Meet the 2011 Wellspring Camp La Jolla Mentors

Wellspring is proud to offer a Mentor Program to our alumni who fully embrace the Wellspring Plan both during camp and when they return home. Mentors have the opportunity to return as role models within the Wellspring La Jolla community, gaining leadership skills as they help others on their journey toward healthy living.

Below are some of the 2011 Mentors for Wellspring Camp La Jolla, sharing their success and explaining why they're excited to return for another fantastic summer. They are all looking forward to meeting YOU soon!

Alex is looking forward to inspiring other campers…	Alyssa is enjoying having more energy and faith in herself…
Courtney is excited to be with her 'Wellspring Family' again this summer…	Ginny can't wait for this summer's Color Wars…
Cailin is feeling so much more confident in herself…	Ana-Sophia handles stress so much better now…
Christina reached her goal of playing on a varsity sports team this year…	Hannah loved realizing how strong and independent she really is…

Alex J. Heller

Age: 15
Hometown: San Francisco

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

My favorite memory of camp last year was hanging with my best friend Becca during all the mixers. I had such a blast each night and even though we worked hard all day, I was never tired when it came to hanging with my friends.

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

I am looking forward to making more progress with my weight loss and inspiring other campers to do the same. I really would love it if I could just make one person's day better than the one before it. I also hope to make many more friends this summer. I still keep in touch with all my 'besties' from camp and haven't gone a day without talking to at least one of them.

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

I am definitely more confident than i was prior to my wellspring experience. I probably wouldn't have made team captain of my soccer team if i hadn't gone to camp! Now it is much easier for me to play soccer and i enjoy running much more than i did before camp.

Courtney Wiseman

Age: 17
Hometown: I was born in Los Angeles and I now live in Las Vegas

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

My favorite memory, well there are many! I can't exactly pick one! I loved meeting new people, playing different sports, playing RUGBY, making friends and eating healthier!

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

I am looking forward to seeing my friends and playing more sports and losing more weight.

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

Something that has changed about me is that I am a lot happier and I have more friends than I ever thought I would have. I run a 5k once a month and teach my friends about rugby! I can't wait to be going back and seeing my friends and the people who were my family for those 8 weeks!

Cailin Curtis

Age: 15
Hometown: Northport, NY

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

My favorite memory from camp last year was meeting so many wonderful new people and losing so much weight!

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

The thing I am looking forward to this year at camp is making new friends and getting healthier. I am also looking forward to helping people who are having a tough time.

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

Because of Wellspring I am now much more confident in myself. I am so much more motivated to keep on losing weight now that I have already begun and experienced Wellspring and have met so many people who are having difficulty with the same things.

Hannah Leftwich

Age: 15
Hometown: Mukilteo, Washington

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

My favorite memory of last year was when I realized how much stronger and more independent I am than I gave myself credit for.

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

I am most looking forward to reinforcing the skills and tools that I learned last summer, and to try harder at losing more weight.

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

I have become more social, and I now have a better attitude about all the little things that would've bothered me before. I am also not as depressed as I used to be, because I feel more confident about myself, and the way I look.

Alyssa Karpas

Age: 14
Hometown: Houston, Texas

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

My favorite memory from camp is when I was on the track about the second or third week and I had not been able to run a full mile and one day I ran a mile! It made me feel like if I pushed myself that I could reach all of my goals.

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

I am looking forward to seeing past camp friends and making new friends.

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

My whole life has changed for the good because of Wellspring. I have more energy, I feel better, and I have more faith in myself that I can really accomplish anything if I give it my all.

Ginny DeWees

Hometown: Wilmington, DE

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

Color Wars! And winning Color Wars! GO ORANGE!!!!

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

Making new friends, losing weight, and more Color Wars!

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

Learning to take control of my own life and being open to different things.

Ana-Sophia Jacob

Age: 17
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

Last year every cabin had to run a marathon together so every camper ran like a mile or a mile and a half or so. My cabin was one of the ones with the least people but we helped and pushed each other and ended up winning. It felt amazing and made us grow together even more. It was something so great because we could not have achieved it without supporting each other and helping each other. It was an amazing experience!

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

This summer I am looking forward to meeting new Wellspring campers but also some of my friends from last year. Also I'm very excited about the sports program because since I have left camp last year I have tried to stay very active but it is not as intensive as in camp since in camp we walk and do so much activity. The activity at camp is so much fun! You realize that you are doing something good for yourself and begin to love it. Yes, it is hard at the beginning but the staff is amazing and very supportive. They help you achieve your goals and believe in yourself. And the best feeling is when you know you have, for example, run your first mile. That happiness and also that pride is something that you will feel and remember for a very long time.

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

Wellspring has made me take better care of myself and helped me handle stress and bad experiences. I found out that for me , running is a great way to release stress and calm myself down instead of stress eating. I have realized that after I run I feel free and happy and just more relaxed than before. If I would have eaten instead of running I would have felt even worse afterwards because I would have felt even bigger. Also the Wellspring program showed me that there is so much healthy variety and good food that I do not have a strong desire to break the program.

Christina Kitlinski-Hong

Age: 17
Hometown: San Francisco, CA

What's your favorite memory from camp last year?

One of my favorite memories from camp was the group marathon. I've got to admit, it was not one of my favorite activities at the time, because it was of great difficulty, yet the result was astounding. I cannot begin to explain the feelings that came over me, when I saw my whole team complete a mile each. To see everyone's determination to achieve the one mile was amazing. I had such a sense of accomplishment and I was SO PROUD of everyone at the whole entire camp for completing a task, that many didn't think they were capable of.

What are you most looking forward to at camp this summer?

I am looking forward to pushing myself to reach my goal weight. It will take A LOT of hard work, yet I am up for the challenge. Also, I remember from camp, the great friends I made. They kept me grounded and encouraged me throughout my stay. I want to come back to camp and be the person who is about to encourage others!

What has changed about you because of Wellspring?

Because of Wellspring, I have changed my active lifestyle. This was the first year I made it on a varsity sports team!! I also continue to workout daily after school, and I am making many more healthy food choices. I have been able to maintain the weight I lost at camp, and I am looking forward to going back to camp and losing more!