The Last First Day
Session 3, Day 1 It has been many weeks since the metal gate that marks the entrance to JCC Ranch Camp swung open for the first time, welcoming in the Session 1 campers to officially begin the summer. Today, that gate opened once more, bringing in the campers for Session 3 – the last group […]
Coming to a Close
Session 2, Day 11 In the last few days, campers have been having the times of their lives, first at Maccabiah, then Israel Day, and then the Fourth of July. In the coming days, campers will get to experience the second Ranch Camp Shabbat of the session. All of these things are full of fun, […]
The Fourth of July: Traditions New and Old
Session 2, Day 10 There are many programs, loved by all, that are run almost every session – Maccabiah, Gold Rush, campfire. But there’s one special day that only happens once a summer: the Fourth of July. It may be too dry at camp to have fireworks, but they’re not missed among the myriad of […]
Israel Day
Session 2, Day 10 Every day at Ranch Camp is a fantastic day, but there are some that stand out the most. These are the days when something special and out of the ordinary happens, like the water days we had earlier, or days like Maccabiah. Today was one of those days. As they walked […]
It’s Maccabiah!!
Session 2, Day 9 In the minds of many campers, some of the most exciting times at camp are the evening programs. After dinner, the camp gathers together (sometimes in the commons, other times in the Mo or the Chad), one of the only times when the entire community participates in the same program. Many […]
Ranch Camp-Opoly
Session 2, Day 5 It was another hot day here at Ranch Camp. Though the energy here is always high, the heat can be exhausting, so to give everyone a reprieve, this morning was a late wake-up. This was especially exciting for the Metapsim unit, who had camped out the night before. Instead of meeting […]
A Sunny Day
Session 2, Day 4 In the past, outside factors were the only things that influenced a family’s decision of what session of Ranch Camp they want to send their child to. When did school start, when did it end? Did they have a vacation to plan, a family event to attend? They chose the session […]
The Second First Day
Session 2, Day 1 Of the many traditions that those at Ranch Camp hold dear, perhaps the most cherished are the songs that we sing. From team chants during Maccabiah (or color war) to the prayers during Shabbat, it’s not unusual to hear the entire camp come alive with song. In fact, one very important […]
The First Last Day
Session 1, Day 14 Ranch Camp woke up on Wednesday morning to a bright sky and a cool wind, the sounds of birds in the trees acting as a natural alarm. It was the beginning of a perfect day – and the last full day of Session 1. Throughout the day, campers took advantage of […]
Something for Everyone
Session 1, Day 11 There are many reasons that campers choose to return again and again to Ranch Camp. Some come for the riding programs, like EQ or Beginner Horsemanship. Others come to experience the track system that has been implemented in session 2. Or maybe the ropes course, or mountain biking, or a trip […]