Mini Family Camp Guide 2009

Contents Welcome Directions History Housing Office/Store Insurance Phones Standards Weather Check-in/Checkout Times Guest Passes Food Services Activities Hikes Safety/Emergency Laundry/Bedding What to Bring Camp Map

ASPEN GROVE Family Camp & Conference Center
2009 FAMILY Mini CAMP GUIDE
Mini Camp
Established in 1963

WELCOME to Aspen Grove

Dear Camper,
As the director of Aspen Grove Family Camp, I welcome you to camp this summer. The BYU Alumni Association is pleased to provide the Aspen Grove experience for its alumni and friends.
Thousands of families have found the opportunity to draw closer to each other during their Aspen Grove educational vacation and we hope this will be your experience. A spectacular setting, great facilities, programs, educational workshops, and especially the dedicated and enthusiastic staff are the ingredients that will make your mini-week with us memorable.
We hope this guide will help you understand what is available for your family during your stay with us and will aid in making your camp experience as enjoyable as possible.
If you have any questions that are not answered in this guide, please contact our camp office at (801) 225-9554 or email us at
aspen_grove@byu.edu.edu

Sincerely,

Glen C. Parker

DIRECTIONS to Camp

Aspen Grove is located on the scenic Alpine Loop in Provo Canyon, approximately one hour's drive from Salt Lake City. From Salt Lake City, drive south on I-15; turn left at the first Orem exit, designated as 800 North (also marked as the exit to Sundance); drive east on Utah Highway 52 to the mouth of Provo Canyon; proceed toward Heber City on U.S. 189 for approximately seven miles; turn left at the Sundance/Aspen Grove turnoff, and continue on the Alpine Loop road five miles farther and turn left into Aspen Grove. Aspen Grove is 2.5 miles above Sundance.

PDF Map to camp

Mail

Your Aspen Grove mailing address will be:
ASPEN GROVE FAMILY CAMP
RR-3 BOX E-10
PROVO, UT 84604
Mail you receive during your stay in camp will be available at our office. Outgoing mail should be placed in the office by 8 am.

HISTORY of Aspen Grove

Aspen Grove first became linked with BYU when the late Eugene L. Roberts used the area as the starting point of the annual Timp hike in 1911. About 10 years later, the Stewart family donated approximately 35 acres of this land to BYU.
In 1922 Brigham Young University scheduled the Alpine Summer School at Aspen Grove. The staff and students lived in tents and studied botany, zoology and geology. In 1923 a kitchen, dining hall, and three dormitories were erected. Later, during World War II, summer school was abandoned at Aspen Grove for various war-related reasons.
Raymond Beckham, director of the Alumni Association, became interested in using the area as a family camp for BYU in 1956. At a board meeting Oct. 10, 1962, the project was approved. More than 111 alumni were approached and each signed a personal note for $1,000 to finance construction.
Construction began in the fall of 1962. The swimming pool was excavated, the softball field leveled, sewer lines started, cabin sites selected, and camp roads established. The camp opened for business July 13, 1963. The average number of families during the first years of the camp was eight each week. The camp's popular dinner bell came from a 3500 series coal-fired steam engine donated by the Union Pacific Railroad.
Aspen Grove has been in operation for 46 seasons and has grown to an average occupancy of 80 families per week. The camp personnel serve as hosts to thousands of guests each year.

Housing

Many of your families will be housed in rustic cabins that sleep from four to nine persons. The cabins have two rooms, a small loft, carpet, electricity, and a small heater. Each cabin contains one queen size bed and from two to four twin beds. Restroom and shower facilities are located nearby.
The family lodges which are on the hillside near the Huish Activity Center, accommodate family reunion groups especially well. They are two-story facilities that include eight bedrooms, five bathrooms, six queen beds, 13 twin beds, a living room, a small kitchen, and a large loft.
The Alumni Board Cabin consists of two sides, each with a master bedroom, a bath, a sitting area, and a loft. Each side sleeps approximately eight people.
The Aspen Lodge contains 20 guestrooms, each with two queen beds and a private bath. Phones are available in the guestrooms.
The Beckham Lodge includes eight regular rooms and four smaller rooms on the first floor. The second and third floors will have eight regular rooms and five smaller rooms. Each regular room will have a queen size bed, bunk bed, and a queen sofa/sleeper. Each small room will have a queen size bed.
We do our best to accommodate as many requests as possible, but the Aspen Grove management reserves the right to make the final decision regarding cabin or lodge assignments.

