K9 Nose Work® Training Camp
YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Ranch
Granby, CO
September 29, 2026 – October 4, 2026
General Registration is closed.
Tuition Cost, not including housing:
Working Spot: Starts at $1,385.00 (early bird price: $1,285.00) – Full, please join the waitlist!
Elite Working Spot: Starts at $2,285.00 (early bird price: $2,185.00) – Full, please join the waitlist!
Auditor Spot: Starts at $700.00 (early bird price: $600.00)
Helpers: Starts at $150.00
Registration ends at 5:00pm ET on August 28, 2026, or when limit has been reached. Registration acceptance is subject to approval by the staff. A $300 deposit or full payment is required at the time of registration.
Please read ALL information carefully before registering. This includes the general cancellation policy, the COVID/health and canine health attendance requirements, and the cancellation/refund policies for COVID and canine health.
Campers Arrive:
Tuesday, September 29, 2026, between 3:00pm – 5:00pm.
Campers Leave:
Campers leave on Sunday morning, October 4, 2026, after breakfast.
Camp Size:
Current limit is approximately 78 working campers plus auditing campers and Logistics Team Members. Approximately 8 campers per regular working group and 5 campers per Elite Group.
Early Bird Discount:
If you register before or on July 7, 2026, you’ll get $100 OFF the Registration Price!
K9 Nose Work® is a dog training activity designed to develop a dog’s natural scenting ability by using her/his curiosity, desire to hunt, and love of toys, food and exercise. The art and practice of nose work is open to dogs of all shapes and sizes and has made basic search dog skills available to companion dogs, creating a new sport arena for dog enthusiasts. Not only has it proven to be a great activity for all types of dogs, but the NACSW founders’ techniques make this one of the most accessible activities for the widest variety of dog handlers regardless of previous training experience.
K9 Nose Work® Training Camp is designed to enhance the understanding of K9 Nose Work®, to develop the skills necessary to compete in the sport of K9 Nose Work® as well as other nose/scent work venues, and to provide a model for effective instruction for current and future instructors.
We are happy to have nose work enthusiasts come to camp no matter their training methodology or preferred competition venue to learn more about the K9 Nose Work® training techniques and philosophy. All we ask is that you come with an open mind and consider our instructors’ methods if you are bringing your nose work dog.
This all-inclusive sleepover/day camp is open to all appropriate dog and handler teams as well as auditors. We will concentrate on the elements necessary to succeed at the sport and the application of K9 Nose Work® for recreation and increasing a dog’s confidence regardless of interest in competition. The curriculum for camp will cover foundation skills, all levels of exteriors, interiors, container and vehicle searches, improving skills for dogs already working the four required elements, building independent search skills, competition preparation, strategy and rules, handler skills, leash handling techniques, understanding how to read the dogs, motivation and reinforcement, trouble shooting and a variety of other necessary skills, PLUS loads of fun and camaraderie. Your days include working dogs as well as lectures and/or demonstrations, or other activities through the day and into the night.
We work with dogs that are already on odor from novices preparing for their first Odor Recognition Test to dogs that have earned titles at all levels. All dogs will be working on Birch, Anise and Clove. Only one working dog per working participant.
We (and the Camp Instructors) want to give you the best Camp experience possible! Please know that depending on who registers groups may be constructed with dogs and/or handlers at more than one level. Our instructors are very skilled in working with dogs at all levels and will do their best to make sure that you and your dog receive your desired level of work during your sessions. Please know that at any time during your Camp experience, you are welcome to advocate for your needs and let your instructors know what you desire for you and your dog during the working sessions. We are here for you! This is YOUR adventure!!
Note: If you are working a dog at Camp, you will be assigned to a group based on your dog’s experience. This may mean you, as a handler, will be reviewing material that you already know. If you prefer to delve into skills above your dog’s training level, auditing will be the best option.
Campers who are working dogs will be assigned to their groups based on information attained no later than 30 days before camp. We will send you a questionnaire prior to camp so you can update us with your dog’s current information.
Campers will be learning from accomplished Certified Nose Work Instructors (CNWI). Our camp instructing staff are competent, skilled teachers that are also actively involved in many areas of K9 Nose Work® – training, competition, judging, certifying trials, hosting trials, and instruction.
Read more about each instructor below.
Kathy Austin, CNWI, KPA-CTP
Kathy Austin KPA CTP, CNWI, started K9 Nose Work in 2010 with her reactive Irish Terrier, Clancy. He was the first Irish Terrier to title with NACSW, earning 2 NW3s, all his NW3 element titles, and his L1C title.
Inspired by her journey with Clancy, Kathy enrolled in the Dog Trainer Professional program at Karen Pryor Academy and was certified as a KPA CTP in 2014, and became a CNWI in 2016. She currently focuses on teaching K9 Nose Work holding classes at MSPCA Methuen, MA, offering small group coaching, and hosting trials and events. She’s an NACSW trial judge. Kathy is an active learner, attending seminars, webinars, and many Nose Work camps throughout the years. She’s also the Tech Team leader for Virtual Nose Work Camp.
Kathy’s dogs play the game for fun and enrichment at home while training for competition. Pippi retired after earning her NW3 Elite but still enjoys playing. Deuce, her 8-year-old Irish Terrier, recently earned his ELT3, and Kathy hopes he will earn his ELT-CH in 2025.
Christina Bunn, CNWI
Christina Bunn is the owner and master trainer of Puget Sound Detection Dogs. Christina has been training detection dogs for over 21 years and has owned and operated her own facility for over 15 of those years. Christina has evaluated hundreds of canines for work in detection and has trained over 150 for the detection of controlled substances. At one point, Christina had over 50 dogs working throughout Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and the country of Brazil. Among the dogs that worked in Oregon, 11 of those dogs had been with Oregon State Police.
Christina has been an instructor at the Pacific Northwest Police Detection Dog Association’s conference for the last 10 years. Christina is a volunteer for Snohomish County Volunteer Search and Rescue and has served in many capacities for 21 years. During her time with SCVSAR Christina has handled two canines. K9 Matty was an area search dog and was also crossed trained to locate human remains. K9 Matty’s daughter, K9 Springfield, was a trailing K9 and was also crossed trained for human remains. Christina and her K9 partners were utilized on hundreds of missions and had multiple successes in live find as well as human remains. She is the trainer for the county’s HRD Team and conducts weekly trainings.
Christina trained “Terra” the Eco Dog that currently works for EcoTech LLC in Portland, Oregon. Terra’s duties include locating buried, leaking, heating oil tanks, and detecting soil contamination, including aviation crash sites. Christina has registered two canines with Pet Partners and HOPE Animal Assisted Crisis Response. During Christina and K9 Springfield’s career together, they deployed to the Marysville Pilchuck Highschool murder suicide, the SPU shooting and the HWY 530 Mudslide providing comfort to those involved in these crises.
With over 45 collective years in the working and companion dog realm, Christina has worked with humane societies, boarding kennels, and veterinarian hospitals. She is a Canine Good Citizen/STAR Puppy/AKC Tricks Evaluator, Certified Nose Work Instructor and Trial Judge. She teaches 13 sport detection classes a week for all levels from intro to Summit.
Having the great honor of judging at the first National NACSW trial in 2013, Christina is known for saying, “Don’t ask your dog to lower herself to your level, you, as a handler, must rise up to your dog’s level. You must become a student of your dog.”
Christina competes at the Utility level in Competitive Obedience with her Dutch Shepherd, “Dori”. Christina and “Dori” also compete in Tracking, Agility, Lure Coursing, FAST, and Dock Diving. They have multiple competitive titles under their belt. They have explored Herding and IPO. Christina is married, the mother of 5 adult children, 2 stepsons, and has 12 grandchildren to boot.
Karin Damon, CNWI
Karin has been involved in performance events with dogs since 2002. She started out in a basic obedience class with her Golden Retriever, Keebler, and put an AKC Versatility title on him. She has competed in agility; tracking, field work, obedience and nose work with her other Goldens: Jig, Jeep, Shamrock and Fiddler.
All of the clan has been involved in advertising – showing up in various places such as commercials for Claritin, Pedigree, PetSmart Dog Food, A&P Food Stores, and even appearing on “Conan O’Brien” and “Saturday Night Live”. Jeep appeared on the cover of Dog Fancy and Jig was on the AKC Website. Karin and Jig participated in the 2013 NACSW National Invitational in California as one of 13 dogs selected throughout the country. Jig was Dog in White for the 2014 and 2017 NACSW National Invitational. Karin achieved the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW) Elite Championship title with Jig, Jeep and Shamrock. All have moved on leaving 2 year old Fiddler as the “Man of the House.”
Karin is a NACSW Supervising Certifying Official and Judge, a Trial Site Advisor for NACSW Trials, and a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) teaching nose work since the sport came to the East Coast in March of 2010. Karin became a certified Pet Tech First Aid and CPR Instructor in San Diego, CA and is working to finish her Canine Rehabilitation Certificate from the University of Tennessee. She was selected to work at the 1996 Olympic games in Atlanta, Georgia in the equestrian, mountain biking and modern pentathlon venues. Karin retired as the Head Athletic Trainer at Centenary College to start her own business. She is the owner of Shamrock Pot of Gold K9 Scenter in New Jersey.
Leah Gangelhoff, CNWI, CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA
Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed (CPDT-KA), and Certified Behavior Consultant Canine-Knowledge Assessed (CBCC-KA), Leah Gangelhoff, currently owns & operates Flint Hill K-9 Training, LLC serving the Greater Birmingham, AL area. Leah has owned and operated her own canine training and behavior business since 2002, during which time she has developed thousands of private comprehensive education courses for dogs and their owners for puppy, obedience, and serious behavior issues of all kinds, including fear and aggression. While living in Los Angeles, Leah trained in narcotics detection with co-founders Ron Gaunt and Amy Herot from 2004-2006 before the activity and sport of K9 Nose Work® was born. Leah became involved in K9 Nose Work® in 2010 and is a Senior Faculty Member at the National Association of Canine Scent Work (NACSW™), an NACSW™ Trial Judge and Trial Certifying Official, and a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI). She has also developed and presented over 30 workshops and seminars nationally and internationally on a variety of topics in K9 Nose Work®. As a Senior Faculty Member she has collaborated with Founders and Faculty to create and teach Continuing Education courses for Certified Nose Work Instructors and is currently developing and teaching a Continuing Education webinar series for NACSW™ Certified Nose Work Instructors (CNWI).
