Nick Bollettieri has dedicated 50 years of his life to helping youngsters develop physically, athletically, and most importantly, in character. He was a pioneer in developing summer camps, and ultimately the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy where tens of thousands of kids have been given the opportunity to better themselves.

Cindi Bollettieri's formal education and professional experience have focused primarily on improving the psychosocial and coping skills of children. Upon obtaining her master's degree from the University of Kentucky, she spent several years working as a family therapist in the medical field. Cindi is acutely aware of the struggles and challenges that face children who are viewed by their peers as "different".

Nick and Cindi created Camp Kaizen as a means to improve and extend the lives of children.

Camp Kaizen is a non-profit fitness and wellness summer camp for overweight young girls. The purpose of the five-week camp is to provide campers between the ages of 9 and 14 with expert medical, nutritional, physical and psychosocial advice and training needed to become healthier individuals for a lifetime.

An important component of the program is to provide continuing education and support after camp to encourage and reinforce the healthy changes made during each child's stay at Camp Kaizen.

The concept is simple...take a group of campers who are overweight and motivated and bring them back to what summer camp was like in the 1950's. This means no computers, video games, cell phones, iPods, and no fast food. Just weeks of fresh air, hiking, biking, swimming, arts and crafts, talent shows, etiquette classes, campfires, community service, and good old-fashioned games like kick-the-can.

The Bollettieri's dream is to help campers make permanent changes which will ultimately improve the quality of their lives, as well as, the lives of those around them.

Definition:

"Kaizen" (改善) is a Japanese word meaning continuous improvement. At Camp Kaizen, we want our Campers to learn to be content with who they are right now, in this moment; but to be continuously looking for ways to improve themselves and the lives of others.

Motto:

We believe that most things in life that are good for us usually take some effort (in many cases, a lot of effort)...both to achieve and to maintain. But, we also believe when effort is expended towards positive goals, in the long run it is almost always worth it! So, it was only natural that "worth the effort" became the official motto for Camp Kaizen. When our Campers need encouragement to walk the extra mile, to jump rope five more minutes, to go out of their way to do something nice for someone else, etc....we remind them that in the end it is definitely...

Logo:

The acorn with a mighty oak in the middle was chosen as the official logo for Camp Kaizen logo because it represents the potential within all of us to become the best person we can possibly be. We understand that to be overweight in our society can often leave a young person feeling insignificant (like a little acorn)...but, we believe that if we nurture the four "C's",

• Character
• Courage
• Confidence
• Commitment