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for Discovery Camp
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- Payment & Cancellation
- Drop-Off & Pick-Up
- Packing List
- Medications
- Health & Safety
- Behavioral Policies
- JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion)
- Scholarships
- More Information
Payment & Cancellation Policies
Payment Plans
Monthly Payment Plan
- 20% deposit required upon enrolling & non-refundable registration fee
- February 1st
- March 1st
- April 1st
- Final Payment: May 1st
3 Payment
- 20% deposit required upon enrolling & non-refundable registration fee
- February 1st
- April 1st
- Final Payment: May 1st
Final Balance
- 20% deposit required upon enrolling & non-refundable registration fee
- Final Payment: May 1st
- Must enroll in auto-pay
Payment in full is due at the time of enrollment if enrolling after May 1st.
Forms
All forms are due May 15th, 2024.
Cancellations
100% of paid tuition less registration fees can be transferred to another available 2024 Summer overnight program. (if space is available)
- Cancel before April 15th – 100% tuition refund – less registration Fees ($10-$40 depending on program)
- Cancel between April 16th- May 15th – 80% tuition refund – 20% of tuition and registration fees are non-refundable and held as a cancellation fee.
- After May 15th (May 16th and on) – Non-refundable*
*If enrolling in a session after May 15th, there will be a 24-hour grace period after enrollment to cancel and receive a 100% refund – less registration fees ($10-$40 depending on the program).
Cancellations Due to Illness or Injury
Any cancellations due to illness or injury will be assessed on a case-by-case basis and must be accompanied by a doctor’s note stating that the child is advised not to participate in programming due to health reasons. A transfer to a later session or a full refund less registration fees will be offered once a copy of the doctor’s note has been submitted via email and verified by KSS.
If KSS cancels a session or is unable to accommodate the camper in the program, a full refund including registration fees will be issued.
Drop-off and Pick-up
Allow up to 1 hour each for drop-off and pick-up.
Drop-Off:
- KSS Campus: 12pm on Start Date
- Morrison T-Rex Park N Ride: 10am on Start Date ($85 Each Way)
- **Denver International Airport (Discovery Deluxe Only): 5am-8am Flight arrival window
*Pick Up:
- KSS Campus: 10am on End Date
- Morrison T-Rex Park N Ride: 12:30pm on End Date ($85 Each Way)
- **Denver International Airport (Discovery Deluxe Only): 4pm-7pm flight departure window
* Discovery Camp programs end on either Friday or Saturday. See your KSS Online Account for Exact dates.
** DIA transportation is only offered to Discovery Deluxe and is $129 each way. There is an additional $200 fee for flights booked outside of the designated flight window.
Tents to Trails: Because this program is a hybrid, it has separate pickup and dropoff information:
- Drop-Off:
- KSS Campus: 12pm on Start Date
- Morrison T-Rex Park N Ride: 10am on Start Date ($85)
- Pick-Up:
- KSS Campus: 11am on End Date
Medications & Supplements
Participants taking vitamins, supplements, over-the-counter or prescription medications, must provide medications with Medication Administration Permission Forms to KSS staff prior to the start of the program. Participants will not be allowed to bring any medication (including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medication) that does not have an associated Medication Administration Permission Form signed by a licensed physician or healthcare provider.
For emergency medications such as an EpiPen or albuterol inhaler, guardians are required to provide the applicable care or action plan in lieu of a medication administration permission form.
For all programs, If your participant self-carries an emergency medication such as an inhaler or epinephrine, it must be documented on the Action/Care Plan Forms and signed by a licensed physician or healthcare provider. Participants and guardians should inform KSS staff of where they keep their emergency medicine.
We have specific staff who have completed medication administration training and have been delegated by our healthcare consultant to administer medication. You will have a chance to speak with them as part of the check-in process. Medications will be kept in a secure place and returned at the end of camp.
How do I pack my medications?
