This is the driving force behind Mountain Day Camp. Play is essential to the healthy development of children of all ages. We believe that MDC’s focus on informal play provides an ideal complement to children’s home and school lives for learning about self, community, and the natural world. Play provides a foundation for more confident and self-directed children who are excited to take on new challenges. And play is just plain fun!

• MDC provides children with valuable growth opportunities in a fun, creative environment.
• MDC activities are guided by intentionally designed developmental values of connectedness, ownership, identity, and expertise.
• MDC uses the many educational and natural resources in the communities in which we operate to enhance the fun of exploration and complement our own program activities.
• MDC understands the importance of “down time” during the camp day, so that campers have a chance to assimilate the day’s learning experiences among their peers, within the camp setting.
• MDC promotes intrinsic rewards at the completion of individual activities and camp as a whole.