2015 Ranch Camp Brochure

ranch camp

defy limits, define yourself www.ranchcamp.org

L’DOR V’DOR, FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION Since 1953, JCC Ranch Camp has established a strong tradition of community that is built around and devoted to our campers. It is a place where life-long friendships are born, Jewish identities are discovered and nourished, and children are challenged to grow in mind, body and spirit.

OUR MISSION JCC Ranch Camp is committed to providing a resident camping experience for youth that enables campers, staff and families to strengthen their Jewish identity, become more caring and responsible members of society, and connect with the natural world.

In fulfilling its mission, the JCC Ranch Camp provides: • Innovative learning opportunities for children and staff members in an environment that challenges growth in mind, body, and spirit.

• A safe place for children to be cared for by qualified professionals, with a commitment to safety, supervision, customer service and Judaic programming.

• Opportunities for children and adults to experience a nurturing community based on Judaic values.

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RANCH PROGRAM DEFY LIMITS RANCH PROGRAM Entering Grades 3-7 The Ranch Program, the flagship of the Ranch Camp, is jam-packed with non-stop highenergy fun from the minute campers wake up in the morning until long after the sun goes down! Through familiar activities and those they never even dreamed they might try, campers test their personal limits.

MINI CAMP Entering Grades 2-4 Our youngest campers attend a 7 or 12-day session to ease their first transition from home to camp. They become familiar with the rhythm and flow of camp life and prepare for the full Ranch Camp experience.

Activity Offerings:

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DEFINE YOURSELF Want to take another dip in the pool? Tackle a new element on the challenge course?

Spend some extra time upping your mountain biking level? How about fort building, learning how to lead Shabbat services, outdoor-cooking or a weeklong art project...the choice is yours!

Every afternoon, campers customize their camp experience by choosing the activities they want to do. This is a chance to develop a wide range of skills and to meet people from around the camp community. Chuggim (Free Choice) allows your camper to define themselves by choosing the experiences that mean the most to them.

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EQUESTRIAN @EQA CAMP Entering Grades 5-9 We take pride in offering one of the nation’s most extensive equestrian programs to be found in a Jewish setting. Approximately 40 horses are housed at the Ranch Camp each summer. All campers receive exceptional instruction in western riding. Our American Association of Horsemanship Safety (AAHS) certified and experienced instructors teach riders in our riding arenas, and as they ride the trails on the camp’s 400 acres. Each EQ camper is assigned his or her own horse for the entire session!

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TEEN ADVENTURE CAMPS EIGHTH GRADE RANCH Entering Grade 8 This special twist for eighth gradersis an opportunity to embark on a 4-day journey away from camp. , Highlights: 4-Day backpacking trip, experience Colorado s Great Sand Dunes National Park, and learn foundational survival, outdoor cooking and camping skills.

TASC (TEEN ADVENTURE + SERVICE CORPS) Entering Grades 9-10 During this program, ’TASCers’ embark on an 8-10 day outdoor trek full of fun, laughter and personal challenges that teach campers about leadership and independence.

Highlights: 6 to 8-Day backpacking trip, meaningful community service project, thrilling day of white water rafting, and relaxing day at the hot springs.

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TEEN ADVENTURE CAMPS ROCK N’ RIDE Entering Grades 7-9 This high adrenaline specialty program is for those who love the outdoors, cruising down single track bike trails and climbing high on some classic Colorado sport climbs! Rock n' Ride campers journey away from camp for a 10-day excursion, experiences some of Colorado's most beautiful terrain.

Highlights: Highlights: 10-day biking and climbing excursion, base camping near amazing bike trails and climbing sites, gain technical and mechanical biking and climbing skills, and a relaxing day at the hot springs.

PACK N’ RIDE Entering Grades 8-10 Ranch Camp offers a horse pack trip for our horse-crazy campers who have spent at least one summers with us in the EQ Program and who are entering grades 8-10. With the leadership of qualified Ranch Camp Wranglers and a licensed outfitter guide, campers will spend their days riding, exploring, and camping in the beautiful mountains of Colorado on horseback.

Highlights: 10-day excursion with a 6-day horse pack trip, small group riding lessons with individualized riding instruction, meaningful community service project, and a relaxing day at the hot springs.

