CAMP Get Ready For Sanborn Junior
The CAMPCommunity
Counselors are college sophomores or older. Many are returning to camp for their 2nd or 3rd summers or were campers. Counselors lead in-camp programs and overnight trips on and off the ranch. They come from all over the country with varied experiences, but they all have a couple important things in common: they love working with and teaching campers and LOVE camp!
Directors
The directors are people who live at camp all year. In the winter they help your parents sign you up, they have important meetings about the next summer’s trips and hire all the super cool counselors and staff. They are the people who love camp with all their hearts and know all the details really well! In the summer they are so excited to have you here! They make announcements in the lodge, sing silly songs & wear awesome costumes. They are expert fossil diggers, hula hoop makers, and backpack fitters! There are so many of them, their specifics won’t all fit on this page, so go onto the website and look for their pictures under the About Us - Meet the Directors button.
Assistant counselors, or “ACs”, as they are commonly called at camp have just completed their freshman year in college. Some ACs have been campers before and are very familiar with what goes on at camp. In addition to being out on programs and trips, ACs set the tables and wash the dishes. They have been lobbying to get spatula twirling accepted as an Olympic sport.
Campers
There are about 130 boys at Big Spring and 140 girls at High Trail. Older boys live in tents with wooden floors. The sides roll up for cool breezes and excellent star-gazing on clear nights. Younger boys live in Yurts - fun Mongolian style tents. The girls live in cabins. There are two sides to a cabin and they are joined by a cozy living room with a stone firepalce - perfect for playing games & roasting marshmallows!
Ridge Leaders
Ridge Leaders are senior staff members who typically have lots of camp experience. They are there to help support both campers and staff members, lead trips and plan all-camp activities. You can often find them walking through cabins and tents in the evenings, in the office or hanging out on activities. They are super fun people to get to know!
Nurses
Each camp has two or three nurses who live in the health center and are there to help you if you aren’t feeling so well or need a bandaid. You will meet the nurses on your first day at camp. Even if you never visit the health center, you will get to know them because they are so much fun and take part in many all-camp activities!
There are 4-5 wranglers at each camp and they work specifically with the horseback riding program. Wranglers have lots of experience working with horses and teaching kids how to ride. They lead trail rides and horse trips. Within the first couple days of camp you will head to the barn for a ‘basic prep’ session to learn how to brush and tack your horse. You might be able to recognize the wranglers by their boots and dirty jeans!
My 15-Day Sample
SCHEDULE
OpeningDay!!!Evening:
AM: Horseback Ride at the barn
PM: Mountain Odyssey Cabinside
OpeningCampfire!
AM: Camp time with your JC/ Outbacker
PM: Nature Scavenger Hunt
AM: Horseback Trail Ride
Overnight to Quicks Homestead
AM: Return from Cabinside Overnight
PM: Watercolor Painting
Evening: Skit Night!
AM: Return from Overnight
PM: Swimming at the Pool
PM: Make Slime at the Interbarn and Egg Drop at the 4-Story Treehouse Overnight to the Ute Indian Tipi Camp
AM: Horseback Trail Ride Bat Caves & Fossil Beds All Day!!
PM: Rock Scrambling at B-Bluff
AM: All-Camp Carnival
PM: Find Crystals at the Crystal Beds
Evening: All-Camp Themed Dance!
Thursday Friday Saturday
All Day Horseback Trail Ride! River All Day!!
AM: All-Camp Gymkhana
PM: Sports Games
Evening: ClosingCampfire!
Overnights
Are you ready to experience overnight camping at Sanborn Junior? Get ready for an adventure you’ll never forget! You and your friends will pack up your gear and head out to Quicks Homestead or the Ute Tipi Camp for an overnight adventure under the stars. You’ll get to sleep in cozy tents and snuggle up in your sleeping bags.
Your day will be filled with exciting games and activities like candle dipping and archery. When the sun goes down you can sit around the campfire where you’ll roast marshmallows and make delicious s’mores, then get ready for some epic stargazing!
While you are on your overnight you’ll also be learning lots of cool facts about the history of the homesteaders and Indigenous Peoples who lived in this area. It’s like stepping back in time and exploring history firsthand!
