Protecting Kid-Centric Outdoor Education Center
Stone Canyon Outdoor EdVentures steps up camper safety and security with Axis dome, panoramic, and thermal cameras. Axis license plate readers installed at the gates help identify anyone entering the property.
Learning about the Great Outdoors
Stone Canyon Outdoor EdVentures, nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, is an outdoor education center that encourages children to explore nature and science beyond the classroom. Run by the Douglas County School District in Colorado, the 99-acre camp offers a varied curriculum to build camper confidence, curiosity, and respect for the environment.
During the school year, district elementary and middle school students come to Stone Canyon for three-day educational retreats. In the summer, the center runs weeklong overnights for campers. When school retreats and summer camp aren’t in session, the public can rent the property for their own events.
“Much of our programming takes place outside,” explains Jolee Jones, Director of Organizational Development and Experiential Learning for Douglas County School District. “There are rope courses, ziplines and rock-climbing mountains for kids to test their skills and overcome their fears. Some kids might be learning to build campfires, while others are hunting for life forms down by the creek, conducting science experiments in the field, or swimming in the reservoir.”
Making the outdoor space safe
Even though Stone Canyon is relatively isolated, there have been times when outsiders and wildlife have wandered onto the property. “Keeping our kiddos safe in that outdoor space is really important,” states Jones. “Though our director and instructors stay in touch with one another via two-way radio, it’s difficult for them to monitor the area while staying engaged with the students and campers.”
That’s when Convergint, a global systems integrator and Axis partner, took action through the company’s Step-Up program. “Through the STEP Up program, Convergint has worked with schools around the world to provide free interior and exterior security system installations, security upgrades, and security assessments,” states Chad Ferguson, Convergint Regional Business Development Manager for State and Local Education. “We work with partners such as Axis to assist with the project. Since 2018, Convergint and its partners have contributed to over 115 schools across the US.”
Convergint installed nearly two dozen Axis dome and panoramic cameras throughout the property to keep watch over camper cabins and the base camp that houses the kitchen, dining hall and classroom area, as well as staff offices. The cameras link to a Genetec video management system for easy surveillance of the property.
“Since we don’t have the manpower to sit and watch cameras all day, our school district’s security team in Castle Rock monitors the cameras 24/7 for us,” shares Jones. “If they see something, they immediately call us on the radio or the phone and let us know. Then the director hops on the computer and calls up the cameras to get clarity on the situation.”
“We also installed two Axis license plate recognition cameras at Stone Canyon’s main entry gate,” shares Chad Ferguson. “They keep an audit log of who comes in and out of the property.”
Protecting a new radio tower
Another decision was to put eyes on the property’s new radio tower erected by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office. The tower enhances radio transmission within the center and between Stone Canyon and local law enforcement.
“Good radio communication is essential to Stone Canyon operations,” says Ferguson. “Considering that most activity happens outdoors, it’s especially important to protect a valuable asset that helps staff stay apprised of things like lightning strikes and other weather fronts moving in.”
Convergint chose an AXIS Q19 Thermal Camera device for the site to detect and analyze the heat signature of intruders – whether human or animal. The camera can also alert security to temperature variances on the tower structure itself that might indicate a problem.
Keeping an eye on bears and wandering campers
“Having extra eyes on the areas where kids are spending the majority of their time has been really, really helpful,” declares Jolee Jones. “We’re grateful that we can give campers and staff a level of security similar to what we have in our schools.”
With mountains in the backdrop and prairieland and forest within its borders, Jones appreciates the ability to spy on the local wildlife. “When we know there’s a bear in the area, we can check the cameras to see the direction it went and alert staff to its path,” explains Jones.
That ability to track a target’s path has come into play with campers as well. “Occasionally you get a runner,” remarks Jones. “This past summer, we had a kid take off. He was fast! And staff lost eyes on him.”
Fortunately, the assistant director was able to pull up the cameras and follow the boy, letting staff know by radio that he was heading towards the front gate. Staff hopped into a utility vehicle and were able to reach him before he could leave the area. “That kind of access to what’s happening day-to-day is incredibly important to us,” declares Jones.
The benefits of a protective umbrella
“In a remote location like ours it’s inevitable that unexpected things pop up,” says Jones. “We’ve only just begun to explore all the safety and security possibilities that the Axis cameras afford us and local law enforcement.”
By installing a network of cameras and leveraging advanced technologies like thermal imaging and license plate recognition, Stone Canyon Outdoor EdVentures has significantly enhanced the safety and security of its students, staff, and visitors, providing peace of mind for everyone involved.
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