Things To Bring (for sure)

• Pillow, blankets & sheets (sleeping bag) and towel if NOT staying in Pleiades, Aspen Apartment, Eagles Nest or Rocky Ridge accommodations.
• Or you can select to rent all of the above (bedding & towel) from the Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp as part of oline registration.
• Clothes for 7 days (There are no laundry facilities.)
• Instruments
• Flashlight (whatever the instrument it lives on)
• Toiletries
• Sunscreen (cap or long sleeves helpful too)
• Washcloth
• Warm jacket or sweat shirt
• Medical insurance card and information
• Name, address and phone of emergency contact
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Spending money, credit card or checkbook
• Music supplies (picks, capos, tuner, strings, rosin, etc.)
• Water bottle (from home or purchased at camp, trust us, you need one)
• Any medications you take, in their original containers

 

Things To Bring (if you’ve got the room)

• Instrument stand
• Music stand
• Jammies
• Earplugs
• Recording device.  These days, your smartphone will probably do it.  If you’d prefer to use a different device, there are some great ones out there.
• Recorder supplies: Batteries, tapes, disks, etc.
• Mountain bike
• Hiking boots and supplies
• Laptop computer.  We hesitate to mention it because it distracts from your camp experience, but there is a Wi-Fi connection at the camp.  There, we said it.
• Poncho and/or umbrella
• Camera, camcorder, etc.
• Camping or RV supplies.  If you’re RVing, bring an extension cord, and if you want water at your site, bring along a hose Y and 150′ of hose.

 

Things To NOT Bring

• Pets (large or small)
• Firearms
• Illicit drugs or Marijuana
• Dirt bikes or Four Wheelers
• Fireworks
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Drones
• General Grumpiness

 

Things To Know

Directions –709 County Road 62, Divide, CO 80814

In Divide, CO (about 25 miles west of Colorado Springs on US Hwy 24), turn south on CO Hwy 67 towards Cripple Creek. Watch for the camp sign about four miles south of Divide, immediately after Mueller State Park. Turn left onto the road to RMMC/the Crags and travel 1.5 miles up the dirt road to Camp.

Name Tags – OK, you know who you are. The rest of us (campers, camp staff, instructors) would really appreciate it if you’d wear your name tag.  Think of it as a courtesy to them and a courtesy you will appreciate right back.

Message Board – There will be a message board outside the Zurich dining hall that will have announcements, and a place for you to leave messages for other campers. Please check it regularly.

Mercantile Music – There will be instructor merchandise for sale after the concerts on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Payments can be made by check (please write check to instructor name), or added to your camp statement which will be settled up at the end of the week with your credit card info. already on file.

Mercantile Goods – Campers also have the opportunity to purchase mugs, bottles, snacks, drinks, postcards, T-shirts, sweatshirts, etc. as part of your time here.

Companions – Are welcomed to attend all concerts, meals, and stay in the camp lodging. Please remember/observe that the reduced companion rate does not include music class attendance, instructor one-on-ones, jams, seminars or the post-concert jamniation.

Visitors – Only campers and their paid companions are allowed at the camp during the day. Visitors are welcome to come after supper (6:00 pm or later) avoiding meal count changes for the kitchen. For the Monday, Tuesday and Thursday night instructor concerts, we’ll have 10 visitor tickets available per evening at $15/person on a first come, first served basis.

For the Friday night student concert, we’ll have 15 visitor tickets available at no cost also on a first come, first served basis. One ticket per camper may be requested up prior to camp. After camp begins, a second ticket can be requested at the Tuesday Mercantile Store with camp staff.

When your visitor(s) arrive at 6:00 pm or later, please have them check-in to one of the camp staff and we’ll get them a visitor badge as their concert ticket. They are welcome to stick around and observe (no instruments please) for the post-concert jamnation.

Security – The doors to the main lodge will be locked sometime around the last jam of the day. You can still be in and playing as late as you want, and please open the door for any other camper who’d like to come in.  If you’re the last person here, please close the doors behind you and turn off the lights, and once the last person’s gone, the place is unavailable until the cooks get here early in the morning.

