Grow
Better
Outside
Open enrollment dates:
HOTCHKISS: April 1st at noon
DELTA: April 15th at noon
CEDAREDGE: April 29th at noon
Check out what we are offering in summer 2023 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.”
101 Boys Backpacking Intro – Gunnison National Forest
June 19th-22nd
This years program offered to middle school boys teaches campers the basic skills of camping outside while they foster a connection to the outdoors. This program has been built for students that have not backpacked before or are looking for a gentle introduction into camping. We will set up base camp at the Lost Lake area, which is a great, nearby and friendly place for an introduction to the West Elk mountains. From base camp, we will have daily excursions and adventures in the backcountry. Campers will learn how to make decisions in the backcountry, problem solve and work together as a team through challenges. Join us for an unforgettable experience while getting to know your wilderness backyard much better.
Enrollment: limited to 12 boys each trip
101 Girls Backpacking Intro – Gunnison National Forest
June 26th-29th
This years program offered to middle school girls teaches campers the basic skills of camping outside while they foster a connection to the outdoors. This program has been built for students that have not backpacked before or are looking for a gentle introduction into camping. We will set up base camp at the Lost Lake area, which is a great, nearby and friendly place for an introduction to the West Elk mountains. From base camp, we will have daily excursions and adventures in the backcountry. Campers will learn how to make decisions in the backcountry, problem solve and work together as a team through challenges. Join us for an unforgettable experience while getting to know your wilderness backyard much better.
Enrollment: Limited to 12 youth each trip
Boots to Roots – West Elks
July 10th-13th
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, connecting to themselves through our gorgeous backyard.
Enrollment: limited to 11 boys each trip
Girls In The Wilderness – West Elks
July 17th-20th
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
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
Registration opens April 29th
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 5th-8th
Become a card-carrying member of Generation Wild this week of camp and campers explore a bit of everything camp, adventure, and the outdoors have to offer! Campers will challenge themselves at the Cedaredge Climbing Wall, practice aim in archery, go mountain biking, and paddle boarding! This is a week full of discovery is your way of earning your identify as a Generation Wild summer camper!
Highlights: SUPs, Grand Mesa Adventures, Archery, Biking, Rock-climbing
Nature of Art
June 12th-15th
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 and craft art and sculptures using what they find and collect on the trail and find beauty in nature while plein air painting on Grand Mesa. Connect to nature and your creativity through this week of artistic imagination.
Highlights: Hike, Bike, Climb, Painting, Crafts, Creative Play
Wheels Down Week
June 19th-29th
You know what would be wheelie fun? A week of biking at Nature Connection! This week is full of opportunities for beginner bikers and advanced riders all the same, and will help campers take their bike-riding skills to the next level. Highlights include a forest ride on the Grand Mesa, and a challenge course at Confluence bike park. Campers will shift gears and change pace as they challenge themselves on the Cedaredge Middle School climbing wall.
Highlights: Mountain biking at multiple Delta County locations, Rock climbing and bouldering
Water Wise
June 26th-29th
Campers will cool off this week as they splash and paddle their way through the week. Campers will improve their swimming skills at the North Fork Pool and enjoy an afternoon of stand up paddle boarding at Sweitzer Reservoir. And while this week is all about playing in the water, campers will also challenge themselves on the Cedaredge climbing wall and on mountain bikes.
Highlights: SUPing, Swimming, fishing
Delta Day Camp
Confluence Adventure Camp
Camps are four days a week:
Monday – Wednesday from
9:00AM – 3:00PM at Bill Heddles Rec Center 531 Palmer St, Delta, CO 81416
Thursdays from
9:00AM – 3:00PM at Sweitzer Lake 1735 E Rd, Delta, CO 81416
Scholarships are available!
Registration opens April 15th
Scholarships 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 5th-8th
You know what would be wheelie fun? A week of biking at Nature Connection! This week is full of opportunities for beginner bikers and advanced riders all the same. Campers will pedal their hearts out on local trails and pump tracks of Confluence and Crossroad, play games to improve their biking skills, and more!
Highlights: Mountain bike, Pump track, Bike park & rodeo
Week 2 – Nature of Art
June 12th-15th
Nature of Art offers a chance to explore the beautiful places where we live and your inner artist. Campers will take a hike on the Grand Mesa and create art and sculptures with what they discover and collect on the trail; spend a day at the Grand Mesa Arts Center getting creative and using their imagination. Connect to nature and your creativity through this week of artistic imagination.
Highlights: Hike Grand Mesa, Nature inspired crafts, Arts Center field trip
Week 3 – Skills Adventure
June 19th-22nd
Nature Connection’s Skills Adventure week is perfect for campers who want a bit of everything. Campers will test their skills climbing at the Cedaredge climbing wall, mountain biking on Nature Connection’s trails and pump track, stand up paddle boarding at local state parks, and more! This week is a perfect time to explore all the different activities we offer.
Highlights: Archery, Bike rides, Climb and more
Week 4 – Jr. Paleontologists
June 26th-29th
Take a journey through time with the Nature Connection in our Junior Paleontologist week! During this week, campers will get dirty with a glimpse into the field of paleontology when they join an expert at a dinosaur dig site, excavating for fossils, cracking open geodes, and exploring fossil records on an off-site field trip to the Dinosaur Journey Museum in Fruita. Campers will will make connections through their imagination and time as this week is specifically tuned to sparking kids curiosity in the western slope’s special paleo-roots and a deeper connection to the marvels buried in our backyard.
Highlights: Dinosaur dig, hiking, museum visit, crafts and more!
