Camps
SUMMER CAMPS: Last few spots…
Dinosaur Ridge Camps are an unforgettable adventure! Our camps keep kids moving and discovering in the incredible setting of our National Natural Landmark. These experiences are designed to foster excitement and wonder for science, art, and the outdoors while engaging in our hands-on educational curriculum.
Our group sizes give every camper the opportunity to play, explore, and expand their knowledge. Each camp offers exploration of the Dinosaur Ridge fossil sites, hands-on science projects, and expert guest presenters in the fields of paleontology, geology, art, earth science, survival skills, and local plants and animals.
We are hiring for Summer Camp Leaders! See the information at the bottom of this page.
CAMP DETAILS
Dates: Camp will run from May 29 through August 11, 2023
Times: Camp runs daily from 9am to 3pm with aftercare available from 3pm to 5pm.
Cost: $375/week; $60/week for optional aftercare available.
Discounts: Member, multi-camp, multi-camper available.
Ages: 5 to 13 years (5-year-olds must have finished kindergarten before attending)
Camp Policies & Procedures: Click here to download a PDF.
CAMP SESSIONS (by theme)
Fossils and Fun – ages 5 to 10
A great beginner camp for new campers. With daily themes on dinosaur bones and tracks, nature and the outdoors, geology and art, this camp will ignite the scientists in your child and set them on a path of exploration and curiosity.
Sessions: May 29-June 2; June 5-9; June 26-30; July 31-August 4
Nature Trekkers – ages 5-10
A great beginner camp for new campers. Let your wild child be free range this week as we explore the foothills of Denver. Daily themes focus on local plants and animals and how they thrive. Hikes, guest speakers, live animal programs, and fun exploratory field trips will get your child onto the trail toward wonder and adventure!
Sessions: June 19-23; August 7-11
*NEW CAMP*
Dinosaur Camp – ages 5-10
A great beginner camp for new campers. Is your child dino-obsessed? So are we! Join us as we spend five whole days on everything from teeth and claws to tracks and bones while seeing, touching, and exploring some of Colorado’s finest dinosaur fossils. Awesome field trips, interactive guest speakers, and a host of fun games, crafts, and activities will have your camper a Junior Paleontologist in no time flat!
Sessions: June 5-9; July 10-14
*NEW CAMP*
Dinosaur Camp – ages 8-11
A great intermediate camp. Similar in many ways, this is a more intermediate camp for slightly older dino-obsessed children. We will still be spending five whole days on everything dinosaur, but this camp will go a bit deeper with advanced activities and speakers that appeal to the slightly older Junior Paleontologist you have at home.
Session: July 17-21
*REVAMPED*
Junior Scientists – ages 8-11
A great intermediate camp. Your at-home scientist will love this week of experimentation and exploration. Daily themes will focus on different branches of science, from paleontology to geology, biology to chemistry, and archaeology to physics, each day will bring new facts and fun.
Session: July 24-28
*REVAMPED*
Rock Stars – ages 11-13 A great advanced camp for experienced campers. This camp will focus on paleontology and geology and be co-led by *Dinosaur Ridge and the Morrison Natural History Museum. Campers will spend 2.5 days at the Morrison Museum doing a deep dive into local paleontology. Included will be preparatory lab time, exploring anatomy of local dinosaurs with bones, teeth, claws, and full skeletons, and more! The other 2.5 days will be spent at Dinosaur Ridge focusing on the local geology that ties the fossils to the rocks from where they were unearthed.
*Dinosaur Ridge will be the hub for pick up, drop off, and aftercare. Our camp leaders will go with the group to the Morrison Museum during their days before bringing them back to the Main Visitor Center at the end of each day (3pm).
Session: June 5-9 (max of 12 campers)
CAMP SESSIONS (by weekly date & capacity)
Session 1: Fossils and Fun (5-10 years) – May 29 through Jun 2 (29/29*)
Session 2: Dinosaur Camp (5-10 years) – June 5 through June 9 (18/18)
Session 3: Rock Stars (11-13 years) – June 5 through June 9 (11/11*)
Session 4: Junior Scientists (8-11 years) – June 12 through June 16 (21/29*)
Session 5: Nature Trekkers (5-10 years) – June 19 through June 23 (29/29*)
Session 6: Fossils and Fun (5-10 years) – June 26 through June 30 (30/30)
Week Break July 3 through July 7
Session 7: Dinosaur Camp (5-10 years) – July 10 through July 14 (29/29*)
Session 8: Dinosaur Camp (8-11 years) – July 17 through July 21 (29/29*)
Session 9: Junior Scientists (8-11 years) – July 24 through July 28 (28/29*)
Session 10: Fossils and Fun (5-10 years) – July 31 through August 4 (29/29*)
Session 11: Nature Trekkers (5-10 years) – August 7 through August 11 (30/30)
*Denotes a spot held for scholarship participants.
