Helping Your Child Build Confidence, Health, and Lifelong Habits

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At Camp New Heights, we understand that choosing a summer camp for your child is an important decision. For many families looking for a kids weight loss camp or teen fitness camp, the goal is not simply losing weight. Parents want their children to gain confidence, develop healthy habits, and return home feeling stronger both physically and emotionally.

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Camp New Heights is a supportive overnight weight loss camp for kids and teens ages 9–17, located on the beautiful campus of UC Santa Barbara. Our program is designed to help campers develop the tools they need to live an active, healthy lifestyle long after summer ends.

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Through daily physical activity, sports, outdoor adventures, and nutrition education, campers learn how to build sustainable habits that support long term health and healthy weight loss.

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Why Parents Choose Camp New Heights?

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Families choose Camp New Heights because our program focuses on confidence, community, and sustainable lifestyle change rather than quick fixes or extreme dieting.

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How We Do Things Differently At Camp New Heights:

 

1. No weigh-ins. Campers may weigh themselves privately on Sundays if they choose, but there is no requirement to track weight at any point.

    

2. No before-and-after photos. We understand the anxiety of arriving at camp and immediately being asked to take swimsuit photos while strangers measure your waist. That’s a hard no from us.

    

3. No prescribed meals. Instead of rigid meal plans, we provide a template: a protein, a single serving of carbs, and the rest of the plate filled with dark leafy greens. This allows for countless combinations, giving campers control over their food choices, an essential skill for maintaining healthy habits at home.

    

4. Nutrition education. Campers learn about macronutrients and micronutrients to make informed choices. Simply handing them a plate and saying, “Eat this, it’s good for you,” teaches nothing. We want our campers to develop the knowledge to navigate grocery stores, dining halls, cafeterias, and restaurants confidently.

    

5. No strict calorie counting or limits. Our campers do not go to bed hungry. They get their first plate of food, then wait 25 minutes to assess whether they’re still hungry. If they choose to eat more, they must incorporate fruits and vegetables to help them feel full. This approach helps them recognize true hunger cues and build a healthier relationship with food.

    

Our goal is to help campers connect the dots between eating well and feeling good. When they experience how great they can feel and what they’re physically capable of, they gain the foundation for a truly healthy lifestyle.

 

Traditional weight loss camps marketed themselves with promises like “Come here and lose X pounds.” While that may appeal to those focused on quick results, it often fails to instill sustainable habits. Many of these camps simply restricted calories, cut out all salt, and pushed kids to exercise all day. While this led to rapid weight loss, it often did more harm than good.

 

I witnessed this firsthand at a traditional "fat camp." The first weigh-in would often show dramatic losses 10–15 pounds in a week, due to water weight from salt restriction. The second week, despite working harder in workouts, campers would lose only 2–3 pounds. Without education on how their bodies were responding, they would assume they were eating too much. This misunderstanding often led to disordered eating patterns and negative relationships with food.

 

The old model of weight loss camps is outdated and needs to end. At Camp New Heights, we take a more progressive and holistic approach, one that prioritizes long-term health over short-term weight loss. We're not here to "fix" kids, we're here to empower campers to live their best and most fulfilling life.

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A Supportive Environment

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Many parents searching for a weight loss camp for kids or teens worry about whether their child will feel judged or uncomfortable. At Camp New Heights, campers are surrounded by peers who share similar goals and experiences. Our environment is positive, encouraging, and focused on personal growth.

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Campers quickly discover they are not alone, which helps build confidence and lasting friendships.

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A Healthy Lifestyle Camp Focused on Long Term Success

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Unlike traditional fitness camps (Unfortunately labeled "Fat Camp") for kids, Camp New Heights teaches skills that last beyond the summer.

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Campers learn:

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• how to stay active and enjoy movement
• how to make balanced nutrition choices
• how to build healthy daily habits
• how to develop confidence and self motivation

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Our goal is not simply short term weight loss, but helping kids and teens build a lifestyle that supports lifelong health.

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Daily Movement That Feels Like Fun

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Our program keeps campers active throughout the day with a variety of activities that make movement enjoyable.

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Campers participate in:

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• sports and group games
• nutrition classes
• strength and fitness training
• hiking and beach activities
• team challenges and camp events

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Because activities are varied and engaging, campers often discover new forms of exercise they truly enjoy.

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Small Camp Community

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Many teen weight loss camps enroll hundreds of campers, which can feel overwhelming. Camp New Heights intentionally maintains a smaller camp environment so every camper receives personal attention and support.

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This allows our staff to build strong relationships with campers and create a community where everyone feels included.

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An Unforgettable Summer Experience

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While Camp New Heights is known as a weight loss camp for kids and teens, it is also an incredible summer camp experience.

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Campers enjoy:

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• living on a beautiful college campus
• making friends from around the country
• participating in exciting activities and events
• building confidence through new challenges

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Many campers leave saying it was one of the best summers of their lives.

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Designed for Kids Who Need Support, Not Pressure

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Many parents searching for a summer camp for overweight teens or kids worry about programs that focus too heavily on strict diets or intense workouts.

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Camp New Heights takes a different approach.

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Our program emphasizes:

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• skills, tools, and information to navigate nutritional choices
• sustainable habits rather than crash dieting
• community rather than competition

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This supportive approach helps campers develop confidence while making meaningful progress toward their health goals.

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A Summer That Can Change Your Child’s Life

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For many families, attending a healthy lifestyle summer camp becomes a turning point. Campers return home stronger, more confident, and equipped with the tools they need to continue their healthy journey.

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If you are exploring a weight loss camp for your child or teen, Camp New Heights provides a safe, supportive, and transformative environment where campers can grow physically, emotionally, and socially.

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Apply for Summer 2026

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Spaces are limited to maintain our small and supportive camp community.