Written by Shlomit Ovadia of JCC Denver
It is often said that the bond between horses and humans is unbreakable. JCC Ranch Camp is a place where these special bonds come to life, with the added dimension of a Jewish lens, and a focus on community.
JCC Ranch Camp is the only a Western-style Jewish camp in the country. All campers at Ranch Camp have the opportunity to ride horses during their summer session, but those registered for the Equine Program (EQ) specialty camp get to delve deeper into the horsemanship experience—for a truly special, hoof-filled summer.
Trailblazers in Training: Future equestrians with their Ranch Camp mentors
At the start of each session, EQ campers are paired with one of 38 majestic horses that come to us each summer from a ranch in Northern Colorado to Ranch Camp. Campers then enter a pseudo-foster-ship, where they are tasked with caring for their horses for the duration of their session—grooming, tacking, and riding them.
A typical day starts with campers rendezvousing in the barn to prepare their horses for the day, before going off to learn ground skills or partake in a riding lesson. After horsing around some, EQ campers will take a break from the barn with a different camp activity like high ropes or field sports. After this, EQ campers return to the barn to either go on a trail ride or take another lesson. Over the course of their session, EQ campers build complex horsemanship skills, progressing through walking to trotting to even the smooth, bdoom-bdoom three-stride canter, if they’re ready. Throughout the summer, EQ sprinkles in a variety of other enriching activities that include field trips to the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame, tack shops, or other local working barns.
Through these experiences, campers embody one of Ranch Camp’s 4-pillar Jewish values—kavod v’chesed- respect and kindness- as they learn the Jewish rules about livestock and animals resting on Shabbat- in tandem with their EQ curriculum.
From Pony Rides to Proud Moments – Thank you, Ranch Camp staff, for guiding the way!
Another pillar value – haklalah – or inclusion – is also realized through EQ, because campers must work together on group drill exercises, choreographed rides, and helping one another with learning new skills.
Over the session, campers and horses will share many memories together: trail rides in Ranch Camp’s “Outer 400”, the outer acreage that is on Ranch Camp’s property. Campers even get to experience an overnight campout on horseback under the stars and conclude their session with a grand finale showcase performance on horseback in front of the entire camp. As the summer concludes, campers depart their time in the EQ program at Ranch Camp with not just pride for their accomplishments, but a framed horseshoe containing a picture of themselves and their trusty horses, to treasure for years to come.
While another incredible summer has come to an end, Ranch Camp was excited to invite folks back for Fall Festival last month. On September 28, the camp spirit came alive again under the decorum of hayrides, pumpkin bowling, delicious seasonal treats, festive games, and toe-tapping music that closed out the 2024 Neustadt JAAMM Festival.
Ranch Camp registration goes live this month: October 14 for J Perks Pass Members, October 16 for returning families, and October 18 for the public. We’re already counting down the days until next summer!