Office/Store

The Main Office

The main office is in the Aspen Lodge. Program reservations, mail services, and general assistance are available there. During the day the office is open from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. to assist you with any questions or problems. In our camp store, also located in the Aspen Lodge, you will be able to find staff members who will assist you until 10 p.m. If you have any maintenance problems or concerns, please let us know.

Camp Store

The Aspen Grove store located in the Aspen Lodge has a limited stock of general merchandise, personal care items, treats for the kids, and Aspen Grove apparel.

Weather

Most of our summer weather at Aspen Grove is dry and pleasant. The days are usually warm, and due to our high elevation, one may sunburn easily. Remember to bring sunburn protection. It is easy to get a sunburn before you realize it. Sun block is sold in the Aspen Grove store. Evenings are cool, often requiring a sweater or sweatshirt. We have virtually no mosquitoes at our location, but we do have occasional thunder showers and rainy days. Some summers are even visited with midseason snowstorms, though this is not common. Umbrellas and ponchos come in handy at times.

Responsibility and Insurance

The nature of a high mountain camp environment presents some inherent risks. These include bad weather, hazardous terrain, and some potentially high-risk activities. We suggest you carefully supervise your children at all times and use caution and common sense as you hike, fish, and use the facilities at Aspen Grove.
By participating in the program at Aspen Grove, you will assume all risk of any loss or injury. If you have health conditions that may affect your activities, we suggest you seek your doctor's advice before attending the camp. You are also urged to procure appropriate medical and personal injury and property damage insurance coverage prior to your arrival at camp.
Our ropes course is one of the most popular activities offered. Because of its height, those participating must wear the provided safety helmets, follow the posted rules, and have the harnesses securely attached to the cables. Our trained ropes course staff must be present at any ropes course activity.

Check in and Checkout Times

You may check in at our camp office Wednesday from 1 - 2 p.m. Please come to the office for your cabin assignment and information packet. If you plan on arriving after the 6 p.m. dinner, please eat before you come. Check out is Saturday before 10 a.m.

Phones

Phones are available in each Aspen Lodge guestroom. The office telephone number is (801) 225-9554.Cell phone reception is available, generally outside.

Lost and Found

If you've misplaced something, check the lost-and-found box in the camp store. If you are a "finder," please bring items to the store.

Church/Dress Standards

All guests are encouraged to dress modestly and to clothe in accordance with the dress standards of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Clothing should be appropriate for the occasion and modest in fabric, fit and style. Clothing should be knee-length or lower and is unacceptable when it is sleeveless, strapless, backless, revealing, or form fitting. Shirts and tops must be long enough to cover the stomach and lower back, especially when bending over or raising one's hand or arm. Shoes should be worn in all public areas. All guests should avoid extremes in clothing, appearance and hairstyle. Please review this dress code with your family members before attending Aspen Grove.
All camp guests will be asked to abide by the standards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This includes high standards of moral character, honesty, respect for personal and property rights, obeying the law, living the law of chastity, high standards of taste and decency, and dietary laws of abstaining from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and drug abuse.

Guest Passes

Guests of registered campers may be accommodated for short periods of time on a space available basis only. To request guest passes, please check with our office during check in or at least 24 hours in advance. Upon arrival at camp, guests must register at the camp office and sign an assumption of risk form.

Guest Pass Fees:	Adults/teens	Children 3-12	Senior citizens
1/2 day (One meal, half- day activities)	$35	$25	$25
3/4 day (Two meals, full-day activities)	$45	$35	$35
1 day pass (Three meals, full-day activities)	$50	$40	$40
(Infants two and younger eat free. No nursery provided.)
	Adults/teens	Children 9-12	Children 3-8
Evening Pass (available only after 5 p.m.)	$16	$12	$9
		Adults/teens	Children 3-12
Lodging Per Night (Sleeping in guest’s cabin)		$19	$16
Activity Pass (Monday-Thursday: no meals, just program)		$25	$19

FOOD SERVICES

Meals
Meal times will be assigned at check in. All meals are served buffet style in our spacious Emerald Dining Hall. High chairs are provided for children. Refrigerator space is available in the dining hall for your personal use. If someone in your family requires special food, please bring it with you.

