Join us on an engaging outdoor exploratory science adventure immersed in the forested landscapes of the Roaring Fork Valley. Discover what makes aspen trees the pioneers of the forest, how pine trees use sap as a weapon, why spruce forests are nature's reservoirs and more! Through hiking, field experiments, forest exploration, and expert encounters you will uncover what makes a forest healthy and discover the wonders of forest landscapes.
*No camp on Wednesday in observance of Juneteeth holiday
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 8.
Are you ready to face the challenges you'll find outside? Come learn lifelong wilderness living skills like how to make friction fire, identify edible and medicinal plants, and acquire basic survival techniques of shelter, water, fire, and food. You’ll test your skills on numerous hikes and adventures during this week of adventuring, which culminates with an overnight camping adventure of your own!
Schedule for the week:
Monday-Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Thursday: Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. ready for the overnight
Friday: Pick-up at the trailhead at 12 p.m.
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 8.
Take your hiking and naturalist skills to new heights! During this week-long camp, you and your fellow trekkers will look at the maps and follow your sense of adventure as you hike some of Aspen’s most beloved trails to gain a broader understanding of the ecological dynamics around Aspen. At the end of the week, you'll celebrate all you've accomplished with a final hike up Aspen Mountain to cap off your adventures!
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 8.
This camp is for students entering 6-8 grade.
Join us for ACES’ first all-boys* wilderness leadership backpacking adventure! This week-long program aims to inspire young men to challenge themselves, learn about the natural world and each other, and have fun. Participants will venture into the mountains and embark on a three-night backpacking trip of discovery, leadership, and personal challenge. Participants will learn skills to help them become more confident in the wilderness, make new friends, and create their own adventures in the mountains of the Roaring Fork Valley.
*This camp is for participants who identify as boys or non-binary.
Schedule for the week:
Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Tuesday: Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. with all your camping gear
Friday: Pick-up at the trailhead is at 12 p.m.
Prerequisite: Participants must have prior backpacking experience and should feel comfortable living in an outdoor environment for the week.
Participants must be entering grades 6 to 8.
This camp is for students entering 6-8 grade.
Join us for ACES’ signature all-girls* wilderness leadership backpacking adventure! This week-long program aims to inspire young women to challenge themselves, learn about the natural world and each other, and have fun. Participants will venture into the mountains and embark on a three-night backpacking trip of discovery, leadership, and personal challenge. Girls will learn skills to help them become more confident in the wilderness, make new friends, and create their own adventure in the mountains of the Roaring Fork Valley.
*This camp is for participants who identify as girls or non-binary.
Schedule for the week:
Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Tuesday: Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. with all your camping gear
Friday: Pick-up is at the trailhead at 12 p.m.
Prerequisite: Participants must have prior backpacking experience and should feel comfortable living in an outdoor environment for the week.
Participants must be entering grades 6 to 8.
There’s no place like Aspen for aspiring young artists to become inspired by nature! Come stretch your legs AND artistic muscles during a week of nature-themed art projects and exploration of local hiking trails. You will work with different materials and techniques to create works of art based on your own observations. Get ready to spend the week hiking and creating art in the beautiful outdoor classroom. It’s time to get hiking and let your creativity guide you! On Wednesday, we will begin our creative overnight adventure.
Schedule for the week:
Monday and Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 8.
This camp is for students entering 6-8 grade.
Join us for ACES’ unique mountain survival class for expert adventurers-in-training! Inspired by Jean Craighead George's fictional masterpiece My Side of the Mountain, this class will recreate the adventures of Sam Gribley with an Aspen twist. Participants will have an introductory day at Hallam Lake on Monday, and then set out on an outdoor adventure to a remote area from Tuesday through Friday. Camp will be set up with the comforts of sleeping bags and tents for the week. However, the group will also be challenged to build and spend a night in basic shelter, forage for food, and practice bow-drill fires to truly experience living off the land! This camp will also include group discussions and personal reflections regarding being one with your local environment.
Leave no trace principles and teamwork will guide us on many planned and spontaneous adventures. This course is led by experienced ACES educators and geared towards middle schoolers who want to challenge themselves and expand their backcountry skill set. The lead instructor of the course will contact participants prior to the adventure to help organize the expedition and answer any questions.
Schedule for the week:
Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Tuesday: Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. with all your camping gear
Friday: Pick-up is at trailhead at 12 p.m.
Participants must be entering grades 6 to 8.
This camp is for students entering 6-8 grade.
Join us for this backpacking adventure high into the alpine and discover what makes this environment unique while camping under the stars. Explore weather patterns, temperature, and slope aspect as you explore the animals and plants that call this place home! On Wednesday, we will begin our backpacking adventure and immerse ourselves in a true alpine environment.
Schedule for the week:
Monday - Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Wednesday: Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. ready for the overnight
Friday: Pick-up at trailhead at 12 p.m.
Participants must be entering grades 6 to 8.
This camp is for students entering 5th or 6th grade.
So you've experienced the ACES Adventure Week, but it just wasn't enough? Take it to the next level with Extreme! This exciting weeklong class will include longer hikes, more adventure, and a night of camping! Whether you're joining us for the first time, or you're already an experienced ACES Adventure Week camper, this class will further hone your outdoor skills!
Schedule for the week:
Monday-Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Thursday: Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. with all your camping gear
Friday: Pick-up is at the trailhead at 12 p.m.
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 6.
Join ACES this week to learn basic navigation and backpacking skills you can use your whole life! You and your fellow adventurers will focus on compass use, map reading, and trip planning as you follow your sense of adventure and explore the natural landscapes. Navigation games, scavenger hunts, and plain old fun are features of this week. The group will celebrate their skills together as they travel into the mountains on a two-night backpacking adventure.
Schedule for the week:
Monday-Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Wednesday: Meet at the trailhead at 10 a.m. with all your camping gear
Friday: Pick-up is at the trailhead at 12 p.m.
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 8.
Our middle school week-long day camps and overnight trips seek to inspire young adults to gain confidence in the outdoors, instill curiosity, and develop leadership styles. Participants will explore their interests while making new friends and creating their own adventures in the Roaring Fork Valley. ACES' environmental educators will be your guides for hands-on learning experiences at our sites and beyond!
Please contact Aspen Center for Environmental Studies if you have any questions.