Every January, as day camp enrollment opens and families begin making summer plans, we hear the same thoughtful questions:
Is Base Camp worth it?
How is it different from other camps in town?
What exactly are we paying for?
These are fair questions. Base Camp is not the least expensive option in Teton County—and we don’t pretend to be. What we are is deeply intentional about the experience your child has here. So as enrollment opens on January 14th this year, I want to share five reasons families continue to choose Base Camp year after year.
1. Our Staff (And The Fact That They Come Back)
Base Camp has a 90% staff retention rate. That number matters.
Our counselors return because they love this place—and they love these kids. They know our campers, our culture, and our expectations. They’re not learning on the job every June; they’re building on years of experience.
For your child, that means:
- Familiar faces
- Strong relationships
- Confident, capable leadership
- Mentors who genuinely want to be here
Great camps are built on great people. Our staff is the heart of Base Camp. And with that retention rate, we can hire the best of the best in town.
2. This Is Not Babysitting, It’s an Ongoing Adventure
Base Camp is not about filling time. It’s about creating momentum.
Our days are built around creative adventures with themes, contests, games, and story arcs that stretch across the entire summer. Campers aren’t just showing up; they’re stepping into something that unfolds week by week.
There’s imagination here. There’s narrative. There’s healthy competition and collaboration. Kids feel like they’re part of something bigger than a single day, and that sense of belonging and anticipation keeps them engaged all summer long.
3. A Community Where Kids Feel at Home
We care deeply about community—because kids thrive when they feel safe, seen, and known.
At Base Camp, we work hard to create an environment where:
- New campers feel welcomed quickly
- Returning campers feel ownership and pride
- Every child has a place
This isn’t accidental. It’s built intentionally through our staff, our traditions, and the way we show up for kids every single day. Our goal is simple: every child should feel like Base Camp is their place.
4. We are ACA Accredited (what does that actually mean?)
Did you know that Base Camp is the only American Camp Association (ACA)-accredited day camp in Teton County? As someone who has spent their life in the camp industry, I look for ACA accreditation status when I enroll my kids in programs, and I encourage you to do the same.
Accreditation for camps has been in the news a lot recently (check out this article). Accreditation through the American Camp Association is the only independent, third-party verification of a camp’s commitment to health, safety, and overall quality. It’s not a label you buy—it’s a process you earn. The best camps in America are accredited. It is that simple, and we pride ourselves on having earned this status.
Outside professionals review our:
- Safety procedures
- Staff training
- Emergency protocols
- Program design
- Health and wellness practices
We don’t assess ourselves, others do. And they hold us to the highest national standards. For parents, that means peace of mind. For us, it’s a responsibility we take seriously.
5. We See Camp as an Investment in Your Child
At its best, camp helps kids grow in ways that last far beyond summer.
At Base Camp, children build:
- Confidence
- Independence
- Creativity
- Social skills
- Resilience
They learn how to be part of a group, how to take risks in safe ways, how to try again, and how to show up for others. Those outcomes don’t happen by accident—and they don’t come from cutting corners.
We know families make real sacrifices to send their kids to camp. We honor that by delivering an experience that is thoughtful, high-quality, and rooted in care.
A Final Thought
Base Camp may not be the right fit for every family, and that’s okay. But for families looking for more than childcare, more than entertainment, and more than a place to pass the time, Base Camp offers something deeper.
We’d be honored to spend part of your child’s summer together.
Enrollment opens on January 14, 2026, and we’d love to welcome you back, or welcome you for the first time.
