Mountain Day Camp Blog

There has been quite a controversy over BPA in water bottles lately. As you know, one of our favorite programs is the “design your own bottle” activity at the start of camp. It gives each camper a chance to ‘get close with’ their bottle and make it theirs. We find that it really helps keep campers hydrated when they feel attached to their bottles.

This year, we did switch from the hard-plastic bottles to the soft plastic ones without BPA because of all the BPA fears (warranted or now). It means that our lamination may not stick quite as well, but for the session / summer it should do. They have been provided to us by Rubbermaid. Thanks, Rubbermaid!

Also, here is a personal email from a friend of a camp parent. She is a professional chemist, and her name is Kenna Butler. Thanks to her for this email (which is excerpted from a personal email to our camp parent):

“… I just had a long discussion about BPA (and other plasticizers & endocrine disruptors) with our resident endocrine disruptor expert. He does active BPA research, along with studying natural and synthetic estrogens in the environment - scary stuff! Anyway, he said that the problem with the research that was used to take Nalgene’s off the shelf was that the scientific research was performed by the same agency that has a hand in the regulatory side of things (National Institute of Health). The problem with science from a regulatory body is that it is inherently jaded by the industry & their research is regularly “edited” by non-scientist reviewers who don’t allow some information to come through. Therefore, there is a huge conflict of interest! BPA (and other compounds that are used in the polymerization (plastic making) process) is a biologically active synthetic molecule. It is released more as a polyethylene bottle gets older (contrary to my earlier thinking) and is released more during photolysis (exposure to the sun) and heating. A lot of plastic “water bottles” are not even made from polyethylene & therefore don’t contain BPA. HOWEVER, all plastics have “plasticizers” in them. These chemicals vary in their biological activity and carcinogenic behavior. Yes, BPA is one that is bad BUT there are some ethyl hexyl phthalates out there that are MUCH worse that haven’t gotten the press that BPA has. Ethyl hexyl phthalates are regularly used to help keep plastic soft - such as in “chew toys”. Incidentally, sealants for cavities in your teeth have BPA in them (according to my colleague) and you are likely exposed to more BPA when you get a tooth filled that in drinking liters and liters of bottle water. Instead of thinking about BPA, you may consider thinking in terms of plastics in general. These plasticizers are MUCH more potent “in utero”. So, pregnant women should really stay away from plastics. They become less potent after the baby is born.

So, what should you do? Get rid of chew toys for your babies, or any pliable plastic toys (rubber duckies) that your babies can’t keep out of their mouths. Don’t use saran wrap while cooking. Try to avoid cooking with plastic bowls (though, this is a hard one for me - I am trying, but the convenience factor of those tupperware things is so great). What about your baby bottles? Hmm. This is a hard one. Do what you are comfortable with. I used the drop-ins. I wasn’t educated about any of this at the time. Likely, had I to do it over again, I wouldn’t use plastic. By the time I figured these things out, my 2nd baby was 6 months old & I couldn’t justify buying all new stuff. I simply couldn’t afford to do it. If I had a 3rd, I would likely buy glass bottles. I would worry about them breaking though… Oh, another bit of advice: don’t use SIGG water bottles. They are aluminum. Aluminum cannot be used for water bottles, so they coat them on the inside with — you guessed it — plastic. There’s more BPA in there (or other plasticizers) than in your baby bottles. That’s why you can’t throw them in the dishwasher. Instead, stick with the Nalgene or buy stainless steel.

We all do what we can in this world. I can’t worry about it all. Right now, my biggest concern is a concussion or head trauma due to the fact that my 18 month old climbs everything & thinks he’s 4. His sippy cups are plastic. I use a plastic cup at the gym. Slathering your kids in insect repellant will expose them to more chemicals that drinking from a plastic bottle ever will.

Oh, lastly, don’t listen to [people] who get all of their information from Blogs or from websites that claim to have “scientific evidence” of something that promotes their platform. Just because you can google something or just because you read it in a scientific journal, doesn’t make it fact. Science, even gravity, is a tested hypothesis. There are very few “facts” in this world of science - just data that support one idea and refute another. Ok - I think I have ranted enough. I can’t stand it when the BRMs group goes on chemical debates. None of them, including me, have the “answer”. We are all just trying to do our best with the knowledge that we have & I wish they wouldn’t judge the others for their parenting choices…”

Check here or call us today at 720-249-2997 to reserve a spot!

