Grades 5-8 Camp at Rock Bottom Ranch

Roll up your sleeves and get dirty during this hands-on week of real ranch life. Ranch hands are involved in all aspects of the ranch including animal care, gardening and plenty of fun! This week will be filled with awesome ranch and culinary adventures.

 

*No camp on Wednesday in observance of Juneteeth holiday

The forest ecosystems affected by the 2018 Lake Christine Fire have many stories to tell. We will focus on the ecological and regeneration/recovery stories of the now burned forest ecosystems as well as the underlying climate-related history we have in this valley. Based out of Rock Bottom Ranch, participants will spend time investigating the burn zones to collect footage and reveal stories of the forest four years after the fire. Students will share their discoveries through digital storytelling and artistic representation.

*To properly prepare for the class, participants must bring their own iPad, iPhone, tablet, or smartphone with a working camera. We expect participants to be familiar with their device and bring it in a sturdy, protective case along with a charger. 

 

Are you ready to face the challenges you'll find outside? Come learn lifelong naturalist and survival living skills like how to make friction fire, identify edible and medicinal plants, build a fishing rod, and acquire basic survival techniques of shelter, water, fire, and food! You’ll test your skills on expeditions during this week of adventuring around and beyond Rock Bottom Ranch.

Schedule for the week:
Monday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Rock Bottom Ranch
Tuesday: Meet at Rock Bottom Ranch at 9:30 a.m. ready with all overnight gear
Wednesday: Pick-up is at Rock Bottom Ranch at 12 p.m.

Join us for a week of immersion into the world of discovery and storytelling! Dive into the stories our landscapes are telling us and the role humans and animals play in those stories. From geologic mysteries to forest adventures, participants will explore the relationships between humans and landscapes through observation, adventure, games, and storytelling. Everything is interconnected! Through stories, participants will try to answer the question, "How can we be the best stewards of our land?"

Schedule for the week:
Monday-Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Rock Bottom Ranch
Thursday: Meet at Rock Bottom Ranch at 9:30 a.m. ready with all overnight gear
Friday: Pick-up is at Rock Bottom Ranch at 12 p.m.

Join us for a week of culinary and photographic adventures! Use the livestock and vegetables at Rock Bottom Ranch as your models and the nearby flower gardens, streams, trees, and plants as a spectacular backdrop. Learn what makes a good photograph, and examine photography's ability to capture and tell stories about the world around you. Meet local farmers and gain experience with all aspects of regenerative agriculture and ranch life. Using photography editing apps and professional printing services, you'll choose feature images and create your own book. Be the artistic director, artist and editor all-in-one while telling the story of regenerative agriculture at the ranch - from farm to table. This exciting week will culminate with the opportunity for budding cooks and photographers to sleep over at the ranch on Thursday night, prepare a healthy, seasonal dish in the RBR kitchen or over the fire, and take photos of the night sky!

Schedule for the week:
Monday-Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Rock Bottom Ranch
Thursday: Meet at Rock Bottom Ranch at 9:30 a.m. ready with all overnight gear
Friday: Pick-up is at Rock Bottom Ranch at 12 p.m.

There’s no place like Rock Bottom Ranch for aspiring young artists to become inspired by nature and ranch life! Come stretch your legs AND artistic muscles during a week of nature-themed art projects and exploration of the wild and cultivated parts of Rock Bottom Ranch. Tune into your senses and open your heart to nature’s wonders. The week will include writing workshops, ranch chores, observing nature closely, and drawing/sketching the outdoors. All levels of expertise are welcome for this beginner-level course.

Birds, bees, butterflies, bats and beetles—what do they all have in common? All of these creatures are powerful pollinators. Without them, wildflowers wouldn't bloom, and fruits and veggies wouldn't find their way from our farms to our tables. Find out why these creatures have such a special relationship with the plants they pollinate and explore the important connections between pollinators and our food through a variety of art projects. Field trips, guest appearances and plenty of exploration will add zest to this exciting week of science and art!