring I was totally unhappy with myself and my family was concerned. I went online one night and found Wellspring and was really optimistic about it. My parents were unsure about sending me away for 8 weeks, but as they found out it was my chance to turn my life around.

I lost 35 pounds at camp, found amazing friends, had the time of my life, and went home and took what I learned at camp and put it to use and lost 15 more pounds so far. I knew I had the ability to make my life better and Wellspring helped me so much along the way.

Keri K., Laurel, MD, lost 31 pounds at camp and lost 15 more pounds at home.

From Keri’s Mom: Keri is doing wonderful, looks wonderful, playing the sports she loves, and is spending lots of time with Sylvia in VA these days. Our success story is one I will always be thankful to you and your team of great people for!!! I wish you the best of everything.

--Mary Beth, Mom of Keri

Andrew F.

Andrew F., Houston, TX, lost 22 pounds in 4 weeks
at camp and an additional 36 pounds at home.

I can’t remember when I first started gaining weight, but it really became a problem after Military school, which I attended in middle school. I believe it was a mix of ignorance of nutrition and the yearning to overcome many personal issues in my life. It led me to drop out of school for a year. Finally I relented when my mother found me a new school, at which I met a person who was so compassionate and wanted to help me change. With his urging, and my mothers checkbook (ha ha) I was able to attend Wellspring.

The results were awe inspiring, and on such an easy program to apply to your life! I am now equipped with the knowledge and determination to continue such a radical change. Losing so much weight has helped with all the clichés you hear such as confidence, self esteem, etc., and it has also opened up so many new doors to my life. I now have the option for collegiate wrestling, or possibly military service, or any aspect of life with physical attributes. Thank you.

--Andrew F., Houston, TX, lost 22 pounds at camp and an additional 36 pounds at home.

Rachel R.

Rachel R., Delta Beach, BC, lost 17 pounds at
camp and an additional 20 pounds at home.

At fist I did not want to go to Wellspring because I was scared that it wouldn’t work for me (like every thing else –it would fail like all other diets, nutritionists, gym memberships, & programs that I’ve tried). I first made up the idea that I didn’t want to go because it was a month without my friends – but then I asked myself, what is more important : your friends or your health and happiness ? So I went.

When I got to Wellspring I was very scared and kept thinking in my mind ( “it’s never going to work.. why am I here”) but, as the days went by I started to realize, “wow it IS actually working. In my journal after my second weigh in, I wrote, “Finally something is working for me!”

Wellspring was definitely worth it, and I feel like a different person now. I never felt like I was on a diet – the food is awesome and it’s been pretty easy to follow the plan at home!

--Rachel R., Delta Beach, BC, lost 17 pounds at camp and an additional 20 pounds at home.

From Rachel’s Parents: Wellspring has been a life-changing experience for our family! My daughter and I were getting very discouraged after trying many options (Nutritionists, Counseling, Personal Trainers, Naturopath and Doctors). We were certain that something was medically wrong – maybe her thyroid was not functioning properly.

Although it was a great deal of money – it was an investment in our daughter’s health! We had to be creative in finding the money to enroll our daughter – it was worth every penny!

Her health, stamina, confidence, & overall happiness have all changed for the positive! Rachel lost 18 pounds during the month at camp and has continued to lose each week for a grand total of 37 pounds! The staff support is fabulous and the friendships she made will last a lifetime. Thank you Wellsprings for a new lifestyle – not a diet!

--Bess & John R., Delta, BC

Susan K.

Susan K., London, UK, lost 33 pounds in 8 weeks at
camp and has continued to lose weight at home.

Thank You so much for sending my before and after pictures; can't believe the difference! My home Wellspring programme is going ok, I am still losing weight, and have taken everything that I have learnt at Wellspring on board.

Wellspring has definitely put me on the right path. I do have my up's and down's but I’m coping! Thank you again, Wellspring staff for all you have done for me...I am truly grateful. I hope you are all well, and continue on helping people like myself to have a second chance at life....thank you!

--Susan K., London, UK, lost 33 pounds at camp and has continued to lose weight at home.