Extreme Education Excursions

Monday – Wednesday

Drop off and pick up is at 740 West Caramillo St, Colorado Springs CO 80907. Click here to see a map. 

Pick up and drop off will still be contactless using drive-thru lanes. You will follow the signs counter-clockwise to pull through the Catamount Institute/Sondermann Park parking lot. You will not leave your vehicle, and staff will meet your camper. 

Camp drop-off (9:00 am) – We ask that you do not arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled drop-off, as we will be busy getting everything ready for a great day. A staff member will meet your camper at your vehicle, grab any needed documents from you, and tell you any new information regarding camp. You will proceed with caution through the drive-thru lane to exit the parking lot. 

Camp pick up (4:00 pm) – A staff member will come to your car to check your ID through the car window and once the ID is confirmed, a staff member will bring your camper to your vehicle. We will only release your camper to those designated on your registration form as parents/guardians and emergency contacts with proof of ID. If you need to change who is picking up your child, please bring us a written note or call us beforehand.

*Thursday

Drop-off will be at 7:30 am on Thursday in order to make it to our 8 am caving 101 tour at Cave of the Winds!

*Friday

Pick-Up will be 5:30 pm to ensure enough travel time home from rafting

Gear to Always Bring

• Bring a day-pack (small backpack) to carry your belongings for the day
• Pack a reusable water bottle
• Any and all medications the campers may need in their original containers with prescriber notes (see additional information in faq question below and in registration forms). 
• Campers will be outside so we recommend they put sunscreen on in the morning before camp and bring a bottle with them (we cannot provide sunscreen). 
• Wear or bring a brimmed hat, rain jacket, and sturdy tennis shoes or hiking boots. 
• Clothing you don’t mind getting wet and muddy as campers will be outside exploring and adventuring. Sometimes an extra pair of socks can come in handy as well.
  • What NOT to bring:
    
    • Cell phones, video games, TVs, radios, iPods or other mp3 players
    • Knives, pocket knives, sharp objects, or other items that could be utilized as a weapon. If your camper brings these items, the item will be held by staff members until the end of camp on Friday and it could result in the removal of the camper from camp. 
    • We have a zero-tolerance rule for drugs, alcohol, tobacco, weapons and vaping. Brining and/or using any of these items will result in the camper’s immediate removal from camp. Even prescription or over-the-counter medication not accompanied by the required documentation can result in removal from camp.

This camp is great for anyone from those who have never been hiking to the campers who have gone to Catamount Institute camps for years. There may be a bit of action but this trip is overall easy-going and will be full of fun learning experiences and adventures.

Many activities involve physical activity to a degree but the payoff is worth it and designed for all levels. We never push a camper beyond their limit.

All employed by Catamount Institute have passed background checks through the state of Colorado. They also go through the application, interview, and reference check process. All are trained in CPR and First Aid with some having higher certifications such as Wilderness First Responder. All summer employees go through extensive week-long training before campers arrive. Instructors have a very diverse professional background ranging from environmental education to outdoor recreation. They all have experience with and a passion for working with children and connecting kids to the outdoors!

Most of our camp experiences have a 5:1 camper-to-staff ratio with none of them exceeding 8:1.

Sibling discounts are available and will automatically be applied when more than one child is registered and is $10 off each registration. Limited need-based scholarships are available click here for the application.

Catamount Institute will only directly administer medicine to a participant in emergency situations. Please reference our medical letter of intent for further clarification and see the Emergency Situations section below.

Prescription and over-the-counter medication must be handed in to Catamount Institute staff accompanied with written parental permission and with written approval from a licensed person with prescriptive authority (a licensed doctor or pharmacist). Prescription and over-the-counter medication with required documentation will be held onto by the Catamount Staff employee with the highest level of medical certification. As ordered by the State, no medication will be administered except in emergency situations unless you adhere to these strict guidelines.

Medication must be in the original bottle or container with the original label and include the following:

• Child’s first and last name
• Prescribing practitioner or Pharmacist name approving this medication, Pharmacy or Office, Telephone number
• Date authorized
• The expiration date of the medication
• Name of medication and dosage
• Time of day medication is to be given
• Route of medication (taken orally, eye drops, in-ears?)
• Length of time medication is to be given (3 days? As needed? Daily?)
• Reason for the medication (unless confidential)
• Side effects to be watched for
• Special instructions

At Catamount Institute, we strive to create programs that are enjoyable for as many children as possible. The health and safety of our campers are our top priorities in everything that we do. Due to this, there are some limitations of our program and its staff. We are not able to provide a one-on-one attendant to address a camper’s individual personal needs. We are also not able to accommodate some medical/health conditions that are beyond the scope of our staff’s medical training. Before enrolling a child with any special needs, please contact us to discuss potential accommodations. Our goal is to make camp an equal opportunity for all.