But that’s not all – for older juniors, you might get to choose between different overnight options, like an artsy-craftsy overnight where you’ll get to unleash your creativity, or a horse overnight where you’ll spend the whole day riding horses, feeding them before dinner, and even helping out the wrangler with chores at the barn the next morning. It’s every horse lover’s dream come true!
Horseback Riding
On your first full day of camp you will head down to the barn for Basic Prep. You will learn basic safety around horses and learn how to groom and saddle your own horse. Then you’ll go the arena for a fun obstacle course ride where you will learn the basics of steering and stopping, weave through the poles, and step over logs in preparation for going out on the trail the next time you ride.
Over the course of your two weeks at camp, you will get to ride four different times! During trail rides, you’ll be in control of your very own horse. You’ll get to go up and down hills and steer through the trees. If you’re feeling extra brave, you might even get to trot!
Whether this is your first time on a horse or you’ve taken horseback riding lessons before, these rides are all about having fun. Plus, you’ll have awesome wranglers and counselors you every step of the way, making sure you’re safe and having a great ride!
River All-Day
Get ready for a splashing good time on the River All-Day! We have all sorts of fun games and activities planned just for you. Whether it’s Frisbee, card games, or just splashing around, there’s something for everyone to enjoy at the river! When you’re ready to refuel, we’ll have a delicious picnic lunch waiting for you right by the water.
The best part, though, is tubing down the South Platte River! Grab your tube and get ready to ride the rapids, feel the cool water splashing against your skin, and soak up the sunshine as you float along.
If you’re feeling extra creative, you can even make your own popsicle stick boats and race them in the water. Who will build the fastest boat? It’s all up to you and your imagination!
Fossil Beds
Get your hiking boots on because we’re heading to the Fossil Beds National Monument, and along the way, we’re stopping at the Maze Caves! You’ll see huge boulders stacked on top of each other, creating mysterious caves just waiting to be explored. You’ll get to climb, crawl, and squeeze through the nooks and crannies of the Maze Caves, discovering hidden passageways and secret chambers along the way. Who knows what we’ll find inside!
We will continue on our way to the Fossil Beds National Monument. Thirty-seven million years ago, there were volcanoes that erupted, spitting ash into the air. Nearby ancient lakes were made as mud slides created dams. These ancient lakes were filled with ash, trapping and preserving giant redwood tree stumps. All sorts of creatures like insects and fish sank to the bottom of the lake and got covered by mud and rocks. Over millions of years, this turned them into fossils.
This adventure gets even cooler – after exploring the Fossil Beds, we’re going on a special trip to a private fossil quarry! In this quarry, you’ll get to become a real-life fossil hunter. You’ll learn how to split shale rocks just like a paleontologist and uncover your very own fossils hidden inside.
And guess what? Whatever fossils you find, you get to keep them! That’s right, you’ll have your very own piece of history to take home with you and show off to all your friends and family.
Eating . . .
All High Trails campers live in cabins
• High Trails Junior Cabin, Juniper, has 2 sides; 9-10 girls and 2-3 counselors live on each side of the cabin
• A shared living room with a fireplace is in the center of the cabin
• A shared bathroom contains 3 showers, 3 toilets, and 3 sinks. There are cubbies to store toiletries.
• Each camper has their own locker to store personal belongings
• Luggage is stored in a separate platform tent
At High Trails
Meals at High Trails & Big Spring
• All meals are served family-style where everyone sits together at large tables and passes around dishes; enjoy the sense of community, chat with friends, and maybe even start some chants or songs in the lodge!
• Vegetarian and gluten-free options are available at every meal
• There is always plenty of food available - - if you are super hungry you can get 2nd and 3rds to fill up and fuel up for your day’s activities
• The camps’ bakery makes fresh breads and desserts daily...yum!
and Sleeping
Big Spring Junior Campers Live in Cabins
• Big Spring Junior cabins are named Redcloud and Massive
• There are 10 campers and 2-3 counselors that live in each cabin
• Bathrooms are located inside the cabin
• Junior boys can unpack their suitcases and store belongings in their own lockers.