All medication must be in the original prescription or over-the-counter container. Medication not in the original container or expired will not be accepted.
Please bring the exact amount of medication needed for the program. You will be asked to count out what is needed. Do not provide extra. Our nurse or leadership staff will help with this at drop-off.
During the check-in process, guardians will turn the medication in to the Camp Nurse or other leadership staff.
Do not pack medication in the child’s luggage. Have it out and ready at check-in.
This includes over-the-counter medicine, prescription medicine, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, and/or herbal medications.
Health & Safety Policy
Transportation
Our participants visit amazing places that sometimes require transportation. Guardians will be informed of these travel locations before their program. Trips may include adventure day locations, trails, campgrounds, parks, and sometimes locations out-of-state in our 15-passenger vans.
All van drivers are 20 years of age or older and have a minimum of 4 years of licensed driving experience, a clean record, and go through four hours of 15-passenger van driving training. We follow Colorado Car Seat Safety Laws and require children seven years old and under to sit on KSS-provided booster seats. Vans will never transport a number of people that will exceed the capacity specified by the manufacturer and children will always be supervised by an approved adult who is not actively driving. In the event of an emergency, KSS staff will refer to our Risk Management & Emergency Response Plan to determine the course of action. Our vans are also inspected daily to guarantee all passengers and drivers safety.
Please visit our website if you are looking for additional transportation services, if your participant is flying to Colorado, or if you are looking for transportation from locations within Colorado.
Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures
Authorized Persons for Pick-Up
At the end of the day or session, participants will be waiting at the pick-up area (location dependent on the program). Guardians will be asked for their unique PIN that is attached to their profile to confirm they are a guardian or authorized pick-up for the participant. If you would like to designate someone else to pick up your child, please be sure to add them to your authorized pick-up list in your account or call our Office to add them at (970) 468-2098. They will be assigned a unique PIN and will be asked for it at the time of pick-up. Should you or an authorized pickup not have their PIN, they will be required to present a valid form of ID.
Some of our programs have the option for participants to check out from programming on their own. If guardians would like their participants to be able to sign themselves out without an adult, please contact our Office to check if this option is available for the program your child is participating in. In case it is, guardians must authorize it in their Online KSS Account under “Authorized Pickups.” Participants must check out with KSS staff before leaving.
Early or Late Drop-Off
Participants should not arrive earlier than the designated drop-off time for their program. An additional fee may be assessed for all drop-offs before the designated time. Participants arriving more than half an hour late may be turned away if their group has already left campus. For more details, please visit Get Ready for Camp and look at Drop-Off and Pick-up.
Early or Late Pick-Up
Please be on time to pick up your participant. Any early pick-ups must be communicated at least 24 hours in advance to our Office and will be treated on a case-by-case basis. Late pick-ups may result in additional charges and possible exclusion from programming. For more details, please visit our website. If you need to pick up your camper earlier, you will be running late, or have any trouble finding us, please call our Office at (970) 468-2098.
In the event that a child is not picked up within 30 minutes of the pick-up time, and KSS staff are not able to contact the guardians and/or emergency contacts, KSS staff will notify their supervisor and call local authorities to take over.
Health Screening
Upon arrival, depending on the program, your child will undergo a short health screening. We do this to ensure the overall health of our community. This process ensures your participant, and others leave KSS programs as healthy as they came. KSS staff will monitor participants’ health throughout programming. Any illness or condition that jeopardizes the health of the KSS community may result in exclusion from programming. Please refer to the section below “Health Exclusion from Programming” to learn more.
Sunscreen and Bug Spray
Participants need to bring sunscreen labeled with their first and last names. It is encouraged that they carry it in their day packs as they will need to reapply throughout the day. KSS Staff will supervise children applying sunscreen on their own. Written authorization and instructions from guardians will be required in order for KSS staff to assist directly in the application of sunscreen.
