Rockies Rock Adventure Camp is an inclusive, outdoor-based day camp that emphasizes fun, play, connection to the natural world, outdoor recreation, individual growth, and community building. Activities and topics include: hiking, biking, fishing, canoeing, climbing, nature play, environmental stewardship and Leave-No-Trace, team-building, outdoor safety, and our outdoor education curriculum. There are also all-camp celebrations where we come together for songs, games, and to celebrate each other's breakthroughs and accomplishments. Campers are grouped in small crews of 10-14 youth, with 2 adult Crew Leaders and a high school-aged Assistant Crew Leader.

Rockies Rock is put on by Get Outdoors Leadville! (GOL!), which is now a part of the newly formed Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces (PROS) department of Lake County Government. GOL! is a collaboration between many local agencies and programs, and is largely funded by a Generation Wild Initiative Grant through Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). Other funders include the Colorado Health Foundation, Lake County Community Fund, and the Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program.

We are committed to providing equitable access to Rockies Rock for our community and do not want cost to be a barrier to participation. The minimum payment per session is $50, and we know that can be difficult to afford for families. All of our tuition rates have 6 or 12 month payment plans available. If a family cannot afford the lower tuition rate of $50 with the 6 or 12 month payment plan, and they are Lake County residents, we would be happy to discuss more tuition relief options. Click the button to learn more about camp tuition!

Rockies Rock has two 2-week sessions. Camp is normally M - Th, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Session 1: July 1st - July 11th

Session 2: July 15th - July 25th

The Rockies Rock “Explorers” group is for campers aged 7th-9th grade who want to do a deep dive on session-specific topics. This summer we will have a choice of two Explorers topics each session, the Outdoor Adventure Crew and the Naturalist Crew!

The Outdoor Adventure Crew will explore backcountry skills, a backpacking trip with the High Mountain Institute (Session 1), hiking with the CDTC (Session 2), and more! The Naturalist Crew will take a deep dive into a variety of environmental science subjects, conservation work, fishing, nature art, and explore the elements (earth, water, air, etc) that make Lake County so special.

Each Explorers Crew will also enjoy additional activities like Rock Climbing outside and a High Ropes expedition! At the same time, they will also have ample opportunities to partake in the traditional camp activities that we know and love.

Session 1:

Outdoor Adventure & Naturalists

Session 2:

Outdoor Adventure & Naturalists

Rockies Rock is for kids of all backgrounds who will be in Kindergarten - 9th grade in the 2024-2025 school year (including homeschool students). No outdoor experience is required! We have capacity for 140 campers total per session, with 38 of those spots available for five and six-year-olds.

No, campers may enroll for either one or both sessions. The minimum enrollment is 1 session, which is 2 weeks (8 days total). We cannot accommodate daily drop-ins nor 1-week enrollments. If space is full, families can place campers on a wait list.

Project Dream, our excellent local after-school organization, will once again be offering extended care from 3:30-5:30pm. They will offer enrichment activities and academic interventions on-site at Lake County Elementary School, led by local teachers and community members. Registration has been integrated into camp enrollment. Snack and bus service home will be provided.

Rockies Rock provides lunch and snacks at no additional cost to campers who sign up for the camp lunch option. Our lunch service is through LCSD, and includes hot items like hot pockets, burritos, and pizza, and will always contain a fresh fruit or vegetable. Menus will be provided at the beginning of each session. Campers are also welcome to bring their own food (healthy, nutritious food & beverages encouraged). Rockies Rock is peanut and tree nut free. Tree nuts include: almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts. Please do not send food with these nuts to camp with your camper.

Rockies Rock provides all activity equipment such as bikes and fishing gear. Campers must bring personal items such as clothing, a backpack, water bottle, etc. Through GOL!’s Community Gear LIbrary, we have some gear to loan if a camper forgets something on a given day (rain jackets, hiking boots, etc.). Packing lists will be provided before camp begins. Click the button to learn more about our Community Gear LIbrary!

Campers can ride a bus, get dropped off, or walk or bike. Transportation via school bus is available for those who sign up in advance at no extra cost. We cannot accommodate drop-in, last minute bus riding. Be sure to approve self-release during the enrollment process if you want your child to walk or bike alone.

Campers will go through a weekly rotation which may include but not be limited to the following activities: Biking, Hiking, Fishing, Outdoor Science, Canoeing, Archery, Environmental Exploration, Field Games and Songs, Nature Art and crafts, Journaling, Outdoor skills and safety, Low-Ropes Challenge Course, Indoor Rock Climbing, Disc Golf, Gardening, and more.

Yes, Get Outdoors Leadville! purchases an accident insurance policy for all campers to help with any qualified expenses incurred due to an accident during planned, supervised camp activities. Our current plan has a $0 deductible, and $50,000 maximum pay out for each case. We are happy to provide more info and support in navigating this process if you would like. GOL! cannot guarantee that all claims nor all expenses in a claim will be covered.

Rockies Rock happens in Lake County, around the small mountain town of Leadville, Colorado. We typically meet at a central location each day in town (currently Lake County Elementary School), and then travel to many nearby locations, including: Colorado Mountain College Campus, The Leadville National Fish Hatchery, Turquoise Lake, The Mineral Belt Trail, The East Side Historic Mining District, The Continental Divide Trail, local Parks and Recreation sites; and many lakes, streams, and trails on the surrounding public lands.

Camp runs from 8:30am to 3:30pm, and is divided into two large activities blocks (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). Those are sandwiched between meal and transition times, as well crew time and activities. Crew time is time campers spend with their groups, doing team-building, games and other activities, or just chilling out.

Enrollment is through our online web platform, Campsite. Enrollment typically open in mid-April, at which point you will find a link on the Rockies Rock webpage. Enrollment begins with a two-week open enrollment period, during which time no enrollments are approved. After open enrollment ends, enrollments will be approved first-come, first-served. Out-of-county enrollments will always be processed last. New participants will have to create a family profile within the platform.

If you need support enrolling your camper, we can help!

Camp Director: Abbey Hickey, 719-293-0445, abbey@getoutdoorsleadville.org

Outreach & Enrollment Coordinator (y para español): Vanessa De Lira, 719-427-7291, outreach@getoutdoorsleadville.org