Let your camper experience the wonder of CCO, and the opportunity to benefit from the self-confidence, trust, friendships, fun and memories created by the summer camp experience.
2026 Day Camp dates and rates are posted on the "Availability and Registration" webpage.
Day Camp registration is conducted via a lottery. Please scroll down to read more.
Registration for Camp Chief Ouray Day Camp 2026 will be conducted via a lottery system. The lottery application will be opened on February 16th at 10 am and will close on February 27th at 5:00pm. The lottery will be processed the following week, and all applicants will be notified of their status by 5:00pm on March 6th. What You Need to Know: Please read the following information before applying for the lottery.
Camper Applications must be submitted via a CampInTouch account, but can be completed at any time during the dates listed above. By applying, you are indicating interest in enrollment, but it does not guarantee a spot for your camper(s). REMINDER: Campers must be between 5-14 years old by the first day of camp per our Colorado Child Care License.
You MUST ONLY apply for the number of sessions in which you would like your camper(s) to be enrolled in. For example, if you only want your camper(s) to be enrolled in one session, only apply for the one session that is your top choice. There will be a question on the application to indicate your backup choices if your top choice session is unavailable. If you would like your camper(s) to be enrolled in multiple sessions, you should apply for multiple sessions.
NEW for 2026:
The lottery groupings have changed this year to prioritize YMCA of the Rockies members and our local families. Please see below under “How the Lottery Works” to see where your family will be placed.
Day Camp Leader Program: All campers who are rising middle schoolers (entering 6th-8th grade in Fall 2026) shall register for the Day Camp Leader Program (aka DCLs). This program is geared towards our oldest day campers and focuses on developing leadership skills through specialized activities. They will also participate in traditional day camp activities. For more information, please scroll down to see the Day Camp Leader Program section on the Day Camp webpage.
Updated Cancellation Policy: We have updated our cancellation policy for summer 2016. If a household decides to cancel their day camp registration... Seven days or more prior to the start of the session, you may donate or be fully refunded all monies paid minus the deposit. The deposit for each session of day camp is $50 and will be charged only if the camper is enrolled (there is no deposit for the waitlist). Less than seven days prior to the start of the session, no refund will be issued at all. If you are enrolled in future sessions or switch sessions, we will roll over the payments to that future session.
The following additional options will be available for the 2026 season:
Intro to Horses: This program is an opportunity for campers to spend some time at the CCO barn and participate in a short beginner level trail ride. Campers enrolled in this additional option will spend one morning at the CCO barn, participating in a ground lesson focused on horsemanship basics, followed by an approximately 30-minute trail ride. For more information on this program, view the Intro the Horses section on the "Additional Options" webpage.
Parents’ Night Out: On the first Friday of each month, CCO offers a Parents’ Night Out program that includes 4 hours of childcare, pizza, and fun activities. Campers who are enrolled for both day camp and Parents’ Night Out do NOT need to be picked up between programming. It is NOT required to be signed up for Day Camp on the day of in order to attend Parents’ Night Out and is NOT a part of the lottery. You may sign up for Parents’ Night Out within CampInTouch and your camper will be automatically enrolled until we reach capacity, in which case your camper will be added to the waitlist. How the Lottery Works Please read the following section carefully to understand how our lottery system works.
Once an application is received, the household will be assigned to one of the following groups. Please note that “local” refers to accounts with a Grand County zip code listed as either a primary or secondary household within their CampInTouch account. Group 1: Local families who are YMCA of the Rockies Members Group 2: Non-Local families who are YMCA of the Rockies Members/Guests* Group 3: Local families who are NOT members of the YMCA of the Rockies Group 4: Non-Local families who are NOT members of the YMCA of the Rockies
Once the application period closes, each group will be enrolled or waitlisted, starting with group 1, before moving on to the next group.
Each family will be randomly assigned a lottery number within their group. Starting with group 1, lottery number 1, applications will be processed. If there is space available in the session(s) applied for, the camper(s) will be enrolled, and the deposit will be processed. If there is no space available, we will check to see if there are backup sessions listed in the application and will try to enroll in order of preference. If there is no space available, the camper(s) will be placed on the waitlist.
