Outdoor Adventure
Summer Camp
Missoula Outdoor Learning Adventures (MOLA) will be offering its 12th annual Outdoor Adventure Summer Camp for 2011. Our summer camp is like no other in Missoula, dedicated to active outdoor learning adventures each and every day. Every week kids can expect to participate in a wide variety of outdoor activities, with opportunities to hike, bike, raft, canoe, swim, climb, explore, and camp. They can also expect to learn outdoor skills, leadership, self-confidence, teamwork, and appreciation for the natural world, all while making new friends and improving fitness.
MOLA operates all summer, this year from June 6th to August 26th. Our camp is open to youth age 6+, from Elementary School through Middle-School and High-School. Each week, campers are separated by age into three different groups and participate with their peers in all of our great outdoor activities at age appropriate levels. Sessions are one week in length, and destinations change each week. So, kids can attend for several weeks, even all summer, and hardly visit the same place twice. We travel in all directions from Missoula with permits from Lolo National Forest, BLM, and Montana FWP. We will consider older or younger kids for different age groups (siblings, etc.) on a case by case basis. Parents are welcome to join us anytime.
Schedule
Camp runs from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday, with a camp-out on Thursday nights. We meet each morning (except Friday) at the central location of Kiwanis Park, then board our vans and head out for the day’s adventure. Fridays we depart directly from our campsite and return to Kiwanis by 4:30pm. Parents can drop off kids from 8:30am - 9:00am and pickup from 4:30pm - 5:15pm each day. MOLA staff will be there during this time with games and activities. Extended hours for early dropoff and late pickup (7:45am-6:15pm) also possible. Older campers are welcome to arrive and depart from camp on their own, with parental approval. Here is a typical week
Monday - Team
games, Hike
Tuesday -
Bike, Swim, Canoe
Wednesday -
Rock Climb, Explore
Thursday -
Raft Trip, Overnight Campout
Friday - Hike into the Mountains
Cost
Our fee is $150 per one-week session, the first increase in 4 years! At just $30/day, this price is comparable to full-time daycare. Our fee includes all instruction, transportation, fees, and group gear. This is 8:30am-5:15pm everday with an overnight on Thursday - you’ll find no other camp around offers so much for this price! Receive a free MOLA t-shirt if you register for 3 or more weeks, or if you bring someone new to camp. We do try to offer a few partial-scholarships, so please let us know if you need assistance, or if you can offer assistance.
Leader-In-Training for Young Adults
For previous MOLA campers who are age 15 by end of summer and have completed freshman year of high school, we have opportunities for “Leader-In-Training” placements. This is a great way for young people to gain valuable leadership and job skills, and start building their resumes. Cost is the same as regular camp, and they will be placed with a younger group for the whole week, working as an assistant leader. Many of our regular young campers have gone on to participate in this program in high-school, and we have proudly provided strong recommendations to many employers.
Staff
MOLA’s summer camp staff always have excellent qualifications and experience! Director Porter Hammitt continues to function as lead instructor, with 15+ years of experience in the field, an M.S. in Outdoor Recreation, doctorate-level studies in Education and Ecology, and numerous training safety certifications. Other staff are selected for their skills, experience, training, abilities, and personality, then go through still more training and a live first-week experience. We put a premium on safety, and it’s our No. 1 priority every day. Each group travels with two leaders, one male and one female. With a maximum of 13 kids per section, our leader to camper ratio is less than one-to-seven! We carry full insurance for our program and our vans.
Gear List
Campers need to come well prepared, since we are outside all day unless severe weather does not permit. In the morning, campers should eat a hearty breakfast, dress appropriately for the day’s weather, and apply sunscreen. Insect repellant is generally not necessary, and our staff will apply it when needed. To be prepared for each day of the week in general, campers should have the following items. Please put names on everything!
|
Sturdy outdoor shoes |
Hearty lunch |
Swimsuit &
towel |
|
Extra clothing layers |
Extra snacks |
Water shoes |
|
Raincoat or poncho |
Water |
Positive Attitude! |
|
Hat and shades |
Backpack |
Special
Days
On Bike days, campers will need to bring bike, helmet, and gloves. Whatever bike he/she is most comfortable with should work fine. However, please make sure bikes are tuned-up and ready to go beforehand! Check the brakes, shifting, handlebars, tire pressure, etc.
Campers should bring swimsuit, towel, and watershoes everyday! On Raft days, campers should be prepared to spend the day on/in the water. On warm days, we’ll likely go swimming after the main activity. On cold days, we’ll likely go to a hotsprings.On Thursdays, campers should come prepared to spend the night camping out. Each camper will be assigned a food item to bring for the cookout. Before Thursday, be sure to take a camp-out slip with directions to the campsite, and please sign up to bring a food-item to help feed the kids. Parents are invited to join us for the cookout and campout. If you have doubts about your child camping out, please make plans to stay with us or to take them home for the evening. Let us know if you have a tent and we’ll coordinate amongst campers to make sure we have enough space. Our policy requires permission for campers to sleep in a tent with a non-parent adult, or with a child of the opposite gender.
Rendezvous
Spot
Our meeting place is Kiwanis Park, which is next to the Clark Fork River, just below Front St. and the public library. PLEASE ACCESS THE PARK FROM THE WEST SIDE VIA CLAY STREET AT ALL TIMES. To get there, follow Front Street heading East from Higgins and turn right onto Clay just past the Trailhead Store and just before the First Interstate Bank drive-thru. Go one block and turn left, then look for us at the picnic shelter near the baseball field. There is plenty of parking, but it can be congested at times, so please be courteous of area residents and do not block any streets, drives, driveways, garages, parking spaces, etc
Registration
Reservations can be made by phone or email on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration forms and $50 deposit check per week due within three days of confirmed reservation by phone or email. Remaining balance for each weekly session due on the first day of that session, after which space may be forfeited. Full payment expected with less than 10 days notice for cancellation, reschedule, failure to attend with or without notice, or any other reason. If substitute can be found, refund may be provided, at MOLA’s discretion, less $25 fee.
We Hope You Will Join Us!
Contact us soon to hold a spot or answer questions. Feel free to make copies of this letter, pass it on, spread the word, or invite a friend. We appreciate your help, and remember the free t-shirt offer! Our guarantee: kids will be active and outside, they’ll learn about themselves and their surroundings, they’ll be challenged, they’ll make new friends, and they’ll have fun.
