The Denver Post Summer Camps Guide | 2024

Advertising Supplement of The Denver Post

GUIDE

2024

February 11, 2024

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

SUMMER CAMP BEATING THE “END OF CAMP” BLUES Camp is an action-packed adventure. Each day brings new and exciting opportunities for growth and accomplishment. At the same time, strong bonds of friendship and community are developing. It truly is a life-changing experience. And when the embers of the last campfire have cooled, and campers make their way home, often children experience a mild case of the “end of camp blues.”

The blues are not uncommon — causing some children to be tired, moody, quieter than usual, or even irritable or grumpy. The American Camp Association® (ACA) recommends the following tips for families to help ease the transition from camp to home:

• Help them relax and adjust to the slower pace of non-camp life.

Suggest they take a warm shower and get plenty of rest. Plan to have an “old favorite” for dinner.

Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association. ©2024, American Camping Association, Inc. About American Camp Association The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps. org or call 800-428-2267.

• Encourage reconnecting with friends from home. Volunteer to set up play dates and get-togethers to help re-establish a sense of belonging with friends they haven’t seen in a long time.

• Allow your child to write, email, or call camp friends. Many camps encourage campers to exchange e-mail and IM addresses with one another.

Parents should make sure to oversee their child’s online activities, and make sure that all camp policies are being followed.

• Be open and available to talk about camp. Allow your children to reflect on their friends, their favorite moment at camp, and what they miss most about camp. Sharing experiences and feelings will help them feel connected to you, and will make the transition easier.

• Organize a small “reunion.” Getting together with local camp friends can help reassure your child that though his or her friends are out of sight, they are not out of mind!

If your child gets the blues, remember that they miss camp because they had fun — and they enjoyed taking healthy risks in a safe and nurturing environment. And, it is normal for them to miss their camp family the same way they missed their home family at camp. By being supportive and understanding, families can ease the sadness and help campers adjust to life at home. And, families can help campers remember that next summer is not that far away.

We are the summer camp you have been looking for!

Blue Mountain Ranch is a third-generation owned and operated summer camp. For the past 78 years BMR has been enriching the lives of children from across the country and globe. BMR is a coeducational overnight camp for children ages 7-15. BMR is a fun safe place for kids to be kids and disconnect from technology and reconnect with childhood.

Camp website:

bluemountainranch.com Camp email address:

camp@bluemountainranch.com

Health Professions SUMMER EXPERIENCE

Regis University invites you to the Health Professions Summer Experience, an exciting and immersive weeklong camp designed for advanced high schoolers and college students with an interest in high-demand health care professions.

Rangers Empowering Girls in STEM (R.E.G.I.S.) Research Camp is committed to providing an empowering STEM experience to young people who feel safe in a pro-girl and girl-centered environment.

Dates: July 15-19, 2024

Dates: June 10-14 and June 24-28.

To learn more: regis.edu/summerexperience

For more info email: urise@regis.edu

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DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMP Adventure

Keystone Science School

06-10-2024 • 08-21-2024 3 to 12-day options throughout the summer Experience the Rocky Mountains of Colorado at KSS summer camps! Our beautiful 23-acre campus nestled in the mountains serves the perfect basecamp for a summer full of adventure and new

friends. KSS offers a variety of adventure and traditional camp activities designed to allow campers to understand their potential.

Campers will create lifelong friendships, explore and learn about the natural world, and gain leadership and wilderness skills.

Adventures activities like challenge hikes, rafting, climbing and horseback riding blend with more traditional camp activities like tie-dye, campfires, talent shows, archery and songs to create a unique and unforgettable Colorado summer camp.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: K-12; 1053 Soda Ridge Road, Keystone, Colorado; 970-468-2098; support@keystonescienceschool.org; www.keystonescienceschool.org

06-10-2024 • 07-26-2024 The LYNX National Arts & Media Camps are summer immersion camps for high school students interested in music, visual or digital arts, and filmmaking. We host high school students from many different states and countries which enables a diverse and enriching experience as students bond over a shared passion for the arts. We also offer scholarships! Apply before March 15th to be considered for priority acceptance and for a scholarship.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 14-18; 1150 10th Street, College of Arts & Media Denver; 303-315-7468; lynxcamp@ucdenver.edu; www.artsandmedia.ucdenver.edu/ prospective-students/lynx-camps

Arts

Special Needs

LYNX National Arts & Media Camps

Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center

06-10-2024 • 08-15-2024 Check our website for dates and specific camp details. Come

join the Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (BOEC) for a summer of outdoor adventure! This summer, BOEC offers day and overnight summer camps for individuals of all ages and all abilities, specializing in adaptive outdoor recreation for people with physical and cognitive impairments.

Focusing on wilderness-based adventures in the heart of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, BOEC adventures can include a fullyaccessible ropes course, rock climbing, rafting, canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, adaptive cycling, camping and more! Visit our website to learn more about specific camps.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 8-21; 300 Snowy Ridge Rd, Breckenridge, CO; 970-453-6422; claire@boec.org; www.boec.org

Wildcat Summer Camp

AT ST. MARY’S ACADEMY

Where Adventure and Learning Unite Discovery and growth for ages 3-18

Extended care options available from 7:30 a.m. 6 p.m.

Flexible schedule to build your own day

Full-day Colorado themed camps and half-day specialized camps

Registration is Now Open! stmarys.academy/summer

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

DAY CAMP a fun and fantastic place for kids to learn.

Our STEAM space camp is the highlight of the summer for many students. Launch our nine-foot rockets, fly simulators and learn about space. Camp runs 8:00 to 3:30 with free before and after care.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 6 to 16; 7922 S Carr St, Littleton, Jefferson County; 303-985-3143; camp@spacevoyage.com; www.spacevoyage.com

Academic

Dinosaur Ridge Summer Camps

Ages: 6-15; 2501 Dallas Street, Aurora, Denver, Central Park; 303-341-4065; maker@mindcraftmakerspace.com; www.mindcraftmakerspace.com

Summer Science Institute

STEAM Maker Camps Silicon STEM Academy

05-27-2024 • 08-09-2024 Monday - Friday from 9:00-3:00pm additional option for aftercare 3-5pm. Our award-winning camps keep kids moving and discovering in the incredible setting of our National Natural Landmark. These experiences are designed to foster excitement and wonder for science, art, and the outdoors while engaging in our hands-on educational curriculum.

Our small group sizes give every camper the opportunity to play, explore, and expand their knowledge. Each camp offers exploration of the Dinosaur Ridge fossil sites, hands-on science projects, and expert guest presenters in the fields of paleontology, geology, art, earth science, survival skills, and local plants and animals.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 5-13; 16831 W Alameda Pkwy, Dinosaur Ridge Main Visitor Center, Morrison; 303-697-3466; camps@dinoridge.org; www.dinoridge.org/programs-and-events/ camps/

06-03-2024 • 08-02-2024 Denver June August; RJHS - June only. Explore the excitement of STEM with Silicon STEM Academy’s acclaimed camps for kids aged 7-17! Our award-winning programs, including Minecraft Modding, 3D Printing, YouTube Creator, Python Programming, Virtual Reality, and LEGO Robotics, make learning fun. With half-day and all-day options, we cater to busy schedules. Teens can join our All-Day Coding Bootcamps.

Conveniently located in both Denver’s Wash Park and South Metro’s Regis Jesuit High School, we provide a hands-on, fun-filled atmosphere. Enjoy multi-camp/sibling discounts and early drop-off. Unleash the love for learning in a dynamic STEM environment!

