Wellspring Academies are the world’s only weight loss boarding schools for overweight teens and young adults. Students gain skills and motivation to transform their lifestyle while residing on one of our campuses and continuing their middle school, high school, or college education. Wellspring students achieve amazing results, even if they have tried a wide variety of teen weight loss programs without success in the past.

Wellspring College Program

Location: Reedley, California
Young men and women ages 18-24

Wellspring College Program offers young men and women an amazing opportunity to focus on losing weight and learning a healthy lifestyle in the years following high school. Wellspring offers two separate options for young adults’ weight loss success: students looking to continue their post high school education can earn college credits in our College Program, while others only focused on weight loss participate in our Adventure Program.

In both tracks, students participate in the comprehensive and integrated Wellspring Plan a renowned approach to weight loss that is proven effective for initial and long-term results. Through the Wellspring College Program, young adults have the chance to learn a healthy lifestyle now, before the negative effects of excess weight increase.

Take Action   College Program   Adventure Program  
Residential Life   Activities   Directors

Why Take Action Now?

As teens become young adults, the emotional, social, financial and physical risks of excess weight increase substantially. Many people who struggle with weight in their teens continue to add weight as they age, increasing the likelihood that will face discrimination at work and earn significantly less than their peers.

Health risks also increase with age, including a heightened risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and many forms of cancers, to name a few. As Rod, a recent student who lost 220 lbs in 10 months remarked, “In the beginning I didn’t want to go, but in the end I decided—what is more important to me than my health? And I could think of nothing because there is nothing more important than my health.”
Click here to read about the weight loss success of others have found at Wellspring.

College Program

Through our partnership with Reedley College, students who have graduated from high school or earned their GED have access to the full range of courses and degrees offered by Reedley College. College fees are included in the Wellspring College Program tuition. Students take classes at Reedley during the day and participate fully in the Wellspring program back on campus.

For a list of courses available, please visit http://www.reedleycollege.edu/index.aspx?page=5.

Enrollment is available year-round, with primary start dates in January, May, and August. Contact Admissions at 866.364.0808 for more information.

Adventure Program

A non-academic option is also available for young adults ages 18-24 who want a dedicated time to focus on weight loss and learn how to live a healthy lifestyle. Time will be split between exciting off-campus adventures and intense on-campus work-outs and activities. Valuable culinary, nutrition and personal training sessions will complement your experience and provide lasting skills needed to maintain your progress.

In the Wellspring College Adventure Program you will explore some of the region’s most exciting and scenic areas. Trips may include hiking and climbing adventures to Yosemite National Park and Sequoia/Kings National Parks; surfing and sea kayaking in the beautiful Pacific beaches near Ventura, CA; and exciting walking excursions through Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Enrollment is available right now. Contact Admissions at 866.364.0808 for more information.

Residential Life

For many who struggled with weight in high school, arriving at the Wellspring College Program brings welcome relief from the social isolation they faced at school. Students live together in a dormitory, complete with recently renovated dining, kitchen, and shared common space.

Students fully participate in the renowned Wellspring approach to fitness and weight loss, receiving nutrition and culinary instruction, fitness classes, and cognitive behavioral therapy from masters and doctoral level Behavioral Coaches. This residential setting gives students the opportunity to be immersed in an environment that supports their weight loss and academic goals, and to build lifelong friendships with others who understand their struggles with weight.

TAKE A TOUR OF OUR FACILITIES AND DORM LIFE »

Activities

Activity level has a major impact on weight loss success. Aerobics class, kick boxing, basketball, weight training, and team sports are only a few of the options available on campus as part of Wellspring’s Activity Management Program. Off campus, academic students utilize a brand new fitness facility near Reedley College, while adventure participants have a wide variety of exciting excursions to keep them active and engaged.

Plus everyone receives invaluable culinary, nutrition and personal training sessions to complement the experience and provide lasting skills for continued weight loss success at home.

You can look forward to a variety of fun and educational activities that include:

Directors


David Melear, M.Ed., is Executive Director of Wellspring California and Wellspring Academy of California. David is a leader in the field of therapeutic education with experience extending back 16 years. Prior to joining Wellspring, David spent several years with Universal Health Services and served as COO of Coastal Harbor Treatment Center in Savannah, GA, and CEO of Provo Canyon School - one of the largest therapeutic programs in the country. David received a Bachelor's degree in Education Magna Cum Laude from Western Kentucky University, and a Master's degree in Education from Western Kentucky University.

Samanthia Gaspar, PsyD, is Clinical Director of Wellspring Academy of California. Sammi started with Healthy Living Academies as a Behavioral Coach at Wellspring New York and Wellspring California in 2006 before relocating to Wellspring Academy of California. Sammi has worked for a number of years in diverse settings with youth and their families around issues of emotional, physical and mental health, as well as addiction and substance abuse. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Social Work from Illinois State University, her Master’s in Organizational and Counseling Psychology from the Alder School of Professional Psychology, and her PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Art LeTourneau is Academic Director of Wellspring Academy of California. Art earned a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and Police Administration from Boise State University. Art also holds a graduate certificate in Theology from the University of the South. Art has worked in education for the past seventeen years. His previous experience includes teaching at the high school and college levels. He has also served as Academic Director for a private school in Santiago, Chile. Art has been active in the Boy Scouts for over 30 years and is an Eagle Scout. Prior to becoming an educator, Art worked in law enforcement in several administrative capacities. Art enjoys travel, reading, and spending quality time with friends. Art is married with two children.


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