Top Reasons to Come to Camp Backcountry

• Make new friends
• Winning Color Wars
• Going on a horseback trail ride
• Accomplishing the Challenge Course
• Goat snuggles with Big Mama, Burt, Fred, Ginger, and Lola
• Building a fort village 
• Exploring Elephants Graveyard and creating clay sculptures 
• Getting to belt out silly camp songs at the top of your lungs
• Learning horsemanship 
• Surviving as an insect during Predator vs. Prey
• Adventures at Fort Wild
• Finally getting to become a Leader-in-Training
• Competing in a stick horse rodeo
• Completing the orienteering course
• Learning Colorado Flora and Fauna 
• Searching for the legendary Backcountry Bigfoot 
• Making memories that will last a lifetime

Why Parents Choose Camp Backcountry

“Both my daughters loved everything about the camp. They came home each and everyday with smiles on their faces and had wonderful things to say about their leaders and activities.”

“can't name just one! He loves just about everything about it and is especially excited to be an LIT one day. Great job by all the counselors for making the experience so much fun, even in the extreme heat.”

“getting to know all of the horses and their personalities. Giving them a chance to interact with different horses every day helped build their confidence with horses!”

“Appreciate the opportunity that Backcountry provides to get our children outside and exploring the wonderful state we live in. They are learning life long, applicable skills and knowledge to take advantage of this wonderful state."

Below you will find our parent handbooks for each type of Camp Backcountry session. Please read through the appropriate handbook thoroughly prior to your camper’s session.

• Art Camp Parent Handbook
• Girls of the Outdoors Parent Handbook
• Half-Day Horse Camp Parent Handbook
• Horse-Nature Camp Parent Handbook
• Leader in Training Parent Handbook
• Nature Camp Parent Handbook
• Off-Season Camp Parent Handbook

CampInTouch is a secure network that we use to collect personal, medical, and emergency contact information electronically for Camp Backcountry and the Backcountry Wild Roots Nature Preschool. Not only does CampInTouch streamline the paperwork process, but it also ensures we have a way to communicate with you in the event of an illness, injury, or larger scale emergency. 

How it Works

• You’ll receive a link in your registration email from HRCA that will direct you to the Application Form on CampInTouch
• Enter your information to create a free account, or log in if you already have an existing account (note: CampInTouch accounts are separate from your HRCA account)
• Select the session(s) that you registered your child for and submit the application. 
• You will then be directed to your home page and will access the rest of the paperwork there. You can either continue in the CampInTouch browser or download and use the sister app called Campanion to finish the paperwork and upload forms. Campanion uses the same login information as CampInTouch. 
• Enter the required information, like medical conditions, and any additional paperwork and press submit. 
• CampInTouch will show you what forms need to be completed or if any are missing.

Contact campbackcountry@hrcaonline.org if you have any trouble or questions about completing your child’s paperwork on CampInTouch.

Information Needed

To successfully fill out the forms, please have the following information ready:

• Names and phone numbers of emergency contacts
• Details for the camper's doctor and dentist
• A signed copy of CURRENT immunization records using the Colorado State Approved Form (available for download on the form)
• If applicable, a signed copy of the Allergy & Anaphylaxis Care Plan, the Asthma Care Plan, or a completed Medication Authorization form (required only if medications will be brought to camp)
• Names of individuals approved for camper pick-up.

Below you will find our recommended packing lists for each type of Camp Backcountry session. We allow our campers to play hard, so clothing worn to camp is likely to get dirty. Please write your camper’s name on everything that you send to camp.

• Horse Camp Packing List
• Art Camp Packing List
• Leader in Training Packing List
• Nature Camp Packing List
• Off-Season Camp Packing List

January – March: You may choose between paying in full at the time of registration or setting up a payment plan. 

If opting to do the payment plan, 30% of each camp session is due at the time of registration. The remaining balance will be divided into equal payments to be charged on the first of each month, between the date of registration and April 1. The final payment is due April 1. All payments are made via auto pay and an active credit card must be on file. 

Starting April 1: Payment is due in full at the time of registration. 

For registration help, call member services: 303-471-7020

Cancellations made by March 31 will be granted a full refund minus a non-refundable $50 deposit.

Cancellations made after April 1, and more than two weeks (14 days) of a camp session’s start date will be granted a 50% refund. 

Cancellations made within two weeks (14 days) of a camp session’s start will not be granted a refund. 

