Grow
Better
Outside
2023 Registration will open April 1st. 2023.
2022 Summer Offerings Below!
The Nature Connection hosts up to eight weeks of summer camp throughout Delta County. Bike riding, swimming, paddle boarding and nature exploration are the focus of our outdoor camps.
Our goal is to help children develop confidence and connection in the outdoors by reinforcing skills day after day and week after week. Every week features an off-site field trip for campers to learn and explore the “best backyard in the world” with new and returning friends.
Join us this summer and see what your kids will discover!
“Part of this operation is conducted on public lands under special permit from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the United States Forest Service.”
Youth Backpacking & Middle School Camps
Boots to Roots – Gunnison National Forest
June 20th-23rd
Have you ever slept under a blanket of stars and hiked through endless groves of aspen? If you’re looking for an epic adventure in nature this summer, join us for four days of backpacking in the beautiful Gunnison National Forest! This one’s for the boys, making connections in our gorgeous backyard.
Enrollment: limited to 11 boys each trip
Bike Packing – The Grand Mesa (Co-ed Trip)
June 27th-30th
Introducing The Nature Connection’s first bike packing program. Youth will follow the trail with new and returning friends among the trees and views of the Grand Mesa. Camping under the stars and learning the ropes of multi-day travel and equipment maintenance along the way. The trip will end with a downhill decent at Powderhorn Resort.
Enrollment: Limited to 11 youth each trip
Girls In The Wilderness – Gunnison National Forest
July 11th-14th
Have you ever slept under a blanket of stars and hiked through endless groves of aspen? If you’re looking for an epic adventure in nature this summer, join us for four days of backpacking in the beautiful Gunnison National Forest! This one’s for the girls. Feel empowered during a four-day backpacking trip for girls only in the wilderness.
Enrollment: Limited to 11 girls each trip
Boots to Roots – Uncompahgre or West Elks
July 18th-21st
Go West or South, young man. There lies the mountains, a ridge jagged as a sawtooth blade. On this four day wilderness expedition you will travel through oceans of fir and the ghosts of ancient volcanoes. What are you waiting for?
Enrollment: limited to 11 boys each trip
Girls In The Wilderness – West Elks or the Uncompahgre
July 25th-28th
There is nothing like a sunset in the mountains. Come hike and camp for four days against the majestic silhouette of prehistoric volcanoes and taste the crisp waters of high alpine lakes. Adventure awaits! Feel empowered during a four-day backpacking trip for girls only in the wilderness.
Enrollment: limited to 11 girls each trip
Cedaredge Day Camp
Grand Mesa Adventure Camp
Camps are four days a week: Monday – Thursday
9:00AM – 3:00PM at Cedaredge Middle School 845 SE Deer Creek Dr. Cedaredge, CO 81413
Scholarships are available!
Camp Location Schedule:
Mondays – Cedaredge Middle School Climbing Wall
Tuesdays – Off site field trip, drop off and pick up at middle school
Wednesdays – Off site field trip, drop off and pick up at middle school
Thursdays – Cedaredge Middle School Climbing Wall
Grand Mesa Adventure Camp
Join the Grand Mesa Adventure Camp to explore the best backyard in the world! Youth will develop and enhance their rock climbing skills daily at the newly finished Cedaredge Middle School rock climbing wall and take weekly field trips to the Grand Mesa’s beautiful trails, lakes and local attractions. Let’s celebrate the special beauty of Delta County’s natural spaces together while making friends and learning new skills like archery, SUP’ing, rock climbing, mountain biking and more!
Generation Wild Week
June 6th-9th
Join The Nature Connection for a week of skills exploration. Campers will test their abilities at the Cedaredge Climbing Wall, practice archery, go mountain biking and more. This is a week full of discovery as kids get to try a bit of everything we offer at The Nature Connection.
Highlights: SUPs, Grand Mesa Adventures, Archery, Biking, Rock-climbing
Nature of Art
June 13th-16th
Creatives and those willing to getting their hands a little dirty will love this week of artistic exploration. Campers will take a day learning to build structures and forms from what they find on the trail, and find beauty in nature on a painting field trip to the Grand Mesa (Trail TBD based on weather conditions). Connect to nature through your own creations!
Highlights: Hike, Bike, Climb, Painting, Crafts, Creative Play
Wheels Down Week
June 20th-23rd
Whatever type of bike rider you may be, from a beginner to a pro, this camp has the tools to develop your bike riding skills. Highlights include a forest ride on The Grand Mesa, challenges at Confluence bike course and a change of pace at the Cedaredge Middle School climbing wall!
