Policies

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The Camp Community

It is our goal to partner and work together with parents to determine if our program is suitable for your child prior to their enrollment. Sanborn Western Camps is not a rehabilitative or therapeutic program and does not specialize in serving those with special needs, including those with acute mental health, socio-emotional or behavioral challenges. Sanborn Western Camps reserves the right to refuse admission or to send home without refund any camper who presents a safety concern, medical risk or whose behavior is deemed disruptive or harmful to the best interests of other campers or to the camp community. Please read the following Essential Functions of a Sanborn Camper so you may better understand the socio-emotional, self-care and physical skills required to help make camp a positive experience for your child. If you have any questions about your camper’s compatibility with the camp program, please contact our Director team at 719-748-3341 or

Skills Required to be Successful at Sanborn

Electronic Devices

One of the great advantages of camp is the opportunity to take a break from the pace and connectivity of one’s day-to-day life. In today’s world, technology is a powerful tool and pretty amazing. However, bringing personal technology to camp distracts campers from many of the foundational aspects of camp (relationship building, appreciation for nature’s beauty, increased independence and much more). This is why the only electronic devices campers bring to camp are allowed to bring to camp are cameras, music players and electronic readers without cellular or wi-fi capability. These devices may only be used at specific, appropriate times.

We realize that one’s music player or electronic reader may also be a phone, camera and a gaming device. If the electronic device has cellular or wi-fi capability, we will collect it at the beginning of the session and hand it back at the close — as we do with all phones and gaming devices that are brought to camp by campers traveling by plane. If your child’s phone is his/her primary camera, we ask that you send your child with a different camera for use during camp. Kindle Paperwhites, basic Nooks or other “book-only” e-readers are fine for reading in the cabin or tent at bedtime.

As always, leaving all electronic devices at home is a great choice. Music players will be available in each living unit and the risk of loss or damage to personal electronic devices then drops to zero.

We ask for your support and cooperation in order to maximize the camp experience for your camper and the entire camp community.

Telephone Use

Phone service at camp is limited to one business/emergency line at each camp.
719-748-3341 for Big Spring Ranch
719-748-3451 for High Trails Ranch
Directors welcome calls but may not be available immediately. They will return calls promptly. We regret that we cannot call campers or staff to the phone. In the case of an emergency, please contact a director who will work with you to determine the next steps.

Financial Information

Our Terms and Conditions have been updated to reflect the effects of the pandemic, including changes to our payment schedule, refund deadlines and refund policies.

Please read through our updated Financial Terms and Conditions thoroughly, including the “Tuition, Deposit and Terms of Payment” and “Cancellation” sections. Please contact camp with any questions.

Non-Discrimination Policy

Sanborn Western Camps and the Colorado Outdoor Education Center admit campers of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to participants. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin or any other status protected by applicable law in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship program and other administered programs.