Leah has over 1000 hours of professional narcotics detection training with a large group of dogs prior to the birth of nose work as a pet dog sport, with mentors Ron Gaunt and Amy Herot and with Rodney Spicer/Gold Coast K-9 from 2004-2006. Leah has personally passed professional detection certifications (both written and search tests) in narcotics detection (POST standards) with Evolution K9 in northern California and with the Oxnard Police Department separately with two different dogs (German Shepherd and Papillon, probably the first and only in narcotics detection).
Leah has trained and trialed her own dog, Konner, a German Shepherd, in K9 Nose Work® all the way up through the new NACSW™ Summit Division for Elite Champion teams. Leah and Konner competed in four Summit Trials and achieved the highest title possible in K9 Nose Work®, a Summit title, placing 2nd Overall with pronounced designations and first and second placements in many Summit trial searches. Leah earned an NW3 Elite with her Belgian shepherd, Zephyr, placing First, First, and Second Overall at those trials and has earned an NW3 Elite, placing 2nd Overall with her Chihuahua mix shelter dog, Bruno Mars. She and her young cattle dog mix, Butterbean, have achieved their ORT title.
Leah has had the honor of being invited by the Camp Director and K9 Nose Work® Founders to teach at over 24 K9 Nose Work® Training Camps since 2011. She currently specializes in teaching K9 Nose Work® classes and privates locally and coaching groups, clinics, and seminars nationally and internationally in the sport of K9 Nose Work®.
Jen Johnson, CNWI
Jen Johnson graduated from James Madison University and Penn State University. She was a health care professional for many years until she left the industry to work with dogs full-time.
Jen started teaching with Paws Plus in 2008 in the Tracking program. The joy of watching dogs identify a scent and follow it to the end was fascinating to Jen and gave her the spark to delve into the world of canine scenting sports. Since that time, she has trained two K9NW Elite Champions.
In 2010, Jen became a K9 Nose Work fan after taking her first class with her black Lab, Shadow. Shadow was environmentally fearful and K9 Nose Work changed her life. Shadow went from being shy and trembling to an outgoing searcher that earned the Elite Championship in 2019. Seeing the positive changes in Shadow’s life, Jen became a Certified Nose Work Instructor (CNWI) in 2011 and began teaching K9 Nose Work classes in the Richmond, VA area with her parents, Jim and Janie Simmons. At Paws Plus Training, LLC, Jen works with students of all levels to discover and enhance the amazing scenting abilities of dogs. Jen enjoys watching dogs come out of their shells while participating in Nose Work and watching the bonds develop between dogs and their handlers.
Together with Janie and Jim, Jen has helped host more than 30 trial days in Virginia and volunteered at countless trials. She is a NACSW Certifying Official and Judge as well as Score Room Lead. She also judges all levels for AKC Scent Work. Jen enjoys setting level appropriate challenges for teams and watching teams across the country solve odor problems. In 2021, she became a Supervising Certifying Official and helps train certifying officials for NACSW.
Jen resides near Richmond, Virginia with her husband, son, and daughter. She currently trains Mango and Kiwi in Nose Work and Tracking.
Jill Kovacevich, CNWI
Jill is the owner of Mountain Dogs in McCoy Colorado. She specializes in K9 Nose Work training, coaching, hosting trial events and supporting NACSW in multiple ways. She has trained in obedience, therapy dogs and Dock Dogs and in K9 Nose Work for over 13 years. She actively competes in NACSW trial events reaching Elite CH and Summit trialing with Digger, Elite 1 with Izzy and now trials with Zeke at NW3. Jill is also the Medical Administrator for Doctors On Call in Avon, CO working with her husband Guy, a primary care provider serving Eagle County and is a retired Colorado attorney. Jill is a Certified Nose Work Instructor, ORT Certifying Official and Judge, Score Room Lead NW1-NW2, Trial Certifying Official (NW1 to Elite) and supports NACSW for many years including participation in NACSW National Invitationals as Dog In White and on the Event Committee.
Jill has also been a professional ski instructor and scuba diving instructor utilizing progressive positive sports training methods for human sports training, a style of teaching she now uses as a key foundation in developing, enhancing and enriching the human-canine bond with every K9 Nose Work handler-dog team from Intro to Nose Work to Elite and Summit. Jill teaches regularly in Eagle, Grand Junction, Kremmling and Gunnison CO and hosts multiple trials annually in Colorado as Mountain Dogs and enjoys nose work competition with Zeke at NW3 and with Izzy at Elite.
Gail McCarthy, CNWI
As the instructor at Scentinel Nose Work Dog Training, I have worked with horses and dogs all of my life. I rode Three-Day Eventing horses professionally for many years after graduating from college and I gave horseback riding lessons up through the advanced levels in dressage and in eventing. When I moved to Massachusetts to go to law school, my training interests shifted to working with search and rescue (SAR) dogs and, over a 25-year period of time, I attended over one hundred workshops and seminars from some of the most preeminent detection dog trainers in the country in my quest to learn how best to train independent, focused, reliable and efficient detection dogs.
While I have retired from canine SAR, during my career I trained and certified 3 dogs as wilderness live find search dogs, 2 dogs to the State Advanced Level. One of these dogs I also trained and certified twice at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Advanced Level Live Find Disaster Dog Evaluation. Another dog I trained and certified twice to the State Advanced Level in Human Remains Detection. I was the founder and former Training Director for the Massachusetts Rescue & Recovery K9 Unit and I was a founder, former Chairperson and Canine Evaluator with the Massachusetts State Search and Rescue Federation. I also was a Canine Handler with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Urban Search and Rescue, Massachusetts Task Force 1 as well as a FEMA Lead Live Find Disaster Dog Evaluator and a FEMA Human Remains Detection Evaluator. In these capacities, I worked with numerous SAR dogs over the years and I freely shared my knowledge and experience, helping many people achieve their SAR certifications. In recognition of my consistent dedication to the promotion of volunteer canine SAR in Massachusetts and to the training I gave my dogs and to my fellow handlers, the Massachusetts State Senate awarded me a “Massachusetts State Senate Citation,” a legislative award of distinction.
I have been honored to be asked to teach internationally and have given Workshops in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. As a NACSW Faculty Member and a Certified Nose Work Instructor, I have instructed at many of the K9 Nose Work Training Camps held in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Colorado and Oregon. Currently, I serve as a NACSW Judge for NACSW sanctioned K9 Nose Work Competition Trials and have given several webinars for NACSW. I have been teaching Nose Work classes for 16-years and I bring my past training experience to my students, many of whom now are among New England’s top title holders in K9 Nose Work. As of March 2026, I am the instructor of 29 canine teams who have obtained their NW3 Elite Titles and 11 of these students have achieved the coveted Elite Championship Title. My current Nose Work dog, Saoirse, achieved her Elite Championship Title and then went on to obtain a Summit Title in her first Summit Trial last Spring. Several of my other students also have titled at the Summit Level. Please see the “Accolades Page” of my website http://www.scentinelnosework.com for a listing of my students’ successes in K9 Nose Work.
I look forward to working with my fellow Nose Work Handlers in Colorado!
Michael McManus, CNWI
Michael McManus is Certified in Applied Animal Ethology, a Certified Nose Work Instructor, an NACSW CO and Judge, as well as a Judge for USCSS and KSG. Michael has been working with dogs since 2009, focusing on Ethology, K9 Nose Work®, Treibball, Herding, and Hunting. Michael was among the first to title dogs not owned by himself in Nose Work. In addition to the dog who got him into nose work, his Siberian Husky Lumi, Michael has titled a Basenji, a Flat Coated Retriever, a Border Collie, a Doberman, a Spanish Water Dog, a Bloodhound, a Golden Retriever, a German Shorthaired Pointer, a Labrador Retriever, a Basset Hound, an English Bulldog, and Belgian Malinois in sanctioned trials.
Michael and his wife Natalie started offering nose work classes in 2011 and have ever since. Their current emphasis in nose work are games, ethology, the four pillars of nose work (foundation), competition stress, and memory.
Michael has previously taught at GA camp, WA camp, and PA camp. He and Natalie were also presenters at the 2021 and 2022 Virtual Nose Work Camps. They live in the Greater Saint Louis area with their 6 dogs and 2 cats.
Natalie McManus, CNWI
Natalie McManus, CNWI, grew up with dogs – and other animals – and has been working with them professionally for 14 years.
Natalie and her husband, Michael, got hooked on K9 Nose Work (and dog training in general) in 2009, and opened Ready, Sit, Go in 2010. They started offering nose work classes in 2011 and have ever since. Their current emphases in nose work are games, ethology, the four pillars of nose work (foundation), competition stress, and memory.
Natalie is a Certifying Official and Judge for the NACSW, Certified Search Designer and Judge for USCSS, a Judge for AKC Scent Work, and a Judge for K9 Scent Games.
Natalie has titled an Australian Shepherd mix (5th mixed breed dog to achieve an NW1), Pomeranian (1st Pomeranian to achieve an NW1 title), Border Collie (2nd Border Collie to achieve an NW3 title), a Belgian Malinois, another Border Collie, and a Labrador Retriever. Currently, Natalie is trialing in Summit with her Malinois (ELT-CH) and has retired her Border Collie (ELT3).
Natalie has previously taught at GA camp, CO camp, and PA camp. She and Michael were also presenters at the 2021 and 2022 Virtual Nose Work Camps. Currently, Natalie teaches 16 classes a week, virtually and in person, in the Greater Saint Louis area. She and Michael live with their 6 dogs and 2 cats.
Jean Richardson, CNWI
Jean is the owner of Wells Creek Dog Training on the Central Coast of Oregon and has been involved in dog training in various forms since 1984. She began training her personal dog for obedience competition at that time and has continued to learn along the way. She has competed and trained her own personal dogs to titles in AKC Obedience and Rally, Agility, Herding, Tracking, Field Trials and Conformation and K9 Nose Work.