Highlights: Mountain biking at multiple Delta County locations, Rock climbing and bouldering
Water Wise
June 27th-30th
Give your campers a taste of some of the best parts of living on the western slope in The Nature Connection’s Water Wise week. Campers will engage in water activities every day. Campers will improve their swimming skills at the North Fork Pool and enjoy an afternoon of stand up paddle boarding at one of our local state parks. This week is all about playing in the water and taking in the summer sun.
Highlights: SUPing, Swimming, fishing
Delta Day Camp
Confluence Adventure Camp
Camps are four days a week: Monday – Thursday
9:00AM – 3:00PM at Bill Heddles Rec Center 531 Palmer St, Delta, CO 81416
Scholarships are available!
Camp Location Schedule:
Monday – Bill Heddles Rec Center and Confluence Park
Tuesday – Bill Heddles Rec Center and Confluence Park or off site field trip (week dependent)
Wednesday – Off site field trip, drop off and pick up at Rec Center
Thursday – Drop off and Pick up Sweitzer Lake State Park
Note: if pick-up or drop-off location changes it will be specified in the camp week description
Week 1 – Wheels Down
June 6th-9th
This week is full of biking opportunities for both the advanced rider as well as campers blooming in the sport. Improve your riding skills on trails at Confluence and Crossroads bike parks and pump tracks, play games at a bike rodeo and more.
Highlights: Mountain bike, Pump track, Bike park & rodeo
Week 2 – Wet Planet
June 13th-16th
Campers are given a taste of why we live on the Western Slope in The Nature Connection’s Wet Planet week. Day camp features water activities every day including a rafting trip down the Gunnison River. Campers will improve their swimming skills at Bill Heddles Rec Center and enjoy an afternoon of stand up paddle boarding at one of our local state parks. This week is all about playing in the water and being outside.
Highlights: Raft, SUP, Swim, Water Games
Week 3 – Skills Adventure
June 20th-23rd
Join The Nature Connection for a week of skills exploration. Campers will test their skills at the Cedaredge Climbing Wall, practice archery, go mountain biking, stand up paddle boarding and more. Explore more outdoors with The Nature Connection.
Highlights: Archery, Bike rides, Climb and more
Week 4 – Eyes to the Skies
June 27th-30th
Eyes to the Skies focuses on provoking wonder. In partnership with Kebler Corner and the Black Canyon Astronomical Society, campers will play games while learning about our solar system, pitch a tent and pack up for an overnight trip. Camp out under the stars at Kebler Corner north of Paonia for one night with a guide to the stars by BCAS.
Highlights: Astronomy, Camp out, Skill-building
Monday – Bill Heddles Rec Center and Confluence Park
Tuesday – Kebler Corner overnight, drop off at Rec Center
Wednesday – Overnight ends and 12:00pm pick up at Rec Center
Thursday – Drop off and Pick up Sweitzer Lake State Park
Week 5 – Climb Time
July 11th-14th
For the first time ever, The Nature Connection introduces our climbing week. Campers will complete problems, forge friendships and work with a team while taking a leap at the Cedaredge Climbing Wall, our new mobile climbing wall and the Cedaredge high ropes course. This is a transformative week of play and personal growth for campers and their friends.
Highlights: High ropes course, Climb, Boulder, Team-building
Week 6 – The Nature of Art
July 18th-21st
Creatives and those ready to get their hands a little dirty will love this week of artistic exploration. Campers will take a trip to hike on the Grand Mesa building structures and forms from what they find on the trail, and spend a day at the Grand Mesa Arts Center using their imagination.
Highlights: Hike Grand Mesa, Nature inspired crafts, Arts Center field trip
Week 7 – Something Fishy
July 25th-28th
Something Fishy is perfect for kids who want to be outside and fish enthusiasts alike! Campers will spend the week fishing at various locations around Delta County as well as a field trip to our local fish hatchery, workshop with Black Canyon Anglers and more.
Highlights: Fish, Hatchery field trip, Learn from the pros
Week 8 – Wilderness Aware
Aug 1st-4th
Become familiar with the flora and fauna of the Western Slope and a find your rhythm with camping. Explore the foundations of backpacking through four days of camp and a one night backpacking trip on a beginner-friendly loop into the wilderness with a new discovery of nature.
