Outdoor Day Camps
Adventure Days
South Boulder or Jefferson County
303-938-9191
www.womenswilderness.org
Amped for adventure!? Imagine learning the skills of camping, backpacking and rock climbing while building incredible friendships. Women’s Wilderness offers a variety of camps for girls entering sixth through 12th grade in fall 2019. Our Adventure Days camps are a great way to enjoy the wilderness, make new friends and try new things. You will be able to explore beautiful places and learn outdoor skills. In relationship with the natural world, girls will explore their identities and values and learn how to navigate emotions and interpersonal relationships. We have full and partial scholarships available for our camps, and no girl needing financial support has ever been turned away.
Avid4 Adventure
Various locations along the Front Range
720-249-2412
www.Avid4.com
This summer, experience the power of authentic outdoor adventure! At Avid4 Adventure, we’re on a mission to get kids excited and empowered by outdoor adventure so they are inspired to live active outdoor lifestyles. Avid4 Adventure Day Camps teach pre-K to seventh graders of all levels to climb, paddle, bike, hike and thrive in the outdoors. With help from our time-tested curriculum and experienced instructors, we give campers solid skills and character-shaping confidence, launching them into a lifetime of empowering adventure.
With our new, multi-week discount, you could save up to $50 per session! Learn more and sign up online, or give us a call for more info.
Boulder Free Flight
Boulder
415-484-5504
www.boulderfreeflight.com
Our Taste of Paragliding courses give you the ability to experience free flight and see if it’s right for you. Custom tailored to meet your needs, our intro courses include two three-hour sessions of focused instruction as well as at least one solo flight. Tandem flight with a master pilot, an introduction to meteorology and photo/video are included in the five-day course. Whether you’re completely new to paragliding or would like to strengthen your existing skills, Boulder Free Flight is here to support pilots in all stages of their learning progression. Boulder Free Flight’s primary instructors Johannes Rath and Dusty Miller have a combined experience of 20 years of paragliding. They have taught people from all walks of life and continue to build the paragliding community throughout Boulder and the world. They lead local and international tours, help new pilots acquire the right gear, and teach/fly paragliders year-round.
Boulder Parks and Recreation Outdoor Camps
Boulder
303-413-7441
www.BPRcamps.org
Explore the wonders of Growing Gardens Children’s Peace Garden, get to know the goats at Mountain Flower Goat Dairy and finish off the day by swimming at the North Boulder Recreation Center in BPR’s Goats and Gardens Camp. We will investigate the secret world of insects, create art from nature and explore its wondrous plants while making new friends. We’ll grow and taste from the famous salsa garden and cook pizza using the power of the sun. We will spend time getting to know the goats and guardian llama, learn to walk the goats on leashes, feed the babies, make cheese, milk a goat and explore small-scale farming practices, all while learning livestock management and the nutrient cycle. Ages 6-11. In Water Sports Camp at the Boulder Resevoir, kids aged 7-14 go everything from stand-up paddle boarding to canoe tug-of-war to pirating and trips to Dream Cove. Campers will not only spend the week in the water, but also off the water doing crafts, group games and much more, including our weekly barbecue! Choose your weeks and sign up today.
Cure Organic Farm Kids’ Farm Camp
Boulder
www.cureorganicfarm.com
Kids’ Farm Camp allows children to experience all the workings of a small, organic, diversified farm. From collecting eggs and feeding pigs to gathering flowers and planting and harvesting vegetables, campers will enjoy the full farm experience. Cooking and arts and crafts are a part of each week as well. Camps run weekly from June 3 through Aug. 5. Ages 6-9.
Dawson Summer Camps
Lafayette
303-381-0445
www.dawsonschool.org/summer
Come join us this summer for eight weeks of Dawson’s 80-plus exciting summer camps and programs for ages 5-15. Between June 3 and Aug. 2, we will offer various weeklong day camps in arts, tech, sports and more. Full hot/cold lunch is available in our dining hall. Kids will take a break and cool off in the pool daily. There is an experienced adult director for every camp and a 5-to-1 camper-to-staffer ratio. Camp costs range from $320 to $450 per week. For a full listing of our summer camp information, visit our website. Camp hours are 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Feet on the Earth Programs
Boulder
303-642-0562
www.FeetOnTheEarth.com
At Daughters of the Earth, Sisters of the Earth and Moon Sisters camps, every day is a new adventure! Whether we are following raccoon tracks along the creek, discovering ourselves through exploring the four elements — earth, air, fire and water — or playing sneaking games among the willows, we are guiding girls to engage the power of their bodies, minds, hearts and spirits to pursue their passions and purpose in life. Drawing from the wisdom our wise grandmothers had for living close to the Earth, we mentor girls through an “invisible school” of fun adventures that teaches them how to care for nature, themselves and their community. Our 6-to-1 camper-to-mentor ratio allows us to provide fun learning experiences that are truly hands-on! Girls, ages 7-14.