 

Your Personal Care

Altitude – Camp’s elevation is 9,620 feet so it is important for campers and guests to take time to adjust to the high altitude. About one in four visitors to Colorado suffer from acute mountain sickness, the mildest form of altitude illness. Common symptoms include headaches, shortness of breath, fatigue and dry throat. Things you can do to minimize or avoid altitude sickness include:

• Drink plenty of water before and during your time here to prevent dehydration.
• Avoid strenuous exercise (hiking, jogging, etc.) and salty foods when you first arrive.
• A good first night’s rest is very helpful in giving your body time to acclimate.
• If coming from sea level or low elevation, a day or night spent in Colorado Springs (6,035 ft) will help allow your body more time to adjust to the change in altitude.

Medical Care – There are no medical personnel staffed at camp other than providing first aid. The nearest emergency services are in Woodland Park at:

• Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, 16420 West Highway 24, Woodland Park, CO 80863 (719-687-9999, Open 24 hours)
• Langstaff-Brown Medical Center (Urgent Care Facility), Hwy 24 and 67, Woodland Park, Colorado 80863 (719-686-0551, Open 9 am–9 pm)

Of course, CALL 911 for any emergency by utilizing the phone in the office foyer following the instructions IF your phone does not have service.

Oxygen –  If you’re in distress due to lack of oxygen, please see one of the camp staff.  You may need to see a doctor, and we will try to provide some assistance.

Sunburn – The sun is more intense at this altitude so be mindful of how quickly sunburn can occur. Use adequate sun protection including sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) or clothing (long sleeves, hat or cap) for outdoor activities. Reapply sunscreen periodically throughout the day as needed.

Summer Weather – Each day offers a sample of the seasons: spring in the morning; summer in the afternoon; fall in the evening.  Even winter can be represented in early June with snow!  Rain and hail storms can also come at a moment’s notice just to keep things interesting.  Being prepared with appropriate clothing is the key to enjoying the variety of weather the Rocky Mountains offer!

 

Your Stay With Us

Accommodations – As there is no daily housekeeping service for rooms (only bathrooms & bathhouses) we need your help in cleaning and keeping your facility pleasant while you are here which includes:

• Turn off lights if you are the last person to leave a room or building
• Make sure outside doors close behind you
• Adjust the thermostat rather than opening a window
• Only have food in kitchen/dining areas of your cabin
• Put everything back as you found it (recreation equipment, table & chairs, etc.), gather trash, wash dishes (if any), and take all personal belongings home

Amenities – Please bring personal toiletries for your stay as we have not come up with our own brand of Roots Music or Rocky Mountain soaps, shampoo’s or hand lotions. If you’ve forgotten something, we’ll find you something from Trading Post. Sheets, towels, blankets, and pillows are provided in Emmental, Pleiades, Upper Aspen, Eagle’s Nest, Rocky Ridge, Sky-Hi-View, and Solitude Center. For Chalets, Rustic Cabins, and Park Ridge, linens are not included and can be rented with advanced notice of your stay. Laundry facilities are not available for guests.

Bathhouses – Our mountain water is very precious to us so please turn off sinks when brushing your teeth and minimize shower time. Any personal items should be taken back to your accommodation to allow space for other guests to use the facility and keep the bathhouses clean.

Equipment & Facilities – Please notify staff of anything that is broken or needs repair. Repair or replacement of camp property improperly used or lost by guests is their financial responsibility.

Lost & Found – For items that are lost and items that are found, the Roots Camp office is the place to go. Unclaimed items after two weeks are donated to charity.

Cell Service – Cell phone reception is limited but attainable. Ridge accommodations (Eagle’s Nest, Rocky Ridge, and Sky-Hi-View) offer the best bet AND depends on your carrier (Verizon is good, the others do what they can). A land line phone is available in the office lobby for guest use.

Wi-Fi – A Wi-Fi signal is in various locations around camp. Because of camp’s remote location and availability of high internet speeds, video or music streaming is not available. Reliability? We’ll just pass on the same message our tech support folk tell us; “It should work”! Network name (SSID) and password available when you arrive at camp.

