Wellspring Academies
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Education, Health and wellness |
| Predecessor | Academy of the Sierras |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Ryan D. Craig |
| Fate | Closed in January 2014 |
| Headquarters | Reedley, California , United States |
Area served | United States (California and North Carolina) |
| Products | Therapeutic residential weight loss schools for children, adolescents, and young adults |
Wellspring Academies (previously known as Academy of the Sierras) operated two therapeutic residential schools dedicated to assisting overweight and obese children, adolescents, and young adults. These schools were part of Wellspring, a branch of the Aspen Education Group. It was recognized as the pioneering residential weight loss school in the United States.
By September 2009, Wellspring Academies maintained two separate locations:
- The California campus, situated in Reedley, California, close to Fresno, accommodated approximately 90 students between the ages of 13 and 24 (covering grades 8 through 12 as well as a college-level program in partnership with Reedley College).
- The second site, named Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas (WSCL), located in Brevard, North Carolina, enrolled around 30 students aged 11 to 18 (grades 6 to 11).
History
Established in California in 2004 by Ryan D. Craig, who served as its inaugural executive director, the Academy of the Sierras secured a $6.5 million funding injection from Aspen Education Group. In 2007, the organization launched its North Carolina campus to broaden the reach of its weight management education model.
Methods
Wellspring’s approach centered on fostering sustainable healthy living habits, with long-term program results showcased at international obesity symposiums. The curriculum, grounded in extensive obesity research spanning decades, claimed to offer "some of the most thoroughly documented outcomes among non-surgical weight loss treatments across all age groups."
Enrollment was accepted continuously throughout the year with a minimum commitment of four months. Students beginning in the fall semester had the option to engage in an extended wilderness therapy experience near the campus.
The program integrated nutritional guidance and physical activity with hands-on instruction in cooking, nutrition science, fitness training, and aerobic exercise to equip participants with enduring skills. Daily meals consisted of three low-fat servings plus two snacks, totaling roughly 1,300 calories and less than 12 grams of fat. Physical activity targets included walking or running a minimum of 10,000 steps each day. Behavioral modification techniques were reinforced through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which emphasized developing self-regulation strategies critical for maintaining weight loss over time. Students maintained a Self-Monitoring Journal to record dietary intake—a practice identified as crucial for lasting success. Additionally, participants met three times weekly with behavioral coaches to improve stress resilience, frustration tolerance, and address challenges such as emotional eating. CBT was a foundational element due to its demonstrated effectiveness in both immediate and sustained weight reduction.
Academics
While working toward their weight management objectives, students continued their academic education. Wellspring Academy of California offered an accredited curriculum for grades 8 through 12 under the oversight of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and included a collegiate program affiliated with Reedley College. Meanwhile, Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas provided an accredited academic program for grades 7 through 12 recognized by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.
Both campuses delivered core academic subjects—English, mathematics, history, and science—complemented by courses in fitness, nutrition, and culinary arts designed to support weight loss efforts. Elective offerings varied by campus and semester and included foreign languages, theater arts, and horticulture.
Wellspring Academies indicated that students typically lost more than per week and were able to sustain this reduction in weight.[1] Nevertheless, certain specialists, including pediatrician Anjali Jain from Children's National Medical Center, raised concerns regarding the substantial expenses and the necessity of a boarding school environment, highlighting a lack of adequate long-term data to verify enduring effectiveness.[2] Updated findings on long-term results were shared at The Obesity Society's 2008 Annual Meeting.[3]
Related programs
Wellspring broadened its services by introducing summer weight loss camps in various U.S. states, as well as in Canada and England,[4] alongside after-school fitness and weight management initiatives.[5]
Closure
Due to financial challenges, restricted insurance reimbursements, and families' inability to afford the program, all Wellspring Academy locations and their associated Weight Loss Camps throughout the U.S., Canada, and the UK ceased operations permanently in January 2014.
In 2015, a former director from the California site initiated a comparable girls-only program named Gem Academy in Arizona, with intentions to open a boys-only academy subject to securing funding and hiring staff.[6]
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- ↑ "LIFE CHANGING experiences". Wellspringcamps.com. Retrieved 2019-06-23.
- ↑ "Wellspring Fit Clubs". www.wellspringfitclubs.com. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
- ↑ "Gem Academy". Retrieved 2019-11-17.