Yes! to Adventure Summer Camps
Registration for summer camp opens March 1st, 2026
SAY YES! TO ADVENTURE
This year, Mountain Roots is thrilled to bring back our beloved Big, Wide World Adventure Camps for rising K-6th graders as well as offer exciting programming for middle-school aged kids: Backcountry Cooking and Whimsicles. We’ll also be continuing to enrich summer for the little seedlings (rising K-3rd) with afternoons in the living classroom (Gunnison Community School garden).
In Big, Wide World Adventure Camp, younger campers get outdoors to explore the beauty and wonder of the Gunnison Valley through hands-on nature adventures, games, and discovery. This summer, Big, Wide World Adventure camps for rising K–6th graders will run in Gunnison on Monday/Wednesday and in Crested Butte on Tuesday/Thursday, giving families flexible options to join the fun. We’re also expanding opportunities for older youth with Backcountry Cooking courses, offered two mornings a week in 3-week sessions, where middle schoolers will learn to cook over campfires, car-camping stoves, and backpacking stoves—building confidence and outdoor skills. Plus, we’re thrilled to bring back Whimsicles, where middle schoolers develop entrepreneurial and culinary talents by creating and selling gourmet popsicles at the Crested Butte Farmer’s Market. In Gunnison, early elementary students can also enjoy an afternoon garden camp following GWSD summer experiences, connecting kids to food, land, and community all season long.
Big, Wide World - Adventure Camps
Crested Butte
Tuesdays & Thursdays
Rising K-1st 9am-1:30pm $45/day (sign up weekly)
Rising 2nd-3rd 9am-4pm $66/day (sign up weekly)
Rising 4th-6th 9am-4pm $66/day (sign up weekly)
Gunnison
Mondays & Wednesdays
Rising K-3rd 9am-1:30pm $45/day (sign up weekly)
Rising 4th-6th 9am-4pm $66/day (sign up weekly)
*Daily drop-in slots open two weeks in advance of date (if available)
Themes & Descriptions
Week 1 - Backcountry Basics (Gunnison: June 8 & 10; Crested Butte: June 9 &11)
Backcountry Basics is an exciting outdoor adventure camp for kids who are ready to explore the wild side of the Gunnison Valley! Campers will build confidence and curiosity as they learn age-appropriate fire safety, backcountry awareness, and essential wilderness skills like map reading, and Leave No Trace practices. Through games, guided hikes, and hands-on activities, kids will discover how to stay safe, respect nature, and feel at home in the great outdoors—all while having fun and making new friends in the beautiful landscapes of the Gunnison Valley.
Week 2- Trails Through Time: History of the Gunnison Valley (Gunnison: June 15 & 17; Crested Butte: June 16 & 18)
Trails Through Time takes campers on a journey into the past to discover how people have shaped the valley over time. Campers will learn how the Utes, early settlers, and local communities have cared for and changed the land, and how those changes affect today’s plants and animals. Through stories, games, and outdoor exploration, kids will build a deeper connection to the place they call home and see how history and nature are linked.
Week 3 - Rock Hunters: Hands-On Geology (Gunnison: June 22 & 24; Crested Butte: June 23 & 25)
Rock Hunters is a geology adventure for young explorers who love to dig, discover, and get a little dusty! In this fun and interactive camp, kids will learn about the unique geology of the Gunnison Valley—how mountains form, how rivers shape the land, and what makes local rocks and minerals special. With guided outdoor explorations and creative activities, we’ll help kids see the stories hidden in the stones all around them while building curiosity and appreciation for our local landscape.
Week 4 - Rain to Rivers: Water Cycle(Gunnison: June 29 & July 1; Crested Butte: June 30 & July 2)
Rain to Rivers is a splashy, science-filled week where campers explore how water travels through the Gunnison Valley and supports life all around us. With local reservoirs and rivers as inspiration, campers will learn how the water cycle works—from rain and snow to rivers and clouds—and how our local climate influences our water system. This week builds observation skills and appreciation for the amazing journey of water in our mountain home.
Week 5 - Alpine Animal Adventures: Wildlife Week(Gunnison: July 6 & 8; Crested Butte: July 7 & 9)
Alpine Animal Adventures introduces elementary-aged campers to the amazing animals that live high in the mountains of the Gunnison Valley. Campers will discover how creatures like marmots, elk, and birds survive cold weather, thin air, and changing seasons. Through games, outdoor exploration, and hands-on activities, kids will learn about animal adaptations like camouflage, migration, and hibernation while building respect for local wildlife and their alpine homes.
Week 6 - Aquatic Adventures: Water Ecosystems(Gunnison: July 13 & 15; Crested Butte: July 14 & 16)
Aquatic Adventures dives into the wonderful world of life in and around water! Campers will explore creeks, rivers, ponds, wet meadows, and lakes to discover how living things like trout, dace, salmon, insects, and even algae all play a role in healthy ecosystems. We’ll learn about local fisheries and try a bit of fishing along the way!
