History of Mountain Day Camp

Mountain Day Camp is excited to offer Altogether Outdoors programs in Denver, Inc. in summer 2010, along with more Eldorado Canyon, MDC Junior, Introdution to Backpacking and Junior Leaders programs in Boulder.

Mountain Day Camp started with an idea that it was possible to create an inclusive summer camp community that gathers each day and connects with each other and the natural environment. As we head into our sixth summer, we constantly revisit and improve upon these fundamental ideas.

2009 was our biggest and best summer yet! We piloted our traditional day camp program in Denver and added Junior Leaders and Backpacking in Boulder. Overall, every program grew and we tribute that to our outstanding staff that put their heart and souls into their jobs.

2008 was our first full summer of the Junior program in Boulder, we were able to meet the needs of families and campers like never before. We added to our leadership team with a Program Director position and Inclusion Director. As we grew, though, we focused on keeping our great staff ratios and just great staff!

This same year, School Day Off Camps grew. Campers loved coming to camp and getting outdoors and preferred it to going to camps at their schools. By offering camps when kids are out of school, we were able to meet needs of our current camp families as well as make connections with new families throughout the year.

2007 gave us 3 returning staff from 2006. Our traditional program was lead by Kay, Camille, Molly, Alex, and Tim. They did an outstanding job facilitating developmental growth and keeping campers safe. Karin and Karleigh piloted our new Mountain Day Camp Junior program for 5 & 6 year olds. The Junior version of MDC was well received by campers and families.

2006 staff members, Camille, Karin, Tim, Joey, and Kay, were instrumental in expanding the pilot summer of a handful of campers into a full blown day camp program. They helped to keep the original Mountain Day Camp vision at the forefront of all activities.

At the American Camp Association National Conference, Tommy posted a flyer, searching for another camp director that could help the camp grow. Betsy, a conference attendee, saw the posting and called Tommy but they never connected at the conference. On the flight home, Betsy and Tommy were seated across the aisle from each other. After lots of great discussions, Betsy moved across the country with her husband and dog and joined Mountain Day Camp as Associate Director (in 2007 she became a Director).

2005 pilot program was a success! Tommy and Steve ran a 2-week session at Eldora Mountain Resort. They worked hard each day to realize the vision upon which Mountain Day Camp, Inc. was founded. With a handful of dedicated campers and families, the founding concept proved to be fun, rewarding, and exciting.