JEAN AND TOM SAY---

These are letters and notes that remind us of why we do what we do because it is not always easy, but it sure is worth it when you see the kids at our Graduation Ceremony!  It is an honor and a privilege to work with these children.  Our Camp Jump Start kids have come to us from 30 different states and 5 other countries. 

The Camp Jump Start difference is the family atmosphere and the personal attention each camper receives.  In this supportive environment we work on our weaknesses, but develop our strengths.  And all of our Camp Jump Start kids say-       "It was the BEST summer of my life".

KIDS SAY---

...I can see my feet!........Jordan

...I can cross my legs......Sydney

...I had an AWESOME summer....Kelsey

...I had the best times of my life....Shane

...Thanks for believing that I can do anything I set my mind to do! Thanks for caring for me and loving me....Ali

...I really appreciate what you have done for me.  I am able to walk into my school proud and happy not embarassed and heavy set....Blaine

....I learned right ways to eat and what caused my problems....Blair

...This summer was the best summer of my life....thanks so much!!!.....Megan

...When I first heard that I was coming I was mad.   But once I came here I had one of the best summers of my life.  I'm glad I lost so much weight....Tyler

...Thanks for the great time.   I would really like to come back next year...Zach

...I love you a lot through thick and thin, when I go pro you know I am going to win!....Nathan

...I remember when I could not even run a mile and then I ran non-stop!  I am so happy and proud of myself and you helped every step of the way.  This was an awesome summer....Chris

...I love you guys so much!  You have really changed my life.  I will never forget you.  This camp is great.  I have made life long friends and all thanks to you guys....Jeff

...I have become more confident and I have learned if I work hard I can do anything.  I have friends that I KNOW like ME....Kate

...Not only did I lose weight--45 pounds!  I learned a lot of things to help me for my whole life.  I hope you know that what you are doing is one of the most amazing things a person can do...Kaytie

...Camp Jump Start changed my life and prevented me from going down a wrong path in life.  I learned soooo many things at your camp that will stay with me for the rest of my life....Megan

...CJS gave me something I don't get very often which is pure happiness...It gave me knowledge, friendship, trust, belief, a great summer once I got over the homesickness...look how far I've come...Thank you everyone for making my life so much better...I learned anything is possible.... Stephanie

...Thank you for teaching me everything I need to do in order to live to be healthy and 150!  Ha Ha  I never had so much fun at any other camp!  All in all, thank you for changing my life so drastically...Jennifer

...Thanks for helping me through the thick and thin and those days I felt fat....Sam

...Thank you for giving me a month to remember for the rest of my life.  Thank you for the greatest gift of all---Health and Knowledge...Reyn

...what I will miss is how much you cared about me and everyone else.  How personal you got with us.  No other camp--weight loss or not--has ever cared as much as you.  You were like a home-away-from-home, a mom-away-from-mom for me.   All in all I want to thank you for helping me make this one of the most worthwhile summers of my life....Lisa

...Thank you for such an amazing summer.  I learned a lot about food and exercise, but more so I learned life lessons.  I could go on and on, but you both know how much you have helped.  Thank you so much!...Elise

...I have learned so much about my health, nutrition and about myself.  I have realized good qualities in myself.  And I am thankful for the environment you put out for me so I could exercise those good qualities of mine in a healthy manner.  All you ever asked is that we try our best and that alone kept things challenging enough that every day I wanted to see what I could accomplish for that day.  I appreciate and am grateful for all that you have done for me....Ashley

...I am so glad I went to camp after all!  A lot of my family members are either overweight or obese.....Its funny because now that I have been at camp everyone comes running to me with all these questions about what they should eat or how they should eat....Jasmine

...You cannot know how much happier I feel.  There is no way I can ever possibly thank you.  There's this new girl at my school and me and her and my friend Anna were talking about volleyball and how when we ran I was always last and now I am first.  I always get done with sprints first!!!!!!!!That's never, never, never happened before.  Ever!  And the new girl goes "what? YOU used to be fat?" which means I must not be now.  It feels so gooooood!  I don't guess you can understand this but coming in first on those sprints is like winning the olympics for me.  Last year it was all I could do without dying after one lap.  Now I am FIRST on sprints!  I cannot thank you enough.....Emily

