News media to chronicle Alva boy's camp adventures

Originally posted on June 12, 2007, by Francesca Donlan

Amanda Inscore / news-press.com Joshua Rubush of Lehigh Acres jumps over members of his group during a relay race at Camp Vanguard in Lake Wales.

I'd like to introduce you to Joshua Rubush. He's an 11-year-old boy who attends Alva Middle School.

This summer the seventh-grader is going to weight-loss camp. He's 5-foot-2 and weighs 205 pounds.

He's going to Camp Vanguard in Lake Wales. He leaves at the end of June and comes home six weeks later.

Joshua is excited about camp, which is about two hours from Fort Myers. He's looking forward to "getting out of the house and meeting new friends."

He's also going to be cast in the media limelight.

You're going to learn all about Joshua this summer. The News-Press photographer Amanda Inscore and I are going to spend some time with Joshua at camp following his healthy adventure and meeting some of his friends.

The "Today" show is also following Joshua. Producers chose to follow three children in the country at weight-loss camps this summer. Joshua is one of the three. Last week a "Today" show crew from Miami came to his house and watched him play football with his friends and spoke to his family.

Joshua is getting all this media attention because he's a very happy kid, said his mother, Erica Rubush.

"He's a fun-loving, good kid," his mother said. "He's outgoing and was a sheriff's cadet at his school."

Joshua tries to make sure his peers do the right thing.

This summer the right thing for him is to go to camp and lose weight. He says he made this realization when he "outweighed my mom." His family has tried a variety of diets over the years and even resorted to putting a lock on the refrigerator to curb his eating. So far, nothing has worked.

Joshua wants to learn about portion control and healthier ways of eating.

"I'm bigger than most kids in my class and I'm the youngest," he said.

He wants to reduce his time watching TV and playing video games too.

"I want to lose weight and get new hobbies," he said. "These hobbies aren't working so well."

Joshua is almost packed and ready to go. I am looking forward to getting to know Joshua and sharing his challenges and successes with you.

This will be a summer to remember for Joshua Rubush.