Lifestyle Change for the Whole Family
Wellspring is committed to long-term success. While the rapid weight loss that occurs while campers are attending Wellspring Florida is important, it’s what happens when they return home that really determines success. And in order for campers to succeed at home, family members must be armed with the tools and knowledge to make the home environment as supportive as possible.
Many Wellspring families report they lose weight along with their child. In fact, family surveys following camp indicate that 40% of families lose more than 20 lbs. Add that weight loss to their child’s weight loss, and you have entire families losing weight and getting significantly healthier together.
Family Workshops
Wellspring researchers have demonstrated that families who are involved in their child’s progress and work to provide a supportive, healthy environment at home are more likely to see their child continue weight loss at home. This finding illustrates how crucial family involvement is for long-term weight control, and why Wellspring Florida places such emphasis on families spending 2 intensive days with Wellspring professionals at the end-of-camp Family Workshops.
Wellspring Family Workshops provide parents with a mini-immersion into each aspect of the Wellspring Plan. Parents are provided with all the tools that campers receive (e.g., textbooks, curriculum, pedometers, self-monitoring journals, Calorie Kings) and asked to follow the program for two days. While trying out the new behaviors that campers have learned, parents partake in a series of lectures and seminars from Wellspring clinical, activity, nutrition and culinary professionals. Wellspring Florida ensures parents return home with a sound understanding of the Wellspring Plan.
The highlight of the weekend workshop is the development of the transition plan for home. Families meet with Wellspring Behavioral Coaches to strategize how they will continue to support weight loss at home – what specific changes will be made, and how they will work to continue to role model the behaviors required for successful long-term weight control.
Because Wellspring Florida is certain of the importance of a supportive home environment, an additional incentive is provided: the full cost of the workshop is refunded to families who attend.
