Denver Junior: 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.

Team Building: Throughout the session, counselors present cabin groups with age- and ability- appropriate teambuilding challenges. Through these experiences campers practice working together and listening to each other.

Hiking: While hiking on the beautiful trails near Denver, campers are lead by at least 2 staff per group that teach Leave No Trace environmental ethics, hiking techniques, trail etiquette, and outdoor games.

Swimming: At one of the Stapleton Pools, campers participate in a swimming skills evaluation on pool day and are allowed into areas of the pool according to ability. We also play like crazy in the water features that surround the pool!

Climbing: AO Junior campers have an opportunity to climb during the session on Altogether Outdoor's 26 foot portable rock climbing tower. At their age, it's almost more fun being lowered by the auto-belay system as it is to climb up!

 

I really love your camp because you are just back to the basics of summer. My camper plays outside and has fun every day!

- Ricki, mother of two AO girls

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?

- Rich and Lori

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In each one-week Denver Junior session, campers have fun making friends and connecting with their counselors and nature.

These young campers are outside as much as possible, including trips to open space trails and local parks.

The highlights of this intentionally planned program include: hiking, fishing, teambuilding, crafts, stories and camp songs.

We are also excited to continue our partnership with the Stapleton MCA!

PLEASE NOTE:We have had to change the age range for this camp to 5 & 6 year-olds, NOT 4 year-olds. This was a hard decision based on challenging licensing requirements. We apologize for any materials you may have received that indicated the program was open to children under 5. Please contact us if you have further questions.

 

Once we get on the bus in the morning, we are off to nearby natural areas such as Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Bluff Lake, Westerly Creek and other nearby natural spaces.

At these areas we hike, explore, learn and play! By midday we return to our basecamp for much-needed downtime with a craft, story or quiet game.

Each day, campers are picked up and dropped off at locations around Stapleton on the way to and from their daily excursion.

We have our own big yellow bus! Camp starts on the bus as counselors lead songs and check in with each camper.

Our Junior campers have a busy week of activities. Here are just some of the highlights:

Featured Activities:

  • Hiking & Exploring
  • Climbing on our wall
  • Swimming
  • Camp Music & Songs

Nature / Ecology

  • Leave No Trace Games
  • Themed Hikes
  • Themed Ecology Games
  • Bug Catching

Crafts:

  • Water Bottles
  • Paper Mache
  • Painting

Team Building and Games:

  • Making Gorp
  • Themed Hikes
  • Kite Making & Flying
  • Orienteering
  • Cabin Challenges

Each Junior session is one week long with its own theme.We also offer a M/W/F option.

Price: $320 for one week. Discounts, payment plans, and camperships are available.

Dates: Sessions are weekdays on the following weeks:

  • A (May 29 - June 1) Wild About Weather
  • B (June 4 - 8) Birds of a Feather
  • C (June 11 - 16) Towering Trees LIMITED AVAILABILITY
  • D (June 18 - 22) Bold Butterflies
  • E (June 25 - 29) Diggin' Dynos
  • F (July 2 - 6) Rocks & Volcanos
  • G (July 9 - 13) Slitherin' Reptiles VERY LIMITED AVAILABILITY
  • H (July 16 - 20) Incredible Insects LIMITED AVAILABILITY
  • I (July 30 - Aug 3) - NEW
  • J (Aug 6 - 10) - NEW
  • K (Aug 13 - 17) - NEW
  • L (Aug 20 - 24) - NEW

For Sessions with LIMITED AVAILABILITY or 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. 

Ages: 5 - 6 (Pre-K and K) Times: Approx. 8:30am - 2:30pm. Extended hours options are available. Download our Rates, Dates, and Discounts PDF.

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MWF Options

We also offer a 3-day Monday-Wednesday-Friday option for a limited number of campers at a cost of $215 per week.

Session Themes

Session A (May 29 - June 1) Wild About Weather

Session B (June 4 - 8) Birds of a Feather

Session C (June 11 - 16) Towering Trees

Session D (June 18 - 22) Bold Butterflies

Session E (June 25 - 29) Diggin' Dynos

Session F (July 2 - 6) Rocks & Volcanos

Session G (July 9 - 13) Slitherin' Reptiles

Session H (July 16 - 20) Incredible Insects

Daily Transitions

Morning Greetings: For some young campers, good-byes for the day can be a little tricky. Or sometimes campers are just tired! Counselors will greet you and get your camper on the bus and connected to friends and staff.

Afternoon Farewells: Mornings are all about a quick start. Afternoons are all about a quiet finish. Campers are tired, so after a story, parents usually arrive just in time to watch campers sing their final camp songs and connect with a counselor to hear about the day.

Sample Session Schedule

Monday: Welcome!
Meet your counselor & group; make new friends; make a waterbottle; learn about the week's theme; go on a hike; learn & sing camp songs

Tuesday: Rocky Mountain Arsenal
On the bus with the big kids; exploring and playing games at RMA; sing more camp songs

Wednesday: Hiking in Nature
A nature hike in a local park; make a theme-related craft; hear a story; play a camp game; make up a camp song

Thursday: Pool Day and Climbing!
Sing camp songs, cool off and swim in the kids' area at the pool, return to Base Camp for stories climbing

Friday: Big Finale
A big activity at Base Camp to wrap up the week's theme; games and stories; one more fun camp snack