Outback policies
The rules every unit agrees to when it registers for Outback. Outback crews follow camp-wide policies while at Camp Alexander, plus a few that are specific to the trail.
On this page: Payments and refunds Refund policy (draft) On the trail Camp-wide policies
Last updated October 20, 2026.
Payments and refunds
These apply to Summer Camp and Outback.
Payment schedule
- At registration: a $100 deposit for each person, youth and adult.
- January 29, 2027: 50% of your total is due.
- April 22, 2027: your full balance is due.
Registering after one of these dates? Include every payment that has already come due.
If a unit falls behind, its account is placed on hold until it is current. While on hold, the unit cannot register for merit badges or other program sign-ups.
Refund policy
Draft, pending council approval
- Payments are non-refundable except as the policy allows. Refunds go to the unit, not to individual families.
- Before April 22, 2027, if a camper withdraws, their payments stay with the unit and count toward its balance. Any overpayment becomes a credit for other camp costs, like merit badge fees.
- You can swap in another camper from your unit at no charge any time before the session starts.
- After April 22, refunds are considered only for a new medical condition, military deployment, or a death in the family, with documentation. Each approved refund is reduced by a $100 per-camper cancellation fee.
- Refund requests are due by August 23, 2027.
2027 refund policy (draft)
This is a draft. The 2027 refund policy below has not yet been approved by the Pathway to the Rockies Council and may change before it takes effect. Once it is approved, the final version will replace this draft.
General policy
To responsibly manage Camp Alexander’s finances, the Pathway to the Rockies Council has adopted the following refund policy for the 2027 summer camp season.
All payments are non-refundable except as expressly provided in this policy. All refunds are issued to the registering unit, not to individual families. Units are responsible for settling any amounts with their own families.
Payments and unit adjustments
Payment schedule. Units must meet each scheduled payment deadline. If a unit falls behind, its account is placed on hold until it is current. While on hold, the unit cannot register for merit badges or other program sign-ups.
Adjustments before the Final Payment Date. Before April 22, 2027, a unit’s balance is adjusted as its camper count changes. If a camper withdraws, payments made for that camper stay with the unit and are applied to the unit’s remaining balance. No cash refunds are issued for these adjustments. If a unit has paid more than its adjusted total, the excess is held as a credit for the unit. The credit may be used only toward other costs incurred at camp, such as merit badge fees and evening activity fees. The unit leader must ask to apply the credit at the time each cost is incurred. Credits are not applied automatically. Any credit not used by the end of the unit’s session is non-refundable.
Final Payment Date: April 22, 2027. Each unit’s balance must be paid in full by this date. After this date, all fees are considered fully earned by the Council. The only way to recover any payment is through the exceptions listed in this policy. A unit that has not paid in full by this date will have its account placed on hold, and the Council will contact the unit leader. The Council will decide how to handle any unpaid camper spots on a case-by-case basis.
Substitutions are encouraged. A unit may replace a registered camper with another camper from the same unit at any time before the camper’s session begins, at no charge. The substitute’s registration and health forms must be complete before arrival. Substituting a camper is often the best option for a unit that loses a participant.
Refund exceptions
After the Final Payment Date, a refund may be considered only for the following reasons:
- New medical condition, illness, or injury. The condition began after registration and prevents the camper from attending.
- Military deployment. The camper’s parent or legal guardian is deployed or activated, and the deployment conflicts with the camper’s session.
- Death in the family. The death of the camper or of a member of the camper’s immediate family. Immediate family means a parent, legal guardian, sibling, grandparent, or other person living in the camper’s household.
Known and long-term conditions are not eligible. Food allergies, dietary restrictions, chronic conditions, and other pre-existing conditions are known to the family before registration. Units and families are expected to plan for these conditions when they register. Camp staff are available to discuss accommodations before camp. These conditions are not a basis for a refund, whether or not they were disclosed on the camper’s health form.
Significant changes to a known condition. If a known condition changes significantly after registration, for reasons outside the family’s control, and the change prevents the camper from attending, the Council will review the request on a case-by-case basis.
