Wellspring ACADEMY OF THE CAROLINAS
The second Wellspring Academy campus, Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas (formerly Academy of the Sierras North Carolina) opened in February 2007. It is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina, close to the town of Brevard, 35 miles southwest of Asheville. Brevard is known as the Land of Waterfalls, with over 100 waterfalls in the county.
The Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas campus is 220 acres on a beautiful mountain lake, nestled in Lamb's Creek Valley, and bordered by over 2 million acres of public lands that include Pisgah, Nantahala, & Cherokee National Forests, Dupont & Gorges State Parks and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park. Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas operates year-round and enrolls 50 students. Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas picks up students from Asheville (AVL) and Greenville/Spartanburg (GSP) airports.
Location: Brevard, North Carolina
Children and teens ages 11-18
Grades 7 through 12.
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Residences
Students live in renovated mountain lodges. There is one lodge for boys, and one for girls. Rooms range from 2 to 8 students to a room, depending on the size of the room. Full bathrooms are adjacent to each room.
Academic Program
The Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas core curriculum meets North Carolina and national standards as students are required to take a full load of core courses each semester.
Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The primary objective of the WSCL Academic Program is to provide your child with equivalent courses to what they would otherwise receive at their school of origin. This way, when your child is ready to return to school, they will be on par with their age and grade equivalent peers.
Recent reviews of academic performance showed that student grade point averages improved 27.5% over the most recently completed semester at home. This is attributed, in part, to the smaller classroom sizes as well as personalized attention every student receives.
The Academic Program at Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas is also experiential, based on the work of John Dewey. Experiential learning involves immersion into structured experiences, combined with meaningful reflection, in order to maximize learning. Structured experiences run the gamut from classroom “solution-finding” activities to outdoor, adventure-based courses, performing arts, and Service Learning.
As such, core courses are designed to take advantage of our incredible surroundings in Western North Carolina. This combination of academics and experiential education helps foster a love of learning in our students. Other required courses include culinary, nutrition and fitness. All courses are taught by members of the Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas Faculty.
Activities at Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas
The scientifically-based Activity Management program ensures that Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas students achieve an unprecedented level of activity – starting at 10,000 steps per day (as measured on a pedometer), but often exceeding 20,000 (approx. 10 miles of walking).
An unparalleled range of activities are available at Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas. And on most weekends, students are off-campus on an adventure trip. A recent article in the International Journal of Obesity shows that adventure activities may be more effective for long-term weight control than traditional sports or activities.
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Directors
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Mike Bishop, Executive Director, Ph.D, M.B.A, is Executive Director of Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas (formerly Academy of the Sierras North Carolina). Mike is a clinical psychologist who brings to Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas 20 years experience working with adolescents in a variety of clinical settings. A weight controller himself, Mike believes in a scientifically based approach to long-term weight control which includes a low-fat diet, daily physical activity, and self monitoring. As a clinical psychologist, Mike has expertise in the cognitive behavioral approach to weight loss and is particularly interested in the connection between positive self-talk, increased self-esteem, and weight loss. In addition to clinical training Mike has an MBA from the University of Maryland and is a graduate of the National Outdoor Leadership School’s Wind River Wilderness Course. Mike enjoys canoeing, rafting, kayaking, hiking, and rock climbing. As an outdoor enthusiast, Mike believes an important aspect of the Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas program is exposing young weight controllers to a variety of enjoyable, healthy activities they will want to participate in after returning home. |
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Susan Borgman, LCSW, is Clinical Director of Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas. Susan brings over 20 years of experience providing counseling and encouragement to children and their families in a variety of settings including schools, community mental health agencies and family therapy organizations. She holds a Master’s Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida and is a licensed clinical social worker in North Carolina and New Hampshire. Susan has studied nutrition, exercise and healthy living throughout her career and incorporated this knowledge into counseling children, adolescents and families. Building self esteem, personal responsibility, respect for self and others and a positive attitude using cognitive behavioral and client centered therapy are a cornerstone of Susan’s therapeutic practice. Susan enjoys basketball, volleyball, softball, hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding as part of an active, healthy lifestyle. |
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Jeremy Whitworth is Program Director of Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas. Prior to coming to Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas, he served as Program Supervisor at Wellspring California. Jeremy was born and raised in the Southeast. He grew up camping, climbing, and caving in the woods of Tennessee. Jeremy has worked with a variety of populations in outdoor programs over the past decade. He believes in the power of simplicity and the value of challenges through adventure. Jeremy attained his Bachelor’s degree in Wilderness Leadership and Experiential Education from Brevard College in North Carolina. He was captain of Brevard's Cross Country and Track teams and was named to the NAIA All Conference Academic Team. Jeremy also received the Outstanding Senior award for his major and later served as an adjunct professor for his alma mater. Jeremy has developed and implemented a variety of climbing, backpacking, and outdoor programs around the country. |
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William Porter is Academic Director of Wellspring Academy of the Carolinas. Bill has dedicated many years working with youth of all ages. Bill is a certified teacher with a Master’s degree in Secondary Education Methods and his BS in Anthropology. Before formally entering the field of education he served as an archaeologist for the University of Oregon, and prior to that in the U.S. Army for 4 ½ years. Bill believes that all children are capable of learning and worthy of top-notch instruction that centers on building mutual bonds of respect and dignity. |
