Event Description

COVID-19 Update

Our staff continues to closely monitor Minnesota’s COVID-19 restrictions, and will make adjustments to the website with updates as needed. We will rigorously train counselors and incorporate recommended safety guidelines on small groups, social distancing, equipment sanitation, etc. to keep campers and staff safe.

See the resources below for safety protocols and a supply list for your camper (we will not be providing items like t-shirts and water bottles this year)

Please email Raequan Wilson, Adventure Camp Director, at wilson@loppet.org with any questions about the camps, registration, or scholarships.

 
Adventure Camp Resources

• Adventure Camp Supply List
• COVID-19: Guidelines
• Adventure Camp 2020 Check In/Out Procedures for Youth and Parents

Let the summer adventure begin!

At Loppet Adventure Camp youth spend their days diving into a world of non-stop outdoor fun. Kids break into small groups with enthusiastic counselors and rotate through different activities throughout the day.

Activities include:

• Mountain biking
• Orienteering
• Swimming and canoeing
• Capture-the-flag, Ultimate Frisbee, and other games
• Nature activities
• Creative crafts
• Archery

Time: Camps run from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Location: Theodore Wirth Park – Meet at The Trailhead at 1221 Theodore Wirth Parkway and activities happen throughout the Park.

Equipment: All equipment is provided, though campers are welcome to bring their own bikes, helmets, etc.

Cost: $300 (10% off for Foundation members). Please be sure to finalize other summer plans and confirm schedules before registering, as registration and transaction fees are nonrefundable, including in the event of cancellation. Registration is not transferable to another person or another event for any reason, including injury.

Scholarships: Scholarships are available. Please contact us at aponte@loppet.org for details.

If your child is interested in pursuing year-round development opportunities in skiing, mountain biking, orienteering and trail running, we encourage you to check out the Loppet TRAIL KIDS Program.

Please ensure your child will be 9 years or older on the first day of camp, or they will not be allowed to participate.

A Note About the Data We Collect

Summer FAQs

When are pick up and drop off times for camp?
Drop-offs usually arrive from around 8:45 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Campers get picked up shortly after 4:00 p.m.

 
What happens if it rains?
IF rain/weather will interfere with normal camp activities, Adventure Camp will run from 9:00 – 4:00 at The Trailhead at Theodore Wirth Park. If rain/weather will make outside activities unsafe, Adventure Camp will cancel for the day (this is rare!).

Emails to parents will be sent out to parents the morning of any day where normal camp activities will be changed to notify them of the plan. Please check your emails regularly!

 
Does my child need to bring their own bike?
No, but if your child has equipment that they want to use, they are welcome to bring it to camp. Overnight storage of bikes will not be available.

 
Does my child need to bring a swimsuit?
Yes. Swimming is an Adventure Camp favorite — as is learning how to rescue a canoe when you tip over!

Is lunch provided, or should my child pack and bring their own lunch?
Campers should plan on bringing their own lunch/snacks. 

Risks

We at the Loppet Foundation are always striving to run our programs as safely as possible.

But Loppet Foundation activities are not without risk.  Activities like biking, mountain biking, roller-skiing, cross country skiing, paddling and even running, trail running, orienteering and capture-the-flag, come with risks.  One of the things that makes outdoor activity fun is that it is unpredictable.  But unpredictable means that all of these outdoor activities can be dangerous. During camps or training sessions, athletes can fall in a variety of circumstances.  Injuries can range from abrasions, sprains, strains, and occasionally more serious injuries like concussions or even a broken bone.

But we at the Loppet Foundation believe that the rewards of being outside and active outweigh the risks.  (See e.g., Turning the Tide, Reconnecting Kids to Nature).  More broadly, we believe strongly that for many people there is actually more risk in not participating then there is in participating.  Almost all outdoor active sports come with some risk.  For many people activities without some element of risk are not captivating and thus, we believe, not sustainable.  Our fear is that those who do not learn to love outdoor activity run the risk of a sedentary lifestyle, which can mean obesity, diabetes and a host of chronic, debilitating diseases and an impaired quality of life.

In our calculus, it is better to take the risk of injury that comes with outdoor activities – especially when those risks are managed in a group learning environment – rather than run the significant risk of not learning to enjoy the outdoors . . .  We want each participant and/or their parents to understand and recognize the inherent risks, hence this discussion.  Each participant and/or their parent or guardian needs to understand that outdoor active sports come with some risk and occasionally there are going to be incidents.  We just want to give families an opportunity to think about the risk themselves and avoid having people surprised when injuries do occasionally occur.

For some, almost any risk is unacceptable.  For people like this we would suggest volunteering or engaging in some of the more mild Loppet activities – like the occasional nature hike, or the Luminary Loppet.