Requesting a refund
Documentation required. Each request must include supporting documentation. Requests without it will be denied.
| Reason | Documentation |
|---|---|
| Medical | A written statement from a licensed healthcare provider (physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant). It must confirm the camper cannot attend and give the date the condition began or changed. |
| Military deployment | A copy of the deployment or activation orders. Sensitive details may be redacted. |
| Death in the family | A death certificate, obituary, or funeral notice. |
The Council may request additional information when needed to evaluate a request.
How to submit. The unit leader must submit each request using the official refund request form on the Pathway to the Rockies Council website.
Deadline: August 23, 2027. Requests must be received within 30 days after the last day of camp (July 24, 2027). Requests received after August 23, 2027 will not be considered, regardless of reason.
Cancellation fee. Every approved refund is reduced by a $100 cancellation fee per camper. This fee covers the original deposit and does not change.
What can be refunded. Approved refunds apply only to the base registration fee. Merit badge fees, rafting, high adventure add-ons, and all other program fees are non-refundable, except as described under Council cancellation.
Credit instead of a refund. A unit may choose to apply any approved refund as a credit toward a future Camp Alexander session instead of receiving a payment.
Processing. Approved refunds are paid to the unit. The Council expects to complete refunds by the end of September 2027.
Other provisions
Council cancellation. The Council may cancel or shorten a session or program activity due to wildfire, severe weather, public health orders, facility issues, or insufficient enrollment. In that case, the unit may choose a transfer to another session, a credit toward a future session, or a refund of fees for the cancelled portion. A refund may be reduced by costs the Council has already incurred and cannot recover.
Dismissal from camp. A camper sent home for behavior, failure to meet health requirements, or violation of camp or Scouting America policy is not eligible for a refund.
Extraordinary circumstances. The Council may, in its sole discretion, grant relief in extraordinary circumstances not covered by this policy. Relief may include transferring funds to a future session or holding funds as a credit for the unit. Granting relief in one case does not waive or change this policy.
Council decisions are final. All refund requests are reviewed by the Camp Alexander Refund Committee. All Council decisions on refunds and relief are final and are not subject to appeal.
Acknowledgment. During registration, the unit leader must accept the Camp Alexander Summer Camp Refund Policy, which is linked from the registration page. Accepting it confirms the leader has read this policy on behalf of the unit and will share it with participating families.
Questions. Contact the Pathway to the Rockies Council at 719-219-2916 or camp.alexander@scouting.org.
On the trail
- Who can go. Outback is for Scouts 13 and older and their adult leaders. Everyone should arrive in strong physical shape, because every day centers on one big, physically demanding activity. How to get ready
- Staff make the call. On the trail, staff decide based on the weather and the whole group’s safety. If storms are building, the group can’t keep a safe pace, or someone shows signs of altitude sickness, the group turns around. Every trip runs with an emergency action plan, and a summit is never guaranteed.
- Lodging. Tents and cots are provided for every Outback participant, youth and adults, so you don’t need to bring a tent.
- Health forms. Outback uses the same health forms as summer camp, all in CampDoc, due at least 14 days before your session. Leaders carry a paper copy of everyone’s forms on the drive to and from camp and on every trip away from camp. Outback health forms
- Illness. If a participant is sick, keep them home. Outback follows the camp illness policy on the trail and at camp: a parent or guardian will be called to pick up anyone with a fever of 100.4°F or higher for more than 24 hours, vomiting for more than 24 hours, diarrhea three times in 24 hours, unexplained extreme fatigue or muscle aches for more than 8 hours, or two or more symptoms at the same time. Full illness policy
- Outfitter waivers. Rafting and climbing outfitters may require their own waivers. The 2027 forms haven’t been set yet. We’ll share them at leader meetings and email them to registered units.
- Staying connected. Plan for little or no cell signal at camp. See the internet and phone policy.
Camp-wide policies
When your crew is at Camp Alexander, these camp policies apply too:
Questions about any policy? Email camp.alexander@scouting.org or call 719-219-2916.