If the packing list from the program your camper is attending lists bug spray, please follow the above instructions for sunscreen as this will also apply to bug spray.
Medical Forms
Please fill out all the medical forms completely, have them signed, and upload them to your online account promptly. These forms include the KSS Medical History Forms and Immunization Record. For all overnight programs, a Physician’s Report will also be available in your online dashboard and a completed form is required to participate. If applicable, an allergy, seizure, asthma, diabetes care, or action plan will be available in your online dashboard and required. If your participant will need to take any medicine (prescribed or over-the-counter), supplement, or vitamin while programming a medication administration permission form will need to be completed for each. Remember, the more information you can provide us, the better we will be prepared to give the best experience to your camper during programming.
Medications and Supplements
Participants taking vitamins, supplements, over-the-counter or prescription medications, must provide medications with Medication Administration Permission Forms to KSS staff prior to the start of the program. Participants will not be allowed to bring any medication (including vitamins, supplements, and over-the-counter medication) that does not have an associated Medication Administration Permission Form signed by a licensed physician or healthcare provider.
For emergency medications such as an EpiPen or albuterol inhaler, guardians are required to provide the applicable care or action plan in lieu of a medication administration permission form.
For all programs, If your participant self-carries an emergency medication such as an inhaler or epinephrine, it must be documented on the Action/Care Plan Forms and signed by a licensed physician or healthcare provider. Participants and guardians should inform KSS staff of where they keep their emergency medicine.
We have specific staff who have completed medication administration training and have been delegated by our healthcare consultant to administer medication. You will have a chance to speak with them as part of the check-in process. Medications will be kept in a secure place and returned at the end of camp.
How do I pack my Medications?
All medication must be in the original prescription or over-the-counter container. Medication not in the original container or expired will not be accepted.
Please bring the exact amount of medication needed for the program. You will be asked to count out what is needed. Do not provide extra. Our nurse or leadership staff will help with this at drop-off.
During the check-in process, guardians will turn the medication into the Camp Nurse or other leadership staff.
Do not pack medication in the child’s luggage. Have it out and ready at check-in.
This includes over-the-counter medicine, prescription medicine, vitamins, homeopathic remedies, and/or herbal medications.
Participant Mental Health
KSS considers the mental health and emotional safety of participants equal to their physical safety. KSS strives to create safe mental health experiences through positive relationships, open communication, clear boundaries and respect for personal space, and creative programming that responds to participant needs. Understanding the source of a child’s distress is helpful and we strive to understand each individual’s experience. For KSS staff to be prepared with the best resources, it is important that guardians fully disclose all information about their participant’s mental health before programming. This can help set up both KSS staff and the participant for a more successful and positive experience during programming. Please contact our Office at (970) 468-2098 if you would like to give more information or details that you believe might be helpful after filling out the medical and health forms in your KSS Online Account.
KSS staff members are not trained mental health professionals and thus should not assume that they can fully manage mental health emergencies. Staff are encouraged to seek support from Program Managers and local mental health services. In the case of a severe mental health incident, guardians will be notified after staff have ensured a safe environment for your participant.
Participant Injury or Illness
Our number one concern is to ensure the health and safety of each participant. KSS staff is Basic First Aid and CPR/AED certified at a minimum. Additionally, many of our staff hold a current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) or Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification. For summer camps, we have a Camp Nurse on-site or a healthcare consultant, and our staff is required to carry first aid kits at all times.
In the event of injury or illness, our KSS staff will provide care according to their medical training. In the case of severe injury or illness, emergency medical services or higher medical care may be contacted. In some cases, emergency transportation and evacuation may occur by emergency transportation vehicles or KSS vehicles. Several medical clinics are located within 15 minutes of KSS. In the event of injury or illness, we will call guardians or designated emergency contacts.
Insurance and cost for treatment arising out of an accident or injury during programming is the responsibility of the participant’s guardian. Guardians will be asked to provide KSS with proof of insurance on the KSS medical form. If you have any questions, please call our Office at (970) 468-2098.
