Kiddie Kamps Klosed!

Not quite as bad as Kamp Krusty ("Dear Mom and Dad, Our nature hikes have become grim death marches . . ."), but fairly bad:

About 40 girls and boys staying at the Rocky Mountain Education Center near Bailey were evacuated last night to the Platte Canyon High School gym after methamphetamine was discovered at the camp.

The kids were moved after trace amounts of methamphetamines were discovered in three buildings at the camp owned by National Farmers Union, said Clay Peterson, the union's administrative vice president.

Farmers: drug-abusing freaks, every one of 'em.

In April, the Park County Sheriff's Office arrested the camp's caretaker, James Higday, for possession of a firearm by a previous offender, Peterson said. Court records indicate Higday was also charged with drug possession at that time.

The union had done a criminal background check on Higday — who was fired at the time of his arrest for performance-related issues — before they hired him, Peterson said.

"It would be safe to say" Higday would not have been hired a year ago had the union known about his past criminal background, Peterson said.

It would be safe to say.

One canister with meth in it was found in the trailer home on camp property where Higday lived with his wife. Traces were also found in the A-frame building that housed the camp kitchen and in a home on camp property, Peterson said.

Meanwhile, at Camp Chief Ouray:

Norovirus has shut down a YMCA camp in Grand County for the rest of the week after 72 campers and 15 staff members fell ill.

About 180 other children, ages 8 to 17, were sent home two days early from Camp Chief Ouray near Rocky Mountain National Park Wednesday, with the others quarantined for 24 hours until the flu-like stomach virus subsides.

Norovirus is often associated with cruiseships and other confined public facilities, such as schools and hospitals. Highly contagious, the stomach virus causes one- or two-day bouts of vomiting, diarrhea and cramps.

Camp Chief Ouray, operated by YMCA of the Rockies, will be closed for sanitizing in time for the next camp session to begin on June 29, said YMCA spokeswoman Lori Van Horn.

Update: Episode 401: "Kamp Krusty" (Kamp Krusty--where they serve only Krusty Brand Imitation Gruel!).

Update II: Every day should be a Higday.