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 7-17; 1955 E Arizona Avenue, Denver, Aurora; 303-800-0011; info@siliconstemacademy.com; www. siliconstemacademy.com

Space Voyage Space Camp

C. Hartman

Silicon STEM Academy Doc Palmere

06-03-2024 • 07-28-2024 Sibling and Multiple Week Discounts Available. Space Voyage immerses students in “thinking like an astronaut.” Inspiring kids through our project-based curriculum, we build skills in problem-solving, teamwork and communications. Space Voyage offers learning and confidence building within a space motif. Space Voyage brings to life the importance of math and science, builds confidence through genuine achievement, creates a sense of belonging, and offers

06-10-2024 • 08-16-2024 Camps run weekly Monday-Friday, from 9am-12:00pm or 1pm-4:00pm Keep your children engaged in mind-stimulating STEAM Summer Camps while having lots of fun! Our camps are designed to give your children the opportunity to use cutting-edge technologies (ex. 3D-printers, 3D-pens, laser cutter, computer design, coding, and stop motion), practice advanced arts and crafts. (ex. resin, sewing, painting, polymer clay, 3D-puzzles, stained glass), learn science and engineering (ex. robotics, chemistry & forensic science), and learn teamwork with strategy games (ex.

Dungeons & Dragons, and Minecraft) “My kids really loved your camp last year and have been begging to do it again!

Thanks for everything you do.” - C.E. Cost: $251-$500;

MSU Denver Camp Mentors 06-03-2024 • 06-28-2024 We have morning and afternoon camps We have 4 camps each last 2 weeks.

June 3 - June 14 morning and afternoon camps June 17 - June 28 morning and afternoon camps Middle school students have the opportunity to explore fun applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics in an exciting, hands-on, team-oriented atmosphere on the Auraria Campus.

Metropolitan State University of Denver faculty will teach classes based on Colorado content standards and prepares students in STEM concepts. Students will be provided lunch each day. Daily attendance is required. All activities are supervised.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: Middle School Students; 1201 5th Street, Auraria Campus, Denver; 303-615-0293; SSI@msudenver.edu; www.msudenver.edu/case/ssi

Adventure

Adventure Quest with Renaissance Adventures

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

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DAY CAMP

(c) Renaissance Adventures

05-28-2024 • 08-09-2024 Weekly camps with some half-week options. 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 adventurers read maps, solve mysteries and riddles, overcome dynamic challenges, and battle using safe, foam swords. Adventure Quest summer camps are designed to develop teamwork, critical thinking, ethical reasoning, communication, and other skills for social emotional development. Teens join the adventure with our Teen Leadership Knight programs. With 30 years experience and a highly-trained staff, Renaissance Adventures is a family favorite. Birthdays, afterschool programs, school day-off camps.

Denver Waldorf, Berkeley Lake, Boulder, Longmont, Louisville.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 6-17; 2100 S Pennsylvania St, Denver Waldorf & Berkeley Lake, Denver; 303-786-9216; info@renaissanceadventures.com; www.RenaissanceAdventures.com

10-step Archery, Mountainboarding, Gymnastics & Trampoline, Outdoor Skills, Whittling, Drama, Games & Fun Galore! Competent, attentive, upbeat staff-in-residence. Children connect with people, place, programs, and nature to create their own kids’ community in the mountains.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 7-17; 10063 Gold Hill Road, Gold Hill, Mountains west of Boulder; 303-442-4557; office@coiloradomountainranch.com; coloradomountainranch.com

Sailing and Paddle Summer Camps

pick up is 315-4 We offer both a sailing and a paddlecraft camp, both camps introduce kids to the basics of sailing or paddlecraft, no experience necessary!

The campers are given the responsibility of steering and managing the vessel themselves. This freedom will encourage them to develop a significant sense of self reliance and confidence. Teamwork is a must on the water, and the campers will form life long friendships. Our campers always go home exhausted and satisfied, and we guarantee all you will hear about for a week is how much they learned and how much fun they had!

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 6-14; 11500 N Roxborough Park Rd, Chatfield State Park, Littleton; 303-697-7433; info@coloradowatersports.com; www.coloradowatersport.scom

Arts

Aerial Circus Camp

Pedal Adventure Camps

Michael McMaster

06-03-2024 • 08-16-2024 “Monday-Friday10:30 am-1:00 pm or 2:30-5:00 pm or Full Day Come learn how to fly, spin, flip and dance in this super fun aerial camp! Campers will build strength and flexibility while learning skills on aerial fabric, hoop, sling and trapeze. They will put together a show that they will perform in on the last day of camp!

Some days will also involve a fun circus themed craft project like balloon animals and tie dye t-shirts! Please bring water and a snack.

Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 6-17; 5925 E Evans Ave, Unit 125, Gravity Aerial Arts, Denver; 720-507-5422; info@gravityaerialarts.com; www.gravityaerialarts.com/camps

Colorado Mountain Ranch Outdoor Adventure Day Camp

Camp Staff

06-03-2024 • 08-09-2024 Monday-Friday, except no camp 07/04/2024 Voted # 1 Outdoor Day Camp for decades!

Well worth the drive to the base of the mountains in Boulder to meet our bus for the ride up. Program variety for different ages and interests. Friendly Camp-raised Horses, Western Riding, Baby Goats, Teambuilding, Arts & Crafts,

www.pedaladventurecamps.com

Erica Cook

05-28-2024- • 08-09-2024 drop off is 830-9

06-10-2024 • 08-232024 Late pickup avail.

The goal of Pedal Adventure Camps is to teach your kids the rules of the road, bike path etiquette and the safest way to navigate Denver using the bicycle trail system. We want campers, at the end of a session, to feel safe and confident in their abilities riding anywhere two wheels can take them!

We also get off our bikes at any moment when there’s a new fun activity to try. The occasional kickball tournament, crawdad hunting, chalk-drawing, POOLS, museums or nature walks are just a few of the adventures we look for.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 7-14; Denver; 303-909-6889; pedaladventurecamps@gmail.com;

Apollo 11 Maker Lab Camp

Doc Palmere

06-18-2024 • 07-03-2024 Each session is three day camp - full days Join us this summer for an exciting Maker Lab Camp!

In 2024, we are thrilled to introduce our first-

(camp information on page 7.)

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

SUMMER CAMP THE LONG-LASTING BENEFITS OF CAMP AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION Camp has become a part of the fabric of America — conjuring special memories of hiking, swimming, friendships, and adventure for generations.

When children go to camp, they’ll likely come home gushing about the lifelong friends they’ve made, and the exciting adventures they had. What they probably won’t tell you about are the life lessons camp has given them — those skills that, if nurtured at home after camp, translate into a lasting self-confidence, an awareness of the importance of kindness, and a greater comfort in voicing their opinions.

For more than 150 years, camp has been changing lives — allowing all children to feel successful, especially those who may struggle with traditional educational settings. Camp is full of fun and excitement, but it is so much more — developing children who are better equipped to lead in the twentyfirst century with skills such as independence, empathy, the ability to work as part of a team, and a broader world view.

• Camp is a safe and nurturing environment that enhances social skills. Camp is for everyone, so children and youth have the opportunity to meet and interact with peers from outside their school environment.

• Camp supplements traditional education. Camps use intentional programming to create a balance of experiential learning opportunities that are physical, emotional, and social.

• Camp provides experiences that promote self-confidence and future academic growth. American Camp Association® (ACA) independent research shows that parents and camp staff, as well as the campers themselves, report significant growth in several areas, including leadership, independence, social comfort, and values and decisions.

• Camp encourages a respect and love of nature. Children are able to learn about the natural world. Camp also gives them a chance to “unplug.”

More and more experts are advocating the value of time spent in nature for children — and camp is a perfect place to do that.

• Camp provides the opportunity to stay physically active. Camp is the ultimate outdoor experience with programs that offer physical activities and sports that enhance health and teach self-confidence.

Camp is a natural extension of the classroom. Research indicates that by participating in strategically planned, structured summer experiences, children reduce summer learning loss. Camp challenges children, keeps them engaged, develops creativity and their talents, and expands their horizons.

Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association. ©2024 American Camping Association, Inc. About American Camp Association The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

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DAY CAMP ever STEM and space-themed Maker Lab Camp for kids aged 9-15. Immerse yourself in the world of Apollo 11 and commemorate the 55th anniversary of the historic moon landing. Explore the fascinating Saturn V rocket and construct your very own using bricolage techniques. Get creative and build rockets ranging from 11 inches to an impressive seven feet tall. Our camp takes place at the Space Voyage Camp pavilion, where we’ll embark on this adventure across two sessions, each spanning three full days.

Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 9 to16; 7922 S Carr St, Littleton, Jefferson County; 303-985-3143; camp@saturnvmakerlab.us; www.saturnvmakerlab.us

Arvada Center Digital Creative Arts Lab Summer Camps

Teen Intensive

Arvada Center Visual Art Summer Camps

Matthew Gale Photography

06-10-2024 • 08-31-2024 Camp dates vary by session The Teen Intensive Program gives musically-minded teenagers an opportunity to learn about all the elements of creating a full length production of the musical Honeymoon in Vegas Taking place over 4 weeks, this fast-paced process gives young artists a chance to work with theatre professionals and culminates with performances on the Arvada Center stage. Auditions will be used to determine casting and all students, beginner and experienced alike, will be given equal opportunities for participation. All performing arts sessions are taught by highly trained, knowledgeable teachers in a safe and fun environment. Download the camp catalog at https://arvadacenter.org/education Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 12-18; 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada Center; 720-898-7200; info@arvadacenter.org; www.arvadacenter.org/education

Arvada Center Summer Drama Camps Leslie Simon 06-03-2024 • 08-31-2024 Dates depend on specific class session There’s something for everyone this summer at the Arvada Center! We offer a wide variety of digital camps in everything from Digital Movie Making and 3D Collages to Art, Animation & Design and Digital Photography. Our camps are designed for kids to learn new skills, discover new interests and most importantly, have fun! Look for a complete list of camp sessions in our 2024 catalog. Download a copy at https://arvadacenter.org/education Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 5-16; 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada; 720-899-7200; info@arvadacenter.org; www.arvadacenter.org/education

Arvada Center Summer Arts Camps - Musical Theatre

720-898-7200; info@arvadacenter.org; arvadacenter.org/education

Leslie Simon

06-03-2024 • 08-31-2024 Dates vary by camp session We offer a wide variety of visual art camps in everything from drawing and painting to Pokemon and Fibers. Our camps are designed for kids to learn new skills, discover new interests and most importantly, have fun! Look for a complete list of camp sessions in our 2024 catalog. Download a copy at https:// arvadacenter.org/education Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 4 - 18; 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada Center; 720-898-7200; info@arvadacenter.org; www.arvadacenter.org/education

artistic creativity (Artful Reflections). Held in Denver’s Westwood neighborhood, professionals teach, guest artists share expertise, and community mentors guide and encourage – empowering girls/ nonbinary youth to lead and to effect change in themselves and others through creative learning. Each camp is $275.

Although we value process over outcome, each week-long program culminates with a celebration where we invite community + friends + family of the campers, to see their creations from the week.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 11-15; 3300 W. Nevada Place, Westwood neighborhood, Denver; 303-219-0882; info@athenaprojectarts.org; www.athenaprojectarts.org/summercamps/

Cleo Parker Robinson Dance International Summer Dance Institute

Athena Project Girls Create Summer Camps

Martha Wirth, Jerry Metellus, Patricia Smith/For CPRD

06-01-2024 • 08-31-2024 Camp sessions vary by camp. The Arvada Center performing arts camps offer creative experiences in theatre, music and dance. Students in Arvada Center Drama Camps experience all types of theatre ranging from storytelling and fairytales to improvisational acting and musicals. Musical Theatre and Drama performing camps ranging from 3 - 4 weeks are offered for kids ages 5 - 13. Look for a complete list of camp sessions in our 2024 catalog. Download a copy at https:// arvadacenter.org/education.

Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 3-18; 6901 Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada;

Diana Odem for first image

07-08-2024 • 08-02-2024 Camps held 9 am - 3 pm M-F Our unparalleled Girls Create summer camp program ignites the passions and talents of 6th to 10th grade girls + nonbinary youth in playwriting, comedy, fashion design &

06-17-2024 • 07-26-2026 There will be a break during the July 4 holiday. Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Academy offers 4 programs, 5 weeks, and all levels of dance in the International Summer Dance Institute (ISDI) for ages 3 through adult. Week 1 June 17 begins with STREAM Theatre Tech (10 to 15).

Weeks 2 to 3 continue dance and active cultural FUN with many global dance styles with Global Kids ISDI (3 to 13).

Pre/Professional dance intensives start Week 4, July 15, from 9 to adult in age/ level groupings in 50+ master classes by artists from around the globe. Right after: the Mile High Dance Festival!

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DAY CAMP Registration/details: cleoparkerdance. org/academy. 303.295.1759 x 17. Email: academy@cleoparkerdance.org.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 3 to Adult; 119 Park Avenue West, CPRD Academy, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance; 303-295-1759; Academy@cleoparkerdance.org; www.cleoparkerdance.org/Academy

Mobile Cinema Lab Summer Intensive

Creative Camps at Studio Arts Boulder 06-01-2024 • 08-30-2024 Dates vary by camp session Fuel your child’s creativity in our hands-on art camps! Designed for all skill levels, kids will explore a dynamic art form and learn techniques to craft unique pieces. Camps run from June to August at multiple locations in Boulder. View the schedule and register at studioartsboulder.org/camps.

Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 8 to 16; 1010 Aurora Ave., Boulder; 720-379-6033; registration@studioartsboulder.org; www. studioartsboulder.org/camps

Denver Center for the Performing Arts Child & Teen Summer Classes

McLeod9 Creative

06-03-2023 • 08-09-2023 Class duration varies depending on the course. It’s more than just acting. Our classes help form well-rounded, articulate and empathetic individuals. Whether your student is just discovering their voice or is ready for master-level instruction, we have the perfect courses to help them grow and thrive. Students learn first-hand from our professional teaching staff, who bring decades of professional experience to their classes and curriculum.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 3-18; 1101 13th Street, Denver Center for the Performing Arts; 303-446-4892; education@dcpa.org; www.denvercenter.org/education/ child-teen-acting-classes/

students 13-16 years old who are serious about the art of creating original music. With instruction coming from the staff and faculty at the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music and the Newman Center for the Performing Arts, students are given the tools to find their own unique voices as artists and music-makers. Two sessions will be available: June 10-14 and June 17-21.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 13-16; 2960 North Speer Blvd., North High School, Denver; 303-871-6543; luke.wachter@du.edu; www.newmancenterpresents.com/ education/music-creators-camp

Music Creators Camp Mobile Cinema Lab Summer Intensive

06-10-2024 • 06-28-2024 9am-3pm, Monday-Friday Seeking Storytellers and Filmmakers! The acclaimed SeriesFest Mobile Cinema Lab Summer Intensive is looking for students ages 13-18 who are seeking to apply, grow, and hone their skills for creating content. By using professional film equipment, students will work as a team to write, direct, edit, and act in their own short film or TV Pilot, guided by film industry experts. This inspiring three week camp is open to all levels of aspiring filmmakers- beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The camp concludes with a special red carpet screening for friends and family!

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 13-18; 9075 E. Lowery Blvd, Cinematic Arts Department, Denver; 720-295-0221; nicolebarker@seriesfest.com; www.seriesfest.com/short-film-camp/

Music s cC Creators eato s

06-17-2024 • 06-21-2024 Music Creators Camp is for students 13-16 years old who are serious about the art of creating original music. Students learn to compose, create and produce original music using industry standard technology taught by some of Denver’s best composers and educators including the DU Lamont School of Music.

Cost: $501 and up Ages: 13-16; 2960 North Speer Blvd., North High School, Denver; 303-871-6543; luke.wachter@du.edu; www.newmancenterpresents.com/ education/music-creators-camp

Summer Arts + Culture Camp at Museo de las Americas

06-10-2024 • 06-14-2024 Music Creators Camp is a one-week experience for

06-24-2024 • 07-12-2024 Time: 9am to 1pm Museo de las Americas and partners will guide your kids through a fun and enriching summer camp full of singing, dancing, art, and learning from June 24th through July 12th, 2024. Each year we select a different Latin American

country to focus on. This year, campers will be learning all about Cuba. In this multidisciplinary arts experience with activities that dives deep into Cuban culture, the rich musical roots, art, history, ecology and its people from this beautiful Caribbean island. Lunch provided & scholarships available.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 4-11 years old; 861 Santa Fe Drive, Museo de las Americas, Denver; 303-571-4401; programs@museo.org; www.museo.org/programs/summer-camps

Summer Dance Camps at Colorado Conservatory of Dance

Amanda Tipton Photography

06-17-2024 • 07-27-2024 Register on a weekly basis. Children’s Camp ages 5-8, $480/week: Whether drawing inspiration from popular culture or delving into the rich tapestry of literature, our weekly themes are thoughtfully curated to enhance your experience and provide a dynamic, engaging environment.

