Our morning began with a three mile walk around camp. It was a beautiful morning. Very comfortable, but damp and a bit hazy. I was comfortable in my jacket for the first couple of miles. Breakfast followed. We dined on egg beaters, an English muffin and fake sausage. Fruit bar was full of yogurt, cottage cheese and several fruits. Following breakfast, Kinz headed offsite with those who were at the discovery level and above. They went to swim at a public pool. I didn't think that sounded like much fun, but Kinz was quite excited. She said she was looking forward to the water being warm and not having to worried about anything swimming by and biting her. She came home with quite a sunburn. G and I attended classes all day. Thank goodness for the morning walk or we would have had no chance of meeting our new 10,000 step requirement. For lunch we had half of a baked potato, covered with bison chili, broccoli and the salad / fruit buffet. Afternoon nutrition classes including a taste of PB2. PB2 is Powdered Peanut Butter, reconstituted with water. It was surprisingly good. Instead of staying for dinner and the weekly ceremonies, we headed out. We ate dinner at Apple-bee's. Kinz had traveled to Apple-bee's with camp on a dine out challenge, so she knew what she could have. I ordered Cajun Talapia on rice with Broccoli. It was good. Kinz had garlic chicken with broccoli. My total fat for the day was 9 grams and 1350 calories. Tomorrow we will head to camp for her final weigh in and the timed mile. Last weeks time was 8:34! We have classes in the morning and will finish up at Noon. She is very excited to be home.

Words cannot describe how excited we were to see our baby. It was a long day for both of us as we anxiously watched the clock for 5 pm to arrive. The winding road to camp reminds me of the road to Hana in Hawaii. Twists and turns that never seem to end. We arrived at 5 minutes to 5. She was playing soccer, but watching for us as she saw us immediately when we turned in. We all stood there bawling. Glad I wasn't the only one. She has always been beautiful in our eyes, but words cannot describe the confidence she has gained in herself. She is empowered and excited at what she has accomplished this summer. Our dinner consisted of Baked chicken, green beens, a sweet potato / green pepper dish and fresh mixed berries. There was also a full fruit and salad bar. After our evening session and the kids evening activity, snack was served. We had our choice of vanilla, chocolate or strawberry ice cream. (Sugar free sweetened with Splenda.) We received a couple books, one based on the science behind the program and a calorie King book, which is basically a dictionary of foods containing calorie counts and fat counts. Glenn thinks we consumed about 25,000 calories yesterday. Oh my. We received pedometers and calorie Journals to use over the weekend. Kinz came back to the hotel with us and is currently soaking in the tub. She has had 8 weeks of cold showers each lasting 5 minutes. She may soak all night. I just want to sit there and hug her. Eight weeks is a long time. We are so very proud of all she has accomplished. Now she knows how strong she really is. Tomorrow will be fun as we are invited to attend the weekly ceremony where the kids move up in levels. She mentioned again how cool it was to receive mail from everyone. Please continue to pray that she would have the same conviction once school starts as she has now. She has a rocking group of friends, so I know they will be there to cheer her on!

Road Trip!

Off we go to camp. Not excited for the 22 hour drive. I am excited to see Kinzster! Today's picture was taken on her first day of camp when G. dropped her off. She plans on having her exit picture taken in the same cloths. It will be fun to compare!

Below is the Family workshop schedule if you are interested...

THURSDAY July 29th 2010

5:00 - 5:45 Arrive and Check-in

5:45 - 6:10 Introductions and Expectations:

v Introductions of administrative and clinical teams

v Important expectations and guidelines for the weekend

6:15- 7:30

Dinner Circle and Dinner

7:35 – 8:20 Tools of the Wellspring Program:

v Tools of the Program: Wellspring’s 3 simple changes: Distribute self-monitoring journals (SMJs), Sierras Solution and Calorie King books, and pedometers; discuss plan for your mini-Wellspring weekend experience (step and fat goals)

8:20 Families welcome to depart after 8:20


FRIDAY July 30th 2010


7:30 – 8:30 Morning Walk with Campers, Families and Staff


8:40 – 9:25

Breakfast Circle and Breakfast

For the remainder of the day, aside from meals and WAC Records, parents are in scheduled workshops while campers participate in activities.

9:30 – 10:15 Activity Management Presentation:

v Personal Training: Lessons Learned at Camp
v Transference: What you can continue to do back home

10:15-10:30

WAC Records!

Heidi Williams, Head Fitness Instructor, with Personal Trainer Team

v Compete and/or cheer on campers and families!

10:30-12:25

Workshop 1: Scientific Foundations of the Wellspring Program

12:30-12:45

Garden Overview

Leah Nicholson, Food Service Director and Hannah Furgiuele, Head Gardening Instructor

12:45-1:30

Lunch

1:30-2:30

Family Consultations with Behavioral Coaches (BCs)

v Addressing concerns, developing ideas for making the program work at home

2:30-4:20

Join Activities with your Campers!