Transfer requests will be granted up to two weeks (14 days) prior to the start date of your registered session, pending availability. All transfers must be made to another Camp Backcountry session in the same calendar year. Transfers can NOT be made to the following summer.

Parents wishing to cancel a child from camp must provide written notification via emailto campbackcountry@hrcaonline.org. You must include your child’s full name, your child’s age, and the dates and name of the camp session you wish to cancel. 

There will be a 24-hour grace period after enrollment to cancel and receive a full refund, less a $5 cancellation fee.

Cancellations made before 1 month in advance will be granted a full refund minus a $5 processing fee.

Cancellations made within 1 month and more than 7 days of the camp session will be granted a full refund minus a non-refundable 10% deposit.

Cancellations made within 1 week (7 days) of a camp session’s start will be granted a full refund minus 25%

Transfer requests will be granted at no penalty pending availability. All transfers must be made to another Camp Backcountry session in the same calendar year. Transfers can NOT be made to the following summer.

Parents wishing to cancel a child from camp must provide written notification via email to campbackcountry@hrcaonline.org. You must include your child’s full name, your child’s age, and the dates and name of the camp session you wish to cancel. 

If a session that you are interested in is full, you may register for the waitlist at no cost. If a spot becomes available, we will contact you. We will hold waitlist spots for 24 hours. Payment must be received in accordance to the above registration policies to reserve your campers’ spot. After 24 hours, the spot will be forfeited and will be given to the next person on the waitlist.

Before your child’s camp session, please be sure to download the Campanion app onto your phone from the App Store or Google Play. This will allow you to stay connected to your child’s experience at Camp Backcountry with daily photos, notes from Camp Backcountry staff, and notifications for delayed starts, early closures, or emergencies. 

Campanion serves as the application counterpart to CampInTouch, utilizing the same login credentials as your CampInTouch account. Within Campanion, you can access the Camper Application, view all forms, stay updated on camp-related posts, and peruse pictures captured during camp activities. Think of it as an exclusive Camp Backcountry Instagram Feed, accessible solely by parents with an active CampInTouch account.

We leverage Campanion to provide you with a daily snapshot of activities, timely weather updates, and, most importantly, a curated collection of pictures. It's imperative to have Campanion, as this is the exclusive platform for accessing camp photos. Using Facial Recognition technology, and with a "training photo" of your camper uploaded by you, you'll have a personalized album dedicated solely to your camper. Rest assured, this system prioritizes privacy; you won't see the names of other campers, as the tagging is specific to each individual account.

Please come to camp prepared to be outdoors in all weather conditions. We will move indoors if the weather is unsafe to remain outdoors, such as in a thunderstorm or if temperatures are below 15 degrees. Refunds will not be issued for inclement weather days that require us to move indoors for all or part of the day. Refunds will only be issued if Camp Backcountry must cancel due to severe weather such as a blizzard.

We have a variety of camp options for campers ages 7-17, ensuring that each camper can find the right fit. We offer Nature Camp, Horse Camp, Art Camp, and an all girls camp, Girls of the Outdoors Camp. Our Nature Camp is the most diverse opportunity that dips its toes in a little bit of everything. While all our camps offer that classic “camp feel”, Art Camp, Horse Camp, and Girls of the Outdoors Camp have a more focused experience.

Camp Backcountry provides kids with an unparalleled opportunity to play and explore outdoors, all while nurturing children’s wildly curious minds and instilling a love for nature. Each session follows a similar format with lots of traditional camp activities and outdoor adventures, with a different underlying science theme each week.

No matter their background, we believe that children learn, grow, and thrive best when outdoors and immersed in nature. Our week-long, full-day outdoor camps support the needs of children by using a whole-child, experiential learning approach. Our goal is to nurture their hearts and minds while strengthening their connection to, and understanding of, the natural world. Whether campers are exploring, hiking, building forts, riding horses, creating art, playing in the woods, or cooking over the campfire, Camp Backcountry is more than just a place to spend your summer. It’s an experience that becomes part of who each child is. 

Camp Backcountry is located at our Base Camp, which is nestled into our 8,200 acre conservation property right in the heart of the Front Range. Our many different learning spaces, meadows, Ponderosa stands, and the foothills provide for a dynamic setting for learning about the natural world.