Special Medical Needs and 1:1 Care Needed for Participants
If your participant requires one-to-one care or has special medical needs where guardians need to be in proximity to the participant, please call our Office at (970) 486-2098 to discuss what programming might look like for your participant and if we are able to accommodate your participant’s needs.
Health Exclusion from Programming
If a child develops or shows any symptoms of illness before or during camp, KSS staff will use Colorado’s Guideline “How Sick is Too Sick?” to determine if the participant can be in the program.
Prior to the start of programming, it is best to observe participants for illness at least 7 days before the start of the session. If your camper develops or shows any symptoms of illness from this list, please refer to Colorado’s Guideline “How Sick is Too Sick?” to determine if the participant should skip camp.
- Severe or new cough
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Flu-like symptoms
- Vomiting
- Has tested positive for COVID-19 or has been in contact with someone that has
- Has been diagnosed with an Illness by a healthcare provider
If your child needs to stay home according to Colorado’s Guideline “How Sick is Too Sick” or your healthcare provider’s recommendations for any other health concern, please call our Office at (970) 468-2098 to inform us about your camper’s absence and know about the next steps.
If a participant feels unwell during programming, the individual will be monitored and may be separated from the group. Trained KSS staff will use available diagnostic tools to determine the cause. Staff will give the participant some time to rest and allow symptoms to subside. If symptoms persist or worsen, KSS staff will communicate with guardians and ask for the child to be picked up for one of the following reasons:
Symptoms prevent the camper from participating and enjoying the program.
Our staff cannot provide the proper care for the participant while still caring for other participants
The participant needs to be sent home according to Colorado’s Guideline “How Sick is Too Sick”.
KSS staff will utilize a sick kit and designate a space for the child to be supervised and isolated from others while they wait for their guardians.
If your child cannot attend or is excluded from programming due to health reasons, please contact our Office at (970) 468-2098 for next steps.
Regarding Supervision of Participants
Participants will be supervised by KSS staff at all times. KSS staff will be able to be contacted by cell phone while in cell service. KSS staff will carry satellite messaging devices when they are traveling to areas with no cell phone coverage.
Attendance, emergency contact, group assignment, and field day location information for each program will be accessible by administrative staff. It is the responsibility of each program area to ensure that the participant’s information is current.
Regarding Participant Separation from the Group
Continuous supervision and participant count by staff will prevent the ‘loss’ of a child. In the event a child does become lost, procedures outlined in the Risk Management & Emergency Response Plan will be implemented, including a multi-tiered search.
Policy Regarding Inclement Weather
Colorado’s weather and air quality tend to change rapidly. KSS staff are expected to know the weather and air quality forecast each day, plan accordingly, and conduct activities provided there is no danger for our staff and for the participants’ health.
In the event that KSS decides to cancel programming caused by inclement weather, guardians will be contacted by our staff as soon as possible.
Policy Regarding Emergency Pickup Locations
In the event of an emergency requiring the evacuation of participants from the Keystone Science School campus and other locations, centralized guardian pickup locations will be identified and communicated to guardians via direct communication when possible or via our website if direct communication is not possible.
Behavioral Policy
Cultivating Positive Relationships
KSS programs are not possible without staff establishing culture and setting expectations to provide participants with a Positive Learning Environment (PLE). Addressing group concerns and individual behaviors is important to maintain a PLE. In order to succeed, participants will be informed of what is expected and permissible at the beginning of the program.
Our staff has been trained in positive and inclusive instruction methods as well as in identifying bullying and other negative behaviors. We always do our best to correct and communicate behavioral issues with participants and guardians. Our staff will communicate directly with participants about behavior expectations.
