Frequently Asked Questions
Please see the list below to find answers to some of our most common questions. If you cannot find an answer to your question, please email your question to us at registrar.el@navigators.org, or call us at 1-800-873-2453.
Questions:
There are 4 ways to register for Eagle Lake camp. Online, by phone, by mail, and by fax. To register online, click the "Login" button on the homepage to set up or log on to your account. After completing your online registration, your information will be instantly submitted to Eagle Lake. After submitting your registration online, you can return to www.eaglelake.org and access your registration information at any time. You will have 24-hour access to your camper's account where you can complete paperwork, set up a payment plan, pay your balance, and add money to your camper's store account.
A $100 non-refundable deposit is needed to register and reserve a place for each camper and each session. The remaining balance is then due one month prior to the scheduled camp week. If registering within one month of camp, the full amount (deposit and balance) is due at the time of registration. We accept personal checks or money orders (made payable to "The Navigators"), Visa, MasterCard, or Discover Card.
Our website is updated regularly with a list of all of the camps available for registration. Camps that are closed are indicated with a closed comment next to the specific dates. You may contact the Eagle Lake offices to request a spot on the waiting list for a closed camp.
CANCELLATIONS
Eagle Lake reserves the right to cancel any camp before the date of departure. If cancellation should occur, campers can receive a complete refund (including deposit) or transfer to another camp.
REFUNDS
No refund will be made for dismissals due to disciplinary action, late arrival, or early departure. Refunds of the full tuition, minus the $100 deposit, may be given if a request is legitimate and is made in writing more than one month prior to the scheduled camp week. Deposits are non-refundable.
If you register before January 13, 2010 you will receive a $50 discount off the camp of your choice (does not apply to Crew).
Eagle Lake offers scholarships for campers who need additional help with paying for camp. Eagle Lake believes that no camper should be turned away because of finances. Eagle Lake's Campership Fund, made possible through the generosity of Eagle Lake friends and supporters, is available to any family with financial need.
To apply for assistance, click here to download and print an application. Return your completed application to: Eagle Lake Camps, PO Box 6819, Colorado Springs, CO 80934.
Financial assistance is approved by written application only and is available only to those campers already registered (and submitted $100 deposit) for an Eagle Lake program. Please apply early, as funds are limited. Any financial aid awarded will be applied to the remaining balance of camp fees. Note: Financial aid priority is given to those campers able to attend weeks 1 and 2. You will receive an email as soon as your application has been reviewed, with the amount your camper(s) have been awarded, as well as any remaining balance.
Eagle Lake's programs can be customized and discounted to meet the needs of groups both large (300) and small (as few as 20). Most Eagle Lake Camps are available for contract groups to charter for one or two weeks. Group discounts are negotiated accordingly. Please see our Groups page for more detailed information.
Please see the Groups page for information regarding our group rates and availability.
Our Full Time staff as well as incredible summer staff is here to serve you to the best of our abilities. To learn more about our Full Time staff, please see the "Leadership" page.
ON-SITE CAMPS
While at camp, boys stay in cabins or Weather-port tents; girls are housed in cabins. Crew campers stay in the Weather-port tents. There is no electricity in the cabins or tents so please be sure to bring a flashlight and possibly an extra blanket for some of those cold summer nights.
EXCURSIONS CAMPS
While at camp, boys sleep in canvas platform tents on bunks and girls sleep in Weather-port tents on bunks. On the trail, boys and girls sleep under separate tarps on sleeping pads.
ON-SITE CAMPS
We can accommodate 250 campers per session in our Resident Camps. There is not a cap put on each age group; it is on a first come, first served basis. Once we reach 250 for any particular week, the camp is closed and a waiting list will then be started. Our Horse Camps are limited to 12 campers per session.
EXCURSION CAMPS
ON-SITE CAMPS
Ratios fluctuate depending on the amount of campers we have each week. Typically, Rez Camp camper/counselor ratios are 7 to 1. Horse Camp camper/counselor ratios are 7 to 1. Crew ratios are 3 to 1.