Since becoming a CNWI in 2011 she has brought K9 Nose Work to the Central Coast/Eugene area of Oregon, teaching many classes for various organizations in the area. She has since gone on to become a NACSW Certifying Official and Judge and is the NACSW CO Director of Operations.
Before moving to Oregon in 2008, she was an Instructor for Guide Dogs of America in Sylmar, Ca, helping to train and then pair guide dogs with visually impaired recipients. She has also been involved in teaching obedience, puppy and reactive dog classes in Southern California as well as Oregon.
Jean and her husband currently share their home with two German Shepherds and a Labrador Retriever, all competing at different levels of Nose Work.
Roberta Scarbeck, CNWI
Roberta was first introduced to nose work in 2012 with a brochure left at her veterinary office introducing the sport. At the time, Roberta’s little dog Skeeter was having major issues with anxiety and sound sensitivities, and she was hopeful that this activity would build coping skills. Not only did it help tremendously with building Skeeter’s confidence, but it also saved her when Skeeter lost her eyes to glaucoma.
Roberta has been hooked on the benefits of nose work since that time. When she first started training her younger dog, her instructor insisted that she explore the world of Nose Work competition. Chirp, a 6-year-old beagle that believes Nose Work is the best part of life, has successfully managed to “open the door” and expose Roberta to all of the many ways to become involved in the sport.
Roberta’s enthusiasm for “all-things-Nosework” has led her to travel coast-to-coast attending many Camps, continuing education workshops and seminars, and countless NACSW Nose Work trials. Since the “door opened”, Roberta is now a CNWI teaching all levels of students, is an ORT CO and judge, and has recently become a Certifying Official for NACSW trials. She is involved in all aspects of NACSW Nose Work trials and has hosted, been Volunteer Coordinator, and volunteered at all positions and is currently working on soon becoming a Judge. She competes at the NW3 level with her dog Skeeter (1 leg away from an NW3 ELT Title) and has received 2 SMT titles (one with a 3rd place overall) with her wonder dog Chirp- currently the only Beagle in the country to hold a SMT title. Being able to travel across the country to volunteer and compete at trials has allowed Roberta to observe a tremendous variety of competitor and trial host teams and how they work, thereby creating amazing opportunities for continued learning.
Roberta has worked professionally with dogs for over 35 years in the Veterinary Medical field and received her DVM in 2000. She built a start-up Veterinary Practice in Northeastern IL from the ground-up that served a grateful community for almost 25 years. Roberta’s ability to read and understand dog behaviors helped her to become a caring, compassionate, and capable Veterinarian. This background has also given her a different perspective and education on the many applications for Nose Work for our canine companions.
Understanding the strong and beneficial connection we humans have with our canine friends- and how Nose Work beautifully complements this-motivates Roberta to enthusiastically share the joy of Nose Work with as many people as she can! Roberta lives in NE IL and shares a home with her hounds Chirp and Skeeter, and her spouse Donna Rauch (also a Score Room Lead and ELT competitor) and “the fuzzies”-Beaker (Boston/Shih Tzu mix) and Squeak (a one- eyed Morkie).
Laurel Scarioni, CNWI
Laurel has been working professionally with dogs since 1996 with roles including animal control officer, veterinary technician, dog trainer, and behavior specialist.
She has trained and titled dogs in rally obedience, agility and, of course, K9 Nose
Work®. Laurel teaches K9 Nose Work® classes and workshops, has been an instructor at PA, GA and CO Nose Work Camps, is an NACSW™ Certifying Official, Judge and Trial Coordinator, and is an AKC Scent Work Expert Judge.
Laurel and her husband are currently owned by Agnes, a 3-year-old Brittany, and Walter, a 2-year-old “Malinauzer”.
Megan Wallace, CNWI, CCUI, BS
Megan has been passionate about dogs her entire life, her first word was dog! She started getting interested in training and competition as a pre-teen, and acquired her first Border Collie as a 12 year old. From there, her journey of living with and learning about dogs truly began. Learning from some incredible mentors throughout her teen and young adult years, Megan entered the dog training profession with a wide breadth of knowledge. She has spent the majority of her life working with, living with, learning from, and teaching others about dogs!
In 2010, Megan was exposed to the growing sport of K9 Nose Work, which ended up being a perfect fit for her and her dogs. Despite her history in dog sports growing up, she didn’t start competing right away, giving her a perspective on the value of the activity as so much more than a sport. She attended the first Nose Work Camp at Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, CO in 2013, and has attended every one offered in Colorado since then (2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023)! She became a Certified Nose Work Instructor in 2017, and has had students excelling in every level of competition up to Elite. She became an NACSW Certifying Official in 2023.
Megan is the proud owner of NoCo Unleashed, a facility in Loveland, CO dedicated to helping people and dogs build stronger relationships through both Nose Work and the Control Unleashed training system. She is a Certified Control Unleashed Instructor, as well as a mentor for that certification program. She and her team offer a variety of training opportunities both in person and virtually. Megan lives in Loveland with her husband, James, and their three Border Collies, Mia, Lucy, and Han Solo.
Dana Crevling, CNWI - Camp Director
Dana is a dog training and behavior geek. Over the last 40+ years she has attended, participated, or hosted hundreds of seminars, workshops, courses, camps, classes, and webinars to better understand canine and animal training and behavior.
Dana has made a career working in the dog training, rescue, and behavior professions since 1986. She worked in not-for-profit animal agencies until 1999, when she started Dogs of Course with the creation of her first Instructor Training Course. Instructor Training Courses were held in a shelter environment and trained hundreds of dog training instructors over the next eighteen years. Her dedication to improving the lives of dogs and their owners through quality education, while continuing to support charitable efforts, were the motivating factors when she started Dogs of Course, and they continue to be the guiding forces for all projects she creates.
Dana has been involved with canine camps starting in the mid 1980’s as a camper and/or staff member. Through her interest in agility, she created and operated an agility summer camp, Competitive Edge Sports Camp (2000-2004) that offered consistent cutting-edge training in a small friendly environment reminiscent of children’s sleepover camp. She also joined forces with Clean Run and co-produced the very popular Clean Run Camps, as well as a conference specifically for agility instructors in 2007 and 2008. It only made sense to approach the NACSW founders to start up K9NW Training Camp as the sport started to gather momentum. Since the very first K9NW Training Camp in 2010, Dana has planned and organized over 45 K9NW Training Camps and hopes to run many more.
Dana has been competing in dog sports since 1984, believing in building a deep connection with her dogs through teamwork. She has titled in obedience, field, conformation, earthdog, rally, agility, and Nose Work. She has dabbled in tracking, canine freestyle, canine square dancing and herding. Dana has trained and competed in Nose Work with three Flat-Coated Retrievers, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi and a Norfolk Terrier. Her current Nose Work dog, a young Flat-Coated Retriever, went first overall for her NW1 and is happily training for future trials.
Dana Zinn, CPDT-KA - Camp Co-Director and Guest Instructor
Dana Zinn has been working with and training dogs since 1999. Her many years of dog training experience include working at the spcaLA as an Animal Behavior & Training Specialist. It was the time working with dogs in the shelter that drew her to the sport of K9 Nose Work®; not only for her own dogs, but for the many dogs in need of a “job” to do.
Dana was involved in the first publicly offered Nose Work class in Long Beach, CA. She not only participated but eventually assisted in instruction. From there Dana became involved in the development of the K9 Nose Work® instructor certification program. Dana was one of the first participants to be certified as an instructor for the K9 Nose Work® curriculum approved by the National Association of Canine Scent Work, LLC. Over the years, she had many jobs with NACSW including certifying official, supervising certifying official, and trial judge.
Her learning never stops as she continues to teach classes, instruct at camps, compete in trials, create webinars, and teach workshops. She co-authored a book with Sue Sternberg, The Dog-Driven Search, Handling Our Nose Work Dogs to Promote Independence, Joy and Enthusiasm. It is now available on audio.
Dana has participated in a variety of canine activities such as obedience, herding, agility and of course Nose Work. One of her proudest moments was placing first in the 2014 NACSW National Invitational. Dana moved from California with her family to Golden, Colorado in 2008 and brought the sport of K9 Nose Work® with her. She hosted the first trials in Colorado and has absolutely loved watching nose work flourish there. Dana is honored to be a part of the amazing community that has grown around the game and sport in Colorado and surrounding areas.
Dana strives to increase her knowledge about canine behavior and instruction. She has attended and helped coordinate many seminars featuring some of the world’s most sought-after speakers. One of her most memorable educational experiences was working with and learning from the renowned dog behavior expert and trainer John Rogerson. She has traveled to England and Washington state to work with and assist him on many courses including his 21-day Instructors’ Course.
Dana is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and a member of the Colorado Trainers’ Networking Group. Dana was certified as a professional dog training in 2005 by the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers (CCPDT).
Dana currently shares her life with her wonderful husband Ken, two beautiful children Jessica & Ben, and her two Labrador Retrievers, Winnie and Sunny.
Jo Trent, CNWI - Logisitics Team Supervisor
Jo Trent has always loved all animals. Originally from Colorado, she had allergies to dogs and cats, so her home was filled with “pocket pets”. She was also lucky enough to have an uncle with a farm, so every summer Jo was able to connect with and learn about horses, cows, pigs, goats and chickens.
In 1995 Jo moved to sunny Southern California to work in the corporate world. After adopting her first cat, Jo’s passion for animals blossomed and she knew she wanted to work with animals. In 1999 Jo left the corporate world and started her own pet sitting business. To continue to develop her skills with working with animals and give back to the animal community, she volunteered for the spcaLA. Within months, Jo found herself working full time as the spcaLA’s Outreach Assistant.
While working at spcaLA, Jo was promoted to shelter manager at P.D. Pitchford Companion Animal Village & Education Center, assisted the spcaLA’s Animal Behavior and Training Department with assessments and became a member of spcaLA’s Disaster Animal Response Team (DART). Jo became a sworn spcaLA Humane Officer and is S.A.F.E. certified.