Food Allergy Disclaimer

Aspen Grove Family Camp and Conference Center makes every attempt to identify ingredients that may cause allergic reactions for those with food allergies. There is a possibility that manufacturers of the commercial foods we use could change the formulation at any time. Aspen Grove will not assume any liability for adverse reactions to foods consumed or items one may come in contact with while eating at Aspen Grove. Guest with food allergies are encouraged to contact Aspen Grove for additional information and/or support.

Birthdays and Anniversaries

If your birthday or anniversary falls during your stay at camp, we will celebrate with a cake and a hearty rendition of the "Aspen Grove Birthday Song" during dinner.

Activities

EVENING PROGRAMS

Wednesday: Old-fashioned campfire program
Thursday: Camp-wide family activity, family movie, arts and crafts, and swimming
Friday: Closing campfire and family dance

Children's Activities

Children's programs are Thursday and Friday 9:15 a.m. to noon and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. (excluding camp wide activities they will attend with their families). Your children will participate in programs such as outdoor education, swimming, arts and crafts, ropes course, field games, nature activities, and hikes. A brief meeting Wednesday afternoon during the adult orientation allows the staff and children to get acquainted and review activities for the upcoming week. We encourage you to take your children to the appropriate age group so they will enjoy the camp activities prepared for them.

Teen and Young Adult Programs

The teen and young adult programs will feature swimming, ropes course, campfires, sports, dances, and many more activities designed to help youth make new friends and have fun. Our teen leader welcomes everyone 13 to 15 years old, and our young adult counselor conducts the activities for those 16 years old through college-age.

Fish Pond

The fish pond is for those who are 12 years and younger - parental supervision is required. Our fishing season runs from 1 p.m. Wednesday through 7 p.m. Friday night. The daily limit is one

Aspen Follies

One of the highlights of the week is Aspen Follies which occurs on the ball field Wednesday afternoon. Some featured events are the earth ball, balloon catapult, leaky bucket, centipede walk, plus many exciting surprises. Be sure to treat your family to this event. Bring your cameras.

Water Frolics

This event takes place at the pool. It consists of races and relays that even non-swimmers can win. Plan to attend the Water Frolics Friday afternoon.

Ropes Course and Initiative Games

Our high adventure/ropes course consists of a challenging rappelling tower, a auto-belay climbing tower, and initiative games. These are all excellent activities for the entire family. A bond of trust develops between the participants. The age limit is 11 years and older for the rappelling tower. Younger age groups can climb the climbing tower during scheduled age group times.

Guest Lectures

The mini camp will feature two guest lectures a day in the Aspen Lodge. Lecturers are qualified individuals who are invited to camp to enhance your vacation. They will deliver entertaining and educational topics such as family relations, religion, communications, physical fitness, time management, and parenting skills. A schedule will be posted each mini-week.

Tournaments

Enjoy the opportunity to participate in organized competitions. Tournaments will be conducted for basketball (three-on-three), badminton, tennis, horseshoes, table tennis, shuffleboard, and other team sports. Sign-up sheets will be posted.

Hikes

Stewart Falls

These falls are located above Sundance Ski Resort, about two miles from Aspen Grove. The hike has a few fairly steep slopes, but the effort promises to bring the hiker to some of the most beautiful aspen groves in the area. The falls are mighty and produce a fine cool mist that rewards anyone who visits. Please do not attempt to climb the rock formations around the falls. The rocks are slippery and crumble easily. The four-mile roundtrip hike takes approximately an hour and a half.

Mt. Timpanogos

A hike to the top of Mt. Timpanogos (approximately 11,750 feet) is a great adventure. Because of snow, this hike is often only available in July and August. Only an experienced hiker with proper hiking boots will enjoy this hike, as it is vigorous and steep. The 15-mile round-trip will take the hiker through much natural terrain, which may pose a threat to the hiker's safety. The hike encompasses springs, waterfalls, streams, snowfields, a natural lake (Emerald Lake), a glacier, and a view of Utah Valley. The energy required is demanding, but the rewards are worth the effort. We encourage hikers to stay on the trail and observe all rules posted by the Forest Service. Most children under 12 and adults who are not in condition should not plan to reach the top. The hike takes most of the day.