* Individual Family Meetings with Behavioral Coaches as signed up*

4:30-6:05

Nutrition Workshop

Jessica Menig, Head Nutrition and Culinary Instructor, with Nutrition Team

6.15- 7:30

Dinner Circle and Dinner

7:30 – 8:45

Final Ceremony!

v Experience the weekly level system ceremony where campers are recognized for meeting their goals

v Families welcome to depart after 8:45 (Remember to pick-up any medication your child will need while away from camp!)

Meet at the Health Center and to Fire Circle



SATURDAY July 31st 2010


7:30- 8:10

Stretch Circle and Morning Walk with Families, Campers and Staff

* Individual Family Meetings with Behavioral Coaches as signed up*

Health Center

8:15 – 8:40

Timed Mile with Campers, Families and Staff


8:40-9:15

Breakfast Circle and Breakfast


For the remainder of the morning, parents are in scheduled workshops while campers participate in activities. All siblings are welcomed to join in activities!


9:40-10:20

Culinary Workshop:

Jessica Menig, Head Nutrition and Culinary Instructor, with Nutrition Team

v Alternative Ingredients

v Kitchen Staples

v Recipes

v Demonstration: Fast and Easy

10:20 – 12:00

Workshop 2: Plans for Home

12:00

End of Workshop

Today the girls began their day with a group therapy session, followed by fitness boot-camp and 4 way kickball. They will then pack out and prepare for a great time in the field. The field trips this week are choice trips. As mentioned, Kinz chose duckying, a form of rafting. Check out her feet in this picture. Theme of Saturday nights dance was PJ night, so she wore the frog slippers her Nana sent in one of the many care packages that found it's way to North Carolina this summer.

Yesterdays schedule:

The ladies will began there day with a game of tennis and soccer. They will then participate in agility. After lunch, the ladies will play a game of basketball just before having the chance to cool down with a nice dip in the swim hole. They will the play a game of dodge-ball just before having an opportunity to relax in yoga.They will end the evening with PJ's themed dance.

I hope they post pictures of the PJ's themed dance! That would be fun. Pictures of Kinz tearing up the soccer field. She looks like a pro!

Another busy day. I think if I were the kids I would look forward to being out in the field. Back at base camp their days are packed full!


The ladies will began their day with a game of tennis, which will then be followed by a group therapy session. They will then participate in agilithy with Heidi. (The girls call Heidi the MACHINE.) After lunch, the ladies will have a chance to cool down with a nice dip in the swim hole. They will the play a game of basketball just before participating in an awesome abtastic with Jen. The girls will then play an awesome game of football. They will end the evening with a camp wide game of soccer .

Kinzer phone home day was just as fun as ever. She sounds great and told us on numerous occasions how excited she is for our upcoming trip. She said that while the past seven weeks had been long, she thought the next 7 days would seem longer. She can hardly wait to come home. She had another great week. They had a blast rock climbing, and some excitement to boot. There were two copperheads curled up sunning about 10 feet from the base of the rocks they were climbing. She said the climbing instructor did a very good job at giving her specific directions so that she would not freak out. She said, "I did good but some of the other girls lost it. They were crying and everything." They encountered three more copperheads upon their return to camp. No thank you! She had yoga this evening after our visit and was very excited about that. She has been playing a lot of soccer and says she really enjoys it with the exception of a sore back. Her lower back has been bothering her lately. We asked about the bad picture. She was having a tough day. Her favorite counselor left and they were all having a tough time. If I understood her correctly, she drove away while they were playing, which made it even harder for them all. We asked if she had heard from any of the kids who left after 4 or 6 weeks. They have received email or letters from all of them. They say it is hard to be home. She seems to be pretty firm in your determination to get us all going on a routine, which will be good for everyone. 24 pounds gone, her goal is at least 6 more before she leaves. We will not find out if she met her goal until we see her face to face. The count down begins! Seven day to go!

Kids have a busy day scheduled. Hope they don't forget it's phone home day!

The ladies will begin there day with games of dodgeball and soccer. They will then participate in a fitness bootcamp. After lunch, the ladies will enjoy a game of monster ball followed by a game of wiffle ball. They will then play a game of volley ball just before participating in a relaxing class of yoga. They will end the evening with a game of four square which will be campers vs counselors.

Nothing to report today. Kids return from the field tonight. Phone home day tomorrow night. Last one before we go get her!

We finally received word that the kids are rock climbing this week and will return on Wed. night. The report from her coach last night was nothing but good. She said, "In a word, she is AWESOME." She presented her research paper and was promoted to the top and final level of the Wellspring Compass, lead guide. Her coach said she thinks we will have a hard time recognizing her with all the weight she has lost and confidence she has gained. I was very glad to hear this as one of the pictures posted today is terrible. She has her arms crossed and looks like she is about to burst into tears. One of those "I am so mad / upset that I want to scream but won't because I don't like confrontation" looks. Good thing we have not seen that look before or I would have picked her up by now! Hang in there sweet girl!

