The JCC Ranch Camp is located on 400 acres of ranch land in Elbert, Colorado within a beautiful area known as the Black Forest. The camp, which is owned and operated by the Staenberg-Loup Jewish Community Center in Denver, is open to children entering grades 2-11 with programs designed specifically for each age. Campers reside in log cabins in groups of up to 10-12 campers with 3-4 staff members.
Over the past 10 years, Ranch Camp supporters have raised over $4.5 million to put towards site improvements and renovations. Our goal is to preserve our site for generations of Jewish youth yet to come and as a place for camp alum to return to.
All camp buildings are located within a central area and are surrounded by a sprawling acreage of pine forests, which provide spots for hiking, mountain biking, climbing, camping, and exploring. The facility includes a corral that houses over 40 horses during the summer, providing for one of the best equestrian programs to be found in a Jewish camp setting nationwide.
JCC Ranch Camp also offers a heated outdoor swimming pool, a technical rock climbing wall, a low-elements ropes course, a high-elements challenge course and zip line, a sports field and basketball court, nature and crafts center, recreation hall, two outdoor seated gathering areas, archery field, farm area and miles and miles of beautiful trails on our 400-acre ranch.
Cabins
Our cabins become a home away from home for your child while at camp! There are two separate villages at camp – the North and South Villages known during the summer as Banim (Boys) and Banot (Girls) Village respectively. The two villages each have a distinct style of their very own! The south village is 7 cabin village with beautiful, rustic red cabins which have been renovated with historic preservation in mind. When these bunks were renovated each of the outer boards were removed and replaced exactly as they were to preserve the original feel of the cabins while still allowing for newly raised ceilings, new shelving and updated siding and heating. The south village is the historic heart of camp and reminds us that camp was originally a working Colorado ranch! The North village with its six spacious cabins, has a much more modern feel with cabins that have been refinished with long lasting materials. However, the feel of camp is still very important to us so each of these cabins has a wrap around porch with large, stunning natural wood beams creating comfortable places for sitting and relaxing with your friends in the shade on a hot summer day!
Dining Hall
We are super excited to have a newly renovated Dining Hall!! This center of camp is where we meet as an entire community three times per day to share meals together so this space is hugely important to Ranch Camp culture. A much needed update was given to this building in time for Summer 2015 and now reflects our love of being outdoors whenever possible! With large, fold open glass doors and a large two-story porch, even in rainy weather the dining hall is a comfortable space to gather, re-charge and celebrate each day. Did we mention that our food is delicious?! Each summer we receive positive feedback on our food which is prepared fresh each meal avoiding whenever possible pre-packed, box time foods. Instead we focus on meals from scratch and whole foods from our homemade challah on Shabbat to our home-style macaroni and cheese to our daily fresh salad and yogurt bars. We accommodate a very large range of dietary requirements including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and corn-free as well as catering to specific allergies and restrictions. Oh, and we are 100% Kosher always!!! (Supervised Kosher kitchen with all Kosher food and snacks for campers at all times)
Equestrian Facilities
Ranch Camp has one of the top western riding programs in the country and we invite you to join us to experience the beauty and magic of horses! Our facility includes:
- 300+ Acre Pasture for over-nighting horses and for rest days. Having our horses “free range” is better for the horse and helps keep them relaxed and healthy all summer long.
- 3 large pastures where horses spend their days when they are not being used in lessons.
- Large tack up arena for Ranch Program and medium sized tack up arena for the EQ Program.
- 1 riding arena attached to main corral for Ranch Program and Beginner Horsemanship usage.
- 2 riding arena for EQ in a nearby valley surrounded by hills and trees.
- 400 acres of trails to be enjoyed by both EQ and Ranch Program participants.
- Shaded helmet and boot storage area.
- Covered hay storage.
- Indoor space for ground lessons and rainy day programming.
Private Housing Options
Cottage
Perfect for families of four, our cottages resemble your typical studio apartment. Each cottage has a full bathroom with a bathtub and shower and a small kitchenette with a mini-fridge and microwave. Sleeping arrangements are flexible in cottages – each cottage typically has one queen bed, but twins can be moved in at your request. Every cottage has electricity and water.
Bungalow/Tiny Home
Making their Ranch Camp debut for Summer 2022, the bungalows will satisfy all your tiny home dreams. These incredible refurbished shipping containers are great for a family of three. Each bungalow has a bunk bed with a full bed on the bottom and a twin bed on top along with a full bathroom with a shower. Every bungalow has electricity and water.
TASC Tent
One of our more rustic private housing options, the TASC tents are great for a family of four. The TASC tents do not have electricity or water but are equipped with twin beds for everyone in your family. Each TASC tent is on its own platform and nothing beats waking up to the birds chirping on a summer morning.