• Suitcases are stored in the cabin, above the lockers
At Big Spring
Frequently Asked
Questions
Can I get mail at camp?
What if it is my birthday at camp?
Many campers and staff members have their birthday while they are at camp. Sometimes we even celebrate 2 or 3 birthdays on the same day! After lunch or dinner, everyone in the lodge will sing to you and you’ll get to wear the special birthday hat when you blow out the candles on your cookie cake. Then, you can share your cake with your cabinmates! It’s super yummy!
What if I am missing home?
It is completely normal to miss home, especially when you’re in a new environment. Many campers miss home at some point. Just let your counselors know, and they will be there to listen to you. Just remember, there are so many fun and adventurous activities at camp that you won’t get to do at home. You may be missing home one minute, but once you start your trip or new activity you will start to feel better because you will be having so much fun! After the summer, most campers say they are “campsick” because they just want to go back to camp!
Mail delivery is an exciting part of the day at camp! The mail is usually delivered once a day. Your outgoing letters are put in the mailbox at the lodge and are picked up in late morning. There is even an optional one-way email service! Your parents can send you emails that will be printed for you each day through their CampInTouch accounts, they can even send invites to your friends and family so they send you emails, too! Information about this service is sent to your parents in the Getting Ready Packet. There is also a special mail system for letters traveling between Big Spring and High Trails. You won’t need a stamp for these letters. This is a great way to communicate with a brother, sister, or friend at the other camp. In case you want to give your camp address to friends before the summer, it is:
(For packages through UPS and FedEx)
Your Full Name
Big Spring or High Trails - Cabin/Unit 2000 Old Stage Road Florissant, CO 80816
(For letters mailed through the Post Office)
Your Full Name
Big Spring or High Trails - Cabin/Unit PO Box 167 Florissant, CO 80816
I have never flown alone - will someone be there to help me at the airport?
Yes! On Opening Day, we will be waiting for you at your gate the moment you step off the plane! Sanborn staff will be wearing bright orange t-shirts that say, “Sanborn Western Camps Airport Crew” so you can easily recognize us and know that we are safe people to go with. We will help you get your bags and we bring snacks to make sure you have some food in your belly before we head back to camp in charter buses or vans. Closing day is just the opposite - we will help you check in your bags, go through security with you, and wait with you until your plane takes off.
Can I choose which horse I want to ride?
Sometimes you can request which horse you would like to ride, and our Riding Program Directors will assign you a horse that is perfectly matched to your ability levels, personality, and the type of ride you are going on.
I am coming to camp alone - will I make new friends at camp?
YES! You’ll meet lots of other kids who are just as excited to be at camp as you are! Some of the best friendships are made at camp while sharing adventures. Most of the campers come to camp for the first time without knowing anyone. The first few days of camp are designed with activities to help campers get to know each other. By the end of the summer, you just might have a new best friend for life!
QuestionsFrequently Asked
Can I purchase anything at camp?
You can go to the camp store to buy necessities, such as shampoo, toothbrushes, sunscreen and flashlights. The store also has snacks, drinks, ice cream, and fun clothing items such as camp t-shirts, sweatshirts, bandanas and hats. We also have stamps and stationary if you run out of what you brought with you. The best part is that you do not need to have money with you to buy things at the store. Each camper has their own account and your parents will be sent a bill at the end of the summer - be sure to ask your parent/guardians what you are allowed to spend before you come to camp.
Will I get to see my sibling at the other camp?
Yes. Although each camp has its own complete facilities and staff and most programs are separate, the camps get together once a week for an all-camp event: Gymkhana, Hike the Pike, Country Fair, Olympics, etc.. Older campers from the two camps often have additional opportunities to meet for activities and social time.
Can I bring my phone and electronic devices?
Being ‘unpluggged’ is an essential part of the camp experience. You are welcome to bring your phone/ electronics to travel to and from camp. When you arrive, we will collect all phones and electronics and store them securly while you are at camp. We will return them to you the night before you leave so you can be sure to have a fully charged phone for your travels home.