Jo’s interest in K9 Nose Work® developed in 2009, when she enrolled Sluggo into a Fun Nose Work class. Jo enjoyed the confidence and fun that Sluggo experienced through Nose Work so much that she wanted to share the wonderful game with more folks and their dogs. Through the support of the NACSW founders and her husband, Jo started a new career in 2010 teaching K9 Nose Work® classes.
Jo had worked for and with NACSW in a number of roles including as Education Division staff member. Jo is Supervising Certifying Official and NACSW Judge.
Jo loves to teach and has a warm, humor-filled, and low stress approach to educating her students. Her students have ranged from beginner through Elite. Jo has instructed for Dogs of Course at the Georgia and Pennsylvania K9NW Training Camps and is the Logistic Team Leader for the Colorado.
Jo recently relocated to Charles Town, West Virginia, with her current K9 Nose Work® dog MPact Jumping Jellybean, who is a Belgian Malinois and has earned their Elite 3 title.
Peta Clarke - Guest Instructor
Peta Clarke has been a professional animal trainer for more than 30 years, with experience spanning everything from training animals for film productions to working with exotic species. Her passion, however, has always been dogs. She began tracking with her first Boxer in the 1990s before discovering K9 Nose Work® in 2014, reigniting her love of watching dogs solve scent puzzles. She was one of the first people in Australia to earn certification as a K9 Nose Work® instructor and was central to bringing the sport to all corners of Australia.
Peta has taught scent work across Australia, regularly traveling to the different states to work with other instructors and their students. She has trialed multiple dogs under both ACSW and Dogs Australia (ANKC), earning titles with Chihuahuas Quinn and Sparrow, as well as her Boxer, Robin. As one of the foundation Dogs Australia Scent Work judges appointed in 2020, Peta has played an important role in developing the sport, including judge education, rule development, and building Australia’s scent work community. She is passionate about training, teaching, and judging scent work, but her real joy is in the learning all of these endeavors bring her and seeing teams grow their skills and confidence through this incredible sport.
And she CAN NOT WAIT to be in Colorado with everyone!
Julia Back, CNWI - Guest Instructor
Julia Back is a NACSW Certifying Official, Trial Judge, CNWI, and truffle dog handler who came to K9 Nose Work® in 2013 from a background in animal behavior and veterinary care. She began volunteering with shelter dogs in the Galapagos Islands in 2006, where she developed a passion for rescue and rehabilitation. As a Fulbright scholar, Julia later obtained her Master’s degree in animal ecology and behavior from Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia). She particularly enjoys exploring the confluence of science and scentwork in her classes and seminars.
When they aren’t out in the Oregon woods hunting truffles, Julia enjoys competing in nose work with her own dogs: Willow, a border collie trialing at the Elite level, and Tornado, a young shepherd/heeler mix (NW1). Her first nose work partner, Brody, a malamute-shepherd mutt (2011-2024), earned his ELT-CH title and competed in Summit, while CJ, a border collie-lab cross (2001-2018), enjoyed her first trial at 14 years old.
Seeing the remarkable changes K9 Nose Work® inspired in the lives of her own dogs, Julia seeks to bring that same sense of purpose, confidence, and fun to both her canine students and their human handlers.
Jessica Koester BSAS, ABCDT, KPA CTP, CNWI - Guest Instructor
Jessica is currently a NACSW Certified Nose Work Instructor, Certifying Official and Trial Judge as well as a Trial Host. She was introduced to the sport of K9 Nose Work in 2011 after moving to San Diego, CA. She signed up for classes with her young border collie who had environmental sensitivities and fear reactivity issues. After doing several classes, she noticed that her young dog was more confident in new environments and curious of novel items, and while still cautious in new situations, he was not as prone to bark immediately. Amazed at this change, Jessica continued with K9 nose work classes and eventually applied to the Instructor Program, which she graduated from in 2013.
In 2010 Jessica graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia (MIZZOU) with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Animal Science as well as a Minor in Meat Science. She also attained an additional Minor in Equine Science via dual enrollment at MIZZOU and Stephens College.
Some of Jessica’s additional certifications also include ABCDT (Animal Behavior College Dog Trainer) in 2012 with Honors and KPA CTP (Karen Pryor Academy Certified Training Partner) in 2013. In addition, she is also a licensed A.K.C Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Evaluator as well as a CPDT C.L.A.S.S. Evaluator.
Jessica has been a dog owner all her life and has been in and around dog and equine sports from childhood. She has been privately training both horses and dogs, of all ages and breeds, over the last 17 years. She works with dogs and their owners on basic manners, trick training and does behavior modification for reactive dogs, in addition to teaching K9 Nose Work.
Jessica continues to further her education through classes, seminars, workshops, and K9 Nose Work camps. She currently has two dogs that she is trialing with, her Border Collie, Uriel (NW3) and her Papillon, Cosette (NW2). In addition to being a dog trainer Jessica is a military spouse and mother to two young children. They all currently reside in Escondido, CA.
New to Nose Work:
People without nose work experience are encouraged to come to camp as auditors or Logistics Team Members to learn about the activity. We welcome instructors, sports enthusiasts, hobby trainers, and shelter workers to attend camp as your introduction to K9 Nose Work®.
Experienced Nose Work Trainers:
Our camp caters to dog/handler teams that are already on odor and experienced trainers that would like to audit. Dogs new to working on odor up through dogs ready to compete or currently competing in Nose/Scent Work trials will gain valuable experience at Camp. We welcome repeat campers back to continue their education as well as new campers that have been taking classes with instructors versed in or who are willing to learn about the K9 Nose Work® methodology.
Dog Training Instructors:
Camp is a great way for current and future K9 Nose Work®/Scent Work instructors to learn about the activity. Whether you want to start classes for fun, competition, shelter dog enrichment, or as part of a behavior modification protocol, attending Camp will provide a solid foundation, as well as, advanced training you can take home and apply. Learn from some of the world’s most skilled and experienced instructors, including founders of the sport.
If you are currently teaching K9 Nose Work®/Scent Work classes, camp provides an opportunity to deepen your knowledge and skills, learn the newest techniques, and understand the latest thinking behind the training. Camp gives you time to fine tune your skills, so you can go back to your students with the most current knowledge.
Certified Nose Work Instructors, as well as instructors certified with other organizations, will be given continuing education credit that is necessary for keeping your status current.
See the Continuing Education Units section below for full details.
We work with dogs and their handlers that are already on odor from novices preparing for their first Odor Recognition Test to dogs that have earned titles at all levels. All dogs will be working on Birch, Anise and Clove odor. Working spots are limited.
Working Campers, Pre-Competition and Beyond – Full, please join the waitlist!
When you bring your dog to camp you will be placed in a group of approximately 8 dogs of similar level. Generally, these groups cater to dogs that have not yet achieved an NACSW Elite title or the equivalent in other scent work organizations.
Elite/Summit titled teams (or equivalent) are also welcome to participate in the “regular” working groups. Elite/Summit/equivalent Teams in regular groups should expect a mix of participants including those currently competing at the NW3 level. Focus will generally be at the NW3 level with only some preparation for Elite trialing.
Working Campers, Elite/Summit/SWM/DDCH groups – Full, please join the waitlist!
We offer specialized groups for our Elite/Summit League teams and those with AKC Scent Work Master (SWM) title, USCSS Detection Dog Champion (DDCH), or equivalent, that would like a smaller group experience. Each Elite group will have 5 dog/handler working teams instead of 8 working teams. These working groups are designed to meet the needs of teams competing in Elite Summit League and competing toward SWME and Detective Titles. Each team will benefit from specific coaching on competition strategy with more time to work through complex problems and unique challenges to better prepare them for competition. Elite Groups may consist of a mix of different levels of Elite, Summit League, SWM, and DDCH teams. Dogs must have an NW3 Elite title and/or AKC SWM or USCSS DDCH (or equivalent) title to participate. There is an additional fee for the smaller Elite groups.
Auditing Campers: Campers who register as auditors are welcome to attend all sessions and move from group to group as long as she/he does not create a distraction or disturbance. Auditors may attend, but will not participant in, the training or other dog related activities. During working sessions we ask that auditors hold questions as it takes away from and interferes with the working campers’ time. Auditors can ask questions during lectures. Auditors must leave their dog(s) home. Anyone that stays on camp property and is not working a dog is considered an auditor.
If the primary reason for coming to camp is to learn for your students and your dog is not at the level you need instruction in or you want to learn about multiple levels, we suggest you audit camp and leave your dog home.
All persons attending camp as non-working participants will be required to register as an Auditor. Due to the nature of this event no exceptions will be permitted for this camp.
Logistics Team Member Campers (help us at camp):
If you would like to attend camp at a reduced rate, and like to help out and stay busy, this may be the option for you!
In exchange for working, Logistics Team Members audit camp sessions, join the discussion groups and demos, and have the option to work their dog in four special training sessions. For Colorado Camp, Logistics Team Members pay for their own housing and food at the YMCA of the Rockies. Get a private lodge room or share a room with your friends. Logistics Team Members play a critical role in making camp run smoothly. They help set up camp (arrive early), work at registration, put up signs, direct traffic, move equipment when needed, assist instructors, support campers, clean up after camp, and perform a variety of other duties. Colorado Logistics Team Members need to have a vehicle to drive around the camp as the property is huge and cannot be walked around efficiently. There are some restrictions due to the nature of the job, but many campers find being on the Logistics Team a great option. Please note that this can be a physical job that requires lifting and the ability to walk around the Camp easily.
Please contact Michele for an information packet to help you decide if this is a job for you.
Campers must be at least 18 years old.
All campers must be in good physical condition and able to walk to search areas on uneven ground from the parking areas. The property is large, and the housing is generally driving distance from the search areas. Expect that driving from one end of camp to another will take 10 minutes. Some roads will be dirt and may be uneven and have potholes.
Campers who are staying in lodge rooms and are expected to treat the rooms with respect. No bathing or grooming dogs in the rooms.
Campers must clean up after his/her dog(s) and deposit feces in garbage receptacles.
Campers will need two crates for their working dog. One for the room and a second one to bring to the work stations or have in your vehicle. We suggest your working crate be light weight and easy to carry. A small dolly or a crate cart may be helpful for unloading or moving supplies etc..