TEEN VILLAGE Entering Grade 10 This intense, life-changing four-week program takes teens on the ultimate tiyul n’oded (nomadic journey). The Teen Village teen tour is a 28-day session featuring a 21-day trip full of challenging adventures designed to instill confidence, nurture independence and develop leadership skills.

Highlights: Cayoneering, Royal Gorge white water rafting, multiple community service projects, 10-day backpacking trip, learn advanced outdoor and backpacking skills, music and cultural festivals, 24-hour solo, rock climbing, fishing, experience Judaism and Shabbat outdoors.

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STAFF TRAINING CAMPS WIT (WRANGLER-IN-TRAINING) PROGRAM Entering Grades 10-11 The Wrangler-in-Training (WIT) program is a hands-on training program to develop leadership skills in our equestrian programs. Our goal is to provide high quality learning opportunities that provide participants with the types of experiences and skills that will enable them to be successful wranglers and riding instructors at Ranch Camp or any other camp of their choosing. Application program.

SIT (STAFF-IN-TRAINING) PROGRAM Entering Grade 11 The Staff-in-Training (SIT) program is a hands-on training program to develop leadership skills in the camp setting. Application program.

OUR SITE Over the past 10 years, we have invested over three million dollars in updating and , improving our facility while staying true to our site s rich history. All camp buildings are located within a central area and are surrounded by a sprawling acreage of pine forests, which provide spots for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, camping, and exploring. The facility includes a corral that houses over 40 horses during the summer, providing for one of the best equestrian programs to be found in a Jewish camp setting nationwide.

JCC Ranch Camp also offers a heated outdoor swimming pool, a technical rock climbing wall, a low-elements ropes course, a high-elements challenge course and zip line, a sports field and basketball court, nature and crafts center, and miles and miles of beautiful trails on our 400-acre ranch.

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OUTDOOR JEWISH LIVING In addition to our programmed activities, the Ranch Camp strives to connect children ---mind, body and spirit ---to their Jewish heritage, Jewish community and to the natural world around them. The Ranch Camp provides children with spiritual and innovative Jewish programming, including: • • • • • • •

Kabbalat Shabbat services in our outdoor amphitheatre Saturday morning services in our sanctuary in the forest Havdallah under star-lit skies An ongoing commitment to hiring Israeli staff Spirited song sessions Israeli music, dance, and culture A supervised kosher camp kitchen

Surrounded by nature and the warmth of old and new friends, campers experience Judaism as never before. Together, they share Jewish rituals and learning, and begin to understand the special way in which they are connected to one another --connections that will last a lifetime.

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CAMP CO-DIRECTORS: MIRIAM AND GILAD SHWARTZ Miriam & Gilad Shwartz met at Ranch Camp in summer 2001 and were married in 2004.

They served as the camp’s Corral Managers between 2001-2007 before assuming the director’s position in 2008. Miriam and Gilad welcomed daughter, Sivan, into their family in 2014.

We are honored to have the important task of serving as the directors of the JCC Ranch Camp. We have been involved with Ranch Camp for many years now, and we look forward to continuing our commitment to this camp, and to working with each of you. A summer spent at the JCC Ranch Camp results in our children being more confident in themselves, more aware of the needs of others, and more appreciative of our natural environment and all of its inhabitants.

We have witnessed first-hand for many summers now, that Ranch Camp is a special place, a place where Jewish children form bonds with their heritage and with each other. It is a place where Jewish identities are formed, Jewish friendships are created, children are challenged to grow, and where the seeds of life-long involvement in the Jewish community are planted.

Ranch Camp is a place where children are free to laugh, sing, and celebrate the joy of being kids. We feel lucky to be a part of this amazing camping community!

www.ranchcamp.org

SUMMER ADDRESS DENVER

70

Bennett

21441 North Elbert Road Elbert, CO 80106 Tel: (303) 648-3800 Fax: (800) 630-8469

Parker

WINTER ADDRESS Castle Rock

86

Kiowa

Elbert

25

350 South Dahlia Street Denver, CO 80246 Tel: (303) 316-6384 Fax: (303) 320-0042

RANCH CAMP

EMAIL

Monument

ranchcamp@jccdenver.org 24

COLORADO SPRINGS

WEBSITE www.ranchcamp.org

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