AAVE's Colorado Summer Camp for Middle-Schoolers

DAY 1:
After everyone has met at the Denver International Airport and called home to confirm a safe arrival, we head to our first campsite in the San Isabel National Forest. Here we go over orientation, get to know each other and discuss what can be expected in the next 17 days. We relax and prepare for tomorrow's adventures!

DAY 2:
We warm up our mountain legs with a beautiful hike to an alpine lake. We follow the Timberline trail to Timberline Lake where we take a dip and cool off before lunch. Throughout the day, we learn minimum impact backcountry skills. We practice "Leave No Trace" camping everywhere AAVE travels. After our hike, we return to camp near the aptly-named Turquoise Lake outside of historic Leadville, CO.

DAY 3:
Now that our bodies are adjusting to the thin mountain air of the Centennial State, we are ready to tackle a slightly bigger challenge. Our second day hike takes us to colossal Mt. Elbert, Colorado's highest peak at 14,443 feet! While we are not yet ready to summit this giant of the Rockies, we do have the opportunity to explore some popular trails surrounding the peak's lower elevations. Look out for more picturesque lakes and abandoned gold mines along the route. We also learn some topographical map and compass skills that help us to safely and accurately navigate in the wilderness. At the end of the day, we travel south to our new campsite on the shores of the Arkansas River, which will be our home for the next four nights.

DAY 4:
We meet our professional guides from Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center who give us an orientation on the tools and skills required for outdoor rock climbing. After learning the basics of this exhilarating sport, we hit the granite walls of Big Horn Sheep Canyon to try out one of Colorado's favorite pastimes. All abilities are welcome and everyone gets a chance to reach the top!

DAY 5:
Today we try some more epic climbs, this time at Castle Rock Canyon, just east of Buena Vista. In the morning, we learn more in-depth technical skills like belaying, rappelling, smearing, jamming and stemming. The afternoon is a chance for us to put together all we've learned over the past two days to conquer the rock and take in the beautiful panoramic views from the top!

DAY 6:
We rise early to meet our experienced river guides from American Adventure Expeditions. We launch our rafts and navigate the class III rapids of Big Horn Sheep Canyon near Canon City. This lesser-known stretch of the world-famous Arkansas River takes us through exciting twists and turns and over creatively-named rapids such as Maytag, Three Rocks and Puppy's Tail.

DAY 7:
Day two of our whitewater rafting expedition brings even more thrills and excitement! Professional guides help us safely navigate through Brown's Canyon, America's most popular stretch of whitewater (for good reason!). We work together to paddle through famous rapids such as Zoom Flume, The Staircase and Big Drop. Surrounded by the towering Collegiate Peaks, there will be plenty of sunshine, water fights and whitewater fun! After debarking our rafts, we continue on to Rock Bottom Ranch in Basalt where we set up camp for the night and prepare for tomorrow's service project.

DAY 8:
Today we have an opportunity to give back to the wilderness areas we've been enjoying. The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a non-profit environmental education center providing a variety of natural science programs for people of all ages and interests. We spend a day volunteering at either their Hallam Lake site in Aspen or their Rock Bottom Ranch site in Basalt. An ACES naturalist guides us through projects focused on restoring the health and balance of the many ecosystems managed by the program. Whether enhancing a stream for trout to spawn or assisting in an organic garden, we learn how to help sustain natural communities in this spectacular area. Our positive attitudes and commitment to a day of hard work make this a worthwhile environmental "give back" for everyone.

DAYS 9-10:
We travel for one breathtaking day over picturesque Rocky Mountain passes to Crested Butte, a quaint Colorado town famous for its fantastic winter snow and summer mountain biking. We take a day to resupply, enjoy the town and pick up some souvenirs before hitting the trails in this mecca of Colorado biking.

DAY 11:
Mountain biking! Home to the Mountain Biking Hall of Fame, Crested Butte is world-renowned for mountain biking. Today, the Crested Butte Mountain Guides give us the ride of our lives! After a safety orientation we strap on our helmets and head for the hills for a day of challenge, fun and adrenaline! Traversing the popular "Lower-Lower Loop" just outside of town, we enjoy perfect single-track trails surrounded by secluded peaks and blossoming wild flowers. The ride is perfect for beginners, and there will be more technical routes for more experienced riders (optional).

DAYS 12-14:
Traveling back east over the Continental Divide, we head for Kenosha Pass and the mighty Colorado Trail. We meet Ralph Ogden and his Arkansas Valley Trail Rides wranglers and hit the dusty trail for an authentic western horse pack trip into the Rockies. For two days, our posse meanders past aspen groves, beautiful vistas and open meadows upon our equine friends. In the evening we enjoy cowboy cooking and relaxation under the starry skies around a glowing campfire.

DAYS 15-17:
Practicing "Leave No Trace Camping" we get to enjoy our last few days together backpacking with only ourselves and mother nature for company. Wearing backpacks supplied by AAVE, we expand on our backcountry knowledge and skills while hiking and camping in the pristine wilderness of the Pike National Forest. Our final challenge is a group summit of Mt. Silverheels (elevation 13,822 ft.), which dominates the South Park Valley below. After hiking back out to the Gold Dust Trailhead, we travel back to Denver and celebrate our last night together.

DAY 18:
We travel to the airport early, say goodbye to our new friends and start planning where AAVE will take us next year!

Price Includes:
Two CPR and First Aid certified AAVE leaders; all ground costs, all ground transportation including airport pickup and drop-off; all camping fees and camping gear (except sleeping bags, sleep mats and mess kits); all activities and gear listed in the above itinerary; all meals; local gratuities to wait-staff and all hotels or hostels.

Price Doesn't Include:
Flights to/from Denver, Colorado; optional gratuities, extra snacks and souvenirs.

This itinerary is a sample outline of the program highlights. It is not a precise description. Changes made before or during the trip will only be made in the interest of safety or a more successful trip. This diverse itinerary is our framework for a summer of exhilaration and adventure. Get your mind and body set. Activities are planned using years of experience with your highest expectations in mind.

We appreciate the importance of this decision and want you to be as informed as possible! Please phone 303.526.0806 or email us at info@aave.com with questions, to receive 2009 references or to make a reservation.

We look forward to having you join us!