How do I get to your camp?

Tell me more about your staff. . .
The majority of our summer staff consists of college students between the ages 18 and 25. Typical majors include Education, Psychology, Outdoor/Experiential Education, Recreation, and Physical Education/Sports. Applicants are evaluated for formal experience with children, experience in the wilderness and other related experience. Many of our staff have completed courses with NOLS, Outward Bound, the Peace Corps or similar college organizations. Reference checks, driving record checks and criminal record checks are conducted where appropriate.

How physically fit should my child be?
We keep our campers very active both in and out of camp. Your camper will be walking a great deal and will have to eventually carry a backpack on overnight excursions. However, most programming is structured such that campers begin with easier activities and gradually progress to more difficult activities and trips. This gives campers a chance to "get into the swing of it". Since campers are given a range of activities and trips to choose from, your child can choose those that best fit personal abilities and interests. In general, the older the program, the more physically challenging it will be.

How do you handle children on medication?
We hire a live-in nurse (RN) who distributes campers' medication based on health forms, doctor's orders or parent information. These orders are passed along to trip leader when campers are on trips. Medication is stored in a locked cabinet in the infirmary. Parents who have campers on medication associated with behavioral issues should explore this with the director prior to enrollment.

What if my camper becomes homesick?
After 36 years of camping, we have found that homesickness is a common occurrence. During staff training we prepare our staff on how best to deal with this issue and we hold regular staff meetings to discuss each camper's adjustment and progress. We will also provide families with information that should help with the adjustment to camp life. Homesickness is temporary in nearly all cases. It is extremely rare that we will send a camper home because of homesickness. In severe cases, a solution can usually be found through parent and director collaboration.

What if my child has special dietary needs?
CSC serves a broad, dietician-approved menu. Each meal consists of several alternatives, including vegetarian alternatives for those who do not eat meat. Of course, food allergies are also taken into account. Trail food is a little less glamorous, but we make efforts to send as much fresh food as possible. If you have any specific dietary questions regarding your camper, please call the office and indicate so on the health form.

How does my child get to camp?
Roughly half of our campers fly into the Durango airport where we pick them up. Both United and America West run regular air service from most U.S. destinations to Durango with a transfer in Phoenix or Denver. We have a local travel agent that is familiar with our travel dates and connections. We recommend that you start making your travel plans early. We are happy to provide directions and maps for all driving families. TIP: Many driving families make their trip a mini-vacation. There is a lot to see and do in the Durango area.

Can my camper call home?
We strongly discourage phone calls between campers and home. We are a rustic site and cannot handle 200 phone users. Furthermore, experience has taught us that phone calls tend to seriously disrupt the flow of camp and do not combat homesickness. Instead, we encourage families to write letters and e-mail their campers (see below) while at CSC. Family emergencies, discipline situations or health concerns certainly warrant a phone call and we will facilitate that option. Parents are always welcome to call the director with any questions or concerns.

How do I know what my camper is doing?
You will receive regular correspondence from your camper (he/she will write at least one letter per week) and a weekly report from your camper's counselor discussing their progress. These will be scanned and emailed home to you, usually within the next day. We also email home a regular newsletter that describes what is going on in your camper's program that week - weather, trips, stories, etc.
CSC also works with a company called eCamp to provide more interaction between you and your camper. We will upload 40-60 digital photos each day of campers "in action" around camp that you can view through eCamp's password protected site. For a small fee, you can purchase these pictures and also purchase email credits that will allow you to send one way emails into camp.

What safety precautions are taken?
What do you do if . . .?
While we have hundreds of pages of safety policies and procedures, here are a few main points. We hire a nurse who lives on the site during the summer. We have ambulance service from the nearest hospital, which is a 15 minute drive from camp. All counseling staff are CPR and First Aid certified, and at least one counselor on each trip holds a Wilderness First Aid certification appropriate to teh time we spend in teh backcountry. Lifeguards accompany all swimming or boating activities. The Director and Program Directors are all members of the La Plata County Search and Rescue team. Our Accreditation with the American Camping Association reflects a continued commitment to being a leader in the camping industry.