Once each group has been processed fully, we will send confirmation emails to indicate if campers have been enrolled, waitlisted, or both. All applicants will be notified by 5:00pm on March 6th.
After the lottery application closes (February 27th), the next opportunity to apply will be March 15th. There is no guarantee that spots will be available at this time, and your camper’s name will be enrolled or waitlisted. *Are you planning on staying on Snow Mountain Ranch property while your camper is at CCO? A select number of spots will be held for Snow Mountain Ranch property guests. If you already have a lodge room booked, please have your reservation code ready when you complete your application to be placed into Group 2. If you plan to book a cabin and/or campsite, please indicate that on your application. You will be required to provide the reservation number once cabin/campsite bookings are open in late Spring of 2026 to keep your spot.
How do I increase my chances of my camper(s) getting a spot in Day Camp?
To be placed in the two highest priority groups, you must be a current YMCA of the Rockies member. If you are interested in joining or learning more about membership, here is the link to the membership webpage. If you have any questions regarding membership, please reach out to our membership coordinator, Skylar Halsted. Their email is shalsted@ymcarockies.org and phone number is 888-574-9622.
To be placed in the top priority group, you must be a current YMCA of the Rockies member AND a local Grand Country resident. This means that you have a primary or secondary/summer address listed in your CampInTouch account with a Grand County zipcode.
Have More Questions?
If you have any questions about the lottery process, please reach out the Program Director, Emma Marshall, at emarshall@ymcarockies.org or 970-887-2152 ext 4144.
2026 Day Camp Dates and Rates can be found on the bottom of the "Availability and Registration" webpage.
Scholarships are available for day camp families.
Day Camp is Monday-Friday
*If you need to pick up your camper early, please call the office or let staff know during check-in. We will do our best to have your camper ready to go at the time requested.
The specific activity schedule changes each week. For a list of what activities your camper(s) will be doing each day, please speak to their counselors on the first day of camp.
For questions, please call the office at 970-887-2648 or e-mail chiefouray@ymcarockies.org.
Campers enrolled in Day Camp will be split into groups by age. Each group will have approximately 10-12 campers and a minimum of two counselors. You will receive your camper's group assignment when you check-in on the first day of their camp session.
You may make a group request for up to one other camper within the Forms and Documents section of your CampInTouch account. Requests should be mutual between campers and should not be more than twelve (12) months apart in age. Requests must be submitted seven (7) days prior to the start of your camper's session. We do not guarantee placement for group requests. Please note that group assignments are not made until the week before your camper's session begins.
Please note the Day Camp Leader (DCL) program is ONLY for our rising 6th-8th grade campers. All DCLs will be placed into one group. Campers who are not in middle school are not eligible to be placed with the DCLs.
The 2026 Day Camp Parent Handbook will be uploaded in early 2026.
Last year's handbook can be found at this link.
Day Camp Leaders (known as the DCLs) are our oldest day campers, designed for youth who will be in 6-8th grade in the 2026-2027 school year. This program is similar to our traditional day camp program, but with specialized programming to highlight the development of leadership skills.
DCLs will participate in typical camp activities (such as archery, arts & crafts, hiking, etc.), but also have the oppurtunity to develop leadership skills through a service project, designing and facilitating an all-camp game, shadowing a group of younger campers, and more. The DCL group schedule each week includes intentional teambuilding and character development activities that encourage conflict resolution, collaboration, communication, and problem solving. At the end of the week, they will recieve feedback from their counselors on their personal strengths and skills to keep practicing. They will also get the chance to share their feedback about the DCL program and how it could be improved for the future.
The Day Camp Leader program is a great way for campers in middle school to connect with peers, spend time outdoors, and build fundamental skills that will transfer to school, sports, extra curriculars, and future jobs.
Our Traditional Day Camp program runs from June through mid-August and is available Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, for children 5 years to 14 years old. Traditional Day Camp Activities may include:
We believe that every young person should have access to camp. Camp Chief Ouray offers scholarships on a sliding scale. We invite you to apply!
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