Our mission: Dawson School is dedicated to excellence of mind, body, and character. We prepare students, through challenging and relevant learning, to become creative, resilient problem-solvers who bring their best to the world.
Capacity is limited, so sign up early for best selection!
2021 DAWSON SUMMER CAMPS
Dawson Summer Camps are excited to return Summer 2021! Sports, Tech, Arts, and more: With more than 100 camps over eight weeks, there is something for everybody - and everything designed with extra health and safety in mind. Look below to find 2021 camp descriptions and a week-by-week schedule. Capacity is limited, so register early for best selection.
**JUST ADDED! Maker Camp 2021: Wearable Tech - Camps in June and July!
Note: Dawson Summer Camps follow all public health guidelines designed to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, including masks, distancing, and hygiene. Our large campus is equipped with layers of protection from enhanced ventilation to plexiglass, and our staff are trained in health and safety best practices.
NEW for 2021!
Maker Camp 2021: Wearable Tech Week
Pokemon Master Engineering with LEGO
Aerial Fabric with Cirque Kidz Soleil
Funtastic Workshops:
The Amazing 4 in 1 Robot
Wonderful Wizardry - Magical Science
CSI - Crime Scene Investigations
Animals, Insects, and Minerals
Budding Botanical Blastoff!
Arcade Electronics Galore
Nature Appreciation through Mindfulness
Hovercraft - Design Your Own Vehicle
2021 Dawson Summer Camp Descriptions, Schedule, Forms
If your child is attending Jr. Adventure Camp or Jr. Mustangs Camp, you MUST provide us with a copy of your child’s immunization records. We do not require immunization records for any other camp.
Unless you’ve registered your child(ren) for one of our Jr. Adventure or Jr. Mustang Camps, we do not require any additional paperwork. If you have registered your child(ren) for a Jr. Adventure or Jr. Mustangs Camp, we require registration forms that can be found HERE, along with copies of your camper’s immunization records.
All programs require full tuition paid at time of registration. We do understand that unexpected events can occur, so we have a refund policy in place that we believe will help.
A 75% refund is available for cancellations prior to March 31; 50% after that until 2 weeks prior to the start of your child’s camp. No refunds will be given 2 weeks prior to the start of your child’s camp.
Registration for summer camps will begin on February 13 at midnight. To register your child(ren), click on the registration link found on the homepage.
The Summer Camps Office can help with camp changes. Please send an email to summercamps@dawsonschool.org with your request. There is a $25 camp change fee that 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 $60 camp change fee.
Families should send an email to summercamps@dawsonschool.org to report a child’s absence from camp. This email is checked throughout the day and first thing in the morning, and it’s very important we know if your child will not be at camp so we don’t call around looking for them and know they’re safe.
All campers should bring a backpack or bag with sunscreen, swimsuit, 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 camp and tennis camp. Please make sure to check your specific camp description for additional details on items to bring to camp.
Yes, there is a swim test for all campers under 7 years. Jr. Adventure and Jr. Mustangs campers are not allowed in the deep end of the pool. Older campers who want to swim in the deep end will be required to show that they can tread water for at least one minute.
We do not offer one-on-one swim instruction or supervision at the pool. If your child is a non-swimmer, then we will require they 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.
We care very much about safety at the pool, which is why we have hired an Aquatics Director who oversees our pool area. Along with our Aquatics Director, we have certified lifeguards who watch over all swimmers and non-swimmers at the pool.
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 the beautifully maintained fields and the state of the art buildings.
Dawson Summer Camps are not technology free, however, we highly encourage campers to stay off their cell phones and to leave technology at home. We feel the use of too much technology can take away from the camper’s experience.
Megan Carpenter is the Director of Summer Camps. Megan graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor’s of Science, in Business Administration. Her love of children led her to receiving a Master of Education from Arizona State University. Megan joined Dawson Summer in 2016 as a Director of Jr. Adventure Camps and All Sports Camp. In 2018, Megan joined the Dawson Summer team full-time as the Assistant Director. Megan also works in the Dawson School Business Office and helps with After School Academy in addition to coaching Middle School Soccer, Basketball and Volleyball as well as Varsity Basketball.
Many of our camp directors are full-time Dawson faculty, staff, coaches and administrators. We also have directors who are teachers at area schools and want to continue teaching throughout the summer. All of our directors enjoy working with children and are seasoned educators.
Dawson Summer Camp counselors are young adults who love to work with children. Many are students and graduates of Dawson School. All of our counselors go through an application process and a full day of orientation and training to ensure they are well prepared for the summer ahead.
Dawson School’s athletic trainer, Jody Baldwin, is on campus throughout the day to assist with any bumps or bruises and handing out medication. We do also employ a nurse, Bryan Maki, who can be contacted at any time in the event we need extra assistance.
To pay with credit card: Register using our online system.
To sign up for Junior Adventure camp:
First, please register and pay online. Once you have registered your child(ren), please download the 2018 Junior Adventure Forms can be found below. They include:
1. Dawson Summer Camp Registration Form
2. Consent for Treatment of a Minor 3. Dawson Summer Camp Waiver/
Medical Authorization 4. Immunization Form
All four forms need to be emailed to summercamps@dawsonschool.org or mailed to Sandra Tritt, Director of Summer Camps, 10455 Dawson Drive, Lafayette, CO 80026 at least ONE WEEK prior to the start of camp.
All programs require full tuition paid at time of registration. We do understand that unexpected events can occur, so we have a refund policy in place that we believe will help.
A 75% refund is available for cancellations prior to March 31; 50% after that until 2 weeks prior to the start of your child’s camp. No refunds will be given 2 weeks prior to the start of your child’s camp.
CAMP CHANGES:
• After May 1, any changes are charged a $25 change fee.
• Last-minute changes (made after 9:00 a.m. the Friday before your child’s camp week) are charged a $60 change fee.
Camp hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We do not offer before or after care services. There will be a $10 late fee incurred for each child picked up after 4:15 p.m.
Dawson provides lunch every day at no additional charge. Campers can choose from hot lunch, deli bar, salad bar, and fresh fruit. There are vegetarian options daily.
The Dawson swimming pool is open to campers each day. Those taking advantage of this chance to cool off should bring swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen. 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. The pool is 3 feet deep in the shallow end and 10 feet deep at the deep end.
During Dawson Summer Camps, staff pays close attention to campers’ health. The Director, Assistant Director, and camp counselors are CPR, First Aid, and AED certified through Colorado CPR & Safety Professionals. The staff works closely with a school nurse consultant to identify students with any health needs. The school nurse consultant appropriately trains camp staff and delegates healthcare responsibilities to them.
It is essential that all information related to health or health needs be addressed completely. Because the camp staff is administering medications under RN delegation, a physician signature and a parent signature are required for all medications, including any over-the-counter products. This is not only mandated under the delegatory clause of the Nurse Practice Act, it is also necessary for camp licensure. It also provides for the safe care of all the campers. Throughout the summer an RN is available for on-call consultation.