It started when I was 10 years old, and I lived in Fort Worth, Texas.  My parents told me about this cool camp called the Ranch Camp.  I was a pretty adventurous kid and was up for pretty much anything.  So I was brought to the airport in Dallas/Fort Worth, and put on a plane.  When I arrived in Denver, there was a staff member waiting at the gate for me, and so the adventure started.

Here are a few of my memories (not in any specific order):

Buying camp cloths from the tuck shop, then (KID) napping a GOAT from the caretakers petting zoo, and sneaking into the camp directors cabin/house while he was out (having a staff meeting), and leaving the Goat in his house dressed in the camp shorts & shirt for him to find upon his arrival.  Unfortunately for me, not only did the goat leave “goat” dropping all over his house, but the director knew right away it was me, because of my daily pranks all over camp.  So, I was woken up and brought to the petting zoo pen where I had to sleep with the goats….

Then there was the time that the dining bell was mysteriously taken, and a ransom note was left on the (dare I say) “ANNOUNCEMENT” board.  The random note read “IF YOU WANT THE BELL BACK, YOU MUST PROVIDE A PIZZA PARTY FOR ALL THE BOYS IN UNIT X (I forget what unit it was, but it included my bunk!)  I thought I was pretty smart by not asking for only my bunk, but the director still knows it was me.  You see, I always brought magic tricks with me to camp (I was a bit of a magician back in those days), so the next day there was a note on the “ANNOUNCEMENT” board that said “ IT’S FUNNY HOW THINGS CAN MAGICALLY DISAPEAR”  I didn’t put two & two together for a few days, but then I went into my foot locker and noticed that all my magic tricks were gone (later to find out it was the director getting me back), so now I had to return the bell in order to get my stuff back.  Ahhhh, memories……..

Then there was the time I started a food fight in the dining hall with spaghetti.  Well, needless to say I had to buy a new toothbrush from the tuck shop after having to scrub the dining hall floor with my old one.

Then there was the time the whole camp went to the state fair, & I won a PIG.  Yes, that’s right, I real LIVE PIG!  Well, once we got back to camp, I couldn’t hide him for very long, so he became the newest addition to the care takers petting zoo.  The following year, this pig (I think we called him “TRAIF”) was so big, we would take turns riding him (well, trying to stay on him).

Ohhh, and then there were the 3 little ponies.  If I’m not mistaken, they were named after the 3 stooges.

I was always being dared to ride them with no halters on, and being the adventurous kid that I was, I DID IT.  Well, one of these little buggers remembered me, and as soon as he had the right moment, he spun around and hoofed me so hard in my leg, that I had bruises the shape of his hoof for about 5 weeks after camp finished.

I remember the counselor that played guitar at all the camp fires and services, and how all the campers would chant his name, BIX, BIX, BIX……..

I remember stacking all the bunk beds in our cabin on one wall to make a pyramid that was at least 4 (maybe even 5) levels high.

I remember our MASHIACH (ARI) putting a live chicken head in his mouth (outside the back of the dining hall)

I remember ARI letting me have lasagna out of the HUGE baking tray out back of the dining hall after I was thrown out (again for something).  The only rule was, I had to eat it all. Well, once again, I was always up for a challenge.

I remember taking part in the APACHI race during color wars. ( I was the guy who ate the whole watermelon without using his hands.  OK, it was cut in half, but I still had to eat the seeds and all.  And YES, I won every year I did it!

I remember being one of the first campers in the EQ program for the last session of camp.

I remember staying all 10 weeks of summer, and still feeling like I wanted more…

I remember climbing Pikes Peak, Grays & Torreys.

I remember repelling down the rocks on the Boy Scout property face first.

These memories and experiences helped decide the paths I have taken through life so far.

Inner Spirit

We’ve just passed the 10,000 feet mark on my flight back to Colorado. I’ve spent the last week at camping conferences in New York and New Jersey and although I am exhausted, I am also invigorated and enthused about getting back to the office and planning for this summer’s camp season. My head is full  Read more

Kehillah

My first and perhaps most impactful memory of camp happened on the very first day I set foot there at age 12. I came to Ranch Camp from the distant and sometimes seemingly foreign land of Iowa. My parents were adamant that I attend a Jewish camp to make Jewish friends and strengthen my Jewish  Read more

Happily Camp Ever After

It was 12 years ago this May that I returned to Ranch Camp for yet another summer of working at camp as a wrangler. Little did I know when I stepped off the plane that day and met a young man from Israel who I would be working with in the corral, that someday in  Read more

Lean on Me by Sophie Cardin (camper)

Ruby red and magenta spread across the sky. The last bit of sun glowed tangerine orange and each wispy cloud was lined with gold. The black shadows of pine trees contrasted with the mountain sunset. The light of the camp fire flickered across the new and familiar faces, as the laughter filled the summer camp  Read more

Find Time for Green Time

Submitted by Gina McReynolds, RC Assistant Director “Go outside and play!!” This is the command my mother gave my twin brothers and I every school day at 4:30pm. After getting home from school, eating a snack and doing a half hour of homework, we were driven outside and the screen door shut firmly behind us.  Read more