CAMP SCHOLARSHIPS
Scholarships are available for our camps thanks to donors and our Field Experience Fund. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please follow this link and submit the application form.
HIRING: CAMP LEADERS WANTED!
Summer Camp Leader
Job Details
Job Type: Full-time, Temporary. Button to apply at bottom of description.
Description
Dinosaur Ridge runs ten, one-week-long summer camps from the end of May through the second week of August for children ages 5 to 13 (completion of kindergarten is a camp pre-requisite). The camp day runs from 9am-3pm with an aftercare option from 3pm-5pm daily. Dinosaur Ridge Summer Camp offers a variety of themed sessions all involving hands-on science, nature, and exploration activities, lessons, outdoor games, guest speakers, and field trips. Our camps are designed to foster excitement and wonder for science, art, and the outdoors while engaging children in our educational curriculum based on Colorado State Science Standards. Dinosaur Ridge is a School Age Child Care Center licensed by the State of Colorado Division of Childcare.
Camp Leader Description and Responsibilities:
We are seeking camp Leaders to facilitate groups of 5 to 13 year-old campers for full days of outdoor adventures, science activities, and fun! Dinosaur Ridge Camp Leaders will be responsible for working with the Camp Directors and other leaders to provide a high-quality experience for every camper. They will ensure the safety, well-being, and enjoyment of camp for each participant.
Camp Leaders are Expected to:
- Act as role models for all participants and Junior Counselors.
- Lead a variety of group activities each week based on a set and pre-prepared curriculum and itinerary.
- Foster stewardship for the environment, fossils, plants, and animals.
- Participate in 15 hours of camp-related training before the start of camp (paid, arranged by Dinosaur Ridge).
- Perform other reasonable responsibilities as determined by the Camp Directors that are directly related to Dinosaur Ridge Summer Camp.
Requirements
- Must be at least 21 years of age (insurance requirement for diving 15-passenger vans).
- Must have 3 months (460 hours) of full time or equivalent 6 months to 1 year part-time experience working with school-aged children.
- Must have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
- Must pass all necessary background checks for childcare licensing. (Dinosaur Ridge pays for and will give direction on submission once hired).
- Must be able to work the following schedule:
- Camp Training Week: May 22-26, 2023 9am to 2pm daily
- All camp sessions: May 29, 2023 through August 11, 2023 (July 3-7, 2023 is a week off)
- 8am to 5pm flexibility (the schedule will fluctuate between 9am and 5pm, and 8am and 3pm to allow for adequate aftercare coverage. A minimum of 8am to 3pm daily is required)
Desired Skills and Qualifications:
- Interest and experience in teaching outdoor environmental science to youth
- Passionate about Dinosaur Ridge’s Mission
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to multitask patiently and professionally
- Strong communication skills with adults and children
- Team player, enthusiastic, organized, creative, critical thinker, and self-motivated
Compensation:
$17.00/hour. This is a full-time (35 average hours/week) hourly, seasonal position (May 22 through August 11 with one off week during July 3-7).
SPRING BREAK CAMP: NOW OPEN!
March 20 through March 24 – Daily Registration
Spring Break Camp is back in 2023 for another fun-filled week of science, art, exploration, and adventure!
CAMP DETAILS
Daily Themes: Daily registration, so sign up based on your availability!
Dates: Camp will run from March 20 through March 24.
Times: Camp runs daily from 9am to 3pm with aftercare available from 3pm to 5pm.
Cost: $84/day, $15/day for optional aftercare.
Discounts: Member, multi-camp, multi-camper available.
Ages: 5 to 10 years
CAMP SESSIONS:
Monday: Finding Fossils Day (12/13)
Tuesday: Discovering dinosaurs Day (11/13)
Wednesday: Geology Rocks! And Minerals Day (11/13)
Thursday: Nature Explorer’s Day (8/13)
Friday: Adventures in Art Day (8/13)
Junior Counselor Application
Do you have a camper that has aged out of our sessions? Or a student looking for volunteer hours in the spring or summer? Students 14-18 years can apply to be a Junior Counselor for 2 weeks of our camp sessions! Gain experience in working with school-aged children, helping with lessons, activities, games, and crafts, and having fun at the same time!
