Employment Opportunities
Live and Work in the Mountains this Summer!
Since 1947, Colorado Mountain Ranch campers sing “You’re the Best in All the World!” for Camp Spirit and the winning Place, People, and Programs! Work outdoors with children and build community with a congenial team.
Why? Colorado Mountain Ranch is a special place where people connect for outdoor active fun. Our staff develops into a close-knit residential community of people who enjoy staying active outdoors in the mountains and working with children. On weekdays, we serve a general population of 7-17 year-olds in our Day Camp programs, with a one-night-a-week children's overnight. Evenings and weekends, we meet, plan, share, and entertain groups for retreats, weddings, and team-building Challenge ropes course experiences.
Summer 2013 offers eleven weeks of children's programs, June 3 - August 16. All new applicants must be available to commit to be in residence with us as counselors and instructors starting May 28, 2013. This arrival date is non-negotiable for new staff members. The summer season concludes August 19, 2013 (although in special circumstances this date may be negotiable for an earlier departure).
Our ideal candidate. Qualities we look for in our staff include a positive attitude, enthusiasm, good judgment and reliability. Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities are necessary. Our staff must be personable, highly energetic, safety-minded, honest, sincere and willing to work hard for rewards beyond financial gain. Staff must stay physically and mentally active and alert. We embrace a Native American philosophy of respect for self, others, nature and stewardship of the Earth. Everyone helps with daily support crews, general maintenance, construction and other work projects. Our clientele expect confident personal presentation and a neat and clean appearance.
Room and board. Benefits include living in bunkhouse-style cabins and good hearty home-made meal served all-you-can eat buffet style!
Other perks. Staff members receive laundry service, leadership training, future personnel references, and the opportunity to make good friends and to create, contribute and serve in a cooperative, active, supportive, outdoor mountain community with children. Organized fun outings for staff occur throughout the summer. Wifi is at least intermittent.
Getting here and getting around. On arrival and departure days, we provide transportation to and from the Denver Airport, bus and train stations. Public transportation systems in Boulder and Denver are good. Some staff members bring their own vehicles, and are usually generous with ride share.
One of our newer programs is the Water! Focus Camp, for all ages of campers from 7-15. Each day includes a half-day outing to Water. Our lifeguards and swimming instructors will coach Water! Focus Campers for a half day each day as they practice swim strokes, style, strength and safety at local Boulder swimming pools or at nearby lakes and streams. There are Boating Outings for lake kayaking, too!
The Earth! program features experiences in sustainable living, such as daily recycling, using alternative power such as wind and solar energy systems, -experimenting with small-scale organic agriculture, fire ecology, construction using renewable resources, and exploring the benefits of various methods of transportation. Frolf! features lots and lots of Frisbee golf, also known as Disc Golf.
Our staff is instrumental in creating and implementing every aspect of Ranch programs, activities, construction projects, food service, facility use and maintenance. We are looking for a few high-spirited, multi-talented and skilled people to join our team and help with all aspects of the overall operations of The Ranch.
DATES AND BENEFITS. Staff applicants must be at least 18 and able to commit to reside and work at The Ranch for the minimum time of May 28 to August 19, which includes training week and the weeks of our children's program sessions. Wranglers arrive May 27; Bus Driver Trainees arrive May 22. Arrival dates are non-negotiable. Applicants will be considered for times contiguous with these dates, from May 20 through November 1, 2013. We work 6 days and 4 evenings each week. Salaries range from $150 to $250 per week plus room and board. There is no allowance for transportation. Staff members live at The Ranch in separate male and female bunkhouse-style dormitory cabins. In addition to salary and room and board, staff members receive laundry service, leadership training, future personnel references, and the opportunity to make good friends and to create, contribute and serve in a cooperative, active, supportive, outdoor mountain community with children.
THE 2013 SUMMER at The Colorado Mountain Ranch blends camp tradition, innovation and a proactive future. CMR is unique because the staff is all in residence as a camp community offering Summer Day Camp programs for children. In September of 2010, the Fourmile Fire swept through part of the Ranch, burning a number of acres of forest and buildings. Our new barn, built in the spring of 2011, graces our extended meadow. Rebuilding continues with plans in the works for a new Activities Building for Gymnastics and Challenge and further enrichment of new programs such as the fire ecology program, primitive skills, children's yoga, and Eat Real!
Be ready to commit to making The Ranch successful in providing a rewarding mountain experience for yourself and others.
Job Descriptions
- Children's Activity Instructors - Teach instructional progressions in relation to each child's ability and development in the following areas: Western Horseback Riding (Wrangler); Mountainboarding; Arts and Crafts; Archery; Swimming (Lifeguard, WSI); Lake Kayaking, Low Ropes Course (Initiatives, Team-building and Challenges); Gymnastics and Trampoline; Frolf, Nature Awareness, Outdoor Living Skills, Camping, Hiking, Tracking, Native American Indian Lore, Sustainability, Ecology, Teen Leadership.
- Wranglers - Teach Western riding, natural relationship with horses, bridling, saddling, horse and animal care, breeds and colors; lead instructional and trail rides and games on horses; feed and care for all animals and keep corrals, barn and tack clean and serviceable.
- Children's Group Counselors - Lead and guide groups and assist with programs.
- Nanny – Care for our family’s lively and lovable three-year-old girl.
- Office - Public and staff relations, accounting, telephone and computer.
- Drivers - Transport clientele in vans and busses.
- Kitchen Manager and Head Chef - Plans and serves regular well-balanced meals to staff three meals and snacks every day, to children three meals a week and snacks daily, and gourmet meals for wedding receptions. Also: plans menus, orders supplies, manages other kitchen and dining room staff.
- Kitchen Assistants - Help with cooking, food prep, buffet management, table setting, serving, dish and pan washing, overall clean-up and maintenance of the dining room, kitchen and food storage areas.
- Maintenance - General upkeep of all systems -- mechanical, electrical, automotive, plumbing and repair. Loading, hauling, landscaping, set-up and cleanup.
- Construction - Carpentry, sheetrock, doors, windows, roofing, welding.
To Apply...
If you are interested in joining our great group of workers for the summer, please download and print the following:
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Staff Application Package
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Reference Form
- Complete and return the Application to us by fax, U.S. Mail or scan and email.
- Contact those who are familiar with your work with children, other work abilities and character. Ask your references (we need at least three) to call us, email us, and/or download, print, complete and return the reference form. We need all of your experience with children documented by your supervisor - signed, dated and sent to us by fax, U.S. Mail or scanned and emailed. Our online form may be used. If you are applying for wrangler, ropes course facilitator, gymnastics, or hiking and camping, we need documentation of your pertinent experience from others.
- Please call us for a telephone interview and to check on the status of your application.