Camp staff is lagging on updating the daily activities. Still no word on what the kids are doing today or yesterday for that matter... Will let you know when I hear.

Daily activities have not yet been posted, but there are several cute pictures of her playing basketball and swimming in what I assume is the super secret swimming hole we've heard so much about. I'll post them throughout the upcoming week. Today is ceremony day. She should be a chief guide for her last two weeks of camp. If she can make it through this week she will be in good shape as the following week she gets to go on her final white water rafting trip on Mon - Wed and G and I will be there Thurs - Sat. The end is near! Yippee!

Fun Day Ahead....

This morning they will be doing agility drills, yoga and softball. After lunch they will be doing kick boxing, cooling off in the swim hole and having a group therapy session. Tonight is the nerd dance! Too bad she can't take her Dad with her to the nerd dance! He would fit right in! Pix above is him in his glory days :)

Something tells me there's more air guitar than tennis taking place here....

Today's activities:

Our cabin will begin their day with a game of soccer, ultimate Frisbee and volleyball. After lunch they will be going to the swim hole, playing basketball, abtastic and football. Tonight they will be playing steal the gold.

Kinz had a busy day today....

Soccer, dodge ball, fitness boot camp, swim hole, tennis, basketball, kick boxing and will end the evening with a game of 4 way kick ball. She did skip boot camp to work on her guide project. She has all the research done and will present it on Sunday at this weeks ceremony. She expects to move up to level six, the chief guide level next week.

Sounds like they had a blast in the field. Caving in Tennessee was great fun. She said they got really dirty army crawling into dark tight spots. She got to use her head light and didn't have any trouble with claustrophobia. White water rafting followed where they went down stage 4 rapids. She said stage 6 rapids are "Certain Death". They hadn't gone on any of those yet. Good thing! She was not sure if they were home or away from base camp next week. The following week, however, they get to choose which away adventure to attend. My bet was on rafting. G's was on mountain biking. I win. She was excited to know she would get one more shot at the white water rafting. G told her that when the seasonal creek in our back yard gets flowing, he is sure that it contains stage 6 rapids :)

She said she will be doing the cooking for the next several months. They made some really good mac and cheese in culinary class. Other favorites are rice crispy treats and the crepes she invented. Apparently they give them a jar of peanut butter that is low in fat when she leaves. They eat carrot sticks with this allowed peanut butter. She eat's the carrot sticks first and savors the peanut butter all by itself. Green peppers and hummus are another favorite. YUCK. I asked if they had had red peppers. Nope, only green. Hopefully I can convert her from green to red.

As of last Sunday, her weight loss total is 21 lbs. We asked if she could tell where she had lost it. She said her face... 21 lbs in your face? G said, "That's quite a load off your shoulders." She laughed.. We were asked to bring all her beauty styling aids with us when we come to pick her up.. Hair straightener, styling aids, and makeup. She wants to look good for the parting photo. Our plan is to head to the grocery store the night before we leave to stock up on things for dinner and breakfast the following day. She was happy with that plan. I'm betting it is bagels and sandwiches for the trip home.

Kids return from the field tonight in time for a movie with the rest of camp. Phone home day tomorrow! FINALLY!

Kids are caving today in Tennessee. Above is the latest cabin photo.

Received our Monday update from camp. The kids left this afternoon to go caving and rafting in Tennessee. They will return home Wed night. I can hardly wait for phone home day on Thursday. I want to go caving! Kids are getting ready for a water fight in the attached photo.

Not a great photo, but one none the less! Looks like her hair is just as curly in NC as it is in Texas. This was taken at last nights 80's themed dance. Phone home day is not until Thursday, so it will be a long week. This morning the kids will be running the timed mile, then playing soccer and softball. This afternoon they will be packing to head into the field.

Saturday

Not much to report today. There were a few pictures of last nights ceremony. Appeared to be very wet as they were under the pavilion. No pictures of Kinz. Today's activities include the following:

Our campers will begin their day with soccer, tennis and softball. After lunch they will be playing basketball, steal the gold and will be participating in a wet and wild event. Tonight they will have an 80’s dance!

Friday

We all got individual letters via snail mail today. They were written during last weeks parent weekend and you could tell she was very homesick. Most of what was included in the letters we discussed via phone. We did learn that several kids had pink eye. Not fun. Boot camp is by far the hardest activity they have at camp. Her favorite is still Yoga. She said she would like to plan on doing Yoga every morning as it feels so good to stretch. That will be good for all of us!

