Eldorado Canyon: In Detail

Program Highlights

Authentic Nature-Based Activities: In all areas of our program, we promote opportunities for learning about and interacting directly with the natural environment.

Choice: Each day at AO has a consistent structure and routine, but no day is typical. Two-week sessions allow Cabin Groups to experience activities that build on each other and help guide campers through a developmental process.

Team Building: Throughout the session, counselors present cabin groups with age- and ability- appropriate team building challenges. Campers embrace and conquer these challenges using critical thinking and problem solving skills with their camp friends.

Hiking: While hiking on the beautiful and rugged trails of Eldorado Canyon, campers are lead by at least 2 staff per group and are taught Leave No Trace environmental ethics, hiking techniques, trail etiquette, and trail games.

Climbing: During the 2nd week of a two-week session, cabin groups & campers are ready to climb together and support each other throughout their climbing day on Eldorado Canyon's natural rock. These top-rope climbs are supervised by an AMGA Certified Guide.

Swimming: Once a week we get ourselves really tired with a day at the beautiful Eldorado Springs Pool! Once campers participate in a swim skills evaluation, they are free to swim in the appropriate areas of the pool!

Creek Side: Eldorado Canyon was made by South Boulder Creek! Activities along the creek include fishing, panning for gold & ‘creek stomping’. Activities are allowed when the water is calm and personal floatation devices are worn.

  • Our activities take everyone - even the "Llama Goat" to new heights!
  • We let our kites soar! (Yes, those are kites way way up there!)
  • Climbing takes us up the rock as high as we'd like.
  • Our "challenge by choice" program allows campers to participate as they wish.
  • A hike isn't just a hike! We might be searching for animal tracks...
  • ...or stopping to examine the contents of someone's butterfly net.
  • Sometimes we quietly get dirty...
  • ...and at the same time we expend a lot of energy every day!
  • We catch some fish, oh yeah!
  • And then there's the classic and very popular craft: lanyards!
  • We might even do some fancy face painting.
  • There's always time to chill with the counselors at the pool on Wednesdays!
  • ...or take a break before jumping back in to the chilly spring water
  • How about an all-camp "Ghosts In The Canyon" scavenger hunt?
  • And end the session with our cabin skits and time capsule wrap-up!

 

Just wanted to let you know again what a wonderful session these last 2 weeks have been. Meghan learned a ton, came home tired, dirty and happy! What more could I ask for? Please let Karin know Meghan enjoyed her very much. Thanks again!

- Rich and Lori

We feel that this camp has set a new high standard for summer and seasonal day camps in Boulder County. When they come home with dirt everywhere and a smile on their faces, we love it even more.

- Wade & Patty, parents of two AO campers since 2007

I just registered Nils and Elsa for session 2 this summer. They loved the camp so much last year they have been very insistent on doing it again this year!

- Susanne, mother of 2 AO campers

Got Questions? Get answers!

 
 
 

We will keep all of your
contact information
private and respond
to you promptly.

 
 
go back register
 
 

With beautiful Eldorado Canyon as their backdrop, campers have fun connecting with each other, their counselors and nature.

Throughout each two-week session, Cabin Groups work together to choose much of their daily schedule from an intentionally planned list of age-appropriate activities.

Activity highlights include hiking, climbing, kite flying, crafts, music, swimming, and teambuilding games for campers of all abilities.

 

Have you been to Eldorado Canyon? It's amazing!

We spend most days in the beautiful State Park. One day each week we also swim at the Eldorado Springs Pool. When the temperatures in town are high, it's always cooler and shady where we spend our days.

This nearby-but-still-far-out natural environment allows us to immerse ourselves physically and mentally in the experience of camp!

In Eldorado Canyon, campers and their cabin group choose from many activities. Here are just some of the highlights:

Featured Activities:

  • Climbing
  • Hiking
  • Swimming
  • Bouldering
  • Camp Music and Songs

Nature / Ecology

  • Themed Hikes
  • Butterfly Catching
  • Leave No Trace Games
  • Owl Pellets
  • Birding
  • Fishing

Crafts:

  • Time Capsules
  • Lanyards
  • Tumble Bugs
  • Animal Masks

Team Building & Games:

  • Cabin Skits
  • Spider Web
  • Gorp Plus
  • Cabin Code
  • Group Puzzles
  • Scavenger Hunt
  • Frisbee Golf
  • Orienteering
  • Kite Making and Flying

All Camp Games:

  • Ship Island
  • Gold Rush
  • Predator Prey

Sessions for Eldorado are two weeks long. We also offer a periodic 1-week "Intro" option for first-time 7- & 8-year-olds.

