About Our Founders

They live at camp and work with campers everyday!

Jean Huelsing RN, BSN, MEd:

Jean is an internationally recognized expert in the weight loss camp industry and on many other health/education related issues.  She is a state award winning teacher and has received many "Excellence in Care" nursing awards, along with an American Red Cross Lifesaver award.  She is licensed in the prevention and treatment of childhood obesity.  She is the media spokesperson for the St. Louis Regional American Heart Association's "Go Healthy Challenge" by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.  She is the founder of this summer weight loss camp as well as the founder of the Living Well Foundation, a non-profit organization preventing childhood obesity.

Jean has written for many different publications throughout the world including consumer magazines, newspapers, nursing/professional journals, and her research is published in medical journals.  She has been quoted routinely as the expert in ChicagoParent magazine.

Jean has been interviewed as an expert by People magazine, Rolling Stone magazine and affiliates for NBC, CBS, ABC and FOX. She provided background information for the documentary "Fat Like Me".

Tom Huelsing:

Tom is a certified personal trainer and he has been a coach in youth sports for over 25+ years. He has a black belt in martial arts and has taught Tae Kwon Do since 1991. Tom has designed a self-defense program for our campers' to increase their confidence and self-esteem. It is his belief that Camp Jump Start is an excellent safe environment for campers to learn new physical skills. He works with the kids on a daily basis to build healthy bodies and instill self-confidence.

You’ll see what a difference a summer can make!