Summer Camps
The Relevance of Summer Camp Today... Now perhaps more than ever, children need connection with the natural world and with other people in a positive community. Recent studies show that these connections and outdoor free play contribute to young people's healthy emotional and physical development, success in school and in getting along with others. Children need to understand their place in nature in order to move into the future with an understanding of living sustainably. And experiencing community is essential for working together with others to develop compassion and meaning in their lives.
Philosophy... The Colorado Mountain Ranch believes in the value of confidence-building outdoor summer activity for children. The Outdoor Adventure experience is an opportunity to learn, grow and have fun.
Values... Respect for self, others, and the earth; Growth physically, mentally, emotionally, socially - the foundations for academic and personal success; Community... belonging as a valued member of a healthy community; Nature... Immersing; Friendship... Caring and Sharing; Fun... Action, Adventure and Play
Goals... The Colorado Mountain Ranch offers outdoor activities with qualified instruction emphasizing enjoyment and personal skill development. The Colorado Mountain Ranch strives to provide opportunities for children to build skills physically, mentally and socially; to gain understanding and build relationships with self, others and nature; to connect with Place, People and Programs.
A Sense of Place... A feature of The Colorado Mountain Ranch Summer Camp is that it is really a Camp in every way. Not only are there a Camp Song, Camp Spirit, Camp Traditions, Camp Staff in residence for the summer, but there is a true sense of Camp being a Special Place. The land. Outdoors. In the mountains. With forests and wildflower meadows, Weather Hill, the Amphitheatre, the Campfire ring, the Challenge course, the corrals and the Barn, the Lodge, arts and crafts shop, Mountainboarding Course, Archery range, the Fort shelter in the woods (built and maintained by campers year after year), the Council Fire, the Ponderosa, Blue Spruce, Columbine and Arapahoe cabins for sleeping on overnights... Connection to this beautiful home-base in the mountains gives children a comfortable sense of belonging, a foundation from which to build skills and relationships, a place to call their own.
People... The Walker Family... Mike, Lynn, and Gail, the owners and administrators of The Colorado Mountain Ranch, are lifetime youth workers and educators. Kate, Josie and Rosie Walker are now third generation work team. Read About Us
And Our Amazing Staff... Many on our summer staff come from different states and some from the far corners of the world. All staff members live at The Ranch for the season and create a home-away-from-home atmosphere for themselves and each of the children. Many are teachers or students specializing in education
and recreation. Counselors are selected on the basis of abilities,
enthusiasm, creativity, sincerity, sensitivity, and commitment to
guiding children toward their full potential. Before being hired, they are each personally interviewed by the directors who also validate both written and verbal references from past employers and others who are knowledgeable about their character, qualifications and ability to care for children. Background checks are thorough.
Staff Training... Before summer camp programs begin, staff members participate in a one-week round-the-clock training covering The Colorado Mountain Ranch policies and procedures, team-building, child abuse laws, specific skill trainings, discipline and child development. In addition to the staff orientation, we also provide ongoing in-service trainings in leadership and topics relevant for child care workers and outdoor educators. Usually 2/3 of the staff are returnees each summer. The staff and campers all become Ranch Family who build friendships which often endure for life.
Staff to Child Ratio... Our overall staff ratio is one to five, providing each child with a high level of individual attention. Groups number 8-12. Instructors present a program of progressive instruction in each area. Staff gives encouragement, inspiration, friendship, and guidance. Safety comes first!
Programs!... Since 1947, The Walker Family has provided quality summer camping experiences for boys and girls 7-16. Today's Day Camp highlights both Full Mountain Adventure programs for Boulder youth ages 7-13 and specialty Focus Camps for ages 10-16, and Water focus for all ages. The Colorado Mountain Ranch offers confidence-building activities supervised and instructed with a positive approach aimed toward successful skill-building, passionate learning and FUN!
Fun Activities... include Western riding, horse and animal care, mountainboarding, swimming, gymnastics and trampoline, arts and crafts, archery, Native American Indian Lore, dramatics, music, dance, Frisbee golf, nature, fire ecology and environmental appreciation, outdoor living skills, hiking, camping, tracking, green experiences in sustainable living, sports and games, teen leadership, problem-solving team challenges on the ropes course, and "Eat Real" experiences in organic high-altitude gardening, foraging, goat-milking and cooking. Optional weekly overnights and campouts round out each week. Bus transportation is provided to and from Boulder.
Adventure!... The Colorado Mountain Ranch offers one of the most extensive and well-rounded Day Camp programs available anywhere. The entire staff lives at The Ranch, creating a community of enthusiastic, qualified, caring people dedicated to making your child part of The Colorado Mountain Ranch Family. Children in the Day Camp have the opportunity for outdoor fun, education and recreation in the Colorado Rockies. We are at an elevation of 8,500', ten miles west of Boulder and a quarter-mile west of Gold Hill.
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Friends!... Groups number 8-12, with a group counselor who is always with the group, giving encouragement, inspiration, friendship, and guidance. Specialized activity directors present a program of progressive instruction in each area. Campers who participate for several weeks or longer may more fully, explore each activity, develop skills and build relationships.
Honors ... At the end of each week, we all gather for an "honoring ceremony" full of camp songs and sharing. All campers are acknowledged for their efforts and accomplishments. Some campers may earn Camp Archery Association target awards and swimming cards. Counselors-in-Training (CIT's) receive documents for volunteer community service. The Colorado Mountain Ranch programs are licensed by the Colorado State Department of Social Services.
Full Mountain Adventure Camp - for Ages 7-13
The perfect choice if your child would like to be involved in our whole array of camp activities. Our programs are specifically geared to individual ability levels for ages 7-13. Regular highlights include horseback riding, mountainboarding, team-building ropes course challenges, arts and crafts, dramatics, Native American Indian Lore, gymnastics and trampoline, archery, nature, outdoor living skills, experiences in sustainability, yoga, "Eat Real," and traditional games and sports. (There are no TV's or computers available for use by the children.)
Focus Camps - for Ages 10-16
and Water! Focus for ages 7-16
Focus Camps, for ages 10-16, give the opportunity to specialize in one of the focus areas for a half day every day. The other half of the day includes team-building challenges and choices from all the other Fun Activities listed above. Focus Camps include: Horses! Gymnastics and Trampoline! Mountainboarding! Trailblazers! Earth! Frolf! (Disc golf with frisbees) Water! and CIT's! (Counselor-in-Training for Teenagers). The Water! Focus Camp extends to all ages, 7-16, and includes pool and lake swimming, boating, stream and lake wading, water ecology and explorations.