...Thank you for helping me reach my goals....Kristy

...I want to thank you for everything that you have done for me over the summer.  I will truly remember every thing you taught me and in the future I will teach those same life lessons to my children.  I am forever in your debt for what you have helped me achieve. Thank you!!!....Sarah

...Just being here has changed my life forever.  You have taught me new things and new ways of thinking and doing and living my life.  I truly do appreciate my stay here and all the good times we shared....Jenay

...I have had the most fun of my life!  I lost 32 pounds!  I started to notice that I was getting smaller.  I was so happy and you could see in my pictures that I have changed.  I am so happy that my life has changed....Casey

...I have grown up so much in these past 2 months and I have made the greatest friends here.  I will never be able to forget anyone here.  Thank you so much for everything and I love you...Audrey

...Your camp has made me feel like a winner and I've grown to realize that I am.  I'm not sure what my weight is because the weigh-in is tomorrow, but for the first time in years, I don't care.  Thank you!....You have changed my life and showed me what I'm really capable of being and doing...Thank you so incredibly much.  This is the best summer of my life....Kayla

...The other day I caught myself calling this place home, and it hit me that it is really a home now.  I love it here.  I love everything about it.  You have created an amazing place and I feel blessed to have met you and to be a part of this special place.  Thank you for your constant interest in all of us and thank you for always loving us for who we are.  Most of all thanks for giving me the best experience of my life...Rachel

PARENTS SAY---

...Everyday I think of you and Camp Jump Start and the profound difference you made in our lives.  I remember you said that you want to create healthy family units.  We are a much healthier family unit thanks to you and your staff.  I remember a conversation with Tom where he said if he could make a difference in the life of one child he will consider the camp a success.  Consider yourselves successful!.....Blair's mom

...Thank you for being such a great help.  His doctor could not believe it was him.  They are so happy with the results we are looking forward to him being taken off the medications!  His blood sugar is doing really great.  This is a really big step for him, he has wanted to get off them for so long and it looks like he is in such control that it is going to happen....you have helped him in such a positive way.....Nico's mom

...We sent to camp an insecure boy who never would leave his room and got back a well adjusted, confident, outgoing young man.  He walks taller.  He talks to people.  He likes himself.  He knows he can do what he sets out to do now.....David's mom

...I have never seen my daughter smile the way she is now.  Thank you, thank you, thank you....Kaytie's dad

...thank you for helping to change Jamie's life and therefore also changing our family's life.  Jamie grew up a lot at camp.  She certainly has more confidence in herself and it shows in every aspect of her life.............Jamie's mom

...I had to write to tell you how thrilled I am with the "new" Jeff.  His confidence level is off the charts.  Sending Jeff to Camp Jump Start was the best decision I've ever made on his behalf.  Thank you, thank you for what you have done for our family.  Personally, I feel the weight of the world has been lifted from my shoulders.  Jeff does a wonderful job taking responsibility....I trust his judgement.  He worked hard at camp and it really paid off.  He looks wonderful and feels wonderful....He really became a teenager at camp.  He was very shy and introverted, but now he is a poised, confident extrovert and he makes his bed!  Thank you again for the work you are both doing.  I know Jeff will remember you forever, and the golden opportunity he received being at camp...Jeff's mom

....Just listening to Shelby she sounds so much more grown up, confident, and truly interested in living a more healthy lifestyle.....Shelby's mom

....I myself have learned a lot mainly to accept that my son is not a baby, to let go and allow him to grow....he came home a different boy, he talks more.  He loved the time with you...Ray's mom

...Thank you and the rest of your staff for taking such loving care of Evan.  She was definitely changed for the better by her experience with you....Evan's mom

...I wanted to start off by saying thank you all so much for changing my son's life!  I can't believe the physical change, but mostly, his emotional changes.  I feel so blessed to have met you and have Drake come to your camp. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!...Drake's mom

...Amanda is doing great!  She is on her cross country team and is playing recreational soccer.  She is eating well and continues to make wise choices.  I am very pleased....Amanda's dad

...Aaron is so proud of himself and happy being around others.  He doesn't have that hermit attitude anymore.  Camp Jump Start has been one of the best things we have ever done for our family.  I am so glad I spent the money for this wonderful Jump in his life.  It was worth a million! Thanks, you are great.....Aaron's mom

