Mountain biking in real mountains is a popular muscle building sport. Trail rides through oak forests, obstacle courses, and cruises around the lake create exhilarating fun for campers. From long overnight excursions to learning bike maintenance, campers enjoy our fleet of 18 speed bikes. Helmets are required and provided.
The horse program is a main attraction at camp with western riding and vaulting. Our western riding program emphasizes lessons for all levels. Trail rides through hill and dale, around the lake and into the national forest give riders of any skill an enjoyable afternoon. Games and lessons in the ring, canter practice, and herding lessons prepare campers to try out for higher level canter rides and cattle drives. From wranglers who learn grooming and saddling to bushwackers who ride through fields herding horses in the early morning, it's fun, it's exciting, it's skill and knowledge for the rest of your life! Helmets are provided and required.
Hoist the sail! Paddle the kayak! Capsize the canoe! Catch a giant catfish or a tasty bass! Swing out on the rope and dive in! Take swim lessons at the pool! There is always something wonderful to do at the waterfront. Campers learn safety, boating skills, fishing techniques and joyful thrills and spills.
Learning to do technical rock climbing is a thrill on the giant boulders at camp. Climbers learn to belay, repel, do aid climbs, set routes and chimney up a crack. Learn your knots and you are off to great heights.
Jameson Ranch offers a unique opportunity for campers to participate in running a real ranch. Each camper has a small "chore" to do that is their daily job. This develops in the camper a sense of importance and belonging. What we like them to realize is that they are an important part of running the ranch and their job contributes to the whole community.
Also, a very exciting part of JRC is being a part of the building projects. Campers can work on construction of sleeping areas, the garden condo, building fence, the outdoor kitchen etc. Many adults who came to camp as children still feel that sense of accomplishment when they return and see the project that they helped with as a youngster. Working with tools, driving the Bobcat, gathering wood, many parts of the ranch work are a wonderful and quality experience for urban kids.
Drama productions happen every session at camp. It's amazing what can happen in a few days! JRC has a "green room" filled with props and costumes and a great outdoor stage on a hillside in a small amphitheater. Painting the sets is a sometimes messy and always a fun part of drama.
Creative counselors and campers produce innovative and FUN productions. It could be anything from The Lion King to Fractured Fairy Tales; whether a full musical, serious drama or comedy/parody, everyone at camp feels special on theater night when the camp play is performed for the entire camp.