YMCA of the Rockies is a restricted smoking facility. All smoking must be done in designated open areas and never inside a building, structure, or in a grassy or wooded area. Inappropriate smoking could easily cause a forest fire in this environment. Violation of these rules is grounds for dismissal without refund.
Alcohol is strictly prohibited when working dogs or attending classes.
When more than one person attends from a family with one dog, one person is designated the handler and does all the training. The other person is an auditor. Family members cannot take turns working the dog.
We are pleased to offer a unique deluxe camp experience for Nose Work enthusiasts at our Colorado location. Unlike our other camps where the participants “rough it,” this location boasts of climate controlled hotel style housing at Indian Peaks Lodge and extra amenities offered by the resort.
Due to the requirements of this wonderful facility, the fee structure for camp will be in two parts – the cost of the 4-day K9 Nose Work Training Camp and, separately, the lodging that includes your meals and facility conference fees.
YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch
Located in Colorado near Winter Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and Grand Lake, Snow Mountain Ranch sits at 8,000 feet above sea level on 5,000 acres. This year-round family resort has many activities for campers after hours or for the family member that wants to come for vacation. On-site complimentary recreation includes miniature golf, basketball, volleyball, tennis, indoor swimming, hiking trails, playgrounds, library, and many family programs. Archery, mountain bike rentals, horseback riding and craft projects are available on-site for a fee. Located two hours from the Denver Airport and a short drive into town for supplies, Snow Mountain Ranch is a great location for those driving or flying.
Indian Peaks Lodge
Our camp headquarters, lecture space, and all our lodging will be in this recently renovated 79 room lodge. The lodge is conveniently located within walking distance to dining as well as to some of our search areas. Guests will marvel at the beautiful view of the valley below and Continental Divide from their balcony or porch. Each room has two queen beds, a sofa, a private bathroom, wireless internet, a mini fridge and microwave. Rooms do not have televisions, radios, telephones or clocks. There is a television and a coffee station in the lobby of the lodge.
The YMCA is making an exception to their rules by allowing us to have dogs at the lodge. There will be a dog fee of $15/day/dog ($75 for one dog for a 5-day stay). Campers are also encouraged to please leave a tip in their rooms for the cleaning staff that count on your generosity. We have assured the resort that our campers will be responsible and thoughtful guests. So please clean up no matter where your dog toilets (including the fields and woods) and no bathing dogs in the rooms.
Occupancy Limits:
For our group, Indian Peaks Lodge has a limit of 3 adults and 3 dogs per room, no exceptions. Please keep this in mind if you are sharing a room with another camper. We suggest one or two adults and two dogs per room for your comfort.
Lodging Limitations:
This lodge is lovely but does have some features you need to be aware of. To get to the upper floor rooms there are only open stairs. Inside is carpeted and outside is steel mesh steps. Dogs need to be able to negotiate this type of stairs that do not have a solid riser. The hallways to the rooms are long and narrow – only 3.5 feet wide – so campers must be prepared to pass other dogs in the hallways without incident. Due to the configuration of the housing and the fact that other guest families (the public) will be sharing the resort, we are asking that only mildly reactive working dogs live in the lodge. We cannot accept non-working dogs that are reactive at this location as there is too much potential for barking and arousal. All dogs will be mixed in together like other hotel/motel experiences. Please see dog policies for more information on what dogs are appropriate for this camp.
Rooming assignments cannot be guaranteed either by the resort or Dogs of Course. They will be assigned by need and first come reservations by the facility. All campers must be willing to have second floor rooms. We ask that auditors (not rooming with a working team) be willing to live on the second floor so more dogs can be on the first floor.
IMPORTANT PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
All campers must be in good physical condition, be able to climb a flight of stairs multiple times a day and walk up to 10 minutes on uneven ground and dirt or paved roads to the activities and meals. This is a sprawling facility with some hilly terrain. Campers will be able to drive personal vehicles to get close to many of the work areas, but this cannot be relied upon. Parking availability for some search areas will dictate parking your vehicle and walking the rest of the way. Weather may also impact the driving vs. walking options.
The facility is at 8,000 feet above sea level. For campers not used to high altitudes, we strongly suggest checking in at the resort a day or two before camp to help your body acclimate. (* Campers that check in to the lodge a couple days early for acclimation purposes must plan to share the lodge with the general public.) There are plenty of non-aerobic activities to keep you busy at the resort. Some people do get altitude sickness that can include headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Drinking LOTS of water and taking it easy for the first couple days will help the body adjust. Please contact your physician if there are any concerns.
Getting Around Camp:
All Campers will need a vehicle/to share a vehicle to get around Camp. If you share a vehicle with another camper, you should expect that one of you may need to be dropped off at one area while the other goes to a different area. At this camp, we are not offering the crate transportation system that we have at our “walking” camps. This is a large driving facility and is not conducive to this service.
Please see the “Registration Info: Tuition, Lodging, and Fees” Section below for details about housing options and costs.
Making Lodging Reservations at the Indian Peaks Lodge:
See below for the booking link to make reservations online
Indian Peaks Lodge has a limit of 3 adults and 3 dogs per room for our group: no exceptions. Please keep this in mind if you are sharing a room with another camper. We suggest one or two adults and two dogs per room for your comfort. The Ranch does allow up to six people in a room for their youth programs, retreats, etc. You will see this on the YMCA of the Rockies website; however, this does not apply to our group.
Your lodging cost includes the dining hall meals listed below and resort/conference fees. Your lodging invoice will break out the dining hall meals as a separate category on your bill. The two banquet meals are added on to your Dogs of Course tuition for 2026. Approximate meals total is $260.
- Tuesday – Welcome dinner at The Hub Dining Hall at Camp Chief Ouray
- Wednesday through Friday – breakfast and lunch only
- Saturday – Three meals including our farewell banquet Saturday night at The Hub Dining Hall at Camp Chief Ouray
- Sunday breakfast
*You may purchase the dinners not included, on these dates, separately at the Dining Hall each night or you may opt to get food on your own.
Estimated 2026 lodging fees (with meals) will be:
- Single room – averages to approximately $195/night, plus tax, depending on length of stay and nights staying for the room – total approximate cost is for lodging and the meals listed above. Add in dog fee listed below.
- Double or triple occupancy – averages to approximately $247/night for double occupancy ($123/pp/night) and $299/night for triple occupancy ($99/pp/night), plus tax, depending on length of stay and nights staying for the room – total approximate cost is for lodging and the meals listed above. Add in dog fee listed below per person.
- Dog fee, per day, per dog – $15/day/night ($75 per dog for the 5 days of camp). Max 3 dogs. If you are staying beyond the 5 days for camp, you will pay $15/dog/night for each additional day. Unlike past years, it is not a flat fee per stay.
Please do not make reservations for lodging until your Camp Registration has been submitted.
After you have registered for K9 Nose Work Camp with Dogs of Course, you will make your lodging reservations by clicking on this link: Snow Mountain Ranch Booking Link
Our Group Code: a09Nt00000AyidDIAR
Password: 87678905
How to Make and Confirm Your Lodging Reservation:
-
- Click the booking link to access the group’s room block.
- Please use the Booking ID and Password to log into the groups block.
- Select Book Now.
- Make sure the dates in the room filter match the camp dates (September 29 – October 4).
- If you want to add days, call central reservation after booking the camp dates online to have your reservation extended.
- You may book rooms that say pet free as we have an exception.
Payment & Reservation Details
- A 35% deposit, payable to the YMCA, is due at the time of reservation.
- Once the 35% deposit is received by the YMCA, a lodging confirmation and reservation number will be emailed to you.
- Any payments made directly to the Group Leader or Group will not appear on your lodging confirmation and do not constitute a lodging reservation.
- The pricing varies per night depending on the meals and the room rates. Rooms and meals will be broken out on the invoice when you register for your stay.
- Please add your roommates via the portal. There will be a prompt for other “Guests” in the room.
- Please add total number of dogs in the room including service dogs. (Max 3)
- The portal has the option to arrive early. It does not include meals for early arrival. You will purchase if desired at check-in.
- Extending Your Stay After Camp
- First, book your reservation online for the group event dates using the link above.
- Then call Central Reservations at (888) 613-9622 to add additional nights.
- Please have your reservation number available when calling.
- If you have any questions, requests or want to change your reservation dates, please contact the Central Reservations Office.
- There will not be a designated reactive dog wing. Halls are narrow.
- The lodge does not have an elevator for second floor rooms. The stairs are open treads.
- Rooms will be assigned by the YMCA to the best of their ability.
- The dog cleaning fee is an additional $15/dog per night (up to $75 per dog for the 5-days of camp) If you stay beyond the 5 days of camp, you will be charged $15/dog/night for each additional night.
- This dog cleaning fee goes to the YMCA, not to the housekeeping staff so please still tip the person that will clean your room after you leave.
Commuters and Alternate YMCA Lodging Arrangements
- Anyone that is not staying at the Indian Peaks Lodge for a minimum of four nights or staying in any housing not designated for our group is considered a commuter. You are responsible for making your own lodging accommodation and reserve it at your leisure.
- Commuters will also get the meal plan and banquet meals as required of our group. This is factored into your tuition.
- Campers staying in the family cabins on YMCA property will be charged an additional $25/dog/night cleaning fee for the first two dogs. The YMCA is making an exception and allowing a third dog at $100/night. There can only be a maximum of 3 dogs in the cabins. This is 3 dogs total, NOT per person. Please follow their rules as to not jeopardize this option for our group. If your group has more than three dogs per cabin, please plan to split up or stay off the property.
- Commuters’ dogs will be crated in their handlers’ vehicles during non-working sessions.
An RV is anything bigger than a conversion van. RV Camping will not be available at this Camp. Campers may NOT live in their RV/Car/Truck. People staying in the Lodge, but traveling to camp in their RV, may park it. RVs would need to remain parked in one location, so campers would still need a regular vehicle to get around camp and to the search areas. A local rental car or sharing with a friend with the same level dog is an option for getting around to search areas. Campers MUST tell Dana if they plan to have an RV with them and let her know how you plan to get to search areas.
Additional non-working dog fees also apply to people staying in RV’s. Two dogs per registered working camper.
