FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Please visit our main OHE page for current registration links.

Registration is completed through CampDoc. You will need a CampDoc account and a profile for your student to complete registration. Once your student is registered, please complete their full Health Profile as soon as possible.

After registration, you will also need to submit additional documentation required for eligibility for state funding including a Notice of Intent to Homeschool.

When you register a student through CampDoc, you will have the opportunity to select an OHE group. These groups are based on grade-level of the student and are assigned to a specific day of the week. Based on the age of the student, they may have access to multiple groups.

There are certain skills and competencies that are recommended for each group to be able to participate fully in all activities. If you have questions about whether your student is ready for a particular group, please email Casey McCabe at casey@blufflake.org.

When a group is full, you will have the option to join the waitlist. Complete the registration process to be added to the waitlist. If a spot opens up, we will contact you to see whether you would still like to register. We will fill openings in the order students are placed on the waitlist.

If your student has another option available to them on CampDoc, you may register for that group as well as the waitlist for your preferred group. If you would like your student to be considered for a group that is not shown on your CampDoc profile, please contact Casey McCabe at casey@blufflake.org.

In order to be eligible for state enrichment funding, your student must meet state requirements, including having submitted a Notice of Intent form (NOI) to a school district of your choice and to Bluff Lake Nature Center. NOI forms are available on every public school district website. Students using public funding must also not be enrolled in a private school for more than 172 days in the school year to meet their compulsory attendance requirements.

State funding can only be used for one program at a time. During registration, you will need to declare that your student is not enrolled in any other state-funded programs.

Please note that state-funded enrichment programs are required to provide at least 90 hours of instruction time per semester. By enrolling your student in this program, you acknowledge that you will make an effort to attend every class.

Address: 11255 E M.L.K. Jr Blvd Denver, CO 80238

Drop off is at 9:00 am. Pick up is at 3:00 pm.

If you are running late for drop off or pick up, or if you need to pick up your student early, please let us know as soon as possible. You may be asked to meet at the current location of your student's group rather than in the parking lot.

Late fees will be assessed for tardy pick-ups: $20 if you are 20-25 minutes late, $30 if you are 26-30 minutes late, $50 if you are more than 30 minutes late.

Only people listed on your student’s CampDoc Health Profile can sign them out of OHE. Please have ID available at pick up for confirmation.

• Comfortable, closed-toed shoes for hiking

• Water shoes for wading during the warmer months, flip flops and bare feet are not allowed. We also have water shoes to borrow.

• Weather-appropriate layers and accessories (hats, gloves, sunglasses, scarves, etc.)

• Extra clothing to change into in case of accidents or extra messy or wet play

• All clothing will come home with dirt, paint, sweat, and various plants attached to it! Play clothes encouraged.

• Backpack (large enough to fit all of their supplies in one location; can use carabiners or straps to attach items as needed)

• Water bottle

• Snacks

• Lunch (no refrigeration is available)

• Sunscreen and bug spray

• Extra clothing, including water shoes and rain jacket when appropriate

• Students should not bring any valuables or electronic devices! Special objects are distracting and easily lost or broken when carried around all day.

• Students are expected to carry all of their gear independently during the program so please practice ahead of time.

• Please write your student’s name on everything they bring with them!

Weather is part of the outdoor experience, so we plan to hold OHE regardless of weather. We will take appropriate shelter in the event of severe weather during the program.

Please make sure your student is prepared for the weather each day with layers, appropriate accessories, extra clothing, a large water bottle, and plenty of food. During hot weather, we recommend sending a cooling cloth or washcloth that can be moistened and worn on the participants neck to cool down throughout the day.

If severe weather is predicted ahead of the program, we will follow the BLNC weather policy. See the program hand book for details. If class is cancelled due to weather, you will be notified by 6:00 am the day of the program.

Students will have access to single occupancy, accessible, lockable bathrooms that are reserved for program use at the start and end of the day.

During programming time on site, we have regularly serviced accessible portable toilets that are checked daily for cleanliness.

Both of these options may be used by students for changing purposes as needed.

The K-5th grade groups are led by Casey McCabe, School Programs Manager. The middle school group is led by Ben Jacques, Public Programs Manager. AmeriCorps Environmental Educators also help facilitate this program.

Learn more about our staff here.

If your child may or will need to take medications while at OHE (including emergency life saving medications like epi pens/rescue inhalers) please, see our medication policies.

All medication (including over-the-counter medicine) requires specific medical forms to be completed and signed by the child’s physician. Please see full instructions here. Our group leaders are trained and certified in Medication Administration.

Here are the medication policies that most often catch families unprepared:

• Medications must be signed in and out.

• Only a parent or legal guardian can sign in or out medications.

• Medicated ointments, cough drops, etc. count as medication.

• If a child is prescribed a life saving emergency medication (rescue inhaler, epi pen etc.), it must be signed in on the first day of the session. Do not tell us your child is prescribed life saving medications, and then not plan on bringing them!

• Plan to get any medication paperwork turned-in before August. The School Programs Manager will check all paperwork and let you know if anything needs correcting. The earlier you get paperwork in, the more time you have to fix anything.

• Check medication expiration dates. We will not accept expired medications.

• We only need paperwork for medications your student will or may need during OHE hours.

Thanks for reviewing our full medication policies here.

If your student has other support needs, please plan to discuss them with the School Programs Manager at the time of registration. We will do our best to accommodate your student if it is possible for us to do so.

Yes, except during high water.

Sand Creek starts in Aurora and ends in Commerce City. Suncor (a company that has polluted Sand Creek multiple times) is six miles downstream of our site and therefore does not impact our water quality. Sand Creek is monitored by Denver Water who test its health both on and upstream of our property. We take these precautions to keep students safe in this urban creek:

Students can wade up to their knees.

No water near eyes, ears, or noses.

Group leaders sweep area before students enter for hazards.

Bluff Lake takes safety around water seriously, and also appreciates the wonderful opportunities our creek provides to explore.

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