Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park and Curecanti National Recreation Area in the past have provided week-long day camp opportunities for local youth entering the 3rd or 4th grades. Programs targeting youth residing in communities near national parks provide many beneficial outcomes. For families, these camps provide an affordable educational and recreational experience for their children. A week-long camp welcomes a diverse cross-section of participant. Activities take place outdoors, and are physically active, supporting child health initiatives. Advanced Junior Ranger camps emphasize creative writing and artistic expression through journaling, sketching, and painting, facilitating new expressions of park experiences from fresh perspectives. Over the course of the week, children build close relationships ��� with each other, with park rangers, and with their national parks.