We emphasize creativity and physical activity through dance. Children’s Camp ages 9-12, $580/week: Our Intermediate Dance Intensive offers a variety of incredible movement classes to enrich and strengthen intermediate dancers in a fun and focused environment. Our core classes include: Ballet, Conditioning, Pilates, and Dance Creation with a focused dance form that is non-ballet.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 5 to 12; 3001 Industrial Ln, #12, Broomfield; 303-466-5685; info@ccdance.org; www.ccdance.org/summer

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DAY CAMP Swallow Hill Music Camps

Explore Camp and House of Rock Camp at Swallow Hill

06-10-2024 • 08-16-2024 M-F 9am - 3pm (aftercare available) Unplug and Play • Explore and play many different instrument • Learn from expert musicians • Boost confidence and amp up focus • Make music, make friends!

All skill levels welcome! Aftercare and tuition assistance available.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 6-18; 71 E. Yale Ave., Swallow Hill Music, Denver; 303-777-1003; info@swallowhillmusic.org; www. swallowhillmusic.org/camps/

06-03-2024 • 07-26-2024 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

Our summer programs have been around since 1951. Our campers come from as far away as Arvada, Castle Rock, Evergreen, and Parker. With over 20 different programs per week, you can choose from a variety of activities that are all fun, engaging, and challenging—both intellectually and physically. Our campus consists of 94 acres of beautiful Colorado countryside in southwest Denver. Plus, we transport kids to different attractions around Denver, so you can add variety to your child’s summer activities and let us do the driving. Extended care, bus service, swimming lessons, outdoor pool, hot lunches.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 4-16; 3800 South Pierce Street, Southwest Denver ; 303-914-2531; summer.programs@coloradoacademy. org; www.coloradoacademysummer.org

South Suburban Parks and Recreation

General

Colorado Academy Summer Programs

and activities, ranging from soccer and outdoor adventure, to esports and jewelry making. Camps will be offered at the South Suburban Sports Complex, Buck, Goodson and Lone Tree recreation centers, Carson Nature Center and dozens of parks in our community. Space is limited, so secure your spot today. Visit ssprd.org for more information and to register!

Cost: $0-$100; Ages: 13-18; 4810 East County Line Road, LittletonCentennial-Lone Tree; 303-347-5999; registration2@ssprd.org; www.ssprd.org

solve in a fun and safe environment. We offer full-day and half-day camp options, allowing you to tailor your child’s summer experience to fit your family’s schedule.

Need extra care before or after camp hours? No problem! Our extended care options provide peace of mind, with before-camp care available from 7:30-9 a.m., and after-camp care from 3:30-6 p.m.

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 3-18; 4545 S University Blvd, St. Mary’s Academy - Englewood; 303-762-8300; mkenny@smanet.org; www. stmarys.academy/summer

Summer at Kent Denver School

Nature/Environment ENOR Environmental p Discoveryy Camp

Carol MacKay Photography

06-03-2024 • 07-26-2025 Day camps Summer at Kent Denver offers over 100 opportunities for children ages 4-18 in the Arts, Academics, Innovation, Technology, Athletics and our amazing Tiny Farm Day Camp. Our 2024 camps are packed full of engaging and innovative curriculum, creative and inspiring opportunities for fun, community-centered activities and the chance to connect with friends both new and old. Our classes emphasize the excitement of learning and playing in a safe, child-centered environment. From visiting with ponies at the Tiny Farm to playing in sports camps with our varsity coaches and so much more, there’s learning and summer fun for everyone!

Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 4-18; 4000 E Quincy Ave, Englewood, Colorado; 303-770-7660; summer@kentdenver.org; www.kentdenver.org/summercamps

Wildcat Summer Camp South Suburban Parks and Recreation

05-28-2024 • 08-09-2024 Soak up the fun at South Suburban summer camps!

Whether you’re looking to stay active with sports and recreation or get creatve with crafts and classes, there’s something for everyone. South Suburban offers more than 50 different summer camps, classes

06-17-2024 • 08-09-2024 Camps available from 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Immerse your child in a summer of excitement at Wildcat Summer Camp at St. Mary’s Academy.

Our camp program is designed with your child in mind. From various activities to adventurous sports, your child can explore, create, discover, and problem-

06-10-2024 • 07-12-2024 7:30 am - 4:30 pm Mon-Fri Since 1974, the Eagle’s Nest Owl’s Roost (ENOR) Environmental Discovery Camp has been a beacon of outdoor education, inspiring generations to connect with nature and foster a love for the environment. This year marks a monumental milestone as we celebrate 50 years of environmental discovery and learning. ENOR offers outdoor adventures, team-building activities, nature crafts and exploration, and environmental stewardship.

Camp is Monday – Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. throughout most of June and the beginning of July. Join us in commemorating this incredible journey!_For more information and to register: https://bit.ly/ ENOR4H Cost: $251-$500; Ages: 8-13; 15200 W 6th Avenue, Unit C, Golden Colorado; 303-271-6637; srmoore@jeffco.us; www. jeffco.extension. colostate.edu/programs/enorenvironmental-discovery-camp/

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DAY CAMP & FAMILY CAMP Sports

Meadow Creek Summer Tennis Camps

Jody Dart

06-01-2024 • 08-10-2024 Monday-Friday and Saturdays Our Summer tennis camps offer something for players of all ages and abilities. Whether your child has never picked up a racquet or is a high school level competitor, we have something for everyone. We also host Junior Tennis Training (JrTT) for kids looking for a more robust Summer program encompassing 8 weeks. Registration is weekly with sibling discount available. All camp days are rain or shine on our 7 indoor, 3 outdoor courts.

Times are dependent on level of play. Tennis is not only a lifelong sport, but both fun to learn and fun to play!

Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 4-18; 6305 West 6th Avenue, Lakewood; 303-232-6272; news@meadowcreektennis.com; www.meadowcreektennis.com

05-18-2024 • 08-08-2024 4 day camp Learn to Row with Mile High Rowing Club: 4 day camps run May 18- Aug 8th for 13-18 year olds. Learn the basics of rowing in sculling and sweep boats like the 8’s featured in “Boys in the Boat.” For more information: https://milehighrowing.org/index.html and to register: https://www.regattacentral.com/ clubs/?org_id=2961 Cost: $251-$500 Ages: 13-18; Cherry Creek State Park, 4800 S. Dayton, Cherry Creek State Park; 617-871-9283; info@milehighrowingclub.org; www.regattacentral.com/ clubs/?org_id=2961

Run with the Lions Youth Running Camp

Swimming Simply Swim Camp

06-10-2024 • 08-02-2024 Full Day and Half Day Options Kick-start your swimmer’s abilities during this unique, instructive, and FUN camp! With expert and personalized swim instruction, yoga and a variety of other fun activities, your swimmers are sure to have a terrific week! We have full day options for independent swimmers age 7 and up, and half day options for emerging swimmers, ages 4-7, who need in-water assistance.

Ages: 4-15 is $400 and up.

Locations in Denver & Aurora. 117000 E 11th Ave. Dates 6/10/24 – 8/2/24; 303-554-7946; welcome@swimmingsimply.com; swimmingsimply.com

Vail Recreation District Sports Camps

Mile High Rowing Club Learn to Row

Sydney Ayers

Mile High Rowing Club Coach Grace

sydney@rightstartevents.com; www. rightstartevents. com/youth-running-camp

06-03-2024 • 06-06-2024 Camp runs from 8:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. each day Littleton High School and Right Start Race Management are offering the Run with the Lions Youth Running Camp for young runners ages 12-16. The camp is June 3-6, 2024 at the school. Each half-day session from 8:0011:00 a.m. includes running, stretching and informative lectures on topics like running mechanics, nutrition, competition basics, injury prevention and more. The cost is $250 per participant until 3/31/24. The price goes to $300 from 4/1/24 to 6/3/24.

