BEING IN NATURE IS FUN.
Come to an El Ranchito camp, and you’ll live outdoors, learn all about the natural world, and have the time of your life. El Ranchito offers three sessions of Nature Discovery Camp for 4th through 9th graders, and a Conservation Corps session for 10th – 12th graders. We make camp fun for all young people, and affordable for all eligible families.
05/22/2020
IMPORTANT NOTICE from our Camp Director Justine Salsbury
Dear El Ranchito community,
We hope that your family is safe and healthy during this time. After ongoing and careful learning from national, state and local health organizations, the guidance of Nurse Becca and Dr. Temple, camp staff and camper families, we have come to the sad conclusion that we cannot operate camp on Shield Ranch this summer and still ensure everyone’s safety.
We will bring staff, campers and families together using online tools to create a virtual El Ranchito camp experience. Camp as we know it offers an alternative to screen time. However, this summer we will use technology to our advantage to stay connected and share our enthusiasm for the natural world. Staff are empowered to do what they do best — keep campers safe and engaged in a positive and active community. Both live and recorded programs are options for offering nature activities, crafts, dance breaks, games, songs, camp traditions and more. We are committed to our tradition of reflection time and circle conversations for talking through emotions, sharing our learning and generating creativity.
The use of a smartphone, tablet, PC, Mac, or Chromebook along with access to Wi-Fi should allow campers to interact with camp programming. El Ranchito staff will support campers in accessing these tools. Each camper will receive a “camp kit” with materials for nature connection and interaction with camp activities, snacks and locally sourced fresh ingredients to create a meal in their homes with Chef Addie.
Details about daily schedules and content will be made available to camper families, staff and community partners. A HUGE shout out of gratitude and AWE for the El Ranchito team and supporters in working together to create magic. Please let us know if you would like more information and how we may support your nature connection this summer.
June 5-12, Staff training (mostly M-F only)
June 15-19, M-F — Session 1, 6th-7th graders
June 22-26, M-F — Session 2, 4th-5th graders
June 20-July 3, M-F — Session 3, 8th-9th graders
June 15-July 3, M-F only — Conservation Corps, 10th-12th graders
Sincerely,
Justine Salsbury
Camp Director
