Green camps

What happens at Base Camp?  Here are some of the things we did last year:  slept in tipis, found and ate wild foods, cooked, played wild games well into the night, built cob bird houses, used no gasoline for a day while collecting our food from local farms, laughed and sang, took on mini-challenges, got dirty, hiked, learned constellations, made rope, discovered plants and animals, watched sunsets, ate grasshoppers, roughed it, played more games.  

2013 Programs:


Base camp: July 19-21, ages 9-12 years.


Base camp II: July 26-28, ages 10-14 years.


BackCountry Adventure: August 9-11.  For adventurous souls, ages 10+ ready to backpack and climb a local mountain.  


Location: Pitkin Mesa, Paonia.   


Drop off at 10:00 AM the morning of the first day and pick-up at 3:00 PM on the last day, unless specified otherwise.


Costs: These are volunteer run camps.  Last year our out-of-pocket expenses per camper were in the neighborhood of $50 per camp.  Donations are appreciated to cover these expenses and to help interns with their living costs.


To register please send a $30 check (refundable on first day of camp) to High Desert Center, care of Dev Carey, 38620 Pitkin Road, Paonia, CO 81428 or call us at:

527-6352 (Jack) or 361-1233 (Dev).


Below you will find links to medical and liability release forms. Please bring the medical form to camp. Please read the liability release form, we will have a copy at camp for you to sign when you drop off your child. 


Packing List:  For Base Camp I and II: Please don't feel compelled to buy anything. In general pack as you would for any weekend trip to the desert. Most importantly think of protection from and comfort in the sun.  Do include: Water bottle, day pack, sleeping bag, pad, rain coat, swim suit, 
tooth brush and paste, personal hygiene items and medications,  bowl, spoon, fork, 
warm coat or sweater, 
hiking shoes(or sturdy tennis shoes),  socks, underwear, shorts, long pants, long-sleeve shirt, other shirt, sun hat, sunscreen.
    For the backcountry adventure, include as well a good backpack, an extra water bottle and great hiking shoes.



Click Here for Medical Form


Click Here for Liability Release Statement