Week 5 – Climb Time
July 10th-13th
This is a week for anyone interested in being challenged, making new friends, and having some fun! Campers will problem solve different routes at the Cedaredge climbing wall and learn bouldering basics, practice teamwork at the Cedaredge high ropes course, and build confidence while testing themselves and their new old and new skills.
Highlights: High ropes course, Climb, Boulder, Team-building
Week 6 – Wet Planet
July 17th-20th
There’s no better place to be than in the water during a Colorado summer! During our Wet Planet week, campers will swim, boat, and paddle their way around the waterways of western Colorado. We will raft down the North Fork of the Gunnison with Western Slope SUP and paddle board at a local state park. Campers will also improve swimming skills at the North Fork Pool. This week is all about the best parts of a western slope summer -being outside and playing in water.
Highlights: Rafting, stand up paddle boarding, swimming, and more!
Week 7 – Discovery Week
July 24th-27th
Our Discovery week aims to invoke curiosity and prompt campers to find connection to the natural world through science, art, and play. During this week, campers will explore scientific concepts with hands-on experiences at the Eureka! Science Museum in Grand Junction. The Grand Mesa, where our second field trip will take place, is a perfect setting to continue exploring these concepts and witness them in the natural world. Throughout the week, campers will be engaged throughout the week in STEM activities aimed at building their relationship with nature and discovering their place in it.
Highlights: Eureka Science Museum, STEM learning, hiking
Week 8 – Something Fishy
July 31st- Aug 3rd
Fishers and outdoor enthusiasts, this one’s for you! Campers will spend the week learning how to fish with Trout Unlimited and trying out their new skills fishing along the Gunnision River. We will learn how fish are raised and stocked in Colorado’s rivers, lakes and streams, at the Hotchkiss USFWS National Fish Hatchery that produces and stocks over two million trout into regional waterways. Campers will visit Fort Uncompaghre for a fishing derby and build historic fishing poles. This week will earn campers a close up introduction to the native fish species of our local rivers.
Highlights: Fishing workshop with Trout Unlimited, fish hatchery field trip, Learn from the pros
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
Registration opens April 1st
Scholarships 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 5th-8th
Nature Connection’s Skills Adventure week is perfect for campers who want a bit of everything. Campers will test their skills climbing at the Cedaredge climbing wall, mountain biking on Nature Connection’s trails and pump track, stand up paddle boarding at local state parks, and more! This week is a perfect time to explore all the different activities we offer.
Highlights: Explore, Archery, Mountain bike, Field trip
Week 2 – Wheels Down
June 12th-15th
You know what would be wheelie fun? A week of biking at Nature Connection! This week is full of opportunities for beginner bikers and advanced riders all the same. Campers will pedal their hearts out on trails on the trails and pump tracks of Confluence and Crossroad, play games to improve their biking skills, and more!
Highlights: Bike rodeo, Single-track, Pump-track, Skill-building
Week 3 – Wet Planet
June 19th-22nd
There’s no better place to be than in the water during a Colorado summer! During our Wet Planet week, campers will swim, boat, and paddle their way around the waterways of western Colorado. We will raft down the North Fork of the Gunnison with Western Slope SUP and paddle board at a local state park. Campers will also improve swimming skills at the North Fork Pool. This week is all about the best parts of a western slope summer -being outside and playing in water.
Highlights: Raft, Swim, SUP, Water Activities
Week 4 – Nature of Art
June 26th-29th
Nature of Art offers a chance to explore the beautiful places where we live and your inner artist. Campers will get creative in the ceramic studio at the Creamery Art Center; contribute to a group mural at the Nature Connection; create art and sculptures using what they collect while out on a hike; and do some plein air painting on a field trip. Connect to nature and your creativity through this week of artistic imagination.
Highlights: Painting trip, Ceramics, Mural, Art in nature
Week 5 – Climb Time
July 10th-13th
This is a week for anyone interested in being challenged, making new friends, and having some fun! Campers will problem solve different routes at the Cedaredge climbing wall and learn bouldering basics, practice teamwork at the Cedaredge high ropes course, and build confidence while testing themselves and their new old and new skills.
Highlights: Climb, Team-building, High ropes course
Week 6- Discovery Week
June 27th-30th
Our Discovery week aims to invoke curiosity and prompt campers to find connection to the natural world through science, art, and play. During this week, campers will explore scientific concepts with hands-on experiences at the Eureka! Science Museum in Grand Junction. The Grand Mesa, where our second field trip will take place, is a perfect setting to continue exploring these concepts and witness them in the natural world. Throughout the week, campers will be engaged throughout the week in STEM activities aimed at building their relationship with nature and discovering their place in it.
Highlights: Eureka Science Museum, STEM activities, hiking
Week 7 – Wet Planet Round 2
July 24th-27th
Just when you thought the summer couldn’t get any hotter, campers can cool off with water games, rafting trip on the Gunnison River with Western Slope SUP, paddle boarding at one of our state parks, and playing and swimming in the water every day. There is no better way to experience a hot summer day than on the water!
Highlights: Raft, SUP, Swim, Water Games
Week 8 – Something Fishy
July 31st-Aug 3rd
Fishers and outdoor enthusiasts, this one’s for you! Campers will spend the week learning how to fish with Trout Unlimited and trying out their new skills fishing along the Gunnison River. We will learn how fish are raised and stocked in Colorado’s rivers, lakes and streams, at the Hotchkiss USFWS National Fish Hatchery that produces and stocks over two million trout into regional waterways. Campers will visit Fort Uncompaghre for a fishing derby and build historic fishing poles. This week will earn campers a close up introduction to the native fish species of our local rivers.
Highlights: Fishing, fish hatchery field trip, Trout Unlimited workshop
