Camps for Kids (Front Range)

HI!!! My boys are now ages 14 (as of today) and 9. I'm looking for some info on some adventure, outdoorsy types of summer camps and I figured some of you climbing parents might have some suggestions. It can be sleep-over or day camp. If you have good experiences with local camps, could you post up? Thanks!

Our climbing gym offers climbing based summer camps for kids. They are a day camp format. Here is a link for more info: climbingtherock.com/summer_…

Tracy for what it's worth Cheley Colorado Camps in Estes Park is excellent if you can bare sending them away for a month. I was lucky enough to go there for eight summers and that's where I learned all my mountain sense. I also have life long friends as a result of those summers climbing and backpacking in RMNP and the Indian Peaks. www.cheley.com

The one draw back is that it's pricey.

Allen

Tracy! (yes, that really is me holding that sign!! -- Legs -- doh!):

there's some around the coal creek canyon area -- I think camp eden; they have stuff & safe climbing; good guy that pastors there, been through the SPI program as well.

Also Horizon Adventures -- right up the alley for the adventurous 14 year old.

Check out the YEP! program at the CMC; see if that's what you're looking for.

Hey Legs,

I second Mark's suggestion of YEP at the CMC. I'll get my friend Stacy to give me some info today and pass it on to you.

I worked at and can strongly reccomend AVID4 ADVENTURE based in Boulder with roving camps all over the greater Denver area.

Having worked at many outdoor programs for ages itty-bitty to senior citizen, I can attest that they are very safety oriented, positive with children, and focus on "true" outdoor ethics and skills.

I no longer work for them but they treat their staff and campers very well.

Evan

I Used to work for Kent Mountain Adventure Center in Estes Park. A great company with great leaders and one you likely won't ever hear much about. Harry, the owner/ president is one of the coolest bosses I have ever had, and a great guy to boot. A lot of the courses that they offer are more specific and shorter than camps at say Cheeley, though KMAC runs the climbing days for Cheeley (or at least did when I worked there) and I can say those camps are tops in terms of offerings. Check out kmaconline.com/.

Legs,
I currently work for Joes suggestion of the Kent Mountain Adventure Center. I could plug for KMAC all day long (ill try not to), and we do offer some good climbing camps as well as various backcountry opportunities, albeit ones probably more appropriate for your older boy. If he is interested in getting out and climbing for 10 days straight, learning systems, and how to be bomber safe in a low instructor/student ration, KMAC is a great choice. Cheley camps are nationally renowned for their program, offer both a normal style and a more rustic style camp, and we still do their climbing days.

Some cool adventure travel camps are Moondance Adventures (awesome leaders), Adventures Cross country and Wilderness Ventures, but you would be looking at throwing down some bucks. Good luck with the search!

Joe, I think ill be seeing you at Shelf in a week or so, looking forward to it.

My wife would be upset if I didn't also mention Anderson Camps near Gypsum. They do climbing, big rivers, big backpacking trips....it's actually fairly hardcore.

Hi! Check out the climbing camps at the Boulder Rock Club/Colorado Mountain School. CMS is the only American Mountain Guide Association accredited summer camp in Colorado. totalclimbing.com