The registration fee covers all training, lectures, food and a special camp T-shirt.

More information and registration details are at rightstartevents.com/youth-runningcamp.

Cost: $251-$500 Ages: 12-16; 199 E. Littleton Blvd., Littleton High School; 303-324-3880;

06-03-2024 • 08-16-2024 Camps take place throughout the summer from June-August.

Each summer, the Vail Recreation District offers a wide variety of sports camps taught by incredible coaches - for example, our basketball camp is coached by NBA All-Star Sidney Moncrief, and our baseball camp is taught by CSU-Pueblo legend Stan Sanchez!

Taking place in scenic Vail and EagleVail, camps include baseball, basketball, cheerleading, flag football, golf, gymnastics, hockey, lacrosse, mountain biking, pickleball, soccer, sports training, tennis and volleyball.

Camps range from two to five days. Come up to the mountains this summer and enjoy our high-quality camps that kids of all ages will love! For camp details, visit www.vailrec.com.

Cost: $101-$250 Ages: 4-17; 700 S Frontage Rd E,Vail Valley; 970-479-2280; sports@vailrec.com; www.vailrec.com/sports-activities/youthcamps/youth-activities-summer-sports-camps

General

Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families

06-06-2024 • 09-02-2024 Camp is Thursday PM to Sunday AM. Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families is a post-adoption resource dedicated to promoting healthy adoption, racial, and ethnic identities in transracial, transnational, and domestic adoptees by creating an intrinsic sense of belonging through our programming and community. Through our 9 camps, we focus on supporting international and domestic adoptive families, including adopted children, parents, non-adopted siblings, and extended family. We believe that “camp never ends” for an adoptee or an adoptive family. We have programming forYoung Adult Adoptees (ages 18-23) and for parent alumni.

Additionally, our camps are a resource for foster parents and waiting parents.

Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 2-99; YMCA,YMCA Estes Park andYMCA Fraiser; 303-320-4234; info@heritagecamps.org; www.heritagecamps.org

Heritage Camps for Adoptive Families

06-06-2024 • 09-02-2024 Each Camp starts on Thursday PM and ends Sunday AM Since 1992, HCAF has been supporting the healthy development of families formed by adoption. We promote the successful transition of adopted children into healthy, confident, well-grounded adults who are proud of themselves, their families, and their heritage. Whether your child was adopted internationally or domestically, HCAF helps adoptive families become part of a larger community “just like themselves,” with shared experiences, challenges, and opportunities.

More Than An Annual Vacation! Current research in adoption supports HCAF’s approach to social integration and self-esteem

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FAMILY CAMP & OVERNIGHT CAMP building. More than just an annual vacation, HCAF fosters meaningful connections with other adoptive families and cultural communities.

Cost: $101-$250; Ages: 2-99; 2052 Elm Street,YMCA - Frasier and Estes Park locations; 303-320-4234; info@heritagecamps.org; www.heritagecamps.org

Nature/Environment

Food and Garden Delights

05-25-2024 • 08-03-2024 Sign up for one or all sessions! New content weekly.

Food and Flower Delights! Weekend wellness and healthy inspirations from garden to table guidance is what this camp will offer you.You get to play with planting and harvesting and learn how to create enjoyable fresh, whole foods and flavor sensations. Starting with a simple sampling of foods and flowers that you love, we explore growing vegetables and flowers in the garden, we will build an herb library, play with bouquet enhancement, encorperate artistic photography, and include practicing the art of savoring the foods and flowers that nourish!

Cost: $0-$100 Ages: Children ages 10+ and elders accompanied by adult family members or caretakers are welcome. Ages 10-100!; 3299 S Quivas St, Englewood Colorado; 303-656-6084; ibritt@vibrantapproach.com; www.vibrantapproach.com

Vibrant Approach, LLC

Adventure

Ajax Sleepaway

06-23-2024- • 08-10-2024 We offer 1-week and 2-week sessions. Located on 320 acres of mountainous terrain about 1.5 hours from Aspen in the Roaring Fork Valley and 1.5 hours from Vail in the Eagle Valley. We provide transportation from Denver, Eagle, and Basalt.

For boys & girls who love adventure, the mountains, building camp traditions, fun outdoor activities, & don’t mind getting dirty! On the ranch you will discover 4 ponds, 1/4’ mile of ziplining, rock-climbing, archery, paddleboarding, fishing, laser tag, arts&crafts, archery dodgeball, bmx bikes, s’mores, streams, waterfalls, springs, aspen forests, pine forests, elk, moose, deer, farm animals, more s’mores, and majestic mountain peak views.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 8-13; 28525 Brush Creek Road, Mtn Between Vail & Aspen (We provide transportation), Meredith; 970-718-6008; info@ajaxsleepaway.com; www.ajaxsleepaway.com

Ajax Sleepaway

Enrollment begins February 16 - Camps run June-August To register: Visit arvadacenter.org, call the Box Office at 720.898.7200

WEEKLY WATERSPORTS CAMPS SAILING & PADDLE CAMP Ages 6 – 14 | Mon – Fri | May 28th – August 9th 8:30 am – 4 pm COLORADOWATERSPORTS.COM | 303.697.7433 INFO@COLORADOWATERSPORTS.COM

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OVERNIGHT CAMP General

Blue Mountain Ranch

Tim Graf

06-08-2024 • 08-04-2024 Three sessions offered. Stay a week or stay all summer. Blue Mountain Ranch is a third generation owned and operated summer camp. For the past 78 years BMR has been enriching the lives of children from across the country and globe.

BMR is a coeducational overnight camp for children ages 7-15 years old. Campers gain independence and confidence through the ability to choose their daily activities.

With our emphasis being participation over competition we provide a welcoming environment for all children. BMR is a fun safe place for kids to be kids and disconnect from technology and reconnect with childhood. We are the summer camp you have been looking for!

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 7-15; 11227 County Rd 98, Florissant, CO, Florissant; 719-748-3279; camp@bluemountainranch.com; www.bluemountainranch.com

Camp Granite Lake

Camp Granite Lake

06-17-2024• 08-10-2024 4 sessions Traditional (20 days) and Mini-Camps (5 days). A family-owned, co-ed

overnight camp for 1st-9th graders, set on a beautiful 135-acre property with a private lake. Located one hour from Denver/45 minutes from Boulder. CGL focuses on creating a kind, inclusive camp community for all, with welltrained, role-model staff helping kids make new friends. We allow campers to reconnect with nature, disconnect from technology and have fun choosing their own activity schedule. Over 20 different activities including sailing, rock-climbing, woodworking, culinary, archery, ceramics and kayaking. Traditional 20-day sessions for 2nd-9th graders, or 5-day Mini-Camps for 1st-4th graders. ACA accredited, CDHS licensed. Visit website for more details/camp videos/virtual tour.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: 7-16; 11902 Camp Eden Road, Golden, Colorado, Golden; 720-249-2997; directors@campgranitelake.com; www.campgranitelake.com

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OVERNIGHT CAMP Nature/Environment Horse Crazy Camp

2024-06-01 • 2024-08-15; Camps are Sunday thru Friday. The camp for those who want to spend a week away and really want to ride horses. That’s what we do - feed horses, groom horses, but mostly ride horses.

We ride every day in the Flat Tops of the White River National Forest. It’s fun being horse crazy!!! Each camper will care for their horse, including feeding, grooming, saddling, and riding. Everyone will receive one-on-one basic training in various aspects of horsemanship. We’ll spend nights doing crafts or around the campfire and learning about the stars. Accommodations at the ranch are in the main house or in the bunkhouse.

