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“Thanks for the great day. My daughter especially loved the archery!” |
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NATURE DAY CAMPS
Connecting kids to nature through fun, mentoring, and unique experiences
Survival in the Wild: A Wilderness Skill Adventure
Cost: $295
Ages 6-9 or 10-14
Maximum group size: 8
Campers will learn a series of Basic Wilderness Skills including fire by friction, shelter building, identifying edible and medicinal plants, and water catchment and purification. We will use the five senses to sharpen our awareness of the surroundings in order to more closely live within the natural world. Surviving in the wild is no easy task, but we will learn the fundamentals of staying alive- fire, shelter, food, and water. The animals and plants will be our teachers on this wild adventure.
Instructors: Melinda Laben, Alison Gould, and Rafe Halsey
Optional Overnight Campout:
Cost: $50
Campers enrolled in our Survival in the Wild camp will have an option to participate in an optional Friday night camp-out at the ranch from
Instructors: Melinda Laben, Alison Gould, and Rafe Halsey
Keepers of the Lost Arts: A Primitive Experience
Cost: $295
Ages 6-9 or 10-14
Maximum group size: 8
This week of camp will expose campers to some of the arts and skills that were used by those who came before us which are almost lost to today’s generations. Basic stone or wood tools, primitive pottery, ancient hunting weapons such as rabbit sticks and atl-atls, basketry, musical instruments, and storage containers are some of the skills that may be explored. We will learn how our ancestors relied on the Earth to provide them with all they needed. Nurturing an appreciation for what nature and our own resourcefulness can provide, campers will also learn ways to reduce their ecological “footprint” in today’s modern age living.
Instructors: Melinda Laben, Alison Gould, and Rafe Halsey
Outdoor Challenge: Nature and Adventure
Cost: $295
Ages 6-9 or 10-14
Maximum group size: 8
Campers will spend this week challenging themselves in nature. Tree climbing and swinging from handmade grass-rope swings, adventure hikes in Briones, orienteering with maps and compasses, stalking and trapping games, epic scavenger hunts, low ropes and teambuilding activities. The Outdoor Challenge camp strives to take kids past their comfort zones, nurturing confidence and trust in their own abilities and those of their fellow campers. Through mentoring and teambuilding activities, they will learn both to rely on themselves and how to work together with others in a positive and productive way in order to achieve a common goal.
Instructors: Melinda Laben, Alison Gould, and Rafe Halsey
Sample Day of Nature Camp
Fostering respect and appreciation for all living beings through close interaction
Farm Hands: Farm Life, Animal Care, and Old Fashioned Arts and Crafts
Cost: $295
Ages 4-6 or 6-9
Maximum group size: 8
Spend a week with the residents of Sienna Ranch- the chickens, ducks, geese, goats, bunnies, and pony. Campers will experience close interaction as they learn about and care for our farm animals. Young children will delight in hearing the special “histories” of the animals which live on the ranch. Old fashioned arts, crafts, and games will enhance the camp experience. Farm Hands Camp is led and coordinated by Karen Wallace, Sienna Ranch’s animal care coordinator. Karen brings a passion for youth and animals together in this fantastic program where children will not only build relationships and truly learn respect for the living creatures at Sienna Ranch, but will also delight in some of the simple pleasures which used to entertain children in times past.
Instructors: Karen Wallace and Lucia Tuman
AFTERNOON SPECIAL INTEREST CAMPS,
Offering a full-day camp option and a chance for campers to spend time doing an activity of their own special interest! Campers enrolled in both morning and afternoon camps will be supervised during lunch and freeplay from 1:00-2:00.
Art and Animals: Art with Natural Materials, ages 5-12
Cost: $175 (includes cost of materials)
Maximum group size: 8
Each day, campers will enjoy interacting with the Sienna Ranch animals- collecting eggs, taking the goats for a walk, holding bunnies, and grooming the pony. Additionally, they will create a unique art or craft project using materials found in nature (some are found on the ranch).
Day 1: Using Sculpey Clay and Abalone shells, students will make their own beaded necklace
Day 2: Learn to card wool, collect a local plant and create dye for the wool, then needle felt a figurine
Day 3: Using chicken feathers and soaproot, students will create their own paintbrushes. They will make their own tempera paints using egg whites (from the ranch), mashed up berries, charcoal, grass, and shells. Experiment with painting with their self-made paintbrushes and paints!
Day 4: Sew a rabbit fur pouch. Trace and cut out a simple pattern, sew together using imitation sinew and needles.
Day 5: Basket from pine needles- Really? How can you make a basket from pine needles? Come find out!
Horse Experience, ages 7-teen
Cost: $250 (includes instructor cost during private 1 on 1 riding instruction)
Maximum group size: 5
Campers will enjoy daily interaction with the Sienna Ranch horses and pony. In addition to a 30 minute private riding lesson each day, campers will learn horse care, vaulting, breeds, grooming, feed, anatomy, equipment, and more. Lucia Tuman, Sienna Ranch’s resident riding instructor, is a CHA certified Level 2 riding instructor with 10 years experience working with horses.
Instructors: Lucia Tuman and Karen Wallace
Archery, ages 8-teen
Cost: $175 (includes all equipment costs and arrow fees)
Maximum group size: 8
Archery campers will get a full 1.5 hours of shooting time each day with an opportunity to earn achievement patches. In addition to shooting practice, they will learn how to set up and take down a range, safety considerations when shooting archery, how to string a bow and how to perform basic arrow repair. Campers will enjoy archery games such as archery battleship and shooting balloons!
| SUMMARY OF AGES, TIMES, COSTS, AND WEEKS | ||||
| Nature Day Camp Name | Ages | Time | Cost | Weeks Offered |
| Keepers of the Lost Arts | 6-9 or 10-14 | 9:00-1:30 | $295 | 1, 4, 7 |
| Survival in the Wild* | 6-9 or 10-14 | 9:00-1:30 | $295 | 2, 5, 8 |
| *Optional Friday night campout | Ages 8+ | 5 pm-10am | $50 | 2, 5, 8 |
| Outdoor Challenge | 6-9 or 10-14 | 9:00-1:30 | $295 | 3, 6, 9 |
| Farm and Animal Day Camp Name | Ages | Time | Cost | Weeks Offered |
| Farm Hands | 4-6 or 6-9 | 9:00-1:30 | $295 | 1 thru 9 |
| Ranch Hands | 10 and up | 9:00-1:30 | $295 | 10 |
| Afternoon Special Interest Camps | Ages | Time | Cost | Weeks Offered |
| Horse Experience | 7-teen | $295 | 1 thru 9 | |
| Art and Animals | 5 to 12 | 2:00-5:00 | $195 | 1 thru 9 |
| Archery | 8-teen | $195 | 1 thru 9 | |
| Discounts | ||||
| All three Nature Day Camps $799 (10% discount) All three Afternoon Special Interest Camps $615 (10% discount) |
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Refund policy:
Sienna Ranch Camps are outstanding because our staff is outstanding. We pay our summer camp counselors 3 times the going rate for similar jobs. Because we hire only the best and most experienced teachers and mentors, we make work commitments to them early in the year. Based on this, we are not able to offer refunds on camps after March 1. If, however, your plans need to change, we will work with you to reschedule your camp to another week.