Our campers are broken up into groups that are age and grade specific. This allows for appropriate programming for your child(ren). To ensure we provide the best camp experience for all of our campers, exceptions will not be made to the age restrictions. If you have a child who is entering the appropriate grade listed on the camp session, but who’s birthday is too late to register them for that session, please contact the Camp Director for assistance.

Each morning and afternoon all campers will have choice time where they will have the option of doing the same activity, such as playing gaga ball, building forts, or sand play. 

Please indicate all allergies and dietary restrictions your child has when you fill out the paperwork on CampInTouch. If your child has an inhaler or epi-pen, you must fill out and submit the appropriate health forms on CampInTouch. All medication forms must be signed by a doctor. If you have any questions about this, please contact campbackcountry@hrcaonline.org for assistance.

Please indicate any medications your child is actively taking when you fill out the paperwork on CampInTouch. If your child has an inhaler, epi-pen, or will need to take any medication during camp hours (including over-the-counter medication such as Benadryl or ibuprofen), you must fill out and submit the appropriate health forms on CampInTouch. All medication forms must be signed by a doctor. If you have any questions about this, please contac campbackcountry@hrcaonline.org for assistance.

Please include as much information as you can in the CampInTouch paperwork. The more information you can provide us with, the better our staff will be prepared to help your child thrive at camp. Please include the diagnosis (if any), what triggers it, and what helps it. If you have questions specific to your child, please contact the Camp Director. 

Yes! Be sure to send a large, non-perishable lunch with your camper. Send more food than you think they will eat—our campers tend to get very hungry throughout the day! Please also be sure to send your child with a few extra snacks and a large, reusable water bottle. Being an environmental education facility, we encourage you to send your camper’s food in reusable containers.

Every camper needs to come prepared to spend all day outside, and should arrive wearing clothes appropriate for the day’s activities. Expect any clothes worn to camp to get a little dirty. Closed toe shoes are required. Please check your camper’s packing list carefully each day for more specifics.

Camp Backcountry uses a platform called CampInTouch to collect all required forms. Upon registration, you will receive an email that will link you to the Required Paperwork page. This page has every piece of information you will need to successfully fill out the required paperwork. Every individual “journey” is laid out for families, whether you’ve created a CampInTouch account before, or not. All forms must be completed by May 1 for summer sessions, and at least one week prior to each off-season session. Reach out to Sami.Dhainin@hrcaonline.org with any questions. 

Cancellations made by March 31 will be granted a full refund minus a non-refundable $50 deposit.

Cancellations made after April 1, and more than two weeks (14 days) of a camp session’s start date will be granted a 50% refund. 

Cancellations made within two weeks (14 days) of a camp session’s start will not be granted a refund.

Transfer requests will be granted up to two weeks (14 days) prior to the start date of your registered session, pending availability. All transfers must be made to another Camp Backcountry session in the same year. Transfers can NOT be made to the following summer. 
Parents wishing to cancel a child from camp must provide written notification via email campbackcountry@hrcaonline.org. You must include your child’s full name, your child’s age, and the dates and name of the camp session you wish to cancel.

There will be a 24-hour grace period after enrollment to cancel and receive a full refund, less a $5 cancellation fee.

Please be sure to download the Campanion app onto your mobile device prior to your child’s camp session. Camp Backcountry staff will be sending out photos of campers throughout the day, as well as any important updates via the Campanion app. By uploading a photo of your child onto their account for the facial recognition software, then you will receive an album of photos specific just to your camper each day of their camp session. 

To accommodate our programs and meet mandatory safety guidelines, we have extended the drop-off and pick-up times of Nature Camp, Art Camp, and Girls of the Outdoors Camp. Drop-off will be 7:30 – 9:30 am, and pick-up will be 2:30-4:30 pm. For the most successful day of campers, we recommend sticking to a 7-hour day. 

To accommodate our programs and meet mandatory safety guidelines, we have adjusted our hours at Horse Camp. Drop-off will be 7:30 – 8 a.m., and pick-up will be 2 – 2:30 p.m. This change in time will create a cooler start of day for both campers and horses and reduce shelter time due to afternoon thunderstorms.

LITs will go by the schedule of which ever camp they are volunteering for. If they are a LIT for Nature Camp, they will follow the 7:30 – 9:30 a.m. drop-off and 2:30-4:30 pm pick-up. If they are an LIT for Horse Camp, they will follow the 7:30 – 8 a.m. drop-off and 2 – 2:30 p.m. pick-up.