CONNECTION;
the feeling of being rooted in something greater than ourselves, a sense of belonging, presence, and relationship with the people, places, and experiences around us.
At Go West it’s all about Connection.
explore the connections below:
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Connection to others is the foundation of camp, everything we do is built upon that. Our 3-week sessions are intentionally designed to create meaningful relationships and give them the time they need to grow. As campers get to know staff and peers, they begin to feel seen, supported, and valued within the camp community. That sense of belonging gives campers the confidence to step outside their comfort zones, try new things, and challenge themselves, knowing they have a community behind them every step of the way.
The best way to get to know someone is starting with their name, exactly what we do with Story of Your Name on the first day of camp. To uphold our community culture, each group works together to build guidelines called The Code Of Living, which sets the tone for how campers would like to treat each other. The Code Of Living ties directly to what we call Recognition, which is our way of following through with accountability and positively recognizing campers who exemplify The Code during the camp day. Recognition is a tangible and collectible representation of your campers' impact at camp.
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A strong connection to nature helps us understand that we are part of something larger than ourselves. It can foster a sense of responsibility, stewardship, and respect for the places and living things that sustain us. At camp we believe these experiences are more than simply time spent outside, they are opportunities for campers to build a lasting relationship with the natural world and carry that connection, awareness, and sense of belonging with them long after they leave camp. Spending meaningful time outdoors allows young people to slow down, become more present, and experience the rhythms and wonder of the world beyond themselves.
Unplugging from screens and the digital world is an important part of this experience. When we step away from the constant stimulation and distractions of technology, we create space to notice what may be often overlooked and the lessons nature has to teach us. Nature invites curiosity, reflection, creativity, and a sense of wonder.
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Campers have the opportunity to participate in a wide variety of activities, each serving as a tool for building valuable life skills. Whether they’re learning to set a bike route, care for a garden, navigate a trail, or ascend the rock wall, every activity creates opportunities to develop confidence, independence, innovation, collaboration and exploration.
Progression is thoughtfully built into the camper experience with each week building upon the previous one. Our experienced staff teach the technical skills, provide guidance, and give encouragement to help campers to grow their abilities and take skill development to the next level week after week.
Skills developed are carried out into everyday life; learning to break a challenge into smaller steps, staying calm when something feels difficult, asking for help when needed, encouraging others, taking ownership of their own learning and discovering that they are capable of more than initially thought. Week by week, campers don’t just build skills, they also build the confidence to use them.
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There is something incredibly powerful about feeling safe enough to try something new without the fear of failure. Stepping outside of our comfort zones can feel intimidating, especially when we don’t know whether we’ll be good at something or even enjoy it, but this is where so much growth happens. With group support, we give campers permission to be beginners and learn that failure isn’t something to fear, but a natural and important part of learning.
Campers may try something once, twice, or a few times and decide it isn’t their favorite, and that’s okay! The value isn’t always in finding something you love right away, but in having the courage to try. Each new experience builds confidence, resilience, curiosity, and a greater willingness to take on challenges. New experiences are good for our emotional health, it helps campers learn how to be more flexible and secure in themselves when life changes come up.
Creating an environment where campers feel supported enough to take risks is an important part of what we do, they know they can try, stumble, laugh, learn, and try again without judgment, they begin to trust themselves and gain an unshakable confidence. Trying something new opens the door to discovering passions we may never have known were there.
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Sometimes, the things we are most hesitant to try becomes what we end up loving most. And sometimes, we already know what we love and simply want to dive deeper. Campers are able to shape their own camp experience as we create opportunities for both exploration and expertise.
Trekkers & Pathfinders: These two age units participate in camper choice days where they can explore a wide variety of activities and experiment with different areas of interest. These days give campers the freedom to follow their curiosity, try something new, and discover activities they may want to pursue further.
Adventurers: Our oldest campers have the opportunity to take their interests even further through skill tracks or attending the overnight excursion.
Skill tracks allow campers to spend multiple consecutive days immersed in one activity area, giving them the time and space to build technical skills, develop confidence, and truly hone their abilities.
The overnight excursion is a great opportunity to build upon the skills and foundation day camp programming has created and is action packed full of the best outdoor activities Colorado has to offer.
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We want kids to be at camp as their unique self, give them the space to discover who they are beyond the expectations of school, screens, and everyday routines. Through connection with others, time spent in nature, meaningful challenges, new experiences, and creative expression, campers are encouraged to explore their interests, recognize their strengths, work through challenges, and trust themselves.