Contact Dana to discuss your RV plans.
Meals will be served in the main dining hall or at The Hub at Camp Chief Ouray at designated times starting with a Welcome Banquet Tuesday evening when you arrive, breakfast and lunch on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, Farewell Dinner on Saturday night, and ending with breakfast on Sunday’s move out day. All campers must be on the meal plan. Your lodging bill will break out the meals and room fee separately. Your banquet meals will be paid to Dogs of Course.
Campers not staying at Indian Peaks Lodge will pay an additional fee in the camp tuition to cover the meal plan.
You have the option to eat at the YMCA or elsewhere for your other dinners on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.
The menu will consist of simple buffet stye food for omnivores as well as vegetarians. In the past, the YMCA of the Rockies does have some gluten free options, but we suggest that anyone with dietary restrictions bring extra food to supplement meals as needed. There is a grocery store about 10 minutes from camp.
Our catered Welcome Dinner is a BBQ and Farewell is a turkey dinner. These meals have been exceptional in past years!
Each working participant will be permitted to bring their registered working dog, plus one additional non-working dog at no additional fee. A third dog will be permitted based on available space and there will be an additional fee. The additional dog(s) may not pose any safety, handling or other concerns during camp.- Only one working dog per working participant. No swapping of dogs during camp classes.
- Non-working dogs must stay quietly in the lodging accommodations or vehicle while the handler is in class with the working dog.
- Dogs are worked one at a time while the other dogs are resting in crates in the vehicle in the training area until her/his turn.
- Dogs must be able to stay quietly in a crate out of owner’s sight when not working or when owner is not in their lodging. Handlers must sit with dogs that vocalize in their crate during class to quiet them and will miss the opportunity to watch others.
- Dogs must be crated when left alone in the cabins/rooms. Owners are responsible for any damage the dog does to the facility.
- Females in season will be allowed at this camp. See ‘Rules for Females in Season’ below for details.
- Due to the nature of the sport of nose work dogs are placed at higher risk for illness because their noses are touching where other dogs’ noses have been including the saliva left behind. Dogs must be healthy and free of contagious conditions including, but not limited to canine upper respiratory virus, canine flu, kennel cough, and fleas. Dogs that still may be contagious due to illness, or exposed to an illness, may be asked not to attend. Dogs with a contagious illness that may affect the rest of the dog population may be asked to leave without refund. PLEASE READ the Canine Health Specific Refund Information carefully.
Your dog’s mental health is important to us, as is the safety, well-being, and enjoyment of all camp participants. If your dog falls into one of the above categories, we ask that you leave him/her at home and attend camp as an auditor.
Dogs that are NOT good candidates for the sleepover camp experience:
- Dogs with moderate to severe separation stress are not good candidates for camp. Dogs must be crated away from the owners during meals, lectures and in working sessions in unfamiliar environments. At Camp we live and train in close proximity so dogs that vocalize regularly and for extended periods of time create stress for other campers and dogs in the area. For most dogs with separation issues Camp compounds the problems seen at home or in classes. At this camp car crating is not realistic as vehicles are parked remotely.
- Dogs that have moderate to severe dog to dog aggression. For many dogs with serious spatial issues living 24-hours a day for multiple days in a novel environment, with strange dogs everywhere, can significantly increase stress, inappropriate behavior, aggression, and/or arousal. Dogs that cannot calmly walk by another dog within 8′ – 10′ or be crated in the same area as other dogs do not generally make good candidates for camp.
- Puppies under 5 months of age cannot attend camp. Pups older than 5 months must be comfortable with crating in an unfamiliar environment, being crated away from their owner and be mentally mature enough to handle the stress of a multi-day camp. Older pups should be completely housebroken if attending camp. We cannot have housebreaking accidents in the camp owned facilities.
- Dogs that are reactive to PEOPLE cannot attend Camp. At Camp dogs will be exposed to many different strangers during classes and while living on the campus. Dogs are asked to work problems in close proximity (in particular – interiors) to other campers and staff members. All dogs must be able to tolerate quick movement, gesticulation, normal and repeated eye contact, vocal interaction, close proximity, and unplanned encounters from men and women. We cannot provide special accommodations for dogs that are not comfortable with all types of people in close proximity.
- This includes human reactive dogs that have acclimated to a class or private lesson situation but are still reactive with strangers, in strange situations, or react when under stress. Tolerance to people in a regular class or familiar situation is not a good indicator that a dog will do well at Camp. Again, the living and group training logistics of the Camp environment will often magnify issues or cause a regression in modified behavior.
- We cannot accommodate dogs that are human aggressive or have fear issues that may evoke a warning or an aggressive response.
- Dogs that threaten other dogs or humans, or are considered to be a perceived danger at camp to themselves or others will be asked to leave. No refunds will be offered if a dog is excused from participating in camp or asked to leave the camp grounds.
- Social Skills:
K9 Nose Work® Training Camps welcome dogs with a variety of social skills and needs. For the YMCA of the Rockies, Snow Mountain Lodge Camp location, ONLY working dogs with mild dog to dog reactivity that can be safely and comfortably managed in a stressful environment for multiple days and in close living and searching quarters are allowed. The Lodge has narrow corridors and your dog must be controllable when in sight of other dogs it may encounter. Reactive dogs will be housed among the other dogs in the lodge. We do not have exclusive use of the resort. This means that the general public, including children, may share space with our group. Non-working dogs must be friendly due to our lodging/housing situation. - All dogs must be kept on a two-foot leash walking next to their person in the lodges and six-foot leash unless in designated areas or working directly in a session with camp staff personnel (no moving dogs from one area to another on flexi-leads or long lines).
Dogs with human reactivity/aggression at any level cannot attend this camp.
Bringing a Dog into the United States
If you are traveling to the United States with your dog, please verify that your dog meets all the requirements to enter the US. The CDC rules changed August 1, 2024. Please visit the CDC website for more information.
We all want to have a pleasant experience; the success of this event will rely on everyone being diligent in complying with all the canine rules of engagement.
- All dogs must be able to be safely and humanely physically controlled by their registered handler.
- All dogs must be kept on a six foot leash unless in designated areas or working directly in a session with camp staff personnel (no moving dogs from one area to another on flexi-leads or long lines).
- Dogs must remain ON LEASH at all times… NO EXCEPTIONS. (except where noted)
- Dogs must be crate trained and able to be crated safely and quietly away from the handler.
- No dog/dog play or interaction will be permitted unless between two dogs residing in the same household.
- There will not be a Camp designated off leash or long line/flexi-lead exercise area for playing ball or swimming your dog at Colorado Camp. Off lead outside exercising must be done off camp property or you may go to the YMCA of the Rockies dog park as a guest of the YMCA. Dogs of Course does not condone the use of the YMCA dog park as there are inherent risks associated with public dog parks. The YMCA of the Rockies dog park is not part of Colorado Nose Work Camp.
- We ask that, regardless of how friendly your dog may be, you respect that not every dog is comfortable with other dogs approaching and may communicate their displeasure. Please ask permission before you let your dog approach or get too close to other dogs. Managing your dog is your direct responsibility. Participants that must be repeatedly reminded of camp rules about not allowing their dog to approach other dogs, or if their dog poses other safety concerns, may be dismissed from camp without refund.
- If you work a dog that does not do well in close proximity to other dogs or humans, you will need to evaluate carefully the appropriateness of camp for your dog. See above.
- Dogs that need space or react to dogs or are worried must wear a red bandana and have a bandana tied to her/his crate (or car) to help communicate the dog’s needs.
Female dogs with working spots in season will be permitted to participate in this camp. Additional dogs coming to camp as non-working companions can NOT be in season. If a registered working dog comes in season, the dog may participate if the camper agrees to the following rules:
- Dana Crevling/Camp must be notified in advance that you will have a female dog in season at camp or if you want to change dogs so we can prepare for you.
- Non-working dogs are NOT allowed at camp if in season.
- Owners must commute, have roommates that agree to dog being in same cabin, or have a single room. For housing questions, please discuss with Dana Crevling.
- Commuters must crate their dogs in their vehicles during lunch and lectures.
- Your dog must wear pants at all times except when toileting in designated areas.
- Expect to have a designated toilet area near your housing or vehicle if commuting.
- When possible, there may be designated toileting areas near search areas if a remote location is available. You may need to walk your female to a remote location or back to the cabin to toilet during class. Females in season cannot toilet in common areas that may be overly distracting for other dogs.
- Female dogs in season may be walked for exercise around the property but MUST be wearing PANTS at all times. You are welcome to exercise your dog off the property.
- Bring a sturdy crate(s) for your dog; your dog should not be left unattended in a room with other intact males present. A sturdy crate is best for training class crating as well to ensure an accident does not happen.
- Expect that your dog may need to run last in classes depending on your group dynamics.
- Please use common sense and courtesy for other campers and dogs that may be impacted by having a female in season at camp. This includes not “hanging around” in common areas or exercising in known search spaces during off hours with your dog etc.
- Campers that do not follow the rules may be asked to leave without refund.
- Dana Crevling reserves the right to adjust these policies as needed to ensure the smooth running of camp and with consideration for all campers.
See Cancellation and Refund section for all options including refunds.
We are working on having a local vendor-driven camp store, with fun Nose Work related items, for you and your dog. If you would like to sell items at Colorado Camp, please contact Dana before September 1, 2026, to discuss. Dogs of Course may bring some items if possible.
The shopping opportunities will be at designated times during free time/non-class time.
Cash and checks are always strongly encouraged. Bring multiple checks in case there are multiple vendors. Credit card payment may be limited due to WiFi conductivity or vendor preference.
At Dogs of Course events, we have a tradition of helping those less fortunate. To date, Dogs of Course has facilitated $475,000.00 in charitable donations! Most often the recipient is a dog-related charity or of humanitarian interest. Guidelines on how to participate will be announced in the final camper preparation letter.
We hope campers will support our selected charity by either donating a new item or participating in the raffle/auction.
Donations are by cash and checks only. Campers may write a check directly to the charity for a tax write-off.
