Skills Required to Be Successful at Camp
Behavioral Skills
Campers should have the ability to:
- Manage self-care in an age appropriate manner
- Live in a rustic outdoor setting with no personal electronic devices (including cell phones, tablets, gaming devices or computers)
- Independently function in a community without consistent one on one support
- Practice personal health routines, including: showering, brushing teeth, going to the bathroom, dietary management etc.
- Self-calm following an event that causes frustration, sadness, or anger
- Communicate how they are feeling using differing emotions, such as happiness, distress, nervousness, frustration
- Advocate for personal needs by talking to a staff member
- Manage the sleep-away aspects of camp in an age appropriate manner
- Complete duration of session without in-person visits or outside phone calls
- Participate in a group living situation
- Sleep in a room with up to 11 other people without sleep aids
- Follow verbal instructions and rules
- Communicate conversationally in English
- Remain in areas of supervision as defined by staff
- Resolve conflicts without resorting to physical contact or verbal abuse
- Live successfully in an active social community that includes constant interaction with other children
- Understand camp rules regarding safety and respect
- Will remain in their assigned living units after lights out
- And will not possess or use alcoholic beverages, tobacco, E-cigarettes, Juuls, narcotics, recreational drugs and firearms/weapons
Activity Skills
Campers should have the ability to:
- Participate daily in outdoor activities, including: walking up and downhill on uneven ground and varied terrain; remain outside for extended periods at a time; learn to stay warm, dry, and safe from exposure to the sun and mountain weather; manage levels of physical stress and challenge
- Move independently from activity to activity
- Follow safety instructions given verbally by staff
- Sleep overnight in a tent at a backcountry campsite
- Go to the bathroom in the outdoors
- Junior Campers: Hike up to 3 miles carrying a light daypack with water bottles, layers, and other essentials (at least 10 pounds)
- Month Long Campers: Hike for a minimum of 3 miles with a backpacking pack containing personal and group gear (at least 25 pounds)
Medical Management Skills
Campers should have the ability to:
- Communicate medical care needs with staff
- Provide accurate information to staff during check-ins and assessments
- Independently navigate food allergies and dietary restrictions
- Live at high altitude (8,600’) in a dry climate (low humidity)
- Manage environmental allergies, including grass, pollen, animal dander
- Self-carry and/or administer emergency albuterol inhaler, epi-pen, or other emergency medicine (if applicable)
- Manage any chronic medical conditions independently and be incident free (no hospitalizations) for a minimum of one year