Grades 5-8 Camp at Rock Bottom Ranch

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. Encaustic painting, guest appearances and plenty of exploration will add zest to this exciting week of science and art!

*No camp on Friday in observance of Juneteenth holiday

Young artists will explore Rock Bottom Ranch through the eyes of the great naturalist Alexander von Humboldt! This immersive experience combines sketching, painting, and collaborative creativity in a beautiful outdoor setting. Sketch from nature and learn to observe and capture the beauty of landscapes, plants, and wildlife in your sketchbook. Using an artistic approach to documenting nature, transform your sketches into vibrant personal paintings. Then, work together to creative a stunning collaborative mural that reflects the beauty of the natural world.

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-Tuesday: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Rock Bottom Ranch

Wednesday: Meet at Rock Bottom Ranch at 9:30 a.m. ready with all overnight gear

Thursday: Pick-up is at Rock Bottom Ranch at 12 p.m.

Friday: No Camp

 

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 farmers and gain experience with all aspects of regenerative agriculture and ranch life.​ 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!​

*Please bring your own camera if you have access to one! Any camera will do, but it must have the ability to transfer photos to a computer. We will supply extras to campers who need them.

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 our senses and open our hearts 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.

Make new discoveries this summer at ACES! You and your fellow adventurers will investigate biomimicry, nature’s architects, natural materials, and more during this week-long class. Uncover mysteries of the natural world through investigations, field exploration, and expert knowledge. We will start the week by constructing our own Research Toolkit with the goal of becoming an expert research team, ready to take on any challenge! Get ready to observe, document, discover, and interpret the world around you by gathering data to increase your knowledge of nature. 

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