EXCURSION CAMPS
Camper/counselor ratios are never more than 3 to 1 for campers under 14 years old, and no more than 6 to 1 for campers older than 14. There are always at least two counselors with each patrol.
We encourage friends and family to send letters, post cards, and even packages to campers/counselors. If you want to save on shipping, you may leave packages in our office when you drop your camper off and we would be happy to give it to them on the day you specify. Due to the location of our camp, there is no cell phone reception. Counselors may be contacted on their days off. In cases of extreme emergency, you may contact our office via phone or e-mail.
Full Time staff members may be contacted through our main number, 1-800-US-EAGLE (873-2453) or by their e-mail address listed on the "Leadership" page.
If you have a heart for serving children, we have the position for you! Please see the Summer Employment page for detailed information.
Please refer to the weather widget on the homepage for the current temperature at Eagle Lake. Colorado weather in the summer can be unpredictable, especially in the mountains. The daytime temperatures can get up into the 80s, but can also drop down at night (usually ending up in the 40s and 50s). Often, during cooler temperatures, campers are seen wearing jeans and sweatshirts, as well as a jacket or fleece for added warmth. Layers are key.
Clouds move in fast and can bring summer rain showers with them; these rainstorms can last 10 minutes or a good part of the afternoon. Most days, however, the skies are clear blue, averaging 300 days of sunshine a year. The current weather for Woodland Park is listed on our home page.
Eagle Lake is located on Rampart Range Road past Woodland Park. Please see the Map & Directions page for detailed directions to camp. Please note that the last 12 miles of Rampart are unpaved and somewhat rough.
Campers should arrive at Eagle Lake between 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. (MST) on the opening Sunday of camp. To ensure that your camper's opening day is complete and exciting, our gates will not open before 1:00 p.m. (please do not enter the property before then). Please pick up your camper at Eagle Lake between 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (MST) on Friday, the last day of camp.
If your camper is coming to Colorado Springs by plane or bus, we will provide transportation to and from Eagle Lake on the opening and closing days (Sunday and Friday). We do not provide transportation from Denver International Airport or pick-ups for Colorado Springs residents.
The only way we can ensure transportation for your camper is for you to complete and return to us the Transportation Form (located on the Forms page) at least 14 days before your camper's session begins. In the event that you do not return your camper's form, we are logistically unable to provide transportation for him or her and cannot be held responsible.
All campers must have a set airline/bus arrival and departure time in order to be included on a transportation run; because of tightly-scheduled arrangements, we cannot pick up campers flying stand-by.
Eagle Lake offers limited weekend stays to campers arriving early, needing to stay later, or coming to two consecutive weeks of camp without a continual program in between. The fee for a one night stay is $150 per camper; the full weekend is $300 per camper. This pays for the camper's accommodations, food, and supervision. Two weeks notice is required to schedule a weekend stay. Space is limited. Due to programmatic conflict, there are no weekend stays June 29-July 1 and July 6-8.
Every camper is required to have 4 forms on file in order to attend camp: the Health form, Transportation form, Liability form, and Parent Questionnaire. These forms may be filled out online (login to your account to do so), or downloaded and printed from the Forms page and returned to Eagle Lake by mail. We request that all forms be filled out one month prior to camp.
Please do not bring magazines, comic books, CD Players, iPods, cell phones, knives, weapons, or illegal substances as they will be confiscated and returned to you at the end of the week. All camper music brought to camp will be checked in and held for safe keeping in the camp office. Since you won't have access to it, don't bring it!
Rental equipment for our Wilderness Camps includes everything from Crazy Creek chairs to bikes, backpacks, and sleeping bags. In fact, the only equipment we don't have available is clothing and boots!
Rental items are available on a first come, first served basis. We will provide other necessary equipment once the camper is on the trail - cooking utensils, stoves, etc. Please contact our camp office for more specific rental information.