Today's schedule:

They will be going on a day hike, returning to play basketball and 4 way kickball. Tonight they will finish with a ceremony!

Wednesday

Twenty-one days and counting until we report for Parents weekend and get to see our baby! Woot! Cute picture of her today. She said the bandanna and the braided hair are her signature. Keeps bangs and sweat out of her eyes. Bad news is that she has a pretty severe farmers tan across her forehead. She said she plans to even that out at the neighbors pool when she gets home. G said, "Great, then you will have a big red stripe across your head instead of a big white stripe!" Below is today's posted schedule:

These ladies will begin their day with group discussion, volleyball and soccer. After lunch they will be playing ultimate football, kickball, basketball and yoga. After dinner they will be watching a movie!

Kinzer phone home!

I just love phone call days. Just hearing her voice makes me feel better. Kinz had another great week. Her timed mile this week was 9:22, down from over 11 minutes the week before. She lost another 4 pounds so the grand total as of last Friday is 17 lbs! Amazing. I keep expecting her to tell me she has hit a plateau, but such is not the case as of yet. We found out that ceremony nights include skits. The kids performed skits to explain the 6 different compass levels campers progress through. This weeks theme was toy story, so she was dressed up as Woody and was introducing a new toy to camp. She said it was fun, and the parents seemed to enjoy it. To move up to the final compass level, she has to do a project. There are several different types to choose from. She said she is going to do one on nutrition and work with the nutritionist to explain why some of the other fad diets on the market are not as successful as the wellspring plan. One of her cabin counselors also helps the nutritionist, so it sounds like she can get some good info from them. They had a contest to develop a new breakfast recipe and her recipe won. It was a crepe containing strawberry's, banana's and fat free chocolate syrup. MMMMMMMM. Sounds pretty good! Those who had earned off campus rewards field trips went to a place called Fun Depot last week. They played laser tag, drove go carts, and played Dance Dance Revolution. Apparently, she has not lost her touch. Her little feet are as speedy as ever! She said they have a blast. Fourth of July was fun with a water fight and fire works. Apparently it was by no means as good as a Texas Rodeo's fireworks, but still nice. This week will include a day hike. She was actually excited about the fact that it was only one day so they didn't have to camp. Next week they are going caving in Tennessee. Way cool! She asked that I send more long sleeve shirts and another jacket, so it must be cool in the early morning, late night hours. She is happy to have a bottom bunk. She has all the pictures we have sent her attached to the bottom of the top bunk so she can look at them. She reminded me again that she does not have a picture of me. She has one of me in my hippie costume.. What more could she want? She now has her new envelopes so she was planning on getting lots of letter writing done this week. Thanks for continuing to write to her! She still has four weeks to go!

Monday

We received word from the camp director that Kinz had another great week. She achieved 25,000 steps per day and all other requirements necessary to move to the guide level. This week she will work on the project required to take her to the final level in the six phase program. We talk to her tomorrow via phone and we are anxious to find out what project she is going to tackle. The director said to make sure to ask her her time for the mile this week as she was very excited. This is a picture of yesterday's Fourth of July fun. She is in all black in the lower left corner running. Here are today's activities:

These ladies will begin their day with soccer, agility drills and boot camp. After lunch they will play basketball, ultimate football, abtastics and volleyball!

Yippee! After more than two weeks we finally have a picture! She is sitting on the ground in a cowboy hat. Virtually all the other pictures posted had a pole of some sort directly in front of her face! This was taken at last nights awards ceremony. Several parents in attendance. Today was just as busy as the rest... Soccer, dodge ball, softball and basketball before the dance tonight!

Friday's schedule

Things must be a bit crazy at camp at the moment with the first parents weekend taking place on Thursday, Friday and today. Parents head to camp to take part in three days of workshops that will give them a feel for the program their children have participated in (Schedule, workouts, eating) and will help them prepare for their children's return home. The daily activities were not update on Thursday. Friday's activity update came late in the day. The kids had a group session, noodle ball and boot camp in the morning. After lunch they played soccer, monsterball, softball and four way kick ball before finishing the night with the ceremony! Ceremony's are usually on Sundays. As those campers who enrolled in the 4 week session are heading home on Saturday, they moved up the ceremony dates. This will be final weigh in for those campers heading home. They will continue to track their food, weight and exercise from home for the next 6 months. They will also be in contact with their behavior coaches once a week for that 6 month period. Kinz had 5 friends heading home. While I know she is homesick, she did say she was glad to be staying another 4 weeks. "The longer the time at camp, the higher the success rate" she said during our phone conversation last week. Our next phone call home is scheduled for this Tuesday. It will be exciting to celebrate being past the half way point. Four weeks down, four weeks to go. That also means school is on the horizon again. Summer vacation never seems long enough! Today's post contains the post card that Brendon sent to her on Friday. This suites him so well. Keep sending those cards and letters! Thanks so much!