Girl Scout Camps
Magic Sky Ranch near Fort Collins, Tomahawk Ranch near Bailey
1-877-404-5708
www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org
Girl Scout camp is the leader in summer fun and adventure for girls at an affordable cost. You don’t have to already be a Girl Scout — new campers get a discount! Registration is open for day camps statewide.
Growing Gardens — Children’s Peace Garden
Boulder
303-443-9952
www.growinggardens.org
Join us for five fun-filled days exploring the wonders of our urban farm in Boulder. We’ll tend to the garden, explore through the lens of art and science, and make tasty, healthy snacks from the bounty of our harvests. New this year is Field to Fork Cooking Camps in July! Instructors are experienced educators trained in CPR and First Aid. Multi-camp discounts are available and run all-day, Monday through Friday. Ages 5-11. Please call or go online to enroll.
High Altitude Archery Camp
Longmont
720-491-3309
www.highaltitudearchery.com
Students in the archery skills camp will learn and practice consistency and accuracy. At the same time, students will be taught basic body mechanics and strengthening exercises designed to strengthen core, upper body and back muscles in support of archery. As mental focus is a difficult component of archery, mindfulness practices such as meditation and introspection will also be taught. Concepts common in archery competition will be practiced. Students will learn how to respond correctly to competition range commands, to score correctly and to behave with grace and sportsmanship on the shooting line. At the completion of this class, shooters have the necessary skills to join the JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development) competition team.
Keystone Science School Summer Camp
Keystone
970-468-2098
www.KeystoneScienceSchool.org
Be amazed this summer at Keystone Science School as we celebrate 40 years of extraordinary experiences, best friends and new insight into the awe-inspiring world of science — adventure and fun abound! Since 1976, Keystone Science School Summer Camp has taught kids social skills, independence and friendship with the added elements of outdoor education and high-altitude adventure. Our day camp, for kids grades K-eighth, features a new theme each week and incorporates creative activities, team-building and investigative learning into each day. Find a full summer calendar and program options on our website, or give us a call.
Kutandara’s Mbira Nature Camp
Boulder
303-443-2969
www.kutandara.org/camps
Kutandara’s mbira nature day camp gives children the opportunity to learn about the mbira “nyunga nyunga” (sparkle sparkle) and mbira “nhare” (telephone) in a fun, safe, outdoor setting. Children also participate in team-building games, African storytelling and lots of outdoor time together. The two sessions run from June 4-8 and June 11-15, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Staff and campers meet at Ozo Coffee Company on Arapahoe Avenue, and then travel by bus to local city parks in the mornings and spend afternoons hiking easy trails to beautiful vistas together. Kids learn mbira repertoire and context, the stories behind the songs, a love of nature and teamwork. Camp staff are experienced teachers and teen band members at Kutandara, and our camper to staff ratio never exceeds 4-to-1. Randy McIntosh, camp director, has been a lover of hiking in the Colorado Front Range for over 30 years.
Laughing Coyote Project Summer Camps
Longmont
303-659-4079
www.laughingcoyoteproject.org
Laughing Coyote Project offers a variety of day camps with themes reflecting the practice of primitive skills and traditional knowledge, including: firemaking, archery, basketry, plant foraging, wildlife tracking, games, natural movement and camouflage. Day camps cost $300 and are co-ed. Ages 8-18, depending on the camp.
Renaissance Adventures Camps
Boulder, Longmont and Lyons
303-786-9216
www.RenaissanceAdventures.com
All Renaissance Adventures programs are designed to develop teamwork, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication and other 21st-century skills. With highly trained staff, multiple awards and over 20 years experience, it’s no wonder Renaissance Adventures is so popular. There is a variety of camp experiences to choose from. In Adventure Quest, your child is the hero of a mythic quest in an incredibly fun, award-winning outdoor experience like none other! In small groups of like ages, the heroes read maps, solve mysteries and riddles, overcome dynamic challenges, and battle using safe, foam swords. In the Knighthood CIT program, teenagers learn leadership, accountability and integrity while becoming the mentor to a group of younger kids. And in Star Quest, campers band together in small groups of like age to discover strange new worlds, overcome dynamic challenges, negotiate intergalactic treaties and battle using blasters (beanbags) and fusion blades (foam swords). The themes and settings explore futuristic mainstays like warp speed, mech suits, tapping into the “Meta” for telepathic powers, cyberpunk netrunning, alien “hive mind” sentience and more. We also run exciting birthdays, after-school programs and more. Get a $75 discount for joining a summer quest for the first time, and a $75 credit for referring others! Weekly programs all summer long and whenever school is out.
