Written by Brandy Centolanza
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[dropcap]Girls ages 11-18 who are struggling with their weight will have the opportunity to participate in a weight loss camp this summer at the College of William & Mary.[/dropcap]
The college will host “Camp Friends 4Ever” starting June 23. The six-week program will encourage healthy eating and exercising with a focus on building self-esteem and friendships while losing weight.
Camp Friends 4Ever director Ira Green and renowned weight-loss advocate Stacey Halprin, who was once a frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey show, have teamed together to aid these young girls through their weight loss journey, as both have experienced similar issues. Their combined weight at one point was more than 1,000 pounds, and together, the pair has lost more than 550 pounds.
“This camp is important to Stacey and me because we both weighed over 250 pounds by age 15 and we don’t want others to go through the heartaches and physical problems we endured our entire life,” says Green, who has directed co-ed weight loss camps for a decade. This is his first girls-only camp, and roughly 50 girls are expected to participate.
Camp participants will be able to choose their own activities for fun during the program. A variety of options are available, including: tennis, softball, soccer, basketball, water aerobics, step aerobics, beach volleyball, hip hop dance, running, yoga, Zumba and more. Trips to Busch Gardens and Water Country USA are also planned as part of the camp.
The camp also includes a nutrition component, where experts provide campers with the necessary tools to live a healthier lifestyle, including workshops, seminars, hands-on activities and sample menus. The goal is to teach children to live healthy without promoting crash diets or fads.
Halprin will also be on hand, leading up several workshops on makeovers, dramatic acting and improvisation, all with the goal of boosting campers’ self-confidence. The girls will learn additional life skills including team-building, public speaking, how to be more independent, how to make friends, acceptance of others, and other tools for success.
“We have campers who come to lose weight, some to get in shape and some to build their self-esteem,” Green says. “We accept every child unconditionally and give them support throughout their entire stay.”
Green adds: “We guarantee campers who attend for six weeks will lose seven to 14 percent of their total body weight. More importantly, their self-esteem will improve. [Afterward], many will attend their first school dances and participate in sports. Their grades will improve and their illnesses will decline.”
Green and Halprin also plan to set up an online community where campers can share their experiences and offer support.
For more information on Camp Friends 4Ever, visit campfriends4ever.com.