Total hours available per Junior Counselor: 70 hours.
Camp Cancellations & Refunds
If you need to cancel your session, here are the options:
Summer Camp
- Registration opening through March 31 – refunds are available in full.
- April 1 through April 15 – refunds will be full minus the $100 deposit (per registration).
- April 15 through April 30 – refunds will be 50% of the total cost (aftercare not included).
- May 1st through the end of the camp season: no refunds will be available*.
- *At any time you can cancel and choose to place paid funds into your ACTIVE Family Account for future use. These funds can be used for future Dinosaur Ridge Camps (Summer, Winter Break, Spring Break, etc.)
- You can also choose to give any or all of the paid funds to Dinosaur Ridge as a tax-deductible donation
Winter/Spring Break Camps
- Full refunds are available through December 1, 2022
- 50% refunds are available from December 1 through 15, 2022
- No refunds are available after December 15, 2022
- At any time (even after December 15), you can cancel and choose to place the funds into your ACTIVE Family Account. All paid funds will be placed into that account, including the deposit. These funds can be used for future Dinosaur Ridge Camp Sessions (Summer, Spring Break, Winter Break, etc).
Camp Staff
Dinosaur Ridge Summer Camp has a dedicated staff! The hiring process for Camp Leaders will begin in February 2023 for our next Camp season. If you have an interest, please contact education@dinoridge.org. If you have a student aged 14-18 that is looking for volunteer experience as a Junior Counselor, Dinosaur Ridge Camps offers 2 weeks (per licensing) of volunteer service with a certificate and letter of hours after completion each year during our Winter/Spring Break or Summer Camps!
Erin LaCount – Camp Co-Director
In April of 2002, Erin began at Dinosaur Ridge as a summer school tour guide and camp assistant. Twenty years later, Erin is the Education Programs Director and oversees the education components of school and public tours, special events, camps, and exhibits. Erin helped bring back the summer camp program in 2012 and is going into this year sharing the directing of our growing and blossoming camps with Amanda.
Erin has an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in geology and museum studies. She has a passion for learning about the ancient world and sharing that knowledge with all ages and is looking forward to seeing what adventure this season brings!
Amanda Rea – Camp Co-Director
In May of 2021, Amanda began working for Dinosaur Ridge as a Summer Camp Leader before transitioning to a Tour Guide after the summer season. She currently serves as the Education and Camp Coordinator where she facilitates educational programs, is co-director for camps, and manages the organization’s collections.
Amanda earned a B.S. in Geology with a minor in Biology from The University of Texas at Arlington. Her passion for the outdoors and science drove her to work in outdoor and STEM education. Prior to moving to Colorado, she worked in Texas interning at Oliver Nature Park for the City of Mansfield at Campfire First Texas as an Outdoor Education Specialist and served The Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas as an AmeriCorps Member. Amanda seeks out fossil hunting, rockhounding, hiking, and rock climbing in her personal life.
Katie Bradley – Camp Leader
In September 2021, Katie started at Dinosaur Ridge as an Americorps Service member helping expand audio tours, start a Dinosaur Ridge podcast, and assist in virtual programming development. Once her term was over, she decided she couldn’t leave and stayed on through the summer as a Camp Lead. Now Katie works full-time as Education and Evaluation Coordinator continuing to support Dinosaur Ridge’s educational efforts online and in person.
Katie received a B.A. in Radio Television and Film at the University of North Texas in Denton, TX. Katie worked for a decade in public broadcasting and audio production. She was an on-air DJ at Indie 102.3 FM with Colorado Public Radio during the COVID Pandemic when she started her Americorps term at Dinosaur Ridge. Katie is passionate about storytelling and learning new things, two things she is able to do daily at Dinosaur Ridge.
Dinosaur Ridge Camps are an unforgettable adventure!
Our award-winning camps keep kids moving and discovering in the incredible setting of our National Natural Landmark. These experiences are designed to foster excitement and wonder for science, art, and the outdoors while engaging in our hands-on educational curriculum.
Small group sizes give every camper the opportunity to play, explore, and expand their knowledge. Each camp offers an exploration of the Dinosaur Ridge fossil sites, hands-on science projects, as well as expert guest presenters in the fields of paleontology, geology, art, earth science, or local plants and animals.
Our Camp Directors are Unbeattable!
Erin LaCount and Amanda Rea co-lead multiple weeks of camp experiences year-round with a perfect balance of fun and learning. Spaces sell out quickly and many campers return year after year, some to become Junior Camp Counselors themselves.