We all want the best experience for our children, which means it’s essential to make sure you find suitable Colorado summer camps that match the needs of your children. They can provide kids with some of the most memorable memories of their lives.
Your children can enjoy plenty of adventures at some of these top summer camps in Colorado. Whether you’re looking for something traditional with hiking and campfire activities or looking for something with mind-challenging activities, Colorado has a variety of options for you to choose from.
Best Summer Camps In Colorado
#1 – Keystone Science School Camps
The Keystone Science School offers both day camp and overnight camps in the Rocky Mountains. Kids from kindergarten to 12th grade can participate in one of their many summer programs.
Kids get the opportunity to do all sorts of exciting activities like rock climbing, kayaking, backpacking, canoeing, and much more! With a focus on teaching kids about everything that nature has to offer and thrilling activities, kids grow and develop into a better version of themselves.
Campers are supervised by experienced staff that receives extensive training in things like risk management and wilderness. Plus, they also gain certificates and licenses like CPR certification, so you can be sure that your child is in safe hands.
The different day camps, sleepaway camps, and outdoor adventure programs separate young campers by grade. With options for elementary students, middle school, and high school students, you can send your child to the one that’s most suitable for them.
#2 – Cheley Camps
Cheley Colorado Camps has been around since 1921. As their mission states, “We build the lasting character and resiliency of young people, creating unique life experience in a challenging and nurturing natural environment.”
At the gateway to the Colorado Rockies, they have access to miles and miles of trails for their hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and mountain biking adventures. Other activities include technical rock climbing, rafting, stand up paddleboarding, a high ropes course, riflery, archery, crafts, sports, and much more.
Their success isn’t just attributed to their programs but more to their commitment to youth development. Character, critical thinking, collaboration, and other skills to help each child thrive outside of camp are the Cheley commitment’s cornerstone. Each year campers attend from over 45 states and 10 foreign countries, so kids don’t have to perry about being considered a new camper.
#3 – Ramah In The Rockies
Ramah in the Rockies combines outdoor adventures with Judaism in this kosher Sabbath observant outdoor adventure camp. Campers from states all across the United States and countries like Canada and Israel come to experience this cheerful Jewish camp in Colorado. Their primary mission is to nurture the character progress of Jewish youth by challenging campers intellectually, physically, and spiritually.
Campers between the ages of 8 to 17 are welcome at their two-week and four-week programs on the 360 acre ranch. They also take bi-weekly trips in the backcountry. Camp activities include rock climbing, horseback riding, mountain biking, sports, service projects, and gardening.
#4 – Colvig Silver Camp
Colvig Silver Camp is one camp that’ll undoubtedly help enhance your child’s cognitive and social skills. Their stated philosophy is community-driven and outdoor-oriented.
They primarily focus on augmenting responsibility, leadership, decision-making skills, and teamwork. Their staff is entirely professional and is keen on providing proper youth development programs.
A camper to staff ratio of 3:1 further helps the counselors build stronger connections with the campers, allowing them to focus more on improving each camper’s skills. Colvig Silver camp is definitely an overnight summer camp in Colorado you don’t want your kid to miss.
#5 – Sanborn Western Camp
For over seventy years, Sanborn Western camp has provided experiences that are all about safety and high quality learning at their overnight camp. As youth development experts, skill progression occurs through a balance of choices. Campers can be part of something bigger with a traditional in-camp community while also allowing campers to build a custom schedule and head out on more challenging extended off property expeditions and trips.
They are the largest private camp in the country, with over 6,000 acres of land and the ability to provide unique experiences in a national forest with more permits than any other outfitter in Colorado.
Your child will gain a deeper appreciation of the natural world’s beauty and magic around them. With a custom schedule for the camper, you can rest assured their experience will be unique and suited just for them.
#6 – Renaissance Adventures
If you’re looking for a camp with a unique experience, this is the one. Through their summer quests, they offer an adventurous and most enjoyable time that’s quite unmatched. Their adventures have various themes like Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Narnia, and many other options.
It’s quite guaranteed that your kid will have the time of their lives, and their experience will be very satisfying. The camp directors at Renaissance Adventures ensure a high quality and fun experience for the campers.
#7 – Camp Chief Ouray
Camp Chief Ouray is a YMCA program that proudly declares honesty, respect, responsibility, caring, and faith as tenants of their programs.
Located on over 5,000 acres of land in the Rocky Mountains, Camp Chief Ouray has been the go-to adventure camp for children since 1908. Their goal is to offer challenging experiences to build leaders through life-long skill development in a safe, imaginative, natural setting. Camp Chief Ouray instills confidence through independence and interpersonal skills. They challenge their campers to discover their true selves.
It certainly is a lovely community that prioritizes developing a healthy spirit, mind, and body. They offer campers the chance to explore their true selves, and they inspire confidence and determination by concentrating on healthy interpersonal skills. The lasting skills they teach help prepare possible future leaders.
#8 – Pedalheads Camps
Pedalheads is one of the more unique summer day camps that you will find. Offered as a week-long program during the summer, they specialize in helping kids as young as 3 get-off-training wheels and being able to ride on their own – oftentimes in as short as one week. For Pedalheads, their focus is on safety, fun, and skills, and more than anything want to build confidence and a love of biking for the campers in their program.
They provide half-day, all-day, and 1.5hr Tots level camps and typically run from the months of June to August depending on the location. Let them take out the yelling and frustration of teaching a kid to ride a bike and enjoy the benefits of enjoyable family rides afterward. Having run bike camps for over 25+ years, put your trust in this popular, parent program staple.
Including their Colorado summer camps, they have 150+ locations across North America.
#9 – Camp Granite Lake
Camp Granite Lake is one that indeed shows how they care about providing their campers nothing but comfort and support. Dedicated to boosting social and emotional growth, counselors set an excellent environment for connecting with nature and people.
The staff creates personal relationships with the campers and the parents, which shows just how welcoming and friendly this camp is. In the Colorado mountains and less than an hour outside of Denver, the camp has 132 acres open to exploring for campers and an 8-acre lake.
Campers also have the freedom to choose activities like sailing, fishing, or swimming. Your child will reside in simple but quite comfortable cabins and enjoy their meals in the lakeside dining tents.
Read this guide to find some of the other best Denver summer camps.
#10 – Colorado Mountain Ranch Day Camp
Frequently voted as Boulder’s best summer camp, The Colorado Mountain Ranch has various team building activities that guarantee a pleasant and joyous stay.
Although there are so many activities, each activity’s training is individualized, making each camper feel special and well cared for. A low ropes course, horse riding, hiking, fort building, and archery aren’t all they have to offer.
Other program options include gymnastics, mountainboarding, arts and crafts, gardening, improv classes, and yoga. Your kid will be overjoyed by the options available to them and will have a wonderful time building long lasting friendships.
Not only does Colorado have a variety of options for summer camps, but it also has some of the best ones in the country. Even if you’re not a Colorado resident, you should consider some of the summer camps mentioned here.