Sometimes connection to self begins with something as simple as trying something new, making an independent decision, overcoming a fear, or realizing,“I can do this.”Each of these moments builds confidence and self-awareness while helping children develop a deeper understanding of their own abilities, emotions, interests, and values.
At camp, there is room to make mistakes, be curious, change your mind, try again, and discover something unexpected about yourself. Away from the constant noise and expectations of everyday life, campers have the freedom to slow down, be present, and simply be themselves.
Camp is not just about what campers learn to do. It is about what they learn about who they are. It is a place where they can build self-trust, independence, resilience, and the confidence to carry their authentic selves into the world beyond camp.
Meet The Owners Andrew & Arianne
Andrew and Arianne are the Owners and Directors of Go West. They started Go West in Colorado Springs in 2015 as a culmination of their combined experiences in camping and youth development.
Camp is Andrew’s life’s work. He grew up at resident camp where his parents, Dave and Kathy, were on staff. During his college years at the University of Colorado at Boulder, he spent summers as a camp counselor. He went on to become a Day Camp Director, Director of Camping Services, and Resident Camp Director at the YMCA of Boulder Valley and the YMCA of Honolulu. He has been a volunteer board member with the Pikes Peak Children's Museum, Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates, and Bike Colorado Springs, and has served on the American Camp Association Local Council of Leaders. Andrew’s favorite part of camp is challenging kids to step outside of their box and explore the possibilities in the outdoors. He is an avid biker, skier, pickleballer, and loves to take bike packing and fly fishing trips.
Arianne studied Psychology at the University of Colorado and went on to spend more than 15 years working in Community Schools Programs with Boulder Valley Schools and the St. Vrain School District. She also has 20 years of experience in camping, as a Unit Director, Day Camp Director, and Resident Camp Director at the YMCA of Boulder Valley and has served as the American Camp Association Rocky Mountain Regional Professional Development Co-Chair. For Arianne, the most exciting part of creating Go West is using all of the best ideas from her experience to create a supportive community for kids and staff. She loves implementing creative ideas and inspiring kids to have a positive impact on their world. She also embraces the idea of lifelong learning, currently running a small regenerative farm. She has loads of personal interests, including watercolor, gardening, biking, and ukulele.
GO WEST STAFF
We know that a great camp experience starts with caring, mature staff members, and our staff is made up of adults who are committed to providing guidance, encouragement and an unforgettable summer of fun. Our staff members go through a rigorous hiring process and are selected based on their experience, knowledge and skills in specific camp activity areas, and their ability to create positive relationships with campers and fellow staff members. Every individual contributes to the spirit and culture of camp, and we highly value including staff from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
Preparation is everything. All of our staff members complete multiple weeks of thorough training before summer begins, continually attend in-service trainings and are evaluated throughout the summer. Our series of trainings includes, at a minimum, First Aid, CPR and certifications in specific program activities. Staff members also go through state and federal criminal background checks. To ensure the safety of our campers, Go West maintains a low staff to camper ratio based on the types of activities campers are participating in. Additionally, each activity is supervised by staff members with previous experience leading that activity.
State licensed programs and A local Favorite
As a licensed summer camp and school aged childcare program by the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, each summer we are visited and inspected by CDEC and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
Go West Camps is proud to have been voted Best of the Springs for summer day camp. This recognition reflects the trust and support of our amazing camp community, and our commitment to creating unforgettable outdoor adventures, meaningful friendships, and lifelong memories for every camper.
American Camp Association Accredited Camp
The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who have joined together to share knowledge, experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs.
Accreditation educates camp owners and directors in administering key aspects of camp operation, particularly those related to program quality and the health and safety of campers and staff. The camp’s voluntary participation in the ACA’s accreditation process demonstrates a commitment to providing the best possible camp experience, meeting up to 300 standards for health, safety, and quality programs. ACA is a leading authority in child development, and works to preserve, promote, and improve the camp experience.
Members of Western Association of Independent Camps
The Western Association of Independent Camps (WAIC) is a professional organization of camps in the US that are dedicated to providing campers and staff excellent camp experiences and personal growth opportunities in a caring, fun, and friendly environment. All WAIC camps are accredited by the American Camp Association (ACA) and share a high level of training, resources, and opportunities in order to maintain and role model best practices in the camp industry.