Daily Pioneer News

PLATTEVILLE - The University of Wisconsin-Platteville has been selected as the site for Wellspring Wisconsin, Wellspring's newest camp location, which will have its first sessions this summer.

Wellspring is an international organization featuring youth camps across the United States as well as in Australia and the United Kingdom. Wellspring Wisconsin is the first site for a Wellspring camp in the Midwest. According to their website, Wellspring is a fitness and weight loss camp based on decades of scientific research. The camps focus not on how much weight the campers lose, but on establishing behaviors that lead to long-term weight control.

"Wellspring's program is not like other fad diets out there; it's focused on lifelong change," said Kelly Jo Hadfield, Conference Services and Event Planning at UWP. "I also think highly of the parent involvement that they encourage. Each camper will have a higher rate of success in the program with their family involved." At the conclusion of each camp, parents are asked to attend a workshop to learn the science of the program and set goals so that their children can maintain the lifestyle at home.

UWP was chosen because of its outdoor appeal, including the large amount of outdoor space and courses located next to the residence halls. The state-of-the-art facilities for swimming, personal training, fitness and team sports, as well as the nearby hiking and biking trails also make UWP an ideal choice for the camp. UWP was recommended for the program by Daniel Kirschenbaum, Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Northwestern who helped design the program. Kirschenbaum had served as a consultant for the Chicago Bears when the team still held their practices at UWP. Wellspring visited other campuses in Illinois and Iowa, even though the directors seemed set on UWP from the beginning.

"It was clear early on that UW-Platteville was the ideal candidate," said Jude Wood, the program director for Wellspring Wisconsin.

The camp is beneficial to both sides of the partnership, as Wellspring gains a site to hold their camps and UWP is able to fill its residence halls, which would be unused otherwise in the summer. Local businesses may also benefit, as the camp has been in contact with canoeing and biking businesses in the area. Joie Schoonover, associate director of dining services, has been working with the camp to help them buy food locally.

"We've been delighted with the reception we've received, and we're very excited to be holding the program at UWP this summer. We’re looking forward to having an excellent relationship with the UWP faculty and staff," said Wood.

"We are excited about the opportunities UWP has through having this group on campus," Hadfield added. "UWP students have another summer employment opportunity and our conference, recreation, housing and dining staffs are looking forward to providing services that will allow Wellspring to be successful in their inaugural year at UWP."

A typical day for a camper may include such activities as a morning walk, a canoe trip, swimming or hiking, as well as various healthy meals and snacks throughout the day. Campers learn how to monitor their own progress, and every camper and staff member wears a pedometer to keep track of how active they are each day. Privileges and rewards may be given to those with more than 10,000 steps per day.

Wellspring Wisconsin is open to boys and girls ages 12 to 18. Two four-week sessions will take place this summer, the first beginning June 15 and running till July 12, and the second beginning July 13 and lasting until Aug. 9. Youth are encouraged to sign up for one or both sessions. While there is no official deadline to apply, individuals are encouraged to apply early in order to secure a spot, as the camp may fill up by mid May or earlier. Wood estimated that the camp would accept around 60 participants for each four-week session this summer, with the possibility to grow in subsequent years. Those interested may apply and view the weight, attitude and medical admission criteria at the Wellspring website, http://www.wellspringcamps.com.

Anyone wanting more information about Wellspring Wisconsin may contact Hadfield at (608) 342-1301 or johnsonk@uwplatt.edu. Applications may be downloaded or submitted online at www.wellspringcamps.com, or individuals may reserve a place over the telephone by calling (866) 364-0808.

Contact: Kelly Jo Hadfield, conference services and event planning, (608) 342-1301, johnsonk@uwplatt.edu Written by: Megan Mowry, UWP Public Relations, (608) 342-1194, mowryme@uwplatt.edu