...Her attitude is great and she is off all medications....She joined volleyball and is swimming all the time and is eating by the book.  She went to enrollment with me at school where everybody knows everybody.  You should have seen the reaction, it was great.  I mean from the bottom of my heart, thank you.  You have changed Kassie's life, my life, our family's life forever.....Kassie's dad

...Sarah simply said, "It was the BEST summer of my life!" and gave us huge hugs and kisses.  Last summer Sarah spent 21 days in Europe.  She said she had a good time.  She took over 700 pictures which she never seemed to find time to get developed.....she had bought t-shirts, postcards, souvenirs, all the typical things one saves to remember their adventures.  THIS summer she came home with clothing, not purchased but exchanged with her new friends to remember them by, 300 pictures which she took to be developed immediately and an action plan.  She has a schedule for the gym, a plan "A" and "B" for handling lunches at school, a caloric and fat driven menu for us at home.  The menu doesn't have the exact food item we are to prepare just a calorie count which allows for personal taste and the flexibility to buy items that are on sale that week at the grocery store.  An approach that is success driven and failure proof.  We are shocked by the simplicity....Our daughter is really happy and "Camp Jump Start" can take all the credit!  Someone once wrote:  "Success is where preparation meets opportunity".  This describes your program to a "T".  We will always be grateful God allowed our paths to cross.....Sarah's mom and dad

...Your vision for changing lives is an awesome thing.  It has not only changed our daughter's life and attitude and outlook, but has affected our family in so many ways.  Amy likes herself so much more.  She has set goals for grades and pursues them with vigor, she knows that nothing is impossible now.  She knew she needed to lose weight but with the busyness of life it just wasn't happening.  Taking 8 weeks out of a summer and dedicating it to change is the only way.  Amy is truly a happier person....Amy's dad

...I get quite emotional when I think about it.  As you know, it is so awful to see your child suffer and now that he has lost weight, he feels so good about himself and somehow that has opened the floodgates in me.  I guess because it seems to be over and somehow my emotions have been released....Camp Jump Start IS the best investment I've ever made.....Arthur's mom

...It's amazing how much better Sydney and I feel once I actually gave up control!  It's almost as though I feel more in control by giving her the power to make her own decisions....Sydney's mom

...Thanks for all you do and for having such a great impact on my daughter's life....I was just so impressed with her level of energy and fitness.  I was struggling to keep up with her, which never happened before this summer.....Audrey's mom

...Meghan says it is much better than the other weight loss camp.  She loves everybody there and has a lot more friends. It is comforting hearing her talk on an upbeat note.  Thank you, I am glad I made the decision to send her to you....Meghan's mom

...I wanted to take a few minutes to extend my thanks to you and Tom.  Your efforts to help change the mind-set of young kids is exceptional.  There aren't many who would take the risks and chances you have for others...especially those they don't even know.  I am in awe of your pioneering spirit and determination to make a change.  Thank you so much for all that you do, have done and will do in the future.  Reyn is doing great!  He continues to watch what he's eating and logs things on a daily basis....Reyn's mom

...Thank you for helping Lisa find herself among those pounds.  Her doctor is very pleased with all her blood reports.  Everything is back to normal.....Lisa's mom

...Thought I would write to tell you about how pleased we are with your program.  The weight coming off is great, however, to see the smile on her face and her self confidence increase is more valuable than I would have ever imagined.  Well worth every dollar spent and more!...We've all changed towards a healthier lifestyle.  In essence, you have helped this family unit become more active and healthier eaters.  Thanks for a valuable camp.  Krystina is going to be speaking about healthier lifestyles to a camp for pre-teen girls....Krystina's mom

COUNSELORS SAY---campers guess who?

Not only does Camp Jump Start change campers, it changes the counselors a great deal as well.  I learned more about myself by teaching children a healthy lifestyle than I ever could have working a typical summer job.  For this I owe a great deal to Camp Jump Start.....counselor lost 73 pounds and is maintaining.....2007

It helps remind me that I made a difference this summer....for the first time in my life, I am really comfortable with who I am.......2004

Working for you has been a truly rewarding experience.  This has been one of the most challenging and rewarding jobs I have ever had.  I feel like I gained a new family over the past 8 weeks.......2004

I hope you all had as much fun as I did and will aim for a healthier lifestyle too.....2005

I learned not to judge people.....2005

I really wanted to thank you both for the incredible opportunity and for all the memories that I will have for the rest of my life.  Thanks for the best summer job I will ever have....2005