home
about us
youth programs
summer camp programs
youth team building/ropes course
field trips
farm birthday parties
overnights
adult programs
at-risk youth programs
animal assisted therapy
family programs
upcoming events
support Deer Hill Ranch
products for sale
f.a.q.
meet the animals
contact us
Adventure Camp
Age: 10-12 Years
Cost: $370/week
When: Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m
Sessions:
July 14 - 18 (FULL), 2008
Online Registration Form | Print and Fax Registration Form
This form is in Adobe Acrobat PDF format. If you are not able to view
this document click here to get Adobe
Acrobat.
Deer Hill Ranch summer camps offer children a unique opportunity to challenge
themselves in a safe and natural setting while learning about the wonders
of a ranch and nature. Adventure Camp brings together the remarkable
teaching power of our farm environment with challenging group interaction
games, culminating in our Low and High Ropes course. Our campers learn
to trust the animals, themselves and their new friends. By the end of
the week they have challenged themselves individually, and have learned
new
skills for working and communicating with others.
Day
1: Farm Interaction Programs
The goal of our farm interaction programs is to teach children respect
for all living things, to be mindful in their interactions, to use gentle
behaviors and to honor the earth. This hands-on experience is engaging
and memorable - as well as very educational. The day will start with introductions
and a few quick games to de-inhibit the group. Then, after a brief introduction
to the Ranch, we'll learn words like "predator" and what our
"instinct" is. Campers will then have the opportunity to participate
in a variety of farm chores, such as: hand feeding our sheep and goats,
grooming and hand walking our ponies or horses, picking hooves, brushing
our pigs, collecting eggs, cleaning out pens and holding a chicken in
his/her lap. They'll learn about different kinds of eggs, compare wool
from different animals, as well as card and hand-spin wool. They'll learn
about different kinds of hay, brush and curry our horses, review horse
tack, and at the end, circle up to share their experiences.
Day 2 & 3: Games & Team Building Activities
Our highly skilled facilitators are expert at developing thoughtful and
appropriate exercises for each group of campers. Depending on the dynamics
of the group, certain games and problem-solving initiatives will be used
to help campers understand their own behaviors and contributions. Through
debriefing, campers become aware of how they might communicate their thoughts
and ideas in ways which will enhance overall group performance.
Campers end the day with increased self-awareness and knowledge that everyone
has different gifts and can contribute to an overall solution.
Day 4: Challenge Hike
This challenge hike will be tailored to the developmental and physical
needs of each group. Deer Hill Ranch is surrounded by miles of open space
filled with a variety of native plants, raptors, owls, reptiles and mammals.
On our hike we will examine the surroundings for signs of animal life,
including animal tracks and scat. We will learn about native plants and
how
to minimize the impact our lifestyles have on the environment.
Day 5: Low & High Ropes Course Activities
The Ropes Course challenge events were first developed for Outward Bound,
a wilderness challenge program founded by German educator, Kurt Hahn.
These challenge events are designed so that the group must persevere,
be creative, apply skills, and rely on each other by cooperatively making
group decisions and carrying them out. With instruction from the leader
and support from their peers, they slowly learn that they can accomplish
more than they originally believed. Participants will learn to spot, use
a harness, belay, and climb out on cables up to 35 feet off the ground.
DHR has five high ropes elements: the High-V, Pamper Pole, High Double
Trouble, Multi-Vine, and Giants Ladder.
About Deer Hill Ranch
Deer Hill Ranch is a nonprofit experiential education center located in
Lafayette, California. We serve Bay Area youth, ages 4-18, as well as
adults. We also have a special outreach effort to at-risk youth. Utilizing
experiential learning techniques and adventure education in the intimate
setting of a family ranch, Deer Hill Ranch programs empower participants
by
building self-esteem, increasing their communication skills, and improving
interaction with other people, other living creatures and the environment.
Online Registration Form | Print and Fax Registration Form
Come and make friends, be challenged and grow at
our beautiful 21 acre ranch
in Lafayette, CA