Creating a Respectful Environment
Inclusive language respects each person’s identity, values each member, and creates space for difference. The goal and one of our Values at KSS is that “We Are Different Together” and KSS staff will uphold a programming culture that utilizes and affirms inclusive language. Language and actions that exclude or denigrate an individual or group and/or reinforce bias are not welcome and will not be tolerated during programming. Read more about our inclusion policy.
Homesickness
Keystone Science School programs are a way for your child to experience new things away from guardians and cultivate a sense of independence and confidence. We understand that this new environment and being away from their family can cause stress, anxiety, and homesickness. Our staff has been trained to manage these feelings and has several resources and activities to welcome campers, make them feel safe, and introduce them to their new environment, fostering new relationships with our counselors and other participants so they can make new friends.
In case of severe homesickness, KSS staff will evaluate the situation and will inform guardians about the status of their participants. We will try to get more insight into the cause of these feelings and any resources guardians might have that we have not tried to soothe their participants and get them back into programming. If after several attempts from our KSS staff, the participant seems to be having a negative experience in the program, we will call guardians to pick up their child.
Remember we have a no-phone policy. Historically, access to home and communications from guardians only increases homesickness and stress from separation.
Flight Risk (Running Away)
Should a participant be a flight risk (running away), KSS staff will do their best to acknowledge and address the participant’s feelings and attempt to return them to programming safely. We will inform guardians if we feel a participant is a flight risk. If the participant continues to run away from the group, putting themselves at risk, they will be excluded from programming. Management will discuss the next steps with guardians and if there are any alternative options that KSS can offer to accommodate the participant.
Behavioral Management
Our behavior policy recognizes that there is a spectrum of behaviors, and we always work to understand where children are coming from when issues arise. All behavior incidents will be reported to Management via Incident Reports and will be examined case-by-case. All behaviors including repeated minor behaviors, as well as singular severe behaviors, may result in exclusion from programming. Please see the Exclusion policy for more details.
1:1 Attention Needed for a Participant due to behavior
Keystone Science School believes our programs are an experience in which participants are able to learn and grow as individuals. Our staff are trained to manage participant behavioral needs and will use all available resources to help manage participants. If a child requires one-on-one attention from our staff and we are unable to provide this level of supervision, or this compromises the safety or experience of the rest of the group, the participant may be excluded from programming. It is imperative that guardians share all relevant behavioral information with KSS to best support their participants’ success in programming.
Behavioral Exclusion from Programming
KSS reserves the right to dismiss a participant from the program if the participant behaves in a way that is considered by KSS staff to be detrimental to the quality and best interest of the program or other participants.
Any repeated mild or moderate behaviors, or a single severe behavioral incident, may result in exclusion from programming. Behavioral incidents are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If an incident occurs, KSS staff will contact program managers. Using the information available, program managers in conjunction with staff, will make a decision for the group in a timely manner. Decisions in behavioral incidents may result in behavioral management leading up to and including exclusion from the program.
When a child is dismissed from the program, guardians of the child will be contacted by KSS program managers and asked to pick up their child and remove them from the program. No refund of program fees will be provided for participants dismissed from the program for inappropriate conduct. Return to future KSS programs will be at the discretion of KSS leadership staff.
Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Keystone Science School has the power to effect change in outdoor education. We know the trail won’t be easy, yet we remain resolute in our responsibility to press forward and help make the outdoors more just, equitable, diverse, and inclusive. With each step we take, we learn from existing footprints and create new ones where there are none. If you’re looking for Keystone Science School, you’ll know where to find us–on the trail.
We offer financial aid to those who qualify. While a scholarship is not guaranteed we do our best to accommodate and take into consideration each family that applies.
Click here to learn more about our scholarships and how to apply.
Waitlist Information
There is no cost to be on the waitlist. Payment will only be processed once a family agrees to enroll the camper, and the enrollment is processed by a KSS staff member. A deposit is not charged to be on the waitlist.
The waitlist operates on a first-come-first-served basis. KSS may prioritize campers that already have an enrolled sibling in the session.
