Why Kingsmont?

Weight loss for children and adolescents is serious business. Obesity brings with it a seemingly endless list of potential health problems as well as the trauma of discrimination and social rejection (see Childhood Obesity). Teen life is difficult enough without the added burden of obesity. If your child is not currently facing health issues, chances are they soon will. You may already be seeing the emotional damage of obesity in low self esteem, lack of motivation, behavioral issues at home and school, low frustration tolerance and isolating behaviors. It’s time to break the cycle.

Breaking the Cycle

Overweight children and teens caught in a cycle of self isolation, self consciousness and decreased physical activity can greatly benefit from a focused high energy weight loss camp. Summer camp is an opportunity to start over in a new environment without the habits and psychological triggers of everyday life at home. Summer camp is a brand new opportunity to make friends, to be exposed to new role models and to have fun. No child is ever left out at Camp Kingsmont.

Camp Kingsmont offers an independent source of nutrition education, proper nutrition, physical activity and behavior modification to reach your child. Kids often rebel against their parents and will not listen to even the most sound and loving advice. Kids may need to hear it from an independent source. Our campers want to lose weight, change the way they see the world and the way the world sees them. We offer an environment that allows them to do just that. Countless parents and campers often tell us that ‘you saved my life.’ This is not an exaggeration – we change lives for the better.

While weight loss is serious business, we operate in a fun, energetic and supportive atmosphere. We are not a boot camp, nor are we a starvation camp. We are not a fat camp. We offer guidance in proper nutrition through portion control, nutrition education and cooking classes. Campers need hands-on experience in the kitchen to fully appreciate the role food plays in our lives.

We offer a wide variety of physical activities to teach campers new skills and to introduce the concept that a sedentary life is counterproductive. Sports instruction, non-competitive games and inclusion are the rule at camp. Everyone participates. No one is ever the last one chosen.

Our Campers are Amazing

We make children and adolescents feel good about themselves. The campers are amazing. They just need to have the light of day shine though their shell. We do that every day. We conduct our Expressions and Connections programs as a vehicle to take a look at why campers eat as they do and to offer guidance for change. Our Connections Program is currently being revamped under the guidance of Christopher E. Overtree, Ph.D., a licensed Psychologist & Health Services Provider on the faculty of the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. Dr. Overtree is preparing a 16 session program for our campers which will be taught by UMass graduate students at his direction. The regime of solid nutrition, physical activity and a better understanding of the motivations underlying poor weight decisions yields immediate weight loss results, but more importantly offers a blueprint for sustained weight loss and eventual weight maintenance. Our goal is to get every camper to a healthy weight, and for that camper to sustain that weight for the balance of their lives.

Camp Kingsmont offers a well defined and effective after care program. Self monitoring techniques coupled with weekly nutrition webinars should help keep campers on track. In addition, our web site has numerous great tasting recipes and a wealth of links to other recipe sites. Having learned some kitchen basics in our cooking classes, campers should be able to fend for themselves.

All campers will be introduced to and registered on www.mypyramid.gov so they can plan their meals and carefully monitor their calorie intake. Campers will also be sent home with a personal exercise plan designed by one of our personal trainers. They will be encouraged to journal their daily physical activities. Support comes from our nutritionists, staff and friends. Summers of fun and shared experiences generate a network of friends easily reached via a variety of high tech alternatives including the blog on this site.