Summer Program FAQs

Coombs Outdoors summer camps focus on introducing new outdoor activities so participants gain new skills, meet new friends, and have fun. 

The ACTIVATE camps are for participants who are going into grades 1-5. Each day, the groups have an excursion in or around town doing activities like hiking in Grand Teton National Park, swimming at Astoria Hot Springs, paddleboarding at R Park, and more. 

ENGAGE camps are for participants going into grades 6-10 and focus on experiences deeper in nature. Each week, groups go camping for 2 nights or more, at locations near Jackson such as Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone, depending on the ages and comfort levels of the participants. They also have activities on the Snake River and workshops for outdoor “survival” skills. 

The EMPOWER internship program, for participants going into grades 10-12, is designed to develop professional and leadership skills through paid internships. It provides opportunities for Coombs participants to get involved with the local Jackson community, as well as gain exposure and feel included in the outdoor industry. The EMPOWER program will provide context for participants to envision life beyond high school and Coombs Outdoors through career training, access to higher education resources, and mentorship.

Time: 

*All this information can also be reviewed within the application*

Each ACTIVATE participant can attend camps with Coombs for up to 3 full weeks of the summer. ENGAGE participants can choose from 1-2 trips and one or more clubs for their summer experience. Please review the following schedule and additional information to choose the best weeks for your family. Please note that there are limited weeks for children entering first grade, so if you have a child this age and want all of your children to go at the same time, please choose the same weeks for your entire family. 

The camps will be 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday during the assigned weeks of camp. We meet at the Coombs Clubhouse - 85 W Snow King Avenue next to Snow King Mountain. 

ACTIVATE (participants entering grade 1) 

  • June 16-20

  • July 28 - August 1

  • August 18-23

ACTIVATE (participants entering grades 2-5) 

  • June 16-20

  • June 23-27

  • June 30 - July 4

  • July 7-11

  • July 14-18

  • July 21-25

  • July 28 - August 1

  • August 4-8* 

  • August 11-15*

  • August 18-23*

    • *includes one night camping for participants in grades 4-5

ENGAGE (participants entering grades 6-10) 

For participants entering grades 6-10, we will offer various activities:

  • Camping or backpacking trips for 2 nights or more

  • Clubs: swimming, rock climbing, mountain biking, river sports, hiking and trail running (1 day each week all summer)

To enroll in these programs, you and your child must attend an information night at the Coombs Clubhouse to learn more about opportunities and hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I receive help completing my application?

We will be available to help you complete your application on our computers at the Coombs Clubhouse (85 W Snow King Avenue) every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3-6pm or you can make an appointment with the Coombs staff. 


My child is going to Kindergarten next year, are there camps for them?

We offer camps to participants who have already attended one year or more of school. So your child must have already completed kindergarten to be at camp with us. 


I have more than one child - how do I register all my children?

You should receive a link to an application for EACH child who has participated in Coombs programs before. If you have another child for whom you did not receive a link, please let us know by text with their name and current grade and we will follow up with a link for their own application. 


Can I share my application link with others?

No, it is VERY IMPORTANT that you only use the single request for the person assigned. If someone uses your child's link to register another participant, their information will override your child’s, making it harder for us to identify your child as someone who wants a camp spot. So, please DO NOT SHARE your link with other families and use the individual links for each of your children. 


I know a family who wants to enter Coombs programs, how does a new family enroll in Coombs?

Please share the link below for an inquiry for new participants. After completing this form, the family will be placed on the waitlist and receive a follow-up call with next steps. 

https://www.tfaforms.com/5167391


Questions with dates are not working, what do I do?

If you have difficulty answering questions with dates, try using the calendar that is included in the question. If it still doesn't work or you get an error, leave those questions empty and we will follow up to get the missing information. 


Why do I have to answer questions about my child's health? 

We ask for a health history of each participant for the well-being of each participant. It is important that instructors, who will be with your child in camp and in the backcountry, know your child's health history. We keep this information confidential and share on a need to know basis.  


Why do I have to answer questions about our finances? 

Coombs' mission is to reduce barriers to outdoor recreation - a common barrier we have seen is the cost of programs like ours. However, we understand that finances are not the only obstacles to accessing outdoor recreation, and your answers about your finances will not affect your program/camp eligibility. 


How do you assign camping weeks or camping trips with Coombs?

Families who have participated in Coombs programs receive their registrations early and therefore have priority in their selection of camp weeks and camping trips. We take into account the participant's commitment to previous programs and the demand for dates/trips. We are going to use results from a weighted lottery to help us assign summer camps. After confirming camp weeks for those who have participated before, we will call people on the waiting list (the inquiry for new participants) and find spots for them in camp weeks. 


How and when will I find out which weeks of camp my child will participate in?

We will notify families who submitted applications in February about their allotted camp weeks in March. If you submit your application in March or later, we will make every effort to notify you within 2 weeks of submitting your application which weeks you have or if you are on the waiting list. 


What if you are unable to attend an assigned day or week of camp?

If you are unable to attend an assigned day or week of camp please let us know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. We will do our best to offer you another week so you don't miss camp but we cannot guarantee there will be space available in other weeks. Please note that if you do not notify us if you are going to miss a day or week of camp, it may affect your eligibility to participate in the future.