Pioneer Adventure Super Summer Camp at KMC
Welcome to the Pioneer Adventure Super Summer Camp at the Kennedy Mountain Campus (P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC)! Nestled in the heart of Colorado's Roosevelt National Forest, our campus is surrounded by nature's beauty, providing the perfect backdrop for a summer filled with fun and exploration. Camp highlights include diverse activities, expert staff, friendship and team building, educational exploration, and lasting memories.
Join us at P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC for a summer of laughter, learning, and limitless fun. Discover the magic of the great outdoors and create memories that will last a lifetime. Registration opens on January 20th, 2025, for our summer camp season.
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC is a sleep away summer camp for campers ages 9-15. Sending your child to the P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC for a residential camp EXPERIENCE can be highly rewarding and enriching with a multitude of benefits such as:
Independence and personal growth
Social and physical skills
Outdoor adventure activities
Lifelong friendships
Unplugged experience
Confidence and self-esteem
Unforgettable memories
A break from the standard routine
A safe and supervised environment
A breather for the parents of our campers
P.A.S.S. Camp at DU
Camp has been supporting day campers ages 5 – 11 for 29 summers, focusing on sports fundamentals, sportsmanship, and teamwork.
The 2025 city campus sessions will take place weekly for twelve weeks between May 27th and August 15th, promising fun-filled days all summer long. This year's sports majors include:
Ice skating and hockey
Soccer and lacrosse
Ultimate frisbee
Martial arts and boxing
Volleyball and basketball
and more!
What to Know
For Parents
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Parent Information Packet
The 2025 P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC Parent/Guardian Handbook will be available in January and emailed to all registered families, detailing the following:
- Community Agreement
- Health and Wellness Medication Guide
- Packing for Camp
- Getting to Camp
- Contacting Your Camper
- Homesickness
- Meals Information
- COVID-19 Information
- Emergency Information
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Safety & Supervision
The safety of our campers is our top priority. Our staff undergoes rigorous training, and we follow strict safety protocols. We have qualified medical personnel on-site, and our facilities and equipment are regularly inspected and maintained.
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Staff Qualifications & Background Checks
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC strives to always provide the most qualified and trained staff possible. Staff members must submit an application, complete an interview, complete three reference checks, undergo multiple background checks, and complete multiple pieces of training before arriving for staff training:
- CPR/First Aid
- Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting
- Body Safety Rules
- Discipline & Behavior Management
- Conflict Resolution
During our staff training, we cover safety and risk management issues:- team building
- counseling, programming, and teaching skills
- van training
- and more!
Our summer staff spend their summer residing at camp, creating a vital, close-knit camp community. -
Camper-to-staff Ratio
Staff-to-camper ratios are targeted at 8:1 exceeding the 10:1 ratio for children 11 years and older required by the State of Colorado Childcare Rules and Regulations.
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Health & Medical Care
Our Health Center is staffed by nurses and located on the bottom floor of the Dining Hall, a short walk from our cabins. During each camp session, we foster a healthy environment by promoting handwashing, daily cleaning of high-touch surfaces, sunscreen checks, hydration checks, and monitoring of camper health. For more information on medications, immunizations, and other health/wellness concerns please see our Parent/Guardian Handbook.
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Food Information
Meals
At the start of each session, campers are oriented to the ins and outs of our Dining Hall and family-style meals.
Mountain Berry Culinary
The kitchen and catering service at the James C. Kennedy Mountain Campus is operated by Mountain Berry Culinary. The mission of Mountain Berry Culinary is to provide healthy, great-tasting food to clients, guests, and staff. We believe that all individuals, regardless of dietary challenges, can have a great time at any event. Mountain Berry Culinary delivers excellent healthy and delicious meals to ensure guests and staff are always accommodated. Our chefs are expert, classically trained professionals certified in nutrition, allergens, and sanitation.
Allergies, Dietary Restrictions, and Special Diets
During registration and enrollment, we have a section for campers to let us know about any dietary restrictions, allergies, and nutritional needs.
Learn more about how our kitchen considers allergies and dietary restrictions.
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Facilities & Accommodations
Campers stay in our four-season Community Cabins, renovated in 2022. Each cabin sleeps 24 -32 people and has a kitchenette, 4 bathrooms, an ADA bathroom, board games, and a lounge area.
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Camp Schedule & Routine
Mini-P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC Sample Schedule (Link coming soon)
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Communication Policies
We understand the importance of staying connected with your child. Details about contacting your child during the camp, including emergency contact information, are provided in the Parent/Guardian Handbook.
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Camp Visits
Families are encouraged to visit during the final day of the camp session. Pick-up in the afternoon and campers will have a short period to show their families around the Kennedy Mountain Campus and share their experiences before collecting their belongings and checking out.
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Special Needs Accommodations
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC promotes a welcoming, inclusive environment that is open to all campers. Our camp staff will work to make reasonable accommodations to adequately include and incorporate campers with special needs. The Director team at the Kennedy Mountain Campus will handle all requests for specific accommodations on a case-by-case basis.
Please be sure to include any requests for accommodations within the CampDoc system and reach out to the Director team with any additional questions by email at kmc@du.edu.