Thorne Nature Experience Summer Camp
Boulder, Lafayette, Littleton
303-499-3647
www.thornenature.org
Spend the summer catching frogs, getting muddy, biking down mountain trails and exploring Colorado’s wild places with the Thorne Nature Experience Summer Camp! Thorne offers fun, hands-on nature “camp experiences” for children aged 3-15 in world-class parks and open space in Boulder, Lafayette and Littleton. Kids will have a blast practicing survival skills, exploring forests and streams, creating wild crafts, learning about local plants and animals, and finding tadpoles, crawfish, grasshoppers and more! Our experienced, CPR and first-aid-trained instructors help facilitate student learning and appreciation for the outdoors while keeping them safe. Campers complete the program with a newfound respect and awe of nature, increased understanding of the environment and a desire to get back outside.
Wee Folk Forest Summer Camp
Niwot
720-383-4406
www.weefolkforestkindergarten.com/summer-camp/
At Wee Folk Forest Camps, we’ll be spending our mornings exploring our light-filled meadow and children’s village, and our afternoons relaxing inside the classroom, and outside in the inviting play yard. All weeks of camp include a fun and balanced approach to the day — blending activities with outdoor free play, collaborative group play, music and storytelling. Give us a call or visit us online for more information. Day camps run 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. (option of aftercare from 3-5 p.m.), Monday through Friday. Ages 2.5-6.
Wild Bear Nature Center
Nederland and Boulder
303-258-0495
www.wildbear.org
These fun, hands-on, arts-integrated, outdoor nature camps are for kids ages 3-15. Bear Cubs (ages 3-5), NederRangers (ages 5-6), Mountain Rangers (ages 6-7), Wild Naturalists (ages 8-9) and Wild Adventures (ages 10-plus) can all choose their own schedules! Camps are in Nederland and run Monday through Friday (shuttle service available), and Boulder (Chautauqua on Thursdays and NCAR on Fridays). Questions? Give us a call or visit our website and email us. See you on the mountain!
YMCA of Northern Colorado Camps
Various locations on the Front Range
303-443-4474
www.ymcanoco.org
Join Northern Colorado’s YMCA for dozens of different, engrossing camp sessions and activities this summer. Learn to rock climb, ride a bike, play team sports and much more in the outdoors-focused sessions. Discover how the mysteries of science can play into the fun of art during STEAM-focused camps. Whether young ones are excited about being out in the sun all day, creating something new with their hands or developing about leadership skills, Boulder Valley’s YMCA camps are the place to be! For a comprehensive list of all camps and sessions, visit our website.
YMCA of the Rockies
Estes Park
970-586-3344
www.ymcarockies.org
Give your children a camp experience to remember-horseback riding in the mountains, hiking and exploring trails, developing archery skills, splashing and playing in the pool, singing to their hearts content, creating crafts and more — all under the care of specially trained staff who bring attention to the YMCA core values of caring, honesty, respect, responsibility and faith. We are proud to have our Day Camp Programs accredited by the American Camp Association which we earn by meeting or exceeding current camp industry standards. Please note that you must have your YMCA of the Rockies member number or your YMCA of the Rockies lodging confirmation number before you register your child.
Overnight
AEI Base Camp
Almont
970-641-4708
www.aeibasecamp.com
This camp is located 10,000 feet above sea level in the grandeur of the Rocky Mountains. The spectacular scenery of the backcountry base camp is the perfect site for your wilderness experience. Christian-based camp adventure programs are available.
Adventure Camps
Meet in Boulder, but travel to locations in Colorado & Wyoming
303-938-9191
www.womenswilderness.org
Imagine learning the skills of camping, backpacking and rock climbing while building incredible friendships on overnight adventure treks throughout the region. Women’s Wilderness offers a variety of camps for girls entering sixth through 12th grade in fall 2019. Our Adventure Camp, Rock Climbing Camp and Backpacking Camp are great ways to enjoy the wilderness, make new friends and try new things. You will be able to explore beautiful places and learn outdoor skills. In relationship with the natural world, girls will explore their identity and values and learn how to navigate emotions and interpersonal relationships. We have full and partial scholarships available for our camps, and no girl needing financial support has ever been turned away.