When a space becomes available, a KSS staff member will reach out to a waitlisted family either via email or phone with a timeline of when we can accept a response. Once the allotted time has passed, we will move on to the next camper on the waitlist. We will reach out to waitlisted campers again if another space opens up. A waitlisted camper may be removed from the waitlist if we do not receive a response after multiple attempts to contact the family.
If you want to know where your camper is on the waitlist, you can contact us at Support@KeystoneScienceSchool.org or (970)468-2098.
Off-Campus Camping
Yes – Discovery campers get to explore an evening of tent camping at a dispersed or primitive campsite off campus. Campers will pack their belongings and we will drive to the trailhead. From there, campers will hike with their belongings to the campsite to spend an evening off the grid.
Discovery Campers vs. CAP
CAP stands for Counselor Assistant Program and is offered to rising 9th – 12th graders. While our CAPs still get to experience everything that Discovery Camp has to offer, they engage specifically in a program focused on leadership development. There will be some programming that is unique to CAPs and their experience.
Camper Communication
We pride ourselves on quality programming that engages all of our participants. We feel the use of technology detracts from this experience and therefore we do not permit participants to have access to technology for the duration program.
Cell phones, laptops, smartwatches, etc. are prohibited and will be confiscated during programming – please leave these at home.
However, you can send emails, letters, or care packages to your camper! We print emails and deliver packages and letters when our campers are on campus. The following are ways to send those:
Email: CamperMail@KeystoneScienceSchool.org
Subject Line: Camper Name & Session
Mail:
Camper Name
Session Name
Keystone Science School
1053 Soda Ridge Rd. Keystone, CO 80435
Purchase a Care Package: Shop our KSS Online Store, write your camper name and session in the notes field, and we will deliver the items as a care package to your camper!
We have access to our staff at all times both on-campus as well as when in the backcountry. Our favorite motto is “No news is good news.”
We will inform parents if any medical, behavioral, or other concerns arise. If you have an emergency, or need to get in contact with your participant, you can contact us at our main office at (970)468-2098.
Challenge Hikes
Challenge hikes are hikes intended to be challenging for the participant. We offer multiple hiking locations to meet all skill levels. You can read more about our challenge hikes here.
Adventure Activity Information
The adventure activity is a single-day activity typically done on the Friday prior to pickup.
CLAW
CLAW is an acronym for Camp Legends And Warriors. This session of camp is two weeks long and involves our entire campus.
The schedule for this session will include the same activities and days as the other sessions of Discovery Camp x2! However, the exact schedule is not released until the session start date.
Dietary Restrictions
Keystone Science School is familiar with accommodating most dietary restrictions such as gluten-free (including diets for Celiac Disease), dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, Kosher, etc. It is important that parents complete health history forms indicating diet preferences to ensure our kitchen is equipped to provide meals for your participant.
Nuts: Keystone Science School is a nut-aware campus, which means our kitchen and the food we provide does not contain nuts, nor are any of the ingredients manufactured in a facility containing nuts. We ask that campers and participants follow this policy and also do not bring foods containing nuts.
If you have questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (970)468-2098 or Support@KeystoneScienceSchool.org.
Lost and Found
Please fill out this form and we will contact you if we are able to find the lost items.
Information Packet
View our Camp Information Packet here.
Staff Qualifications
Keystone Science School hires qualified staff who must meet several qualifications in order to be employed at KSS. Staff must go through both state and federal background checks and obtain first aid training. Day Camp staff have a minimum of First Aid and CPR training as well as experience working with children or a demonstrated ability to do so. All Overnight Camp staff have a minimum of a Wilderness First Aid certification and past experience working with children. All staff go through a comprehensive staff training to give them the tools they need to deliver life-changing experiences. Also, they are rockstars!
KSS Accreditations
- Licensing through the state of Colorado
- American Camp Association
Call (970)468-2098 or email support@keystonescienceschool.org for more information.