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Technology & Screen Time
Technology Devices
Our no-technology policy is designed to create an immersive and authentic camp experience, allowing campers to connect with nature and each other without the distractions of electronic devices. The policy restricts the use of electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and gaming devices during the camp session. Campers are encouraged to leave these items at home. If your camper brings an electronic to camp, we will collect it when they arrive and hand it back when they leave.
Media Viewing Policy
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC is an active outdoor experience for your camper and utilizes screens minimally. Media presented will be rated G or PG and will be limited to 30 minutes or less.
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Transportation, Arrival, & Departure
Currently, there are no transportation options for campers for arrival and departure, we do have onsite transportation in the event of an emergency or offsite activity transport. We look forward to providing pick and drop-off options in the future.
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COVID-19 Information
If there are any changes with the P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC due to COVID-19, we will be in direct communication with all registered families.
For Campers
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What does a day look like?
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC has a daily routine; wake up, meals, activity blocks, evening activities, and lights out. Activity blocks are filled with amazing adventures such as climbing, challenge courses, hiking, archery, arts and crafts, etc. Check out our Mini-P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC Sample Schedule for details.
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What time do we get up?
For those campers who wake up early, the Morning Club starts at 6:30 am in the Bucksbaum Outdoor Gateway. And for those campers who like to sleep in, breakfast is at 7:30 am in the Dining Hall.
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Can I bring my electronics?
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC is filled with adventures, so many that you will not need all the electronic stuff we use in our daily lives. When you come to P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC you intentionally unplug your devices! You can leave them with your parents/guardians or turn them in for safekeeping when you arrive. We hope you feel more relaxed and enjoy the break from social media and the plugged-in life.
You may bring a digital camera or GoPro, but you will not be able to download photos or videos while at camp.
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Will I have my own bathroom?
When you attend P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC, you have four bathrooms in our Community Cabins that you share with your cabin mates.
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Is it dark at night in my cabin?
P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC is in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado which is a dark skies community. This means we intentionally keep our lights off, low, and pointed at the ground so our neighbors and our campers can view the beautiful night sky. When it’s lights out at camp, it is dark - but a perfect chance to grab a friend or a counselor from your cabin and go outside and look up!
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What activities are there at P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC?
We have a variety of activities to choose from such as:
- Team Building/Low Ropes
- High Ropes *
- Archery
- Hiking
- Learn to Climb both Indoors and Outdoors *
- Via Ferrata *
- Ecology
- Nature Arts and Crafts
- Survival Skills 101
- Map and compass
- Yard games
- Volleyball
- Ping Pong
- Basketball
- Archery tag
- Foosball
- Board Games
- STEM
- Outdoor Cooking
- Campfires
- AND SO MUCH MORE
* These activities are limited to campers 12 yrs of age or older.
Currently, we do not offer swimming or horseback riding.
About Rates & Registration
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How do I register my child for camp?
You can easily register your child by visiting our registration page on the website. Follow the step-by-step instructions and complete the online registration form. Don't forget to review our Parent/Guardian Information Packet for important details.
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What are the camp dates and session lengths?
Session 1 Mini-PASS Camp @ KMC
- Friday, July 18 - Sunday, July 20
Session 2 Mini-PASS Camp @ KMC
- Sunday, July 20 - Tuesday, July 22
Session 3 Mini-PASS Camp @ KMC
- Friday, July 25 - Sunday, July 27
Session 4 Mini-PASS Camp @ KMC
- Wednesday, July 30 - Friday, Aug 1
Session 5 Mini-PASS Camp @ KMC
- Friday, Aug 1 - Sunday, Aug 3
Session 6 Mini-PASS Camp @ KMC
- Friday, Aug 8 - Sunday, Aug 10
We are offering six sessions this year at $600 per session per camper. More information can be found on our registration page.
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Are there any discounts or financial assistance available?
Yes, we offer early bird sibling, and DU affiliated discounts.
- Save 10% with early registration by February 16, 2025.
- Sibling and DU Affiliate Discount: 10% off (cannot be combined with the early registration discount).
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Can I get a refund if I cancel my child’s enrollment?
Cancellations requested prior to May 1st will granted with 100% refund. After May 1st until 3 weeks (21 days) prior to your child’s camp week start date, refunds will be granted less a 15% administrative fee. Within 3 weeks (21 days) of your program start date refunds will not be granted except in cases of documented medical circumstances that prevent participation. All requests for cancellation must be submitted in writing to kmc@du.edu.
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What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, check, and all major credit cards. Please make checks payable to the University of Denver. Credit card is the only payment method accepted when paying over the phone.
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What do I do if my child is sick and cannot attend for the week?
You may call or email the KMC Director at 303-871-5355 or kmc@du.edu and inform them of your child's absence from camp. If a doctor's note is provided, you will be credited for the session your child is absent from camp due to illness. Daily credit or refunds are not available.
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What is the P.A.S.S. Camp at KMC Tax ID Number?
KMC Tax ID #84-0404231
Additional Information
Ready to Host your Summer Camp at the Kennedy Mountain Campus?
Bring your campers, counselors, and leadership team!
We will supply the meals, facilities, and outdoor activity facilitators.