Vehicles – The Forest Service permits motorized travel on only the two main roads in the camp area and at a safe speed (15mph max). Four wheelers and dirt bikes are not permitted due to noise and camper/guest safety.

Quiet Hours – In consideration of others, noise should be kept to a minimum between 10:30 p.m. – 8:00 a.m. UNLESS you’re playing good music in the Dining Hall/Lodge!

Smoking – RMMC is a smoke free facility. Smoking is only permitted in the outside designated areas, and only when a fire restriction is not in place.  Every precaution must be taken to prevent a forest fire.

Outside Activities –

• Aspen Ridge Nature Trail & other hiking trails (near and far)
• Basketball court
• Sand volleyball court
• Inspiration Point Fire Ring or Goldmine Amphitheater Fire Ring
• Fishing – no license needed if fishing in camp pond stocked w/ Rainbow Trout
• Disc golf
• Horseshoes
• Hiking
• Nature Center
• Kayaking or Paddle Boats

Inside Activities –

• Card & Table Games
• Foosball

Other Attractions – If a good music camp in a private and beautiful setting isn’t enough to convince you to come, have a look at all you can take in on the way to or the way away from camp (Other Attractions).

 

Your Food Service

Food Options – RMMC is pleased to offer a great selection of food choices to our campers and guests. Our staff work hard to provide a quality meal at an affordable price. Fresh fruit, bread, jelly, hot tea, and a Keurig machine are always available in the dining areas. Meals include a main dish option, vegetarian option, salad (lunch & supper), and dessert (lunch & supper) along with beverages (water, coffee, hot chocolate). Peanut butter is available unless a peanut allergy camper is on site.

Kitchen Availability – Facilities with a kitchen include: Emmental, Eagle’s Nest, Rocky Ridge, Sky-Hi-View, Solitude Center, and Park Ridge.

Food Items – Please keep all food items out of accommodations without a kitchen to avoid small (or large) furry critters interested in visiting your room/facility.

 

Local Stores & Services

Divide, CO – A small town about 6 miles from camp offers the nearest groceries, gas station and restaurants.

Woodland Park, CO –  A larger town about 13 miles east on Hwy 24, has grocery, hardware and drug stores, a laundromat, banks, an emergency care center, a hospital, restaurants, and shops.

 

Creation Care

Take only memories – When you enjoy flowers as they are (and don’t pick them), other people can enjoy them and animals who need them for food can survive.

Leave only footprints – Litter or items for recycling should be put in proper receptacles to maintain the natural beauty of the mountains, streams and ponds.

Kill only time – Please stay on trails and roadways when hiking as it allows plants to maintain a strong root system minimizing erosion of fragile areas. Appreciate animals without disturbing or harming them.

Campfires – Campfires are allowed only in established fire rings and subject to Teller County fire ban regulations. Contact the camp office for the current fire ban status. Do no leave fires unattended and thoroughly extinguish fires with water before leaving.

 

About Us

Mission Statement – Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is a ministry of the Mennonite Church with the purpose of providing a place of retreat encouraging holistic Christian growth by fostering the spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual growth of each guest. Colorado Roots Music Camp has become an excellent example and extension of Rocky Mountain in providing a unique space and place for good people get together to enjoy good music and good fellowship for all who come. Together may we experience a place of welcome and retreat in this beautiful part of creation.

Location, Location, Location – Rocky Mountain Mennonite Camp is situated on the west side of Pikes Peak at 9,620 feet above sea level and is completely surrounded by Pike National Forest. Campers and guests have the chance to experience Colorado’s high country wilderness, with its clear streams, conifer and aspen forests, animals, birds, wildflowers, and the wonder of the world above timberline.

Mennonite Faith – People of all faiths & backgrounds are welcome to stay with us. To learn more about the Mennonite faith, check out What Mennonites Believe.

Place of Retreat – Our goal is to provide a place where campers and guests find a welcoming and friendly environment regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability OR taste in what actually is GOOD MUSIC!