Camp Jump Start

Want to help your child change their life. .. send them to 8 weeks at Camp Jump Start. I won’t spend a great deal of time talking about the details of the camp (their website is very detailed and easy to navigate). What i will tell you is that the changes in my child were beyond amazing and I am not referring to the weight loss (there was lots of that). At 15 she had grown into a cycle of self sabotage and defeat and spent her days as a victim (it was always someone else’s fault why something, really anything went wrong). I didn’t really even recognize this pattern until she spent 8 weeks breaking it.
Was it difficult for her (and us) Absolutely but anything worth gaining will take hard work. There were days that she sounded quite unhappy and I was tempted to «rescue» her from the hard work she was doing and bring her home. I am so so so so so glad that I did not do my normal mom thing and swoop in to make it «all better». She stayed the entire 8 weeks and as I said it truly changed her life in so many ways. Her sense of accomplishment and inner strength was (and remains) so strong. She truly believes that she can do anything she sets her mind to accomplishing AND she is willing to work hard to make that happen.
Happy to say that 5 months after camp the changes in her not only remain but grow every day. She takes full responsibility for everything in her life (weight, friendships, school work, chores, personal happiness, etc etc.) I daresay that many adults in their 30’s and 40’s don’t have that same sense of personal responsibility that she learned in one summer.
The staff and counselors were beyond awesome and truly care about helping your child become the best version of themselves that they can be.
If you are looking into the camp I will say with 100% confidence that it will be the best gif thou can ever give you child. It truly is the gift that will last a lifetime.

Last school year I sat in my car watching my daughter slip behind the doors of her school and my heart ached for her. She was so uncomfortable in her own skin and it broke my heart knowing the pain she was going through every day. It hurt my heart to know that she was known as the DUFF (designated ugly fat friend) among the other kids at school. When I reached out to Camp Jump Start last year I was desperate for a solution. I couldn’t bare to watch another year knowing that each passing day she was slowly slipping away; she was giving up. She was accepting that being overweight was her destiny and that she would never have the opportunity for the life she really wanted. What Camp Jump Start has done for my daughter and so many other kids in her situation is astounding. I am a single mother of three children and although I have a decent job with health benefits, I struggle to make ends meet as many families do. God is very good to our little family and He always provides for us. When I found Camp Jump Start on the internet I was so happy, but also worried. My daughter needed this camp, but I didn’t know how I could make it work. I prayed and prayed. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. If it weren’t for the generous donors that help support Camp Jump Start, I know that she would not have had this life changing opportunity.
Jean Huelsing, the founder of the camp, had an amazing vision to help kids like my daughter and she has selflessly given so much to this endeavor. Her team is a tremendous group that also believes in helping the kids and their families lead healthier and happier lives. They saved my daughter from a life on the sidelines; never thinking she was good enough and always being the designated ugly fat friend. They saved my family in so many ways. My daughter is no longer the DUFF! I sent her a quote when she was at camp that said, «Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly.» That is my daughter. She finally became the butterfly she dreamed of. She has grown so much and her eyes sparkle with anticipation now. I’ve never seen her radiate such enthusiasm and pure joy. Her self-​confidence is strong and she’s decided to compete in her first triathlon. She also plans to participate in volleyball, swimming and track this school year. She picks out recipes, makes shopping lists, cuts up vegetables and helps me cook now. She can’t wait to experience everything she has been missing. I will be forever indebted to Camp Jump Start. I highly recommend this camp. It will change the life of your child and your family in so many positive ways.

My ten year old daughter just completed a summer at Camp Jump Start. If you have a child who is struggling with their weight, this is the place to send them WITHOUT QUESTION.
Personally, I have always struggled with weight issues as have many of my brothers and sisters. I wish that Camp Jump Start had been available when I was a child as I think it could have saved me a lifetime of struggles and probably kept me from passing on those same struggles to my child. When my daughter cried out to me one night about her weight and how she hated herself for being ugly and fat, I could not stand by and watch her go down my same path. I looked online until late that night and found lists of several weight loss camps for kids. I requested information from all of them. I talked to several individuals about their camps and programs. When I received a personal reply from CJS’s director and I spoke to the director on the phone, I knew that Camp Jump Start was the right place and I didn’t need to look further.
The program, the commitment of the director, and the philosophy of the camp towards health, well being, and self esteem came across as amazing in that initial correspondence. I just knew this was the right and BEST choice for my child.
Although I desperately wanted my child to go, I knew I could not force my daughter to go. When I first told her about the camp, she said no. I asked her to watch one video on You Tube of a former camper speaking of her experience. I told her that if she would just watch it, I would not bring it up again if she wasn’t interested. After she watched the video, she decided she wanted to go… not for just one session, but two. It was the best and bravest decision of her young life.
She returned from camp with the biggest smile on her face. She lost 17% of her body weight while there but she gained an infinite amount of self-​esteem and self-​worth. I truly believe she feels beautiful for the first time in her life and I think she feels that there is hope whereas before she saw no hope.
Before she went to camp, she was still having accidents at night… almost every night. After having gone to camp, she has had no accidents. Before she went to camp, I had to beg her to get a bath, brush her hair, or go shopping for clothes. I think she had just completely given up on herself. Now that she has returned, she showers willingly, she has taken an interest in her appearance, and she has enjoyed seeing herself as beautiful. She skipped into the clothing store the other day, something that would have been unheard of before CJS. She has become less dependent on me and more reliant on herself. All of the changes are positive and for the better. I couldn’t have asked for more.
The director, staff, and counselors at CJS are just exceptional. It is clear they aren’t doing this for the love of money but for their love of the kids. Unfortunately, my daughter is also having to deal with the divorce of her parents. This issue has been a real struggle for her, but I feel that the camp director’s philosophy of «You are who you are, you got what you got, and now you have to deal with it» really helped her put the situation in perspective.
I can’t say that the road ahead of us will be easy. I’m sure it won’t. I don’t know how my daughter and I will do going forward, but I know that I have given her the best foundation possible for change. The Camp’s name is truly reflective of its mission; it is a jump start. Hopefully it will be a jump start for both my daughter and I. If you are still reading this, I hope it will be a jump start for you and your child.
Many Blessings

