An accident that injured an Outward Bound instructor last week during a camp for grieving children caused the cancellation of the last of three summer sessions this year, which was to start Aug. 7.
“We need to be very cautious in going forward because the health and well-being of these kids is a priority,” said Brian Griese , the former Denver Broncos quarterback who founded Judi’s House for grieving children in 2002.
Judi’s House works in collaboration with Outward Bound on the Heroic Journey outdoor program, a week-long summer camp in Colorado for kids coping with death of a loved one. The camp combines Outward Bound activities with grief counseling.
On July 5, an Outward Bound instructor setting up for a rock climb was rapelling down from the cliff when she fell and was injured.
The students were near, but not actively involved in the climbing.
“We anticipated great deal of challenge from them,” said Amy Saxton, spokeswoman for Outward Bound.
Saxton said Judi’s House and Outward Bound met with the students and accessed them individually. Two of the 30 camp participants elected to go home after the accident.
Griese said the final camp was canceled because there wasn’t enough time to process the accident of July 5, and also prepare for the camp of Aug. 7.
“We want to go through everything with Outward Bound,” said Griese. “We have to process what happened, why it happened, and how we reacted. We have to evaluate everything involved with the program.”
Mark Vermeal, Outward Bound’s vice president for safety, said in a statement that the techniques used by instructors are different from those of students.
“All students on this climbing route are belayed from below, under direct supervision of one or more instructors,” he said. “The accident involved an instructor descending from the top of the wall, using different techniques and apparatus than we use when students are engaged.”
Griese said all students scheduled for the canceled camp will be reimbursed for any expenses, and their names will go to the top of the list for next year’s enrollment.
Meanwhile, Outward Bound has invited each student who was enrolled in the canceled session to participate in a traditional seven-day Outward Bound course for free, from now and Aug. 31, 2012.
Colleen O’Connor: 303-954-1083 or coconnor@denverpost.com
