My decision to send my 13 year old daughter to Camp Jump Start was the best decision I have made in…read moremy life. Jean (the founder) helped not just my child, but our whole family. I sent my daughter to the 4 week session, but I really wish I had sent her to the 8 week session. In 4 weeks, my daughter lost 20 lbs and has lost another 7 pounds in the one and a half months since she left camp. She makes better food choices (when she left her diet consisted of mainly fast food, ice cream, frozen pizza and mac and cheese!). She would literally not eat, unless it was something she really liked. Now she eats healthy sandwiches, salads, etc... She was forced to try different things at camp and she realized she actually likes a lot of healthier foods. I was never able to get her to change that here. Jean also helped us as a family. Her parental weekly group calls, pushed us to make changes while my daughter was gone. She gave us the strength to be stronger, to make better food choices, and help our child. My husband has lost 20 pounds and I lost 27 in two and a half months! The Camp itself is just beautiful. It is filled with trees and hills and a lake. Just gorgeous. You drive up a hill through the trees to the wooden cabins, mess hall, a pool, lake, etc. It reminds me of the beautiful outdoor summer camps I went to as a child. When I dropped her off, I remembered the excited and fear I had going to summer camp in the woods, as a kid, and how much I loved it and didn't want to leave when it was over. When we arrived, we saw another 70+ kids just like her. Some bigger, some smaller, all nervous, but I could see her future friends. These kids were just like her. Now instead of my kid on the sidelines, not good at sports, not someone the other kids would consider pretty or cool. Finally, she was among her people. Was camp hard? Yes! They worked hard, got lots of exercise. They played sports, swam, did yoga, aerobics, had nutrition classes, (my daughter learned to ride a bike!!), and had group therapy classes based on their particular needs. My daughter worked hard. She learned that she can work hard, exercise, eat healthier and lose weight. She can do all the things she wants too in life and succeed. I think she felt helpless before and didn't know how to change. They were also tough. She couldn't cry her way out of things. Mom gives in, the camp doesn't. So she was forced to succeed and her self confidence improved. Now she knows she can work hard, and mom knows she can too! My daughter still misses the camp experience. She misses being with those kids. She fit in at camp. Everyone was like her. They knew her struggles, they had them too. She still keeps in touch with her camp friends and maybe we will go back next year. Not just for the fitness and healthy eating, but also for the connections and the bonding she had with her people. This camp is a life saver.

My ten year old daughter just completed a summer at Camp Jump Start. If you have a child who is…read morestruggling with their weight, this is the place to send them WITHOUT QUESTION. Personally, I have always struggled with weight issues as have many of my brothers and sisters. I wish that Camp Jump Start had been available when I was a child as I think it could have saved me a lifetime of struggles and probably kept me from passing on those same struggles to my child. When my daughter cried out to me one night about her weight and how she hated herself for being ugly and fat, I could not stand by and watch her go down my same path. I looked online until late that night and found lists of several weight loss camps for kids. I requested information from all of them. I talked to several individuals about their camps and programs. When I received a personal reply from CJS's director and I spoke to the director on the phone, I knew that Camp Jump Start was the right place and I didn't need to look further. The program, the commitment of the director, and the philosophy of the camp towards health, well being, and self esteem came across as amazing in that initial correspondence. I just knew this was the right and BEST choice for my child. Although I desperately wanted my child to go, I knew I could not force my daughter to go. When I first told her about the camp, she said no. I asked her to watch one video on You Tube of a former camper speaking of her experience. I told her that if she would just watch it, I would not bring it up again if she wasn't interested. After she watched the video, she decided she wanted to go...not for just one session, but two. It was the best and bravest decision of her young life. She returned from camp with the biggest smile on her face. She lost 17% of her body weight while there but she gained an infinite amount of self-esteem and self-worth. I truly believe she feels beautiful for the first time in her life and I think she feels that there is hope whereas before she saw no hope. Before she went to camp, she was still having accidents at night...almost every night. After having gone to camp, she has had no accidents. Before she went to camp, I had to beg her to get a bath, brush her hair, or go shopping for clothes. I think she had just completely given up on herself. Now that she has returned, she showers willingly, she has taken an interest in her appearance, and she has enjoyed seeing herself as beautiful. She skipped into the clothing store the other day, something that would have been unheard of before CJS. She has become less dependent on me and more reliant on herself. All of the changes are positive and for the better. I couldn't have asked for more. The director, staff, and counselors at CJS are just exceptional. It is clear they aren't doing this for the love of money but for their love of the kids. Unfortunately, my daughter is also having to deal with the divorce of her parents. This issue has been a real struggle for her, but I feel that the camp director's philosophy of "You are who you are, you got what you got, and now you have to deal with it" really helped her put the situation in perspective. I can't say that the road ahead of us will be easy. I'm sure it won't. I don't know how my daughter and I will do going forward, but I know that I have given her the best foundation possible for change. The Camp's name is truly reflective of its mission; it is a jump start. Hopefully it will be a jump start for both my daughter and I. If you are still reading this, I hope it will be a jump start for you and your child. Many Blessings

I couldn't help but notice that any negative reviews were under the OLD management. Danyel and Matt…read moreNEW management have done wonders for this facility in so many ways. The knowledge, love and compassion that they have for each and every horse there is impressive. They bring new life to this facility that it was in desperate need of. They are the hardest working barn managers that I have ever met and I have boarded my horses for over 20 years. They have put their heart and soul into making sure that this barn is safe, pleasant and well maintained. They are professional, knowledgeable, compassionate, empathetic and go the extra mile in everything that they do. The care that they provide is amazing. I guarantee you that Danyel knows every horses name and special needs on that property. She takes a lot of pride in the services that they provide and it shows. The facility is very clean. They also offer lessons and training which I highly recommend. Danyel personally trained one of my rescue horses that came from horrific conditions of neglect and abuse. When we first brought him home you couldn't even get close to him without him striking out. He was terrified. After 90 of him being with Danyel she was riding him bareback around the property. He went on to become an amazing horse. She was gentle and kind with him and asked him all the right questions. He responded to that. I highly recommend her for training.