Everyone arrived excited and ready to go for our last camp day of the year. We started with some great tag games (thanks to Josie for a new variation on Tunnel Tag!) After that, we had songs and then divided into two groups to do our code.

After a quick snack, we headed out to Chautauqua. We hiked the Enchanted Mesa/McClintock trails. The first part was steep and everyone enjoyed a challenging part where we got to scramble over some rocks.

After lunch, we played 3 giant rounds of Camouflage and then headed back to the Living School. We had 20 minutes of play and a snack before an afternoon drama activity. Each group was given a paper bag with random objects inside, they had to create a skit using every person in their group as well as every object in their bags. The skits turned out really cute.

We had a great debrief and everyone gave each other “Shout Outs” for nice things they saw during the day. For the last few minutes of play, the campers made up a game similar to baseball, with no outfield. Everyone had a blast hitting and running the bases. We can’t wait until summer now!

We started off and sang some great camp songs. The campers said it was fun to make our group code. After that we had a snack and went hiking.

While hiking, we saw lots of cows, geese and prairie dogs. We were really hungry by the time that lunch came and some cows watched us eat. Then we watched the cows eat. After that, we played a huge game of camouflage.

We hiked back and the campers enjoyed taking lots of pictures. We then came back and had play. After play we had a snack and then did our art project of caterpillars in cocoons.

We wrapped up with “On Top of Spaghetti” and then some quiet play.

The camp day started off with a rousing game of “the sun shines on…” and a few MDC morning song favorites. After releasing some energy, we all came up with a great group code for the day. We indulged in a small morning snack and then packed up our things for the day hike and lunch picnic at Wonderland Lake.

The gale-force winds at Wonderland Lake failed to dampen any campers’ spirits as we all had a wonderful hike, a great lunch, and a fun jaunt in the park. We even caught a glimpse of a low-flying airplane which was quite the treat for our lunchtime picnic at the lake.

Upon returning from our hike, surprisingly, the campers still had some energy left to release. We set aside some time for play, and finished off our play session with a group came of Poisonous Frog. We finished the camp day with craft time in which campers chose either lanyards or drawing. One quick rendition of “On Top of Spaghetti” and the campers headed home for the weekend!

Visit this link from Wired Magazine to access the article below:

“The Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know”
by David Wolman

Tim Main, our Inclusion Coordinator sent it for summer staff to read. Its another good perspective on living with autism.

Visit our crafts open house and create projects with your family this Saturday, 4/12, at the Living School. The drop in style event will run from 10am to 12pm.

This is a great opportunity to meet MDC Directors and other camp families. We look forward to seeing you there.

Crafts will be geared towards ages 4.5 to 12, but all ages are welcome to visit. The event takes place at our MDC Junior location.

Visit this link from NPR to access the article and audio stream below:

“Seeing in Beautiful, Precise Pictures”
by Temple Grandin

This is an interesting perspective on having Autism written by a CU Associate Professor.

Boulder, Colorado- The Bubel/Aiken Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Mountain Day Camp to implement Let’s ALL Play-Inclusion in Recreational Programs. The grant will allow children with developmental disabilities to enjoy a successful summer camp experience in an inclusive setting.

The Bubel/Aiken Foundation has been actively developing Let’s ALL Play Program since the program’s inception in 2004. Today, the Foundation supports 30 recreational programs across the country. Providing this grant to Mountain Day Camp is another exciting step toward TBAF’s goal of full inclusion. Through the Let’s ALL Play Program, the Foundation supports recreational programs in their efforts to implement inclusive camps by providing a program model, funding, and training.

Let’s All Play helps bring an inclusive recreational experience to children with disabilities. It gives children with developmental disabilities the same experience as those without. Children with disabilities and their peers who are typically developing come together to participate in recreational activities such as swimming, arts & crafts, community service, physical fitness and more.

“We are very excited to work with the Bubel/Aiken Foundation to further open Mountain Day Camp’s programs to children with disabilities,” said Betsy Strohmaier, Director. “This will help enable us to give more children the chance to participate in activities they and their families may have never thought possible. “

About Mountain Day Camp: Mountain Day Camp provides authentic nature-based experiences for boys & girls ages 4 1/2 to 12 in Boulder County and creates “resident camp” connections at a traditional day camp, with a focus on youth and community development through nature exploration, choice and play.

