Camp FAQs

List of 29 frequently asked questions.

• What is your philosophy?

  Dawson Summer Camps provide a safe, fun, and supportive environment in which campers explore new, challenging and educational experiences.

• Is Dawson Summer Camp open to non-Dawson school students?

  Yes! Dawson Summer Camps are open to not only Dawson students, but children from near and far!

• How do I register for camp?

  Registration for summer camps will begin on February 13, 2025 at 6:30 a.m.  To register your child(ren), click on the registration link found here. All programs require full tuition paid at the time of application.

   

• How is enrollment determined?

  All camps have limited spaces filled on a first-come, first-served basis. If a camp your child(ren) would like to attend fills up, please get on the waitlist to be the first to know if a space becomes available or if a camp is able to open to more campers based on demand. Dawson Summer Camps reserves the right to change the camp offerings and cancel any program that does not have sufficient enrollment.

• What age of children can come to camp?

  There are camps for children from ages 5-15.   Camp groups are split into age appropriate groups depending on the type of camp.

• Where are you located?

  Dawson Summer Camp is located on the pristine 107-acre campus at Dawson School at 10455 Dawson Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026. Camps take place on many parts of the campus, including the classrooms, Innovation Center, Athletic Facility, the state-of-the-art arts center, and the beautifully maintained fields.
  
  
  

• What are the camp hours and is there before or after care?

  Camp hours are from 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. A $25 late fee will be incurred for each child picked up after 4:15 p.m.
  
  We offer After Camp Care from 4:00 - 5:30 p.m. for those who sign up, and space is limited. Registration is at the same time as the camps. Waitlist and cancellation policy applies.

• Do you offer any discounts and/or promotions?

  No. At this time, Dawson Summer Camps does not offer any discounts or promotions.

• Do I need to provide immunization records to attend camp?

  Yes. The State of Colorado requires that children attending Dawson Summer Camps must provide a copy of their immunization records using the approved Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment form. You will be asked to provide this documentation when you register via our registration portal.

• What is your camper/staff ratio?

  We like to keep a 5:1 staff-to-camper ratio for our youngest campers and a 7-8:1 staff-to-camper ratio for our older campers.

• How many campers attend Dawson Summer Camps?

  Dawson Summer Camps offers seven weeks of fun, with over 1,200 campers throughout the summer!

• Who is the Director of Summer Camps?

  Shannon Pelkey is the Director of Summer Camps. Shannon graduated from Seattle Pacific University with a B.S. in Exercise Science, and she started her summer camp career working for the college summer camp program. She moved with her husband and two kids to Hawai’i in 2007 and received her Masters in Education from the University of Hawai’i, Manoa. While in Hawai’i, she ran a summer camp and after school program at a private school for 7 years and continued on to be an Athletic Director at a premier private club in Waikiki for 6 years. In 2022, her family moved to Colorado, and she joined Dawson School as the Director of Auxiliary Programs.   

• Who are your camp leaders?

  Many of our camp leaders are full-time Dawson faculty, staff, and coaches. We also have camp leaders who are teachers at area schools and want to continue teaching throughout the summer. All of our camp leaders enjoy working with children and are seasoned educators. 

• Who are your camp counselors?

  Dawson Summer Camp counselors are young adults who love to work with children. Many are students and graduates of Dawson School. All counselors undergo an application process and a full day of orientation and training to ensure they are well-prepared for the summer.

• Do you have a nurse on campus?

  A Health and Wellness Specialist will be on campus during camp hours to assist with injuries and illnesses and hand out medication. Our camp works closely with a school nurse consultant regarding students with health needs. The school nurse consultant appropriately trains camp staff and delegates healthcare responsibilities to them.

• Are all of your staff CPR/First Aid certified?

  Yes! All staff members who are 18 years and older must be CPR/First Aid certified, and all counselors who are under 18 are CPR/First Aid trained.

• What should my child(ren) bring to camp?