I had my horse at valley mount ranch from August 2024-February 2025. we moved closer to my house…read morefor a few months then came back to valley mount. we LOVE the atmosphere at valley mount ranch. There is very little-no drama and everyone I mean EVERYONE is so so kind and respectful. we have never had any issues here. Danyel and Matt are the best people. they are the only people(along with my boss) that I 100% trust with my horses. 100% reccomend valley mount.

I'm a grandma that takes a toddler and a pre-K child to school some mornings. I find the staff…read morehelpful when one is reluctant and always nice to me. They know the children and their names in the mornings even if they are teaching or working in another area.

As our youngest child heads off to kindergarten, it's with a full heart and deep gratitude that I…read morereflect on the past 10 wonderful years our family has spent with Child Time. Both of our children grew up in your care, and we couldn't have asked for a more nurturing, loving, and supportive environment during their earliest and most formative years. From the very beginning, the teachers and staff have treated our children like family--celebrating their milestones, comforting them on tough days, and fostering a love of learning that will carry them through their school years and beyond. We've watched them grow not just academically, but socially and emotionally, thanks to the thoughtful structure and genuine care they received every day. We have had the honor to know some fantastic teachers and families. But unfortunately there is always one crazy kook so here is some advice....If you see an issue little or big TALK TO THE DIRECTOR!! Don't run to social media. The staff is so understanding and will take you seriously. It's hard to say goodbye after a full decade of drop-offs, crafts, songs, and warm hugs. We're so thankful for everything ChildTime has given to our family, and while we're sad to leave, we know our children are more than ready for their next steps because of the strong foundation built here. Thank you for being such an important part of our lives. We will miss you dearly! With love and appreciation, The Gore Family

We went to the Wolf fest at the Endangered Wolf Center. The weather was perfect and it was a…read morebeautiful day. They had shuttles from the parking lot to the center. There were food trucks, music, vendors, tours, animal talks and a children's area. We got to see the birds on display from the Wild Bird Sanctuary. It's amazing how much bigger they are up close. We saw the wolves and foxes and the African Painted Dogs who were enjoying a treat. It's a very cool place to visit and explore. It's a fun way to spend the weekend. If you like animals and want something different to do go here for an animal experience.

The Endangered Wolf Center has been on my bucket list for years. I was thrilled to be able to…read moreattend a "Howl at the Moon" Friday evening event. We lucked out with the weather being warm and clear. The staff were very engaging and knowledgeable. We enjoyed sitting around the campfire and learning about all of the animals. They have laminated pictures of the animals and tell you about their behavior and how they collaborate with other groups (government, ranchers, etc) to promote a thriving ecosystem. After the education, we quietly walked a short way down a trail to literally howl and hear the wolves (and foxes?) howl back. We were not disappointed. It sounded like a large, wild kennel. Afterwards, there were s'mores by the fire pit. We even saw a bonus animal slither past us. I would definitely recommend this experience to anyone open to learning more about animals. Wear clothes and shoes that can get a bit dirty so you can be fully relaxed. We also applied lots of bug spray when we arrived.

Our kids love WRTS! It's the perfect place to get the wiggles out on a rainy day or if you just…read morewant a break from chasing the kids around outside, We've brought kids ranging from 9 years old and under and everyone has always had a great time. It seems like 2-6 years old would be the ideal age for this place. As a parent, I like that this place is all one room so bringing multiple littles feels easier to manage in an enclosed area. A few of our favorite things include the trampoline, dress up area, swings and the zip line. The sensory room makes a great place to nurse if you don't mind kids running in and out of the room. Haha! I love that the owner organizes games with the kids if they want to play hide and seek or the floor is lava with other kids. Tip: You can call ahead to see how crowded the place is before making the drive over to the gym.

We absolutely love We Rock. Ever since we discovered it we have been there everyday if not multiple…read moretimes a day. With our monthly pass it makes it so worth it especially on the days my kiddo only wants to stay a few minutes. The staff here has become like family to us, & I am so blessed we have found such an amazing community.

We sent our daughter here at age 9 for 5 nights with other girl scouts and found out after the camp…read morethat she was miserable and cried the entire trip, even during the activities. Well beyond normal homesickness. Months later we are still dealing with separation anxiety at home and school. This shouldn't happen. Don't trust that just because this is a girl scout camp that it is nice or they will take care of your daughter. I wished we had trusted our better judgement and never took her here.

Our son started at First Steps when he was 9 months old. As a first time mom, I was clueless on how…read moreto find childcare. I am so glad that we went with First Steps! He loves it there and the staff are incredibly friendly and helpful. They really work with the parents to make them feel like their kid is taken care of. My son had allergies when he started and they took it very seriously and I felt that he was safe when it came to the food he ate. Their frequent updates keep me at ease and it makes me so happy to see pictures of him playing and smiling. We had to take him out because I got a job in a new location and we were so sad to go. I highly recommend First Steps!