Our History

A keen interest in physical fitness and a longing to do something meaningful about the growing epidemic of child obesity led Doc Appleton to create a summer program aimed at increasing self-esteem and personal dignity. Doc Appleton's principles continue to guide Camp Kingsmont today, as well as many of the programs he and his directors designed in the '70s.

Everyone Needs To Be Someone That Counts

Our goal is to provide each camper with the appropriate tools to make a meaningful change in his or her lifestyle. Camp Kingsmont provides an intense physical and emotional experience aimed at re-shaping a camper’s life. Doc Appleton believed that in order for a camper to change old habits, it was "necessary to have happy experiences in self-expression, belonging and achievement in activities." Doc felt that emotional support together with proper diet and healthy physical activity was the key to a life time of weight control. Toward that end, Doc coined the slogan "Everyone needs to be someone that counts." This slogan guides our endeavors today.

We have the immediate goal of taking the weight off these kids…but more important, we have to lift the aspirational level of the child. We have to make the boy feel better about himself. He’s had a rough time of it. He doesn’t feel he can participate with other boys his own age. When his friends choose up sides for a baseball game, he’s left out. Next time he isn’t even there because he doesn’t want to be embarrassed again…The schools can’t do what we do. They don’t have the personnel, they don’t have the facilities and they don’t have the time to give the individual attention.”
Richard Rohrbacher, quoted in the Westfield Evening News, June 1973.

The unhappiness of overweight boys runs very deep, especially when they look in the mirror. They really hate their bodies….You can see their personalities change from week to week…It changes their own self image. They don’t like the looks of their body when they come to camp. They won’t put on a bathing suit, won’t go to the beach. Fat is a painful thing for a kid. We take that fat off them and you wouldn’t believe what it does to them.”
Lloyd ‘Doc’ Appleton, the Berkshire Courier, August 1974.

Many overweight kids do not have a feeling of self worth. Our aim is to restore that self pride. It’s basically an ego building experience…To achieve that aim the camp program is built around a program of activities that focuses on six basic points: self confidence through sports skills; self confidence through weight loss; self confidence through self image; self confidence through self expression; self confidence through friendship and group activities; and self confidence through leadership development.”
Richard Rohrbacher, Sagus Advertiser, June 1973.

Camp Kingsmont…attracts young people with weight problems from such far away places as Finland, Venezuela, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Canada and England. Thirty of this year’s campers are from Mexico. The reason for such worldwide attendance appears to be twofold: obesity is a worldwide problem and Kingsmont is recognized as one of the foremost weight reducing camps…Recently, Kingsmont was selected to be one of three model weight camps viewed by a representative of the World Health Organization, on tour for the first time in this country.”
Richard Rohrbacher, the Berkshire Courier, August 1979.

Our society spends too much time analyzing obesity…At Kingsmont we don’t try to analyze. The kids are tired of it. All they want is to be accepted for what they are now. The success of our program is based on our attempt to teach boys a new way of life – an active one. This country has relied on just diets to curb fat for too long. Our combination of dieting and an intensive program of physical fitness teaches them how to lead active, healthy lives.”
Richard Rohrbacher, the Berkshire Sampler, September 1973.

Essentials for a Positive Self Image

The essence of the Camp Kingsmont programs today follows from the standards we set for ourselves and our campers. In a 1980 Camp Kingsmont promotional brochure, Doc outlined seven standards he felt were essential to a positive self image. These include effort, expression, friendliness, sportsmanship, responsibility, choices and dedication. These standards remain at work today.

Effort is evidenced by a willingness to strive in a wide variety of activities and the development of capabilities in those activities. Expression is a positive personal and social attitude imbued with cheerfulness, cleanliness and respectful language and posture. Friendliness is emotional stability, loyalty, honesty and generosity. Sportsmanship includes respect for rules, respect for others, respect for your self and courtesy. Responsibility includes consideration of others, dependability, patience and the acceptance of challenges. Choices reflect our individual principles, precepts and beliefs. Dedication arises from confidence, pride, understanding, determination and the constant pursuit of worthy goals.

“The wonderful tone of camp life; its inspiring homelike atmosphere; the understanding, patience and firmness of our staff come together to achieve the kind of personal dignity that every child needs. Your child deserves the chance to grow and develop unencumbered by excess body weight. Let us help you give them that chance.” ‘Doc’ Appleton, Camp Kingsmont promotional brochure, 1980.

The Three Dimensions

At Kingsmont a camper’s emotions are considered a major factor in lasting weight control, along with proper diet and physical activity. Self-expression, belonging and achievement in organized activities under skilled leadership reach each camper’s emotional depth. Happy experiences are necessary in order to change old habits and activities relating to weight gain and physical activity. We view campers as having three important dimensions with which we are seriously concerned. The first is the Action Dimension – the ‘what’ and ‘how’ of the things that a camper does; their general actions, physical activities, conversation or any observable characteristics. The second is the Internal Dimension – a camper’s drive to act is the result of the combination of interests, desires, attitudes, beliefs and confidences. The third is the Emotional Dimension – the complete internal reaction to the effect of others upon a camper taking an active role in an organized group. It is this extremely important dimension where the most vital learning is based which directly affect changes and growth in the other two dimensions. Consequently, the total result is a stronger personality for a camper when principles and precepts have been carefully guided. The Kingsmont staff is very carefully selected for this kind of guidance. (‘Doc’ Appleton, Camp Kingsmont promotional brochure, 1980)

Camp Kingsmont continues to stress the three primary pillars of weight management: proper nutrition, physical activity, and behavioral modification. Nutrition does not stop with good tasting, well planned, appropriately portioned meals; it includes nutrition education, cooking classes, grocery store shopping advice and food label reading. Physical activity has expanded to include instruction in a wide variety of sports and other physical activities such as martial arts and yoga. Behavioral modification techniques have made major advancements since the 70’s and 80’s. While these techniques have been adopted by Kingsmont, the underlying rationale remains consistent with the early days of camp. The emotional well being of each camper is a primary concern.

Over the past forty years, Camp Kingsmont has grown from the love and guidance of Doc Appleton through several camp directors. Camp is now operated by Kingsmont Kids, Inc under the direction of Meghan Roman, a former camper who has been affiliated with camp for more than a decade. Please see Our Team for more on Meghan and the staff.