Avid4 Adventure: It’s not just another summer camp

We all have unforgettable memories of our summer camp experiences. Maybe it’s singing camp songs or playing kickball or even walking single file to the town pool with towels draped around our necks. Our parents knew we needed to get out of the house and have structure to our days, but they never could have imagined a camp like Avid4 Adventure. Today’s kids yearn for adventures that challenge them intellectually and physically, and Avid4 Adventure campers between the ages of 3 and 18 learn skills and build on them throughout their camp experiences. What makes Avid4 Adventure different from other camps?

Empowering kids to participate in outdoor adventure

When Avid4 Adventure’s founder, David Secunda, noticed a marked decline in the time children spent outdoors, including his own, he worked with parents and outdoor enthusiasts to create a camp curriculum that, in his words, “makes outdoor activities so engaging that kids want to participate.” Participate they do. Campers enrolled in age-specific groups start by sampling each adventure sport and then diving deeper into individual sports as passions grow. With a progressive curriculum that evolves as kids evolve, the focus is on trying new things, stretching out of comfort zones and growing – all in a supportive, non-competitive environment. Depending on the program, campers experience rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, stand up paddle boarding, survival skills and outdoor education. Parents can share their child’s adventures at parents’ day and via daily pictures posted on a password-protected web site. Imagine how excited your kids will be describing how they climbed to a rock ledge to have lunch!

Teaching kids life-long skills

Avid4 Adventure staff are over 21, have impressive certifications and teach not only what they love, but also what they live. With an emphasis on safety and teaching kids to assess situations, use sound judgment and make good decisions, Avid4 Adventure isn’t just educating kids about technical skills. Kids gain confidence, learn teamwork and become responsible for their actions. Avid4 Adventure parent, Almora Hudson agrees. “Over the course of 9 weeks, both of my boys gained confidence in themselves, in their athletic abilities and being able to make friends and participate in groups.  We were thrilled to discover the joys of rock climbing and to acknowledge how you can achieve something great (getting to the top of Split Rock) through practice, perseverance and the kind encouragement of counselors who really care.  My older son started a new school in the fall, and his transition has been seamless in large part due to the experience he had at Avid4.”

Expanding locations and curriculums

Avid4 Adventure is adding locations in the Stapleton neighborhood in Denver, Colorado and in the Peninsula and South Bay of the California Bay Area to make camps more accessible to parents and kids. New locations will still be in areas close to outdoor recreation spots, so kids can share their newfound skills with friends and families long after camp is over. In addition to new locations, Avid4 Adventure is expanding curriculums at all of their day camps, as well as at their overnight camp, Colorado Mountain Camp (CMC). CMC, Avid4 Adventure’s overnight camp in Bailey, Colorado, is taking campers on new, beautiful and character-building expeditions and has added a 17 and older Apprenticeship Program. With a mission to engage kids in active, healthy outdoor lifestyles, Avid4 Adventure goes beyond traditional camps. As a parent of an Avid4 Adventure camper, I know my son learned skills I could never teach him, and with each camp experience, he gained confidence and an appreciation for the outdoors that will last a lifetime. Be sure to like us on Facebook to get the latest Avid4 Adventure news! About the Author: Lynne Marsala Basche spent most of her career on the island of Manhattan at two New York publishing companies.  A multi-year Avid4 mom and a new contributor to the Avid4 website, Lynne’s writing adventures also take her to championing volunteerism and regional recreation stories as a staff writer for the Castle Pines Connection newspaper, as well as supporting separate large corporate communications programs.  By trying to keep pace with her mountain biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, lacrosse playing, unicycling, tae kwon do-loving 11-year old son, she, like most Avid4 parents, loves sharing the value of outdoor recreation and its positive influence on children’s health and confidence development.  Lynne lives in Castle Pines, Colorado and regularly immerses herself in outdoor activities with her family where she also runs her freelance writing company, Blue Spruce Creative

Tagged: getting kids outside, kids and nature, summer camp