This is an email I sent to my friends and family the day that we got back from Camp Jump Start (her name has been removed):
Ok. Let’s get the stats out of the way. From June 14^th to August 8^th, my 15 year old daughter was at Camp Jump Start in Imperial, Missouri. In those eight weeks, she blossomed in so many ways. My favorite was her smile. She absolutely glows. She lost 38 pounds, 16% of her weight, and reduced her 15 minute mile to 10 minutes. Before she left to camp, she had stopped smiling for the camera, afraid her crooked smile doomed her. I knew her smile made her more beautiful, but I’m just a mom and I don’t count. Her main camp counselor said she would not say but three words when she first arrived. By the end, she was not only enjoying camp, but embracing the whole concept of standing tall with pride. She motivated others and others motivated her. Oh, and one last thing… she fell in love (well, as in love as a 15 year old gets). His name is «L» and he lives in Illinois. The camp counselors said the two needed a few states between them to cool off. (All was very innocent per the counselors who keep that sort of thing in check.)
Saturday, as we left camp, she became incredibly «home sick» for the camp. She got scared. But the cool blue Camaro I rented ($ 40-​Enterprise) took us safely to Subway, where she forced me to use light mayo. At our 4 star hotel (Oh yes, I splurged on my kid — Renaissance Hotel $ 92/​night.) she completely out swam me on all 7 slaps.
Yesterday, after arriving home, she kept to her regiment and did three hours on the tread mill, and I got on my bicycle. I made a zucchini, potato, leak casserole with a little olive oil and even her brother (Mr. Macaroni and Cheese) liked it. Tonight, we are going on a bike ride on the Los Gatos trail. Wednesday night we take off camping, where two very fit young men will keep us all moving. And school starts Monday, the 17^th. Although this summer has seemed to fly by, I bet this summer will go down as one of the bests of her whole life.
Below are some before and after pictures (removed.sorry). I realized I had very few pictures on my phone, where she wasn’t posing behind her brothers. In the choir picture, you can see her lack of smile. While at camp she came to realize how miserable she had become and how absolutely happy she is now. The camp changed her life, and she is changing ours. So, the journey has not ended. Not for her and not for us. I am so very proud of her. And with that, I wish you all a healthy 2015.
A side comment: Two of the Camp Jump Start’s biggest selling points were that they are non profit and it showed. Their commitment was not to money but to the kids. The second was that the activities the camp did were easily transferable to my lifestyle. Running, hiking, swimming, walking, horseback riding… all doable. Camp Jump Start was in the top 7 in the nation. I did a lot of research and this was the best decision I have ever made for my daughter.

Most amazing place for kids to get out of their own way and adopt a healthy lifestyle. It’s much more than physical health. CJS helps kids change the narrative in their own heads and look at themselves in a much better light. The staff is incredibly well educated and patient. I highly recommend for ANY young person!!!

My 12 year old son went to this camp this year (2013), it was a transforming experience. My son was not at all motivated to lose weight before he went. He was willing to go because I ‘nagged him about it.” But he would have preferred to stay home and play vide games. He was probably one of the smallest kids there, but his eating was completing out of control and we were battling constantly about exercise and food and his BMI was getting higher and had just crossed into the obese range. I knew I had to do something, but I was afraid that since he wasn’t particuarly motivated to lose weight that it would be hard for him to make behavior changes. He lost 10 pounds there and left a healthy weight. Other kids who have far more to lose, lose far more. For my son, it was not as much about the weight loss as it was about the behavior changes and education he got.
He came back from camp educated about healthy living, and he was able to self regulate his eating and video game playing. After returning, he was self-​motivated to move more and eat less. For example, he went to Hershey Park shortly after returning home. Not the easiest place to find healthy food choices. On his own, he chose to eat at Subway and ordered a 6 inch sub with lettuce, tomato and ham on a whole wheat bun. He got water and apples. He wanted to have a snack so he chose to have a small chocolate bar that was under 150 calories because that’s what an average snack is at camp Jumpstart. Before going to camp jumpstart he would have had a large order for fries, with french fries and then had as much chocolate as he was given. I would have tried to regulate him and it would have resulted in screaming matches. They gave out free candy at Hershey Park. He took a Kit Kat Bar, brought it home, gave it to me and asked me to put it away. He said he’d «split it with a friend» for a snack some other day. I promise you there would have been no saving of the Kit Kat or splitting a Kit Kat before camp Jump start.
The nutrition and counseling classes were excellent and REALLY result in long-​term behavior change. Because all the kids did them, there was no stigma associated with doing them.
His initial transition to camp was hard; but he ended up having a really good time. He’s a very shy kid and socially awkward and he successfully made two cabins full of friends. He also met a «girl.» Nothing inappropriate; they just talked but a good experience for a socially shy kid! The head staff and counselors all really care about the kids. There are fewer activities and choices here then you will find at other camps. However, I think this was ultimately a good thing. My son needed to be «forced» to try new activities that were inexpensive like hiking or aerobics so that when he got home we could continue with an affordable, active life. It doesn’t really help long-​term if all he learns to like is paintball and windsurfing and you can’t afford for him to continue with those activities year round when he returns!
If your end goal is long-​term weight loss, camp jump start is the place! Don’t bother sending your kids to a camp that does not require the kids to do nutrition and counseling as they will not result in long-​term change.