“‘Mom, this camp rocks! Thanks so much for sending me here!‘ Thank you so much for providing M with ‘the best summer of his life.’ You and your team have provided M with so many important qualities and lesions in a very fun environment.”
— S.K.
parent
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 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.
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.
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 (built and maintained by campers year after year), the Council Fire, the Ponderosa, Blue Spruce, Columbine and Arapahoe cabins for 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.
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.
Gail is the Executive Office Manager and Director and also works with the Boulder Valley Schools during the school year.
.JPG "Mike")
Mike
manages the Ranch Mountain Facility and the Horses year-round. He is
also the guy who can fix anything from electrical to plumbing to wood
and metal construction.
Lynn was hired by Coach Walker in 1970 as a counselor for the little girls' group, has degrees from CU in Psychology and Sociology, and holds an American Montessori Directress certificate. Today she focuses on CMR Staff and Program Development.
Kate works with Gail in the office, managing accounting and supplies.
Josie
(on right) helps Lynn with off-season staff and parent communications and Mike
with large equipment operation and general maintenance. During the
summer season she is a counselor and manages the Arts and Crafts and
Native American Indian Lore programs.
Rosie (on left) apprentices with Mike as horse manager and Western riding instructor and also assists in the office.
Our Staff... Many of our summer staff come from different states. Most live at The Ranch 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 interviewed by one of the directors and must provide 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 six-day-and-evening 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. Over half the staff are returnees each summer. The Staff and Campers all become Ranch Family each summer.
Staff to Child Ratio... Our overall staff ratio is one to six, which provides 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
Fun!... Since 1947, The Walker Family has provided quality summer camping experiences for boys and girls 7-16. Today's Day Camp highlights both 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!
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 and environmental appreciation, outdoor living skills, hiking, camping, tracking, green experiences in sustainable living, sports and games, teen leadership and problem-solving team challenges on the ropes course. 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.
.JPG "Happy kids at The Colorado Mountain Ranch")
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 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) are awarded documents for volunteer community service. The Colorado Mountain Ranch programs are licensed by the Colorado State Department of Social Services.
Mountain Adventure Camp
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, and Traditional Games and Sports. (There are no TV's or computers available for use by the children.)
Focus Camps
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 activities. Focus Camps include: Horses! Gymnastics and Trampoline! Mountainboarding! Trailblazers! Earth! Frolf! (Disc golf with frisbees) and CIT's & Beyond! (Counselor-in-Training for Teenagers). The new Water! Focus Camp extends to all ages, 7-16, and includes pool and lake swimming, boating, stream and lake wading and explorations.