We do not allow any food to be kept in the tents or cabins because it can attract wild animals. If a camper has special dietary needs that require him or her to bring specific foods to camp, all food will be checked in through our nurse and kept either in the dining hall or in the camp infirmary.
Eagle Lake has a camp store where snacks can be purchased and eaten during free times. As a general rule, we ask that you refrain from bringing food to camp.
If a camper is staying On-Site and is on prescription medication, the medication is required to be checked in with the nurse at registration. All medications, including vitamins, must be in the original container or will not be accepted. We do not allow any camper to keep medications on them except specifically requested by the physician.
Our medical staff distributes all medication at the time it needs to be taken by the camper. Please do not have campers bring over-the-counter medication to camp, as our camp infirmary is sufficiently stocked to meet the general needs of headaches, coughs and scrapes. If you have any questions about a specific medical situation, please call the camp office.
If a camper is on one of our Excursions, he or she will need to check any medication in with the nurse, who will then give the medication to the counselor to administer at the appropriate time.
Because of the steep inclines and rough terrain of most Eagle Lake programs, campers with physical challenges should contact Eagle Lake before registering to discuss the respective program and help our staff understand the special needs of his or her situation.
Please contact the Eagle Lake office if your camper has a food allergy or is in need of a specific food regimen because of a medical condition. We want and need to have a clear understanding of the individual's dietary needs so we can make our best effort to serve your camper.
Campers may make a request for one bunkmate when they register for a camp. Eagle Lake will strive to accommodate these requests but cannot guarantee them due to limited housing space and age grouping considerations. These assignments are made one week prior to camp arrival.
Our staff is trained to handle each homesick camper individually according to their needs. By offering personal attention, compassion, and encouragement, we have found that campers respond very positively as the week goes on. Some kids have a greater struggle than others and it takes more time to adjust; however, our counselors are committed to seeing these kids make it through the week by keeping them active and occupied.
Eagle Lake does not offer a phone call home as a means of helping a camper overcome homesickness. Such action often makes the situation more difficult after a camper hears the voice of the one he or she is missing the most. If necessary, a parent will be contacted at the discretion of the individual camp director and options will be discussed as to a beneficial course of action for the camper. This decision, however, may or may not include a phone call home, as Eagle Lake does not have phones at camp for campers to make or receive phone calls.
Lots of campers mean lots of lost and found. While we do our best to ensure each camper returns home with all their belongings, there is no way we can guarantee we'll find them all. While not responsible for lost items, Eagle Lake catalogs things left behind for possible C.O.D. return. If items are not claimed within two weeks of the camp session, they are donated to the local Goodwill.
RESIDENT CAMPS
Rez Camps will make an age exception for a camper to fit into the next age division (Jr. High or Sr. High) if he or she is going to be turning the required age by that September. However, Eagle Lake does not make exceptions for seven-year-olds, as it has been our experience that most are too young to come to camp away from Mom and Dad for a week.
HORSE CAMPS
In Horse Camp, a camper must be 12 years old with no exceptions made even if he or she is an experienced rider. It is preferential not to have campers younger than 12 combined with campers who are 17 or 18. Trail rides are offered in Rez Camp for campers 8 and older.
EXCURSIONS CAMPS
All of our Excursions need the Excursion Director's approval for an age exception. Please e-mail shaun.gutierrez@navigators.org or contact our camp office for more information.
Eagle Lake is a beautiful property that we would love for you to see prior to registering for camp. Because our property is closed during the non-camp season, it is not possible to visit between September and May. However, once camp begins in June, you are welcome to visit during any opening or closing day (on Sunday afternoons and Friday mornings). You may also visit during Parent's Day on Wednesday afternoons between 2:30 and 4:30.
Due to the frequent changes and updates that children experience within a year's time we require parent's to fill out a new health form every year. The doctor's physical may be accepted if it is within 24 months of camp attendance. Please bring a copy of the current health form with you on the day of registration; we are unable to obtain last year's records on that day.
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