Dates & Rates:

  • Session 1: May 29 - June 8 ($625) - LIMITED AVAILABILITY
  • Session 2: June 11 - 22 ($690)
  • Session 3: June 25 - July 6 ($690) - LIMITED AVAILABILITY
  • Session 4: July 9 - 20 ($690) - SHORT WAIT LIST

For Dates with LIMITED AVAILABILITY and WAIT LIST, please apply online to reserve your spot as soon as possible. We will contact you to let you know if you are in or not.

 

Discounts, payment plans, and camperships are available.

Ages: 7 -11 (must have completed 1st grade)

Times: Approx. 8:30am - 4:15pm. Extended hours options are available.

Download our Rates, Dates, and Discounts PDF.

Each day, campers are picked up and dropped off at locations around Boulder County on the way in to and out of Eldorado Canyon. Those locations are:

  • 95th & Arapahoe (if there is enough demand)
  • Heatherwood Elementary
  • Base Camp (20th & Pine)
  • Marshall Mesa Trailhead

We have our own big yellow bus! Our driver, Ed, is a district driver for St. Vrain and has been hired not just for his great driving skills, but for his great understanding of children. There will almost always be additional counselors on the bus to help Ed supervise, lead songs, and check in with each camper.

register
 

Morning Drop-Off Spots:

  • East: 7:45a.m. - 95th & Arapahoe (available only if enough demand)
  • Heatherwood: 8:05a.m. - Heatherwood
  • Base Camp: 8:30a.m. - 20th & Pine
  • South: 8:50a.m. - Marshall Mesa Trailhead

Afternoon Pick-up Spots:

  • South: 4:00p.m. - Marshall Mesa Trailhead
  • Base Camp: 4:15p.m. - 20th & Pine
  • Heatherwood: 4:40p.m. - Heatherwood
  • East: 5:10p.m. - 95th & Arapahoe (available only if enough demand)

Intro to Eldo 1-Week Option

For campers who have never been to one of our Eldorado Canyon sessions, this one-week introduction is the perfect place to start. Campers may be able to add-on for the second week (which happens a lot!) These Intro Sessions are $350/week.

Daily Transitions

Camp Starts On The Bus!: From the moment they get on the bus, counselors will engage campers in conversation, songs, and games! Once in Eldorado, high-energy songs help campers focus on being present for their big day!

Quiet Songs, Sleepy Ride Home: After an exciting and exhausting day with their cabin group, all campers and staff get together to review their day, hear a story and sing a camp song.

Sample Session Schedule

Week 1:

Monday: Welcome!
Meet your counselor & group; play all-camp games; learn the rules of camp; open the time capsule; design & make your waterbottle; take a tour of Eldorado; play cabin games; plan your activities for the next few days; eat GORP; sing closing songs

Tuesday: A Cabin Group Day
Opening songs; cabin group activities could include a hike, climber watching, animal houses, and more! Eat lunch as a cabin; order your GORP recipe; eat snack, sing songs; head home

Wednesday: Pool Day!
Spend an hour at Mesa Trailhead reconnecting and playing games; go to Eldo Pool; take a quick swim evaluation; swim, swim, swim! (Oh, and maybe some lanyards or crafts when you aren't in the pool!)

Thursday: Featured All Camp Game
A big, special All-Camp game that takes place all over Eldorado Canyon; cabin activity time; making cabin GORP from your order; preparing kites for the Meadow

Friday: Meadow Day!
Take the bus up to the Crescent Meadow part of Eldo, overlooking Gross Reservoir; finish kites and fly them high together; explore the area with map & compass; rest on the bus back home

Week 2:

Monday: Welcome back!
Re-connect with your cabin after the weekend; go bouldering and prepare for climbing day; play more teambuilding games as a cabin; prepare your time capsule contribution; eat GORP and sing before getting on the bus

Tuesday: Climbing Day!
Split the day between climbing with your cabin group on Supremacy Rock and taking it easy down by the river fishing; plan the rest of the week's schedule; eat GORP and sing

Wednesday: Pool Day!
Spend an hour at Mesa Trailhead reconnecting and playing games; go to Eldo Pool; get right to swimming including the slide; the diving board; and making whirlpools with counselors; eat a big piece watermelon and sing songs before heading home

Thursday: Fishing and more!
A final All-Camp game in the morning; some fishing in the afternoon; panning for gold; water shed; waterbottle games; make cabin shields; GORP and songs

Friday: Final Day!
End-of-session cabin team building; time capsule presentation; cabin skits; songs; final good-byes and GORP