This year’s charity is Morris Animal Foundation Since 1950, The Morris Animal Foundation has invested nearly $60 million in more than 1,220 canine health studies. They have contributed to early research that contributed to the parvovirus vaccine and development of genetic tests for heart diseases, eye diseases and seizure disorders. They are also at the forefront of funding cancer studies in dogs, including hemangiosarcoma, lymphoma and osteosarcoma.
NACSW™
10 CEUs for CNWIs
CCPDT
3.5 CEUs for working spot
2.5 CEUs for auditor
KPA-CTP
30 CEUs for working spots
30 CEUs for auditors
No video or audio taping of lectures, demonstrations or classes permitted. At the discretion of the instructor and facility, videotaping of your own dog may be allowed during runs but may not be posted on a public website such as You Tube, Facebook, etc. without permission. There may be some videotaping done by the staff or instructors for educational or promotional purposes if participants at the workshop have signed a photo/video release. Auditors and campers may NOT videotape other teams working unless they are videoing for the person working with her/his camera. Any approved videotaping is for personal use only.
Photography is welcome and encouraged at camp. Campers are encouraged to take still photographs at camp and post on social media. Before you post a photo of another person on social media, please be sure to have their permission.
This year our professional photographers are David Leer, CreekWalker Photography and Julia Back. David is well known for Nose Work photography in the Pacific Northwest and recently moved to Colorado. He and Julia will take photos of you working your dog and offer portraits.
COVID-19 (5/15/24 revision)
Due to ongoing COVID-19 and Flu concerns and our commitment to providing the safest environment possible, we need to let you know several things:
- Our goal is to provide a safe environment where we can all feel comfortable, and risk is minimized while still enjoying the camp experience.
- ALL participants must not have contracted COVID-19 within 7 days prior to coming to camp AND must be symptom free.
- ALL participants must not have been in contact with, living with, or exposed to any person with COVID-19 for at least 5 days prior to the start of camp.
- All Campers are encouraged to discuss vaccination and risks of attending Camp with their doctors. Vaccination is not required.
- These policies also apply to all other highly contagious illnesses that have health implications for the whole community. The specific number of days to be illness free may be adjusted depending on the specific illness.
- PCR testing or rapid testing 5 days and then one day prior to traveling to camp is encouraged.
- Campers should bring 2 rapid test kits with them to camp. One to use at registration in the presence of a staff member. The second rapid test should be saved to have available if needed while at camp.
- Campers will be required to take rapid tests and may have temperatures taken upon arrival at camp and/or during camp. Campers that test positive for COVID-19 and/or have a temperature will be asked to leave without refund. Campers that have other contagious illness either at registration or during camp may not participate in Camp and will be asked to leave immediately without refund.
- You will be required to sign a COVID/health waiver before coming to Camp stating that you do not currently have COVID-19, flu or other contagious illness and have not been in contact with or exposed to any person with COVID-19 in the past 5 days. Or if you are recovering from COVID-19, that you are symptom-free (other than loss of taste/smell) and were diagnosed with it at least 7 days before the arrival date.
- All Campers should be prepared to wear masks for interior searches depending on the level of COVID-19 in the area/country. Best to plan for them. We will be making decisions based on CDC guidelines and current outbreak levels. We will err on the side of caution.
- Social distancing may be encouraged and/or required in certain situations.
- By coming to camp, you will agree to cooperate with the rules or regulations set in place with regards to mask wearing, hand sanitizing, food handling, and other protocols. The host has the right to adjust procedures and protocols.
- Non-compliance may result in dismissal from Camp without a refund.
- By registering and attending Camp you fully understand that there is risk of contracting COVID-19, Flu or other contagious illnesses.
- By registering and attending Camp, you fully agree to accept the policies, and decisions made by the Camp Director or person acting as Director or given authority to make decisions and their interpretation of these or other related policies listed or not listed.
- Dogs of Course will make a reasonable effort to inform registered attendees of significant changes in this policy but is not responsible for guaranteeing the information is communicated. We will update this page as policies change.
See Cancellation and Refund section for COVID-19/Health specific refund policies.
Registration ends at 5:00pm ET on August 28, 2026, or when limit has been reached. Registration acceptance is subject to approval by the staff.
A $300 deposit or full payment is required at the time of registration. Please note that the non-refundable portion of your tuition is $200 for regular working group registration, logistics team members and auditors and $275 for Elite group registration. Full payment is due no later than 90 days prior to the start of camp – June 26, 2026.
Payment Options: You may pay via PayPal or check. Your registration will not be considered complete until we receive payment and approve your attendance. Registration is pending for check payment until received and processed and we approve your attendance.
Working spots are limited. All persons attending camp as non-working participants will be required to register as an Auditor. Due to the nature of this event no exceptions will be permitted for this camp.
Please read all information below along with the cancellation policy carefully (posted in next section) before registering.
Scroll to the bottom of page to register.
2026 Camp Tuition
Camp tuition covers all classes and activities with catered meal fees added. Lodging and dining hall meals are paid to the YMCA.
Lodging preference is not guaranteed. We have limited camp housing, so once the reserved rooms fill up, you will only be able to attend as a Commuter if we can’t get more rooms from the YMCA.
Anyone who is NOT staying at the Indian Peaks Lodge for a minimum of four (4) nights is considered a commuter; this includes any other housing on the YMCA of the Rockies property. Commuter rate applies to campers staying in any housing that is not designated for our group. The Commuter fee will cover meals, all training and other activities.
| Tuition (not including housing at Indian Peaks Lodge) |
before or on July 7, 2026 | after July 7, 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Working Spot – YMCA Indian Peaks Lodge Housing Working spot in 8 person group for campers staying at the Indian Peaks Lodge (NW camp reserved housing). Remember to make your lodging reservations within 5 days of registering for camp. |
$1,285 | $1,385 |
| Working Spot Elite – YMCA Indian Peaks Lodge Housing Includes extra $975 for 5 person group vs. 8. Elite group working spot for campers staying at the Indian Peaks Lodge (NW camp reserved housing). Remember to make your lodging reservations within 5 days of registering for camp. |
$2,185 |
$2,285 |
| Auditor Spot – YMCA Indian Peaks Lodge Housing Auditor spot for campers staying at the Indian Peaks Lodge (NW camp reserved housing). Remember to make your lodging reservations within 5 days of registering for camp. |
$600 | $700 |
| Helper – YMCA Indian Peaks Lodge Housing Logistics Team Members staying at the Indian Peaks Lodge (NW camp reserved housing). Includes 4 special working classes for your dog. Remember to make your lodging reservations within 5 days of registering for camp. Arrival 1 day before campers. Register only if you’ve been approved/accepted. Email Michele for information. |
$150 |
$150 |
|
Room/Accommodation and Commuter Options |
||
| YMCA Indian Peaks Lodge Housing For anyone staying at the Indian Peaks Lodge (NW camp reserved housing). Remember to make your lodging reservations within 5 days of registering for camp. |
+$0 | +$0 |
| Working Spot – Commuters and Other YMCA of the Rockies Lodging Anyone who is staying in any other housing at the YMCA of the Rockies that is not designated for our group (Indian Peaks Lodge is the only lodging designated for Camp) or staying off-site (commuting). The additional fee will cover camp meals, day pass, and the conference fees. |
+$400 | +$400 |
| Elite Working Spot – Commuters and Other YMCA of the Rockies Lodging Anyone who is staying in any other housing at the YMCA of the Rockies that is not designated for our group (Indian Peaks Lodge is the only lodging designated for Camp) or staying off-site (commuting). The additional fee will cover camp meals, day pass, and the conference fees. |
+$400 | +$400 |
| Auditor – Commuters and Other YMCA of the Rockies Lodging Anyone who is staying in any other housing at the YMCA of the Rockies that is not designated for our group (Indian Peaks Lodge is the only lodging designated for Camp) or staying off-site (commuting). The additional fee will cover camp meals, day pass, and the conference fees. |
+$400 | +$400 |
| Helper – Commuters and Other YMCA of the Rockies Lodging Anyone who is staying in any other housing at the YMCA of the Rockies that is not designated for our group (Indian Peaks Lodge is the only lodging designated for Camp) or staying off-site (commuting). The additional fee will cover camp meals, day pass, and the conference fees. |
+$400 | +$400 |
| RV Housing Not available at this camp. See RV policy for this camp. |
N/A | N/A |
| Additional Options and Fees | ||
| One additional dog (total of three dogs) You may bring up to two dogs to camp without an extra charge. Only for working participants; auditors cannot bring dogs. Please contact Dana if you need to bring more than 3 dogs for one working participant as this will limit housing options or your ability to be a camper. The YMCA will only allow 3 dogs total in a room or cabin (includes service dogs). |
+$90 | +$90 |
| Catered Meals Covers Welcome Dinner, Farewell Dinner, taxes and gratuities. Previous years this was included in the YMCA meal fees. This will be added to your order at check out. |
+$100 | +$100 |
| Linen Service Linens are included in your lodging fee |
N/A | N/A |
| Cleaning Fee $15/dog /night ($75 for 1 dog for a 5-days of camp) If you stay beyond the 5 days of camp, you will be charged $15/dog/night for each additional night. Campers staying in the family cabins on YMCA property will be charged $25/dog/night. Dog cleaning fee will be added to your YMCA of the Rockies lodging bill. |
YMCA will add to your bill | YMCA will add to your bill |
All cancellations must be sent to Dogs of Course and must be in writing. An acknowledgement of your cancellation will be emailed to you within 3 business days from Dogs of Course. Please keep a copy of the cancellation email for your records; your cancellation is not valid without this confirmation of receipt. K9 Nose Work® Training Camp and Dogs of Course are not responsible for cancellations that do not reach the office by the deadlines.
Please note that the non-refundable portion of your tuition is $200 for regular working group registration, logistics team members and auditors, and $275 for Elite group registration.
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY
This policy applies to participants that must withdraw for ANY reason, including but not limited to injury, illness, emergency, and personal or work-related reasons. This policy is without exception.
If you have concerns about the cancellation/refund policy, please consider researching “Trip/Travel Insurance” options independently.
(Updated 7/14/2026)
Refund Schedule:
- Cancellations received within 3 days of registration, full refund minus third party payment processing fees. If you change your mind about attending camp within 3 days of your registration, a full refund will be offered (minus third party payment processing fees).
