For more than 50 years, the residential 6th grade Camp Colton program has introduced 47,000 students to the wonders of nature. At Camp, kids are inspired to learn about themselves and their world. 

Operated by Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) in partnership with the non-profit Friends of Camp Colton (Friends), this off-grid outdoor education center on the slopes of the San Francisco Peaks is an integral part of what it means to grow up in our community. 

“I can hardly wait for my son Jack to experience Camp Colton next year! I feel passionate about access to outdoor experiences for our youth and I believe time spent in the wilderness helps foster a love for and future protection of our wild places.” - Lisa Lamberson, Mountain Sports Flagstaff Owner, Camp Alumnus, and Friends Supporter

Kids benefit from time in nature, connecting with each other and their environment and disconnecting from technology. Camp programs are vital for the health of our children and our planet. 

“Camp Colton is a wonderful place. We learned new things and made new friends. After Camp Colton, I was a new person. I respected wildlife more than ever and I had more confidence in myself.” - Avery, 6th Grade Camper

" I am so excited for my daughter Isabella Holmes to go to Camp Colton this year to experience all that our region and local environment has to offer. To find comfort and connection with the land and our environment alongside her peers is so important." - Kimberly Trotta-Holmes. Publisher of STROLL Highlands. 

For Camp to continue, the facilities need a significant upgrade. Most Camp buildings remain in their original state, dating back more than 50 years. Even more importantly, Camp programs are at capacity and unable to meet increasing demand. 

Friends of Camp Colton has invested in a community-based master planning process to create a site plan that will support existing and new programs. The goal of this plan is to ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to live, learn, and play at Camp. 

Now, Friends is launching a capital campaign to put this plan into action. Join us in creating campfire memories for the next 50 years.