Cost: $501 and up; Ages:10-18; 300 county road 75, Meeker, CO - Rio Blanco County, Meeker (Rio Blanco County); 970-878-4749; mhaskett@jmloutfitters.com; www.horsecrazycamp.com

and Family Camp sits at the base of Longs Peak in Estes Park, CO. Here at camp, we find ourselves at an interesting and fortunate intersection, between outdoor adventure, faith, and youth. Through our summer camps, we look to combine these three distinct elements for the growth of all of our campers. We’ll challenge your camper(s) to grow, to learn, to make new friends, and to have loads of fun – all in a safe, faith-filled environment. In addition to in-camp programming, our proximity to Rocky Mountain National Park allows for adventuring in the Park itself!

Cost: $501 and up; Ages: Rising 4th Grade to 12th Grade; 7400 State Highway 7, Estes Park, CO, Estes Park; 970-586-5689; info@annunciationheights.org; www.annunciationheights.org/summercamp/

Special Needs

RoundUp River Ranch

Religious

Annunciation Heights

Annunciation Heights

2024-06-02 • 2024-07-19; Base Camp and Rustic Camp sessions registered by sex/ age. Annunciation Heights Catholic Youth

2024-06-06 • 2024-08-12; 6 Day Camps for Kids with Medical Diagnoses FREE camp programs for children with serious illnesses (and their awesome families)! We offer extraordinary camp experiences that allow kids to take a vacation from being “a patient” and get back to the fun of being a child. Campers join us at our campsite in Gypsum, Colorado for medically supported week-long Summer Camps and weekend Family Camps. Campers also join us from their own homes or hospital rooms through our year-round Outreach Programs. Diagnoses include: GI and kidney conditions, heart transplants and conditions, cancer, blood disorders, neurological conditions, and other illnesses. Check our website for medical conditions we serve.

Cost: $0 Ages: 7-17; 8333 Colorado River Road, Gypsum, Co, Gypsum; 970-524-2267; info@roundupriverranch.org; www.roundupriverranch.org

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SUMMER CAMP CAMP DEFINES AND DEVELOPS CHARACTER Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines character as one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual. Character development is tricky.

It isn’t something that can be learned from a textbook or in a lecture — it is learned through teachable moments and experiences. So where can families turn to help provide the right environment for character development? Families can go to camp.

Associates and ACA, campers said the following:

• Abigail, age nine, said, “I learned how to be honest about stuff.”

• “I learned a lot about respect and my real values in life, what they really should

be,” said Louise, age fourteen.

“Camp provides opportunities for youth to learn new skills and gain new experiences, including teamwork, collaboration, cooperation, problem solving, resilience, and self-esteem. Children will grow and carry these qualities for the rest of their lives.”

— Tom Rosenberg, President/CEO of the American Camp Association

• Sam, age twelve, said, “At camp I learned how to be part of a team . . . sometimes you have to rely on someone to do a task or goal.You have to trust each other.”

For over a century, millions of families have been benefiting from the positive, supportive environment provided by the camp experience. Camp develops character when:

About American Camp Association The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience.

ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

• Children and youth feel safe and nurtured, allowing them to take healthy risks and develop character organically; • Supporting mentors model positive character traits and lead by example; and • Camp provides teachable moments — for example, a disagreement about the

rules of a field game becomes a lesson on integrity, honesty, and fair play.

In a study of youth development outcomes conducted by Philliber Research

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Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association. ©2024, American Camping Association, Inc.

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SUMMER CAMP CAMP UNPLUGGED: LOOSENING THE DIGITAL UMBILICAL

by Christopher A. Thurber, PhD Young people between eight and eighteen spend an average of 6.5 hours a day absorbed in media — much of the time is solitary.

what makes the most sense for your circumstances, your own family’s values and history, and your child’s development.

Pro-Children Solutions Electronic technology has done a lot to make life more convenient. Sadly, the 1950s dream of having robots and computers do most jobs so that adults could work fifteen-hour weeks never came true. In fact, the seductiveness of new technology probably contributes to most Americans’ working longer than forty hours per week. For many people, checking their e-mail outside of work hours is habitual. Others keep their cell phone handy to make and receive calls during time off. This summer, I regularly saw parents “on vacation” at the beach checking their e-mail on handheld devices while their children splashed in the ocean. Sure, these gadgets are convenient, but they easily blur the lines between work, play, and family time.

• Telephones. Telephone calls are inexpensive, simple, and instantaneous. Nevertheless, some camps have a “no phone/no call” policy because they recognize that telephone calls exacerbate homesickness and erode children’s independence. Although parents and camp directors may have phone contact, campers are not typically permitted to make or receive calls. (Exceptions are made for family emergencies, of course.) Some sevenor eight-week camps allow scheduled weekly phone calls. Again, this policy reflects the belief that phone contact is not a treatment for homesickness, nor should it interfere with the growth in self-reliance most camps seek to promote.

Electronic technologies also provide a mixed bag — sorry, stream — of media. Television programs, DVD movies, Internet sites, and video games are entertaining, often educational. On the other hand, unsavory content and time absorption are the two most frequently cited problems associated with these media. Research last year by the Kaiser Foundation concluded that young people between eight and eighteen spend an average of 6.5 hours a day absorbed in media. Most of it is electronic and much of the time is solitary.

So parents can be drawn into more work; children into more isolating, unwholesome screen time. Sound familiar? Probably. These are becoming such trendy laments in 21st century America that some of you may be tempted to stop reading here. But don’t, because the rest of this article is about solutions. Not pro-technology or anti-technology, but pro-children, procamp solutions.

Password: Thoughtful Use Can there be any way out of the technology trap? Can there be uses of technology that connect, rather than disconnect people? What can save children from the (de)vices of the modern world? The answers, of course, are: Yes, yes, and camp.

Is it really that simple? Indeed. All it requires is thoughtful application of intentionally selected technologies. Whatever the technology, it must meet one of four criteria: efficiency, connection, education, and entertainment.

Electronic technologies are particularly welcome when they save us time, nourish our relationships, teach us something, or amuse us in healthy, wholesome ways. If your next use of a cell phone, computer, digital music player, or handheld hybrid meets one of these criteria, without noticeably eroding one of the other criteria, then it has passed the “thoughtful” test.

• E-mail. Many camps allow parents to send e-mails to their children which are sorted and distributed with the regular mail. Like phone calls, these e-mails are inexpensive and simple, but unlike a call, children and parents don’t hear the sound of each others’ voices. As tender as real voices are in other contexts, such immediate contact while children are at camp reliably flares campers’ homesickness (and parents’ “kid-sickness”).

By contrast, e-mails have the advantage of being more like a traditional letter. They are written, not spoken, so they can be handled and reread at will. And until recently, campers replied using traditional letters — most still do.

• Facsimile. Faxes used to be the ugly duckling of the tech world.

Today, plain paper faxes resolve images almost as well as photocopy machines, and some camps are using faxes to send campers’ handwritten letters to their eager parents. Potentially, a parent could send an e-mail to their child in the morning and receive a faxed reply in the afternoon.

Potentially, this also creates an unnecessary burden for parents, children, and camp staff.

• Photographs. Since the 1920s, some camps have published photographic yearbooks. Of course, families had to wait until Thanksgiving to receive a copy. The advantage of such a long wait was that it forced children to recreate a verbal narrative of the experience. These narratives not only helped parents understand their child’s camp experience, they also helped children comprehend it, especially the parts that may have (Continue on page: 15)

These days, every camp uses electronic technology of some sort, from telephones to toasters. Even the most rustic and isolated camps use electronic technologies for safety (e.g., GPS units, walkie-talkies, satellite phones) or publicity (e.g., Web pages). Evaluating a camp’s appropriate use of technology no longer involves questioning whether it uses new technology, but how.

Famil-E-Values Every family has different values and a different history with technology.

For some, what camp offers is welcome relief from the burdensome yoke of electronic technologies. For other families, camp might offer tools that truly enhance interpersonal connections. As you consider each point, ask yourself

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SUMMER CAMP CAMP UNPLUGGED: LOOSENING THE DIGITAL UMBILICAL been challenging or confusing. Today, such narratives may be bypassed because camps are posting hundreds of digital photographs a day on their Web sites. Parents at home or at work can instantly view, purchase, and download photos of their child at camp. Of course, this can also create undue anxiety when your child is not photographed on a certain day, or appears not to be smiling in a certain snapshot.