- Cancellations received 60 days or more before the camp start date will be refunded in full less the $200 /$275 non-refundable, non-transferable (neither to another person nor camp, event, seminar), cancellation fee (minus third party payment processing fees).
- Cancellations received between 60 and 30 days of the camp start date, will be refunded 50% of the tuition after the $200/$275 non-refundable, non-transferable, cancellation fee is deducted (minus third party payment processing fees). If Dogs of Course obtains a qualified working team that meets the replacement qualifications (see below) either on our wait list or through Dogs of Course marketing search 30 days before the start of camp, tuition will be refunded in full less the $200/$275 fee as indicated in first bullet above. Campers will not be able to locate their own replacements. Campers may refer candidates to Dogs of Course to be placed on the wait list. All replacement campers must come from the camp wait list. Qualifications for replacement are: The dog may need to be working at the same level as the dog previously registered, the camper agrees to all policies and the team can fit the previously requested housing assignment or commute. LTM and Auditor will be refunded 50% of tuition after the $200 non-refundable, non-transferable, cancellation fee is deducted (minus third party payment processing fees).
- Due to the nature of running a dog training camp cancellations received 30 days or fewer before the camp start date will not receive a refund nor be eligible for the replacement option stated above.
- Each Nose Work® Camp is considered a “Single Event.” As such, registration for one camp cannot be transferred to a different camp. Changes from one camp location to another will be treated as a cancellation for the original camp registration per the above policy. At that time, the camper will be free to register for an alternate camp when camp registration opens for the public. There will be no “early bird” or “pre-registrations” allowed when cancelling one camp and wishing to enroll in an alternate camp.
COVID-19/Flu/Health Specific Refund Info:
(updated 5/15/24)
Due to the ever-changing national COVID-19 situation, it is difficult to anticipate what will be happening when camp runs. With the goal of providing a safe healthy environment to the best of our ability the following refund policy applies to all campers. We have done our best to come up with a refund policy based on current information that we feel is fair for both the camper who may have COVID-19 or another contagious illness, the other campers and staff, and Dogs of Course.
- Campers who get COVID-19 within 7 days of the start of Camp or are still symptomatic (other than sense of smell/taste), will be refunded in full minus the non-refundable deposit only if we are able to fill your spot from our current wait list.
- Campers who arrive at Camp and test positive and/or have a temperature at registration will not be refunded any portion of their tuition.
- Campers who get COVID-19 during camp will not be refunded any portion of their tuition.
- These refund policies also apply to all other highly contagious illnesses that have health implications for the whole community. The specific number of days to be illness free may be adjusted depending on the specific illness.
These policies may change depending on the current COVID-19 information and status. Dogs of Course will make a reasonable effort to inform registered campers of significant changes in this policy but is not responsible for guaranteeing the information is communicated. We will update this page as policies change.
Canine Health Specific Refund Info
(updated 11/27/23)
Due to the unpredictable and highly contagious nature of canine upper respiratory virus, canine flu, and kennel cough, in addition to any other type of contagious disease, we are instituting a refund policy to specifically address this health concern in order to protect dogs attending camp. The nature of the sport of nose work places a dog at higher risk because their noses are touching where other dogs’ noses have been and as well as the saliva left behind.
4 to 6 weeks before Camp: If your dog was exposed to, or contracted, any of the above viruses between 4 to 6 weeks from the start of camp, please follow the policy below.
- Your dog must be free of ALL symptoms and no longer deemed contagious at least TWO (2) weeks after the last occurrence of the symptoms have subsided.
- If your dog was exposed to, but never contracted, the virus during this time, your dog is free to attend.
- Your dog must be cleared by a vet and deemed safe to have nose-to-nose contact with other dogs.
- A veterinary note may be required based on the severity of the symptoms and the amount of time that has elapsed since the last symptom was noticed.
- If your dog does not meet this criteria, she/he will not be able to attend camp (nor will an alternate dog that is a housemate or exposed).
- We will refund you in full, less the non-refundable deposit, ONLY IF we can find a qualified replacement.
3 weeks and 6 days or fewer before Camp: If your dog was exposed to, or contracted, any of the above viruses between 3 weeks and 6 days before camp, please follow the policy below.
- If your dog contracts any of the above viruses or any other highly contagious disease within 3 weeks of the start of camp, we will refund you in full, less the non-refundable deposit ONLY IF we can find a qualified replacement. All dogs must be completely symptom free for at least 2 weeks before Camp.
- If your dog was exposed to any of the above viruses or any other highly contagious disease between 3 – 2 weeks of the start of camp and your dog never shows symptoms nor has been re-exposed to the virus, your dog may attend Camp.
- If your dog was directly exposed to any of the above viruses or any other highly contagious disease 2 weeks or less before the start of camp, your dog may not attend as it is possible the virus is incubating, and the dog could become sick or be carrying the virus. We will refund you in full, less the non-refundable deposit ONLY IF we can find a qualified replacement no later than 10 days before Camp starts.
- 9 days and less before camp, we will be unable to seek a replacement due to the nature of preparing for camp. No refund is available.
- A veterinary note may be required to receive a refund.
All campers and staff bringing dogs will be required to sign a waiver 7-10 days prior to the start of camp confirming that their dog(s) do not currently have, nor recently have had, one of the contagious canine illnesses.
Changing Attendance Levels:
- Campers may change from a working spot to auditing/logistics team member, from an Elite working spot to regular working spot, auditor, logistics team member, or from auditor to logistics team member, under the following guidelines:
- Changes received 60 days or more before the camp start date will be changed for a $25 administrative fee.
- For changes between 60 and 30 days, the camper will receive a refund of 50% of the difference between the two registration fees (minus third party payment processing fees).
- Due to the nature of running a dog training camp changes from a working spot to an auditor/logistics team member spot or to a lower tuition working spot received 30 days or fewer before the camp start date are not eligible to receive a refund.
- Campers with working spots that switch to auditing/logistics team member are subject to housing changes available to auditors. This may include switching from a single accommodation to multiple occupancy or require commuting.
“No Shows” and Leaving Early:
- Campers that leave early for their own reasons or are “No-shows” will not receive a refund.
- Participants asked/required to leave the event/property by the camp director or lead instructors will not be refunded any part of the tuition.
- Reasons for dismissal from camp may include, but are not limited to:
- Dogs that are disruptive to other campers, dogs, the staff, or the facility
- Dogs that exhibit aggression deemed unmanageable/unsafe by the staff for the camp environment
- Dogs that cannot be safely managed and/or trained by their handler
- Unresolved camper conflict, disruptive or inappropriate behavior
- Rule non-compliance
- Health issues, either canine or human, that may impact or endanger other dogs or campers. See COVID specific policies.
- Health issues that negatively impact the dog’s emotional, mental or physical well being
- Reasons for dismissal from camp may include, but are not limited to:
Force Majeure:
- No part of the tuition fee will be refunded if the camp cannot take place or be completed by reason of fire, civil disturbances, an Act of God, public emergency, or any other cause beyond the control of the camp organizers.
Options for Female Working Dogs in Season only:
- Dana Crevling/Camp must be notified in advance that you will have a female dog in season at camp so we can plan accordingly.
- Option 1) Working dogs that come into season are allowed if the camper agrees to specific rules. See Females in Season section.
- Option 2) Bring a different qualified dog working at the same level
- Option 3) Switch to auditor registration and receive a refund for 50% of the difference between the two registration fees (minus third party payment processing fees).
- Option 4) The camper can cancel and be reimbursed per the general policy.
- If a non-working dog comes into season the person must leave the dog home and will be reimbursed the additional dog fee (if applicable) minus a $25 admin fee or if the camper cancels the general refund policy above will apply.
This policy applies to participants that must withdraw for ANY reason, including but not limited to injury, illness, emergency, and personal or work-related reasons. This policy is without exception.
If you have concerns about the cancellation/refund policy, please consider researching “Trip/Travel Insurance” options independently for your protection.
YMCA of the Rockies Snow Mountain Ranch
1101 County Road 53
Granby, CO 80446
800-777-9622
From Denver International Airport (Drive time: 1.5 – 2 hours)
Driving Directions to Snow Mountain Ranch from Denver International Airport:
•Follow Pena Blvd towards I-70 follow for 9.8 miles then merge onto I-70 West.
•Take 1-70 West 52.5 miles to Exit #232 (US 40 to Empire/Granby)
•Travel over Berthoud Pass and through the town of Winter Park approx 45 miles.
•Snow Mountain Ranch’s entrance is 12 miles past Winter Park on the left (west) side of the US 40.
•Follow the road approximately 1 mile and check in at the Administration Building on your left.
For current weather and road conditions, please check: IsBerthoudPassOpen.com and CO Trip
Airport: Denver International Airport
Vehicle Rentals: If you are flying and renting a vehicle, you should consider an SUV/4 wheel drive vehicle. There can be snow in October and the mountain passes are more safely navigated with the proper vehicle.
Questions? Contact Dana Crevling at Crevling@dogsofcourse.com
Get a feel for what happens at camp by watching these sample slide shows.
2017 Georgia K9 Nose Work Camp Slide Show
2018 Colorado K9 Nose Work Camp Slide Show
“This was our first time at camp. We were blown away with all we learned and experienced. The instructors were a wealth of knowledge and experience. We would definitely attend camp again.” D.S. GA
“…a memorable and enriching experience – from working sessions to lectures to building and maintaining camaraderie!” J.M. GA
“It was, literally, the most stimulating nose work educational experience I’ve ever had…” J.C. OR
“As an ANWI, Camp was invaluable. Being able to watch so many different instructors work with so many teams as students, watching the problems they set up for the teams, seeing how they coached in all different styles… I came away with so much information on how to teach. As a competitor, I now have a new way of looking at my training, new insights into the whole ‘culture’ of the NACSW way of approaching scent work. “Trust your dog”, “It depends”, all mean a lot more to me than before camp. AND – it was so much fun to meet other instructors, competitors and people from all over the world, who just want to explore their bond with their dogs.” M.K.
If you have questions about whether you and/or your dog qualify for camp or other concerns, please contact Michele via the email link. Click here to email Michele.