Arts and Crafts

Located by the stream, the arts and crafts area offers a cool place to relax while you work on painting, ceramics, pottery, and leatherwork. The arts and crafts program features projects for every age group and skill level. The majority of prices run from $1 to $10. Larger projects may have higher prices.

SAFETY & EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

Acute Mountain Sickness

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is associated with traveling to higher altitudes where the air contains less oxygen. A camper may feel the following symptoms: headache, nausea, edema (swelling of the hands, face, and feet), and a general flu-like feeling. Treatment for AMS is as simple as descending to a lower altitude (as little as 1,500 feet), and by drinking plenty of fluids. Drinking fluids while traveling to higher altitudes is helpful in avoiding AMS.

First Aid

The first aid station is on the first floor of the Aspen Lodge. It is equipped to handle scratches, bruises, cuts, and other minor injuries. In the event of more serious injuries, transportation to Timpanogos Regional Medical Center at 750 W. 800 N. in Orem is encouraged. You may wish to bring your insurance information, since these accidents would be covered under your own insurance policy. (Please see "Responsibility and Insurance" section.)

In Case of Fire

If a fire should occur, the following procedures should be followed:
1. Alert all occupants, vacate the premises and notify a staff member.
2. A staff member will sound the alarm. The fire emergency signal is a continuous pull stroke of the bell.
All campers and guests should meet in the Emerald Dining Hall. Program counselors are trained to take their groups to this area if a fire occurs while your children are under their protection.

Emergency Bell Signal

The bell outside the dining hall rings to signal meals and camp-wide events. If the bell rings in a continuous pull stroke it is an emergency signal. Do not panic if this emergency signal should sound. This is a signal for all staff members and guests to go to the Emerald Dining Hall as soon as possible.

Laundry/Bedding

Laundry Facilities

Coin-operated washers and dryers are adjacent to the restroom facilities in the rustic cabin areas, in the lofts of the family lodges, on the third and fourth floors of the Aspen Lodge, and in the east end of the Beckham Lodge on the first floor. You may purchase laundry soap in the camp store.

Bedding

Bedding is provided which includes a fitted and flat sheet, pillow case, pillow, and blanket. Towels and washcloths are also provided.

After-Hours Babysitting

A list of staff members who have indicated an interest in babysitting will be posted. Please contact them the beginning of the mini-camp to make a reservation. Each staff member establishes his/her own rate.

Staff Tipping Policy

Tipping of individual staff members is not expected. Many staff members are working behind the scenes to make your family's stay enjoyable and successful. If you wish to show appreciation, it is preferred that you leave a general staff gratuity in the Aspen Grove office.

Lockers

Lockers are on the north end of the pool house and inside the dressing rooms. One locker per family is available for check out at the office.

No Pets

Please leave your pets at home or at a kennel. We simply don't have accommodations for them at Aspen Grove.

What to bring

Clothing and Equipment

Preparation is the key in camping, and the proper equipment and clothing will make your stay at Aspen Grove pleasant. Please use Church standards as a guideline in swimwear and casual wear. Our atmosphere of informality lends itself perfectly to T-shirts and jeans. Nights in the mountains get chilly, so please bring a sweater or light jacket. A raincoat or poncho is also appropriate. Also, don't forget clothing and/or footwear for specialized activities (e.g., swimsuit, hiking boots, tennis shoes, and aqua socks).

CHECKLIST

• Sport clothes, sweaters
• Swimsuits (one-piece), beach towels, swim bags
• Umbrellas, ponchos
• Hiking boots
• Water bottle (for each participant)
• Flashlight
• Sun block
• Toiletries (soap, shampoo, etc.)
• Laundry soap
• Special medication

Optional

• Night-light
• Fishing gear
• Alarm clock
• Camera

MAP of Camp

PDF Map of camp

RR-3, Box E-10 Provo, UT 84604 (801) 225-9554