*No camp on Friday in observance of Juneteeth holiday
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 06/16/2025
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 at ACES Riverdance property up Castle Creek Valley!
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.
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 06/23/2025
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!
*No camp on Friday in observance of the 4th of July
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 06/30/2025
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 8.
This camp is for students entering 6-8 grade.
Join us for ACES’ all-boys* wilderness leadership backpacking adventure! This week-long program aims to inspire young people 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.
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 07/07/2025
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 people 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 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.
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 07/07/2025
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 at ACES Riverdance property up Castle Creek Valley, including a visit to ACES at Toklat to meet resident artists.
Schedule for the week:
Monday and Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Hallam Lake
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 07/14/2025
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 8.
Join ACES this week to learn basic navigation and outdoor 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.
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 07/21/2025
Participants must be entering grades 5 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.
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 07/28/2025
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 two nights of camping at ACES Riverdance property up Castle Creek Valley! 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-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.
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 07/28/2025
Participants must be entering grades 5 to 6.
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 at ACES Riverdance property up Castle Creek Valley!
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.
Registration for this schedule starts on 02/19/2025 and ends on 08/04/2025
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.