Highlights: One night backpacking trip into Gunnison National Forest, Plant and wildlife ID, discovery through hands-on experiences
Monday – Rec Center and Confluence Park
Tuesday – Rec Center and Confluence Park
Wednesday – One night backpacking trip on the Gunnison National Forest, drop off at Rec Center
Thursday – Last day backpacking trip, 12:00pm pick up at Rec Center
Hotchkiss Day Camp
North Fork Adventure Camp
Camps are four days a week: Monday – Thursday
9:00AM – 3:00PM at 397 Miners Way Hotchkiss 81419
Scholarships are available!
Camp Location Schedule:
Monday – The Nature Connection Hub and Crossroads Park
Tuesday – Off site field trip, drop off and pick up at The Nature Connection Hub
Wednesday – Off site field trip, drop off and pick up at The Nature Connection Hub
Thursday – The Nature Connection Hub and Crossroads Trails
Note: if pick-up or drop-off location changes it will be specified in the camp week description
Week 1 – Skills Adventure
June 6th-9th
Join The Nature Connection for a week of skills exploration. Campers will test their skills at the Cedaredge Climbing Wall, practice archery, go mountain biking and more. This is a week full of exploring, as kids get to try a bit of everything we offer at The Nature Connection.
Highlights: Explore, Archery, Mountain bike, Field trip
Week 2 – Wheels Down
June 13th-16th
Wheels Down is full of opportunities for the advanced rider as well as campers with a blooming interest in the sport. Campers will improve riding skills on trails at Confluence and Crossroads Trails bike parks and pump tracks, play games during a bike rodeo and more.
Highlights: Bike rodeo, Single-track, Pump-track, Skill-building
Week 3 – Wet Planet
June 20th-23rd
Campers are given a taste of the Western Slope during Wet Planet week. Campers will engage in water activities each day including a rafting trip down the North Fork of the Gunnison. Campers will improve their swimming skills at the North Fork Pool and stand up paddle board at one of our local state parks. This week is all about playing in the water and being outside.
Highlights: Raft, Swim, SUP, Water Activities
Week 4 – Eyes to the Skies
June 27th-30th
In partnership with Kebler Corner and the Black Canyon Astronomical Society, camp focuses on the things that provoke wonder. Kids play games while learning about our solar system, try their hand at pitching a tent, pack for an overnight trip and camp out under the stars. Overnight takes place at Kebler Corner north of Paonia with a guide to the stars by BCAS.
Highlights: Astronomy, Skill-building, Overnight Camp-out
Monday – The Nature Connection Hub and Crossroads Park
Tuesday – The Nature Connection Hub and Crossroads Trails
Wednesday – One night campout at Kebler Corner, drop off at The Nature Connection Hub
Thursday – Last day of campout at Kebler Corner, 12:00pm pick up at The Nature Connection Hub
Week 5 – Climb Time
July 11th-14th
For the first time ever, The Nature Connection introduces our climbing week. Campers will complete routes on climbing walls, build friendships and work as a team while taking a leap at the Camp Cedaredge high ropes course. This is a transformative week of play and personal growth for campers and their friends.
Highlights: Climb, Team-building, High ropes course
Week 6 – Nature of Art
July 18th-21st
Creatives and those willing to get their hands dirty will love this week of artistic exploration. Campers will take a day at the Creamery Art Center learning the ropes of the ceramics studio, partake in a mural at The Nature Connection, build structures and forms from what they find on the trail, and discover beauty in nature on a painting field trip to Dark Canyon or neighboring trail (TBD based on weather conditions). Connect to nature through your own creations this week!
Highlights: Painting trip, Ceramics, Mural, Art in nature
Week 7 – Wet Planet Round 2
July 25th-28th
Just when you thought the summer couldn’t get any hotter, campers are invited to take part in another week of water games, a second rafting trip exploring a different section of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, SUP’ing at one of our state parks and playing in the water each day.
Highlights: Raft, SUP, Swim, Water Games
Week 8 – Wilderness Aware
Aug 1st-4th
Become familiar with the flora and fauna of the Western Slope and a find your rhythm with camping. Wilderness Aware explores the foundations of backpacking through four days of camp and a one night backpacking trip on a beginner-friendly loop into the wilderness with a new discovery of nature.
Highlights: Intro to backpacking on national forest, Plant and wildlife ID, Discovery through hands-on experiences