Mountain Day camp supports families by providing summer as well as year-round camps when children are out of school. It is one of only two camps in Boulder County that is both Accredited by the American Camp Association, and licensed by the State of Colorado. Mountain Day Camp strives to create opportunities for campers through donations to its Campership Fund. To learn more about Mountain Day Camp, or to apply or donate to the MDC Campership Fund, visit www.mountaindaycamp.com.

About The Bubel/Aiken Foundation: The Bubel/Aiken Foundation provides services and financial assistance to promote the full integration of children with disabilities into the life environment of those without. The Foundation strives to create awareness about the diversity of individuals with disabilities and the possibilities that inclusion can bring. To learn more about The Bubel/Aiken Foundation or ways to get involved visit their Web site at www.bubelaiken.org.

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With so many choices, what should you find out about a summer camp before sending your child? All parents want to choose the best and safest experiences for their child. Take a moment to call the Camp Director personally for a conversation. Here are ten questions that you should ask before enrollment:

1. Is this camp Accredited by the American Camp Association or other nationally recognized accrediting body?
Those with American Camp Association Accreditation have to comply with over 300 safety and youth development standards as assessed by outside reviewers. To find an ACA Accredited camp in the Front Range, visit www.acarockymountain.org or campparents.org.
Note: Mountain Day Camp is one of only 2 camps in Boulder County that is Accredited by the ACA!

2. Is this camp Licensed by the State of Colorado Department of Child Services?
Licensing is required for camp programs for with school-aged children by the State of Colorado Department of Human Services. Childcare licensing mandates that camps meet specific health and safety guidelines. If a camp is not licensed by the State of Colorado, ask why not, and if they follow the health and safety guidelines set out by Colorado State.
Note: Mountain Day Camp is Licensed by the State of Colorado.

3. What is the counselor-to-child ratio?
The ratio of staff to campers tells you how much individual attention your child will receive at camp. Ask the director if their ratios include just counseling staff or if they also include support staff that doesn’t work directly with campers. Find out if these ratios are different during more specialized programming, such as aquatic activities and rock climbing.
Note: Mountain Day Camp has a 1 to 7 counselor to camper ratio!

4. What is the background of counselors and are they background checked?
Are the counselors just there for a summer job, or are they dedicated to the fields of recreation, education or child development? Industry standard for background checks of individuals working with children includes: personal reference checks, fingerprinting and submission for screening through the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
Note: All MDC counselors have their references checked and are screened through fingerprints and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.

5. How are the counselors trained?
Quality camps have at least a 3-5 day training program that invests in staff and gives them tools they need to create a successful experiences. At minimum, staff should be trained in: technical skills for activities, the camp’s philosophy, emergency guidelines, age group management and activity modification. Ask the camp director how this is accomplished in staff training.
Note: MDC counselors go through a 7 day training including a special day of training for inclusion programming.

6. What is the median age of your camp counselors?
Mature counselors make a major difference in camp program quality and the manner in which campers are treated. Younger counselors can be outstanding babysitters in a home situation, but can be more impulsive in their judgment. If counselors are under 18, ask how they are supervised and if they supervise campers alone.
Note: The median age of MDC counselors is 22.

7. Does the camp have a crisis management plan and/or rainy day plan?
Crisis management plans are required at schools and the workplace so they should be in effect at camp too. It also rains during Colorado summers and herding an entire camp indoors without backup activities in place can be challenging.
Note: MDC has a crisis management plan at all of its locations and special rainy day activities.

8. What is the group’s practice for nutrition and hydration?
Dehydrated campers are grouchy campers and summers can be hot and dry. What does the program do to keep campers hydrated throughout the day? Additionally, camps should have a morning snack time as well as lunch, and an afternoon snack time if camp goes late. Also ask about hand washing procedures.
Note: MDC encourages campers to stay hydrated and each camper creates a personalized water bottle for the summer. Healthy snacks are offered in the afternoon.

9. How does the camp handle special needs?
This is a great question to ask for any camper. Listen for compassionate answers that involve individualized plans for each camper. Every camper has a special need at some time (nutrition, attention, hydration, rest etc.) and an environment where staff are already focused on camper needs will help all campers.
Note: MDC has received an Inclusion Grant and is working to include as many campers with special needs as possible.

10. How are medications transported, stored and administered?
Legally, a nurse must delegate staff the authority for administering medications. Ask specifically about training, delegation and procedures.
Note: MDC has staff that are trained in medication administration and keeps medications stored under lock and key.

This article was co-authored by Betsy Strohmaier, Mountain Day Camp Director and David Secunda, Avid4Adventure Director.