• Video Streaming. You thought photos captured the camp experience on your desktop? What about live digital video using Web cams placed strategically around camp? Whereas some camps see this as the ultimate way to give parents a window into their child’s world, others see it as the ultimate way to rob children of an experience all their own. Even more so than the provision of photographs, this medium may create more anxiety than it was designed to quell and encourage children to bypass a truly interactive, personal narrative with their parents. Why write during camp or talk after camp when mom and dad already saw it all on their laptop?

Run the Diagnostics In your search for the camp that best matches your child’s interests and abilities, consider that the thoughtful application of electronic technology requires two things. First, it must meet one or more of the criteria of efficiency, connection, education, and wholesome entertainment without eroding any of the other criteria. Second, it must be in accord with the camp’s stated mission. If a camp hasn’t applied technology thoughtfully, consider other camps that have.

Any camp that passes these diagnostic tests must now pass two tough parent tests: First, does the camp’s application of technology match your value system? For example, the camp may provide live streaming video, thus providing a kind of connection and entertainment that is in accord with its stated mission of inviting parents to witness camp as it happens. But does this match your value system, which may include affording your child an opportunity to independently explore a new place and new relationships? Are you comfortable that someone could hack past the camp’s Web site password and view camp activities, or does that threaten your sense of safety and privacy?

If the camp’s technology passes your values test, the second test is this: Does the camp’s application of technology give you an opportunity to take a break from full-time parenthood? As much as parents and children might miss one another, both say their relationship is stronger when they’ve had some

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time apart. However, if the camp’s use of technology makes more work for you, it diminishes one of the benefits of time apart: respite for you.

Worth the Wait • Remember that camp is not the stock market or a breaking news story. It’s community living, away from home, in a natural, recreational setting.

Nothing needs to be transmitted at the speed of light. Plus, children are exposed to electronic technology all year. It’s nice for them to have a break during the summer.

It’s also healthy for children and parents to talk with each other about their experiences after spending some planned time apart. Technologies should not crowd out the necessary psychological space for dialogue. The artificial needs created by new electronic technologies — to see and hear everything the instant it happens — are not always developmentally appropriate needs for our children. To wait a few days for a traditional letter to arrive, for example, gives parents and children alike the time to reflect, form new relationships, solve problems independently, and understand their emotions.

In these ways, unplugging the digital umbilical promotes healthy growth and self-reliance.

Wireless Interpersonal Networking (WIN) • An ancient technology — wireless interpersonal networking — has the advantage of being the most reliable, easy-to-learn, no-cost, virus-free option for children to connect at camp. In fact, camps were originally conceived — back in the 1860s — as the ideal connectivity platform for wireless interpersonal networking. What is wireless interpersonal networking? It’s an honest-to-goodness, face-to-face, totally free, real-time, one-on-one conversation between your child and another human being. Such networking has widespread applications for new camper-camper connections and camper-staff connections. The technology may also be transferred, without clumsy cables or costly upgrades, to camper-parent interactions, both in handwritten letters and post-camp conversations. This kind of connection is so precious and rewarding, it may be what you and your child remember best about camp.

Christopher A. Thurber, Ph.D., a board-certified clinical psychologist, is co-author of The Summer Camp Handbook. A proponent of the thoughtful application of electronic technology, Chris’s latest project is hosting The Secret Ingredients of Summer Camp Success, an ACA DVD-CD released in February 2006.

About American Camp Association The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

Originally printed in CAMP Magazine, reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association © 2006 American Camping Association, Inc.

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SUMMER CAMP PREPARE YOUR CHILD . . . AND YOURSELF FOR CAMP! For parents, the most heart-racing, adrenalin pumping moments happen when you let go and watch your child try something on his or her own. The moment the training wheels come off, the first trip down the driveway on the skateboard, the time our children ride the school bus – these are more than just memories, these are critical moments that define growth and change. For many families, the first time they send their child to camp is one of the biggest let go, hold your breath, and watch them soar moments in childhood.

Camp is an equal opportunity life-changer. By sending a child to camp, families are truly giving a gift that lasts a lifetime. By taking steps to mentally prepare for camp, families not only keep from getting “kid-sick” for their camper, but they can stay positive about the camp experience – which goes a long way toward helping first-time campers adjust to life at camp. And just like taking off the training wheels, the moment families see their camper radiating confidence and joy they will feel that burst of pride and gratitude that they allowed their child this experience.

In today’s world of high-tech kids and families who have a constant connection to each other, it’s essential to take the time to emotionally prepare for camp. It is, of course, important to prepare the first-time camper, but families need to make sure that Mom, Dad, younger siblings at home – virtually everyone – is ready to adjust to camp life. The American Camp Association® (ACA) provides the following tips to help ease first-time families into the camp experience:

About American Camp Association The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience.

ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

• Parents – As parents, it is important to focus on the positive aspects of camp.

Remember that separation is natural, necessary, and inevitable – what better place to have that first experience than in a caring and nurturing environment designed specifically for children? Parents can also focus on the amazing benefits of camp – an experiential education like no other teaching valuable 21st century survival skills like leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and interpersonal communication. “The greatest gifts that parents can give their child are independence and resiliency,” said Peg Smith, ACA’s former chief executive officer. “Parents should remember that by choosing camp they are giving both.”

• Siblings - Bob Ditter, family therapist and one of the nation’s leading experts on camp, cautions it is likely that the child left at home will experience separation anxiety and truly miss his or her sibling. To help them prepare, be sure to talk about the upcoming separation. Before the eldest child leaves for camp take a picture of your children together that the sibling can keep in their room or carry around. Remind your children about the communication they can have with each other through letters and postcards.

• Other family members – Be sure that everyone is aware of the upcoming

experience. Let family members know how to contact camper if they are interested through letters and care packages — make sure they are aware of any communication policies the camp may have, i.e. no phone calls or restrictions on what can be sent in a care package. In addition, an increasing number of camps are using Web sites to display photos or video during the camp session.

According to ACA’s 2011 Emerging Issues Survey, 75 percent of responding camps indicate that they post photos or videos to a Web site for families to view.

Forty-five percent indicate that they post information, photos, and videos to social media outlets like Facebook. Families should be sure to ask camp directors about these options.

Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association. ©2024, American Camping Association, Inc.

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SUMMER CAMP WHY DAY CAMP?

By Marla Coleman Children learn life skills that become habits of the heart.

Another mother wrote that the family was on a ski trip. The son got to the top of a steep hill and started to panic. The mom said, “What would you do if you were at camp?” and he proceeded to engage himself in positive self-talk that was part of the camp culture: “It may take time, it may be hard; but stick with it, and you’ll be fine!” He skied down with a huge sense of accomplishment and perseverance.

It’s tough to be a kid these days. It’s tough to be a parent. In a society where the nature of the family, the work place, and the community have changed dramatically, we can no longer assume that the natural process of growing up will provide children the experiences and the resources they need to become successful, contributing adults. In sharp contrast to the traditions of growing up in the 50s and 60s, today we live in the first moment when humans receive more of their information second-hand than first!

We are in a climate where it is harder to know what we need to survive, so drawing on experiences that give children healthy alternatives and opportunities to instill capabilities, the hallmarks of thriving, is the greatest gift you can give a young child.

Does it really matter if my child doesn’t go to day camp, especially since she will go to overnight camp in a few years? She is only four years old — why does she need day camp?

Camp provides one of the very few links with a world larger than the consumer culture we inhabit — and day camp is one important choice in a quiver of options. The camp experience helps children and youth develop an appreciation of their place and their responsibility in a much larger universe.

A preschooler — or even an older child who might be reluctant to go to overnight camp — can join a community that is created especially for her to practice growing up. Why wait until age ten when the benefits of feeling connected and being able to contribute and navigate at an earlier age can be reaped? Under the supervision of inspiring guides and passionate coaches, children can feel successful and make new friends while having the time of their lives; they can experience belonging and contribution; they can have a sense of consistency and predictability in times of turbulence and change.