Adventure Quest Overnight with Renaissance Adventures
Jamestown
303-786-9216
www.RenaissanceAdventures.com
Your child is the hero of a mythic quest in an incredibly fun overnight experience like none other! In cabins of like ages, the heroes journey forth into the beautiful forests of Cal-Wood, Jamestown, to discover treasures, overcome traps and dynamic challenges and battle foes using safe, foam swords. As with all Renaissance Adventures programs, Adventure Quest is designed to develop teamwork, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication and other 21st-century skills. With highly trained staff, multiple awards and over 20 years experience, it’s no wonder Renaissance Adventures is so popular. We also run exciting day quests, birthdays, afterschool programs and more. Camp runs July 31-Aug. 3. Ages 9-18.
Avid4 Adventure — Colorado Mountain Camp
Mt. Evans, Windy Peak & expeditions leaving from Boulder
720-249-2412
www.Avid4.com/overnight-camp/
At Avid4 Adventure, we’re on a mission to get kids excited and empowered by outdoor adventure so they are inspired to live active outdoor lifestyles. Avid4 Adventure Overnight Camps teach first to 12th graders of all levels to climb, paddle, bike, hike and thrive in the outdoors. With help from our time-tested curriculum and experienced instructors (all 21-plus and certified in Wilderness First Aid and CPR), we give campers solid outdoors skills and character-shaping confidence they can use at camp and beyond, launching them into a lifetime of empowering adventure.
One- and two-week sessions are available from June through August. Be sure to check out our new line of Expedition Camps!
Learn more online or give us a call.
Blue Mountain Ranch
719-748-3279
Florrisant
www.bluemountainranch.com
Ride a horse through Pike National Forest on the way to our own outpost, The Meadow! Fish for trout or canoe in our lake, zip through the forest on our newly redone ropes course, or meet kids from all over the U.S. and many foreign countries. Our many returning staff members and campers ensure our spirit and family atmosphere. Coach Bill and Dorothy Allen created a children’s world where kids can grow in all ways in the great outdoors with the help of excellent counselors.
Bold Earth Adventures
303-526-0806
www.boldearth.com
Bold Earth has organized adventure camps for teenagers since 1976, with over 17,000 participants having joined from all 50 states and over 55 different countries! The Bold Earth team seeks to empower our teenage participants and celebrate the bold in everyone! Our summer programs have been developed for students ages 12-18. Offering both domestic and international experiences, Bold Earth teams will surf on the Kona Coast, backpack the Alaskan wilderness, ride camels and explore the Sahara Desert in Morocco, hang with giant tortoises on the Galapagos Islands, rock climb and explore the Rocky Mountains, scuba dive in colorful coral reefs in Fiji, and so much more! If you are interested in adventure travel, community service opportunities, cultural and language immersion experiences, and tons of fun — Bold Earth is the camp for you! Check us out on our website and schedule a call with an Adventure Advisor today!
YMCA Camp Chief Ouray
Granby
970-887-2648
www.campchiefouray.org
For over a century, Camp Chief Ouray has been the adventure playground for boys and girls from around the world. Located on 5,100 acres of mountains, valleys, streams and meadows — boredom is simply not an option. The Traditional Camp, for kids ages 7-14, is designed to provide fun and growth through a series of exciting experiences in a beautiful mountain setting. Special attention is given to the development of positive human relations, leadership and character development. The week at camp consists of a mix between cabin activities, activities with kids of similar interests, camping out, hiking, camp-wide games, and a chance for campers to choose their favorite activities. Adventure Trips for teenagers ages 14-15 have a dynamic array of wilderness programs for campers looking for an added adventure. These exciting backcountry programs offer campers the chance to participate in rafting, mountain biking, backpacking, horse packing and kayaking adventures! Leadership Training Programs for teenagers age 15-18 build community leaders. Camp Chief Ouray has many opportunities for teens to gain valuable leadership skills while participating in activities at camp and in the wilderness.
