Family works out together at Atle Body Center boot camp
GETTING IN
SHAPE—Three
generations of the
Protter family,
from left, Jean,
Theresa and
Adam, take a
breather during
boot camp.
Whether you are looking for a
workout for yourself or just a way
to spend unforgettable time with a
friend or family member, Atle Body
Center runs on-going, two-week
boot camp sessions in the local state
and national parks.
Responding to an ad in The
Acorn for the boot camp, local resident Theresa Protter contacted Atle
Body Center in Agoura Hills.
What made her call unusual was
that she also wanted to register her
mother Jean, 76, and her son Adam,
9. Most people sign up for the camp
on an individual basis and their ages
are between 18 and 60, said Atle
Body Center owners Atle Hoff and
Lisa Sparrman
From the first day on the trail, it
was clear that Jean was no ordinary
grandmother. Spending an hourand-a-half every morning with the
same group for two weeks, pushing yourself and being pushed beyond your comfort zone, the participants learned many things about
one another.
Jean is an ex-Marine, an avid
square dancer and a breast cancer
survivor.
Theresa Protter saw boot camp
as a way to help her son build confidence, character and self-esteem.
What a great feeling for him to walk
into school knowing that he had just
climbed a mountain, Protter said.
Adam showed up every day,
ran every trail, crossed every
creek, climbed every tree, got to
the top of every hill—and still
made it to school by 8 a.m.
The weekend after boot camp,
Adam left for his first two weeks
away from home at summer camp.
Along with his sleeping bag and
toothbrush, Adam took a huge
sense of accomplishment and a
real “I can do it” attitude. Jean exchanged her trail shoes for her
dancing shoes and took off for a
two-week national square dancing
convention.
Protter found herself at home
with time on her hands, but what
better way to fill up that 6-to7:30 a.m. time slot than with the
next session of boot camp?
For more information about
Atle Body Center’s boot camp,
call Hoff at (818) 445-3796.