Day camp can begin as early as age three, and is geared to children who get to experience camp and still return home each evening! They have the best of both worlds — the camp community which is built exclusively for kids and their own home which provides the security they need at a tender age.

Marla Coleman is the parent liaison at Camp Echo in Burlingham, New York.

A past board chair of the American Camp Association, she is a co-owner of Coleman Family Camps, which includes Camp Echo and Coleman Country Day Camp.

Reprinted from CAMP Magazine by permission of the American Camp Association. ©2005, American Camping Association, Inc. About American Camp Association The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

SUMMER

OF FUN IN VAIL!

One day camp parent said, “While my children and I are constantly bombarded by the news which is focused on what is wrong with the world, camp is a living example of what is right.”

Day camp is a terrific first experience. Reminiscent of less complicated days, when people connected with nature, thrived on inter-generational relationships, and made new discoveries, everything is designed and scaled to ensure that children feel included, cared about, and capable. Beginning camp at an early age provides important advantages.

Camp is the best demonstration of moral and spiritual order — democracy is the core purpose. Children learn life skills and behaviors that become habits of the heart. While many then move on to overnight camp, others will be content to continue the day camp experience: after all, there is a camp for everyone — and that might well be day camp!

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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2024

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SUMMER CAMP THE BOY IN THE BOAT LIFE LESSONS LEARNED AT CAMP

by Stephen Wallace, MS Ed, and Ben Seifer As summer begins, parents are finalizing post-school plans for their children. Often, those schedules will include camp for a week, a month, or more. Some kids will attend day programs, others will enjoy overnight experiences. Their activities may be specialized, or include a little bit of most anything. Regardless of the exact ingredients, these children will learn the true meaning of what summer camp is all about.

Among other things, camp provides children with the opportunity to connect with nature, to participate in human- powered activities, and to benefit from personal relationships. Many young people who attend camp experience an increase in their self-esteem (independent research has found 92 percent of them say that the people at camp helped them feel good about themselves) and are able to establish a true sense of independence.

Kids also say that because of camp … “I developed lasting friendships”... “I became a team player”... “I learned how to care.”

One Boy’s Journey Through Camp Ben was the boy in the boat. A gregarious go-getter whose journey through camp was inextricably linked to sailboats on the water. The lessons he learned at camp originated from, or were reinforced by, the challenges he faced as a skipper, navigating the uncertain and constantly shifting conditions of wind, tide, crew, and competition. Learning lessons about self-reliance, self-confidence, exploration, and responsibility — all important metrics of a successful summer camp experience and harbingers of what follows.

Below, Ben and I take turns talking about what those metrics mean to each of us.

The Camp Director and the Kid Self-Reliance SW: Developmental dictates eventually steer young people away from dependence on their parents and toward independence and self-reliance.

In psychological terms, it’s called developing an “internal” as opposed to “external” locus of control — meaning that what formerly was other-directed (“Do this”; “Don’t do that”) is now self-directed (“I should do this” and “I shouldn’t do that”). Shorn of long-established support systems, kids at camp must identify the resources that can help them meet personal and group goals, resolve conflicts, and find success.

BS: When my parents’ SUV moved out of sight, I was, for the first time in my nine years of life, on my own. It didn’t hit me right away that the next morning my mom wouldn’t be there to wake me up, my dad to help me sail, or even that I wouldn’t come home at the end of the day to find my bed nicely made. My camp counselors introduced me to something new: adults who would show me the way but not hold my hand the entire time. I did a lot of active learning. I would always try something the first time and if I couldn’t figure it out on my own, my counselors would be there for guidance.

Self-Confidence SW: For campers, becoming self-reliant is predicated on having the selfconfidence to succeed educationally and socially. In turn, self-confidence is born of a positive sense of oneself: the experiences one has (and one’s evaluation of those experiences) and how closely one’s achievements

match one’s expectations. Campers gain self-confidence when they find meaningful, fulfilling educational and social experiences at camp, interpret those experiences correctly, and have reasonable, achievable expectations for success.

BS: At my summer camp, activity awards were handed out at assemblies.

Campers’ names were read aloud as they walked onstage to the sound of applause. In retrospect, I realized this simple act served a much greater purpose than just handing out certificates. It is not always essential for campers to become the best at whatever they choose to do, but it is essential that they feel they’ve accomplished something. Publicly recognizing a camper for his or her accomplishments builds self-confidence.

Exploration SW: Camp is, in short, about learning: learning about oneself, learning about others, and learning about new ways to approach the world. Selfconfidence leads to learning through exploration of one’s interests, abilities, and relationships. To maximize exploration, young people need to feel safe — free from fear of ridicule, sarcasm, or insult. Creating a community of caring where young people feel comfortable moving beyond their “comfort zone” to the “challenge zone” promotes exploration.

BS: My counselors were always pushing me. Pushing me during unit games, pushing me in the cabin towards new activities, pushing me to be a better sailor, and pushing me towards girls at dances. In their own ways they encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and take a risk. I developed a trust with them and in turn with the entire camp community.

Whether I was on the water, on a field, or in my cabin, I always knew that my counselors and the camp would ‘have my back.’

Responsibility SW: Beyond the buddies, baseballs, and bonfires lies the true value of the summer camp experience: a heightened sense of personal responsibility for the well-being of others. That “other orientation” manifests itself in many ways, including a strong sense of connectedness and a commitment to give of oneself. Indeed, research from SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) points out that young people who have attended summer camp are significantly more likely than those who have not to feel good about their relationships and to take positive risks, such as volunteering for community service.

BS: I met some of the greatest people in the world at camp. In fact, I made such real friendships that the time I spent at camp each summer was enough to make me feel good the entire year. One of many lifelong things I learned at camp is a conscious responsibility to always be there for my friends and for others. Away from camp, I have volunteered as a peer leader, facilitating discussions about alcohol and drug use with middle and high school students and their parents, and I have joined fellow athletes in performing community service.

Life Lessons Learned at Camp The benefits to young people of a summer at camp have long been discussed and more recently evaluated. What are they? Simply put, they are opportunities. Opportunities not exclusive to camps but rather concentrated (Continue on page: 20)

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SUMMER CAMP THE BOY IN THE BOAT LIFE LESSONS LEARNED AT CAMP at camp, where under the direction, supervision, and influence of caring counselors, young adults can learn to become more independent, more confident, more self-aware, and more giving toward others. These are just some of the life lessons learned at camp.

Stephen Wallace, MS Ed, author of the new book Reality Gap — Alcohol, Drugs, and Sex: What Parents Don’t Know and Teens Aren’t Telling, has broad experience as a school psychologist and adolescent counselor. He serves as chairman and CEO of SADD, director of counseling and counselor training at the Cape Cod Sea Camps, and adjunct professor of psychology at Mount Ida College. For more information about Stephen’s work, visit stephengraywallace. com.

Ben Seifer recently graduated from Newton South High School (MA) where he was a scholar, athlete, and newspaper columnist and editor. Among his many accomplishments, he served as captain of the varsity Alpine Ski Team, a peer educator, and community-service volunteer. In August 2008, Ben completed the Cape Cod Sea Camps’ Counselor Training Program and received the Service Cup for his integrity and selfless contributions to the

welfare of others. Ben will be attending The George Washington University in the fall. © Summit Communications Management Corporation 2009 All Rights Reserved Reprinted by permission of the American Camp Association®; © 2009 American Camping Association, Inc. About American Camp Association The American Camp Association® (ACA) is a national organization serving the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. ACA is committed to collaborating with those who believe in quality camp and outdoor experiences for children, youth, and adults. ACA provides advocacy, evidence-based education, and professional development, and is the only independent national accrediting body for the organized camp experience. ACA accreditation provides public evidence of a camp’s voluntary commitment to the health, safety, risk management, and overall well-being of campers and staff. For more information, visit ACAcamps.org or call 800-428-2267.

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