Week 7 - Petals & Pollinators: Wildflower Week (Gunnison: July 20 & 22; Crested Butte: July 21 & 23)
As late summer blooms reach their peak, campers will trek local flower trails to identify native flora and uncover the secret lives of the pollinators: the native bees, butterflies, and bugs that keep our planet growing. From sketching wildflowers to tracking pollinators, this week is packed with blooming discoveries and outdoor science fun!
Week 8 - Farms Week: From Healthy Soil to Healthy Supper (Gunnison: July 27 & 29; Crested Butte: July 28 & 30)
Campers will explore where their food comes from by visiting local growing spaces. Kids will meet farmers, see sustainable agriculture in action, and learn how food is grown with care for the land. Through tastings, harvesting, and hands-on farm activities, campers will earn knowledge about the people and practices that nourish our valley.
Week 9 - Ranches Week: Range & Responsibility (Gunnison: August 3 & 5; Crested Butte: August 4 & 6)
This week introduces campers to the world of local ranching in Gunnison County. Kids will learn how ranchers care for animals, manage pastureland, and work with the seasons. Through visits, games, and interactive lessons, campers will discover how ranches support both people and healthy landscapes while gaining respect for animals and open spaces.
Week 10 - Family Farm to Table Week – Harvest & Celebrate (Gunnison: August 10 & 12; Crested Butte: August 11 & 13)
In this delicious end-of-summer week, campers turn local ingredients into simple meals and snacks to share with their families. The week ends with a joyful farm-to-table celebration where campers proudly share their creations and celebrate the community that grows their food.
Dig, Plant, Grow - Garden Camp
This afternoon camp will have students digging into, planting, and sustaining crops in our Living Classroom garden at Gunnison Community School. Kids will learn how to grow organic food, harvest and cultivate their sowings, and the science of all our different plants. With our time outdoors we’ll also get busy playing games and exploring nearby parks and trails for fun afternoons all summer!
Gunnison
Mondays through Thursdays (following GWSD Summer Experiences)
Rising K-3rd 12pm - 3pm $30/day (sign up weekly)
*Daily drop-in slots open two weeks in advance of date (if available)
Backcountry Cooking
Kids will get to explore different ways of cooking, gathering, and backcountry safety through this exciting, hands-on camp! During this three week adventure, kids will learn how to cook on fires, camp and backcountry stoves. Campers will learn to recognize some of the edible resources around them as they experiment with different tastes, make some of their own recipes, and even learn how to make ice cream by hand. While learning about cooking, we’ll also learn how to safely find and prepare water in the backcountry, experiment with common forage ingredients, and try our hand at fishing. Camp will culminate with kids picking their favorite recipes and cooking methods to show off their skills to all of you at our family picnic!
Crested Butte (with Gunnison pick-up available)
Monday & Wednesdays (3-week long courses)
Rising 6th - 8th 9am - 2pm $82/day (sign up for 3-week course for $492)
Session 1: June 8th-24th
Session 2: June 29th-July 15th
Session 3: July 20th-August 5th
Whimsicles
The Gourmet Popsicle Project: Culinary Entrepreneurship
In this immersive "Farm-to-Frozen" experience, campers will launch their own micro-business from scratch. Working in a professional commercial kitchen, they will develop and produce gourmet popsicles using locally sourced ingredients. Beyond the culinary arts, students will master essential cottage business skills—from calculating profit margins to designing a brand. Each week culminates in the ultimate real-world test: running a professional booth and selling their creations to the community at the Crested Butte Farmer’s Market!
Crested Butte
Fridays (12pm - 3pm) & Sundays (9am - 12pm) (3-week long courses)
Rising 6th - 8th $46/day (sign up for 3-week course for $276)
Session 1: June 8th-24th
Session 2: June 29th-July 15th
Session 3: July 20th-August 5th
“
My first-grade son loved the mountain roots session. He learned about gardening and plants seeds, and he even brought some sunflower seeds home. Thank you for a fun and educational experience!”
“
My daughter Finley loved this experience. She mentioned all the things she tried (snap peas, mushrooms, chives…not sure what else). She often doesn’t love to try these things at home, but the garden experience helped her be a little more willing to do so. She also loved getting to take a plant home what she can care for and watch grow. Thanks for doing this!
We believe all kids should have access to the outdoors
Gunnison County Scholarships
(not Mountain Roots funding, but can be applied to MR Camps)
Do you live in the Gunnison Valley full time? There are scholarships available for youth in K-12th grades!
Priority will be given to those who demonstrate need. Examples include: SNAP benefits, pay stub, tax documents, and a letter expressing financial hardship
Funding can be applied to any LOCAL summer program
Maximum scholarship funding is up to $300 per child or a family maximum of $600
Gunnison County Scholarship Application opens February 1 at 5 PM and closes February 20 at 11:59 PM