Counselor Training & Credentials

AO staff are enthusiastic about offering a variety of hands-on opportunities for campers. We take campers' mental, physical and emotional well-being into consideration as we structure program activities. The staff participates in a seven-day training before camp begins. This training is long compared to training at comparable camps. Training topics include:

Camp policies and procedures regarding working with campers, relating with other staff, parent contact, and more.
Effective youth development methods and practice dealing with camper behaviors
Vehicle training and safe vehicle practices
Practices for adapting activities to individual camper needs and/or special needs
Comprehensive sessions on emergency procedures and risk management

Staff certifications/backgrounds:

All counselors have CPR & First Aid certifications as well as Universal Precautions training
All Directors and Program Directors have medication administration training and are delegated through our consulting nurse to administer camper medications
State and Federal background checks are completed for each counselor and volunteer as well as personal reference checks
We choose counselors with experience working at camps, and in youth-related programs
Our counselors have educational backgrounds in early childhood education, educational psychology, psychology, philosophy, recreation administration, and more

Hydration, Nutrition & Sunscreen

Hydration: On their first day of camp, campers will each make a water bottle that is personalized. Their water bottle will look unique and will be easy to spot among other bottles. Please send your camper to camp with this water bottle full. We provide water coolers to refill and encourage campers to drink water before, during and after activities. We realize that summer heat combined with lots of activity takes much needed fluids from their system, and encourage them to stay hydrated.

Nutrition: Please send your camper to camp with a full belly! Campers use much more energy at camp than they do at school and may need more food to accommodate their bodies' needs. If a camper forgets a lunch, we have lunches available and the family will be charged a fee. AO provides a healthy afternoon snack of GORP (Cabin Groups create a trail mix recipe to share with the entire camp!), fruit, raw vegetables, or granola bars. We make every effort to accommodate allergies so please tell us about them on your camper's health form.

Sunscreen: Rocky Mountain Sunscreen with a 30 spf, will be offered to campers each day before activities begin. Even if they applied sunscreen at home, they will re-apply again at camp. We encourage campers to eat and play in shaded areas to avoid sun exposure when possible.

Inclusion & How We Adapt Activities

Our counselors receive a full day of inclusion training. This training helps them to work with campers who have special needs. It makes every staff member stronger when working with campers of all abilities. It will give them the tools they need to recognize when a camper is struggling for any reason and helps them to adapt the activity to meet the needs of that camper to help create a more successful experience. Read more about inclusion at Mountain Day Camp

Medications at Camp

As a Colorado Licensed Child Care Center, our Directors and Program Directors are delegated to administer medications. Additionally, all of our staff are delegated to administer use of inhalers and epi-pens in the event of health incidents.

Campers with the following conditions will have additional forms that are required from the State of Colorado and need a doctor's signature:

Asthma, or carry an inhaler
Food or medication allergies that require Benadryl
Allergies that require an Epi-Pen
Medications that need to be administered at camp (Note: we cannot be delegated for administration of over-the-counter remedies without a doctor's signature and cannot be delegaed for homeopathic remedies.)

Safety During Program Trips

We often take trips away from our home base. These trips may include: hikes, environmental activities and exploration, bouldering, orienteering adventures, climber watching, pool days, and more. We do several things before, during, and after the trips to make sure campers stay safe under our supervision:

Review the day's plan with all campers before leaving the camp home base
Discuss with campers what to do if an adult tries to talk to them that is not a AO staff member
Take roll and head counts before departing to a new location; establish a group "sound off" where each camper has a letter or word in a phrase that must be completed to know everyone is there
Remind campers to stay with the group for safety
Review with campers what to do if they become separated from the group for any reason
Travel by foot with campers placed between two counselors