Can I use my cell phone as my camera?
No, you cannot use your phone as a camera as we will collect all phones at the begining of camp. Please bring a separate camera. We also have camp photographers and counselors taking pictures all day, every day! These photos will be uploaded into your parent/guardian’s CampInTouch account so they can see what adventures you are on each week. You can save and print these photos.
What if I don’t feel well or I am sick?
It happens...sometimes we get the ick while we are at camp. If you aren’t feeling well, tell your counselor. They can help make you a hot cup of tea and make sure you get some extra rest. If it is something more serious, your counselor can take you to see our nurses in the Health Center.
Will
I like the food that is being served?
Camp makes THE BEST FOOD! Our cooks always do a great job of making ‘deconstructed’ meals, meaning they don’t mix all of the ingredients together. That way, you can eat the parts of the meal that you like, and not have to eat the parts that you don’t like. For example, if we are having fajitas, you get to put your own fajita together. If you don’t like bell peppers and onions, you don’t have to have bell peppers and onions on your fajita! We also always have fruit, yogurt, and PBJ available. A favorite for most campers is the homemade breads and desserts made in our very own bakery!
I am a vegetarian and/or gluten free - will there be food for me?
Yes! We always have a vegetarian and a gluten-free option at every meal. If you have other allergies, please check in with our cooks - they are excellent at helping you know what you can and can’t eat, and making sure you have plenty of food!
What is the weather like?
Colorado is famous for blue skies and plenty of sun - we have over 300 days of sunshine each year! At an elevation of 8,600 feet, the camps’ average daytime temperature in the summer is about 80˚F. Evenings are cool, usually 50-55˚F. Occasionally, we have an afternoon rain shower. Many of our trips into the high country camp above or near timberline and these temperatures can drop to below freezing, even in July! It is best to be prepared for all types of weather. Check out the packing list on the back of this magazine to be sure you have everything you need to be prepared for camp!
How does laundry work?
Klean Karma Laundry is the name of the laundry service at camp. We have laundry picked up every other day at each camp and it is returned clean and folded the next day. All you have to do is put your dirty laundry in the laundry bag for your living unit...and make sure you don’t have things like chapstick still in the pockets! The most important note about laundry is that there is a lot of it at camp and our laundresses work really hard. You should put your first and last name on everything before you come to camp - each sock, t-shirt, hat...all of it! This way your clothes won’t get mixed up with someone elses, and if it does get mixed up or you lose something, we can return it to you.
PO Box 167
Florissant, CO 80816
www.sanbornwesterncamps.com
Clothing & Shoes
__ 2 pair jeans
__ 2 sweat/fleece/legging pants
__ 1 or 2 pair hiking pants
__ 4 pair shorts
__ 6 T-shirts
__ 2 long-sleeve shirts
__ supply of socks
__ supply of underwear
__ 2 warm sleep wear
__ 2 swim suits
__ baseball cap/sun hat
__ long underwear, top/bottom (non-cotton)
__ 2 pair hiking socks*
__ light fleece jkt/shirt
__ warm fleece jkt/shirt
__ rain jacket
__ rain pants
__ knit cap*
__ gloves/mittens
__ western riding boots^
__ athletic shoes
__ water sandals/shoes
(need to strap to feet-ie: Chacos)
Sanborn Junior Camp Camper Packing List
__ comfortable shoes (not flip-flops) __ hiking shoes/boots
Equipment
__ mummy style sleeping bag for camping out^ (rated to 20 degrees) __ 2 water bottles* (quart--no straws) __ headlamp*
__ sleeping pad* __ day pack*
__ eating cup* & utensils*
__ 2 twin sheet sets^
__ 2 warm blankets^
__ 2 pillow cases^
__ 1-2 bath towels __ 1 beach towel __ 2 wash cloths __ toilet articles __ sunscreen* __ sunglasses __ lip balm*
Optional __ camera* __ stationery*, __ stamps* __ books __ slippers __ bathrobe __ bug repellent
__ 1 stuffed animal __ “Crazy Creek” type chair* __ fun costumes __ hammock & hammock straps