  We recommend campers come to camp wearing their swimsuit with their clothes and bring a backpack or bag with a change of clothes for after the pool, a water bottle, snacks (nut-free!), sunscreen, towel, pool shoes, and bug spray. All campers have 50 minutes of swim time and plenty of outdoor time, so they should be well-prepared with enough sunscreen and swim gear. Some camps require specific equipment, such as lacrosse, volleyball, and tennis. Please check your email before camp for additional details on items to bring to camp. 

• What do I do if I want to change camps?

  The Summer Camps Office can help with camp changes. Please send an email to summercamps@dawsonschool.org with your request. After May 1, a $50 camp change fee will be applied to all camp changes. If the change is made after 9:00 a.m. the Friday before your child’s camp begins, there will be a $75 camp change fee.

• How do I cancel a camp?

  CLICK HERE to submit the cancellation request form and refer to the Cancellation Policy for the various refund options that depend on when the camp is canceled.

• What is your cancellation policy?

  • Cancellations through March 15, 2025 will receive a full refund, less a $50 Administration Fee for each week, per camper that is registered.  
  • Cancellations made from March 16, 2025, through April 30, 2025, will receive a 75% refund.
  • Cancellations made May 1, 2025, up to two weeks prior to camp start, will receive a 50% refund.
  • No refunds will be given for cancellations within two weeks of camp start unless the camp is canceled.

  In the event Dawson Summer Camps cancels a program, all fees paid will be refunded. If the closure is for a partial week, the refund will be prorated for days attended.
  
  Cancellation Due to Illness or Injury
  

  If your camper is unable to attend camp, including but not limited to illness, injury, sickness, family emergency, and COVID, a refund will not be issued. We will make every effort to reschedule your camper's camp week to a later week during the 2025 summer based on available space.

• What is your COVID-19 policy?

  Dawson Summer Camps follow Boulder County's guidelines on COVID-19, and refunds will not be issued to families that cancel as a result.

• Who should I contact to report an absence?

  A link to the absence form will be sent out in the email to families the Friday before camp to report a camper’s absence from camp.

• Is lunch provided?

  Dawson provides lunch every day at no additional charge. Our lunches can satisfy a child’s dietary restrictions. Campers can choose from hot lunch, deli bar, salad bar, and fresh fruit. There are vegetarian options daily.

• Does every camp use the pool each day?

  Yes. The Dawson swimming pool is open to campers each day for a 1-hour time slot. Those taking advantage of this chance to cool off should wear a swimsuit to camp and bring a towel, sunscreen, pool shoes, and a change of clothes for after the pool. Lifeguards are on duty. In order to help keep your child safe, you must notify us on your registration application if your child does not swim and needs a flotation device in the pool.

• Is there a swim test?

  Yes, there is a swim test for all campers aged 10 and under. The shallow water test requires campers to swim one width of the pool without touching the ground or wall. Campers who do not pass the test can still enjoy the pool but must wear a life jacket. Alternatively, campers can choose to wear a life jacket without taking the test. Life jackets are provided, but campers are welcome to bring their own from home.
  
  Campers aged 11 and older and those who have passed the shallow water test may take the deep water test, which requires treading water for 30 seconds. Please note that Jr. Adventures and Jr. Mustangs campers are not permitted in the pool's deep end.
  
  Swim tests must be retaken each week a camper attends, and campers may attempt the test up to two times per day.

• How deep is your pool?

  Our pool ranges from 3 feet to 10 feet.

• What if my child doesn't swim?

  We do not offer one-on-one swim instruction or supervision at the pool. If your child is a non-swimmer, we will require them to wear a life vest, which we can provide while they're at the pool. If you have a vest you’d like your child to have at the pool, please make sure your child has it in their backpack.

• Who watches my child(ren) at the pool?

  We care very much about pool safety, so we have an Aquatics Director who oversees our pool area. Along with our Aquatics Director, we have certified lifeguards who watch over all swimmers at the pool. Camp leaders watch the campers who choose not to swim in the pool.

• Are your camps tech-free?

  Our tech camps use technology as part of their program, but outside of that, we ask that campers keep their cell phones and watches with cellular capability in their bag or leave technology at home while they are at camp. We feel the use of too much technology can take away from the camper’s experience.