Camp Granite Lake
Golden
720-249-2997
www.campgranitelake.com
Connect with friends, counselors and nature in a supportive, unplugged community! Campers choose from activities including: sailing, rock climbing, woodworking, canoeing, ceramics, SUP, backpacking, archery, culinary arts and more. Located on a beautiful, 135-acre property with private eight-acre lake located in Coal Creek Canyon, the two-week sessions are for campers finishing second-ninth grade. Visit our website or give us a call to schedule a personal on-site tour or slideshow.
Cheley Colorado Camps
Estes Park
303-732-6082 (in winter), 970-586-4244 (in summer)
www.cheley.com
Since 1921 Cheley has provided an awesome 27-day overnight summer experience for girls and boys ages 7-17. Located in Estes Park, attracting children from all over the world. Activities include backpacking, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, whitewater rafting, technical climbing, stand-up paddle boarding, crafts and more. There are a few spots still left. Introducing our Quarter B-4 Camp, a five-night experience for 7- to 9-year-old boys and girls that runs Aug. 5-10. Want the whole family to enjoy a week unplugged in the great outdoors? We offer Family Camp for the whole family Aug. 5-10.
Deer Hill Expeditions Inc.
Mancos
970-533-7492
www.deerhillexpeditions.com
Deer Hill leads inspiring journeys in the Southwest and Costa Rica that combine wilderness adventure and service projects with Native Americans. No previous experience required.
Heroes Academy with Renaissance Adventures
Boulder, Longmont and Lyons
303-786-9216
www.RenaissanceAdventures.com
Heroes Academy programs give mature teens a transformative experience within intensive programs. Participants must overcome challenges on their own and with the invaluable help of other participants, including the “Heroes Journey” challenges of internal growth in the areas of accountability, leadership, honor and planning. Ages 14-18.
Keystone Science School Summer Camp
Keystone
970-468-2098
www.KeystoneScienceSchool.org
Be amazed this summer at Keystone Science School as we celebrate 40 years of extraordinary experiences, best friends and new insight into the awe-inspiring world of Science. Adventure. Fun! Since 1976, Keystone Science School Summer Camp has taught kids social skills, independence and friendship with the added elements of outdoor education and high-altitude adventure. Find a full summer calendar and program options on our website, or give us a call!
Girl Scout Overnight Camps
Magic Sky Ranch near Bailey, Tomahawk Ranch near Fort Collins
877-404-5708
www.girlscoutsofcolorado.org
Girl Scout camp is the leader in summer fun and adventure for girls at an affordable cost. You don’t have to already be a Girl Scout — new campers get a discount! Registration is open for overnight camps statewide.
Sanborn Western Camps
Florissant
719-748-3341
www.sanbornwesterncamps.com
Since 1948, Sanborn Western Camps have been creating outdoor experiences of exceptional quality and depth. Sanborn’s fun, relaxed atmosphere and caring staff provide a supportive environment for individual growth in self-confidence, independence and awareness of others. Each child’s contributions are valued in a community based on mutual respect and shared adventures. Big Spring Ranch for Boys and High Trails Ranch for Girls lie at an elevation of 8,700 feet in the center of Colorado. The camps own more than 6,000 acres of open pine forest, wildflower meadows and rocky bluffs, an unparalleled setting for outdoor adventures.
Showing Up for Our Sons: A Retreat for Fathers & Sons
Estes Park
303-258-7475
mensleadershipalliance.org
At this father-son wilderness camping trip near Estes Park, imagine three nights together in a tent with your son. No cell phones, no television, no sirens or engines. That alone could change everything. Then add full days of carefully chosen activities that will challenge you and your son, bring out new abilities in you both, encourage teamwork and a sense of belonging to a healthy circle of fathers and sons. Give your son a chance to be seen and heard at a time in his life when uncertainty and fear can be challenging for boys who are no longer little, but not quite men either. “This is the closest I’ve ever felt to you,” said Jayce to his dad during the 2018 camp. The world needs well-rounded, respectful men, and this camp is a way to put your boy on the path to healthy manhood! Camp runs Aug. 8-11.
YMCA Camp Santa Maria
Bailey
303-443-4474
www.ymcacampsantamaria.org
Set in the heart of the Rockies, YMCA Camp Santa Maria offers a classic resident camp experience. S’mores included! Campers kayak, paddleboard, swim, enjoy crafts, learn archery, hike and explore, build gnome homes and learn outdoor skills. But the fun doesn’t end when the sun goes down. Evenings at camp are spent playing games, performing skits, singing songs or sitting by the campfire. Kids learn independence, challenge their own limitations and connect with the natural world.
