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Devil's Gulch Ranch Summer Farm Camps 2008
Dear Brian and Devil's Gulch Crew,
For a mere 20 minute drive (all beautiful scenic roads.....no Hwy 101 traffic)....I was able to go from downtown San Rafael to Nicasio and meet the Devil's Gulch wagon for the daily camp pickup. What a treat!....and not just for my daughter Elaine, but for myself as well. We wanted to write and say "Thank You" for the opportunity to attend your camp. Elaine did it all; holding the rabbits and chickens, riding Maiden and the other horses, swimming in the reservoir, eating the homemade ice cream, felting, tanning, hiking, archery and exploring in the creek - getting wet and enjoying it (without mom raining on the parade and saying "NO, you can't do that"). Her experience of being on a working ranch and getting to have the fun and see the responsibilities that go with it. Without your camp, she would never have this truly memorable childhood experience.
Marie Coleman and Elaine Walker
Beginning Agriculture Summer Day Camp (Day or Overnight)
Campers will meet at 9 a.m. each morning in the small town of Nicasio. We ride up the dirt road and through the forest to Devil's Gulch Ranch in our antique buckboard wagon. Kids love this ride and the feeling of leaving the fast-paced life outside the ranch gates!
Beginning Agriculture camp is open to all students ages 6 to 13. For those age 9 and up, overnighting is an option, with evening activities that bring out the special camaraderie of camping out together.
Our skilled and flexible staff provide a different program every week, tailored to the interests and abilities of our campers. In any week, the guiding mission of the camp is reflected in hands-on activities and instruction centered on pigs and sheep , horses, poultry and rabbits, agricultural mechanics, natural resource management, and gardening. The students get an overview of the production of food and fiber. They learn by doing chores and participating in aspects of ranch life such as harvesting, animal care, horseback riding, veterinary science, agricultural mechanics and much more. Complementing the agriculture component are crafts, our amazing options in recreation, and free play. Details are listed below.
We have one of the highest staff-to-camper ratios around and limit our enrollment to 25 campers a week. As a consequence, Devil’s Gulch Ranch Camps have an intimate, personal atmosphere lacking in many camps. For most activities, the students are in groups of no more than 5.
After a full day of activities, day campers return to town at 4 p.m. Early drop-off and late pick-up are available; see the Registration pages for details.
Overnight Camps
For campers age 9 and up, overnight camping is a component of our Beginning Agriculture camp and Primitive Skills classes. Camping is available for single nights or for an extended week that runs from Sunday to Saturday.
Overnight camping is also a component of Family Camp and Advanced Agriculture. At our campsite a short hike down the trail from the ranch, we enjoy evenings filled with challenge activities, cooking over a fire, campfire activities, and stargazing, followed by sleeping on cots in tents provided by the camp. Students staying the full week can be dropped off at Nicasio to take the tractor-pulled wagon up to the ranch, or we can meet the students at San Francisco International Airport (contact us to make arrangements).
Advanced Agriculture (Animal Science) Summer Camp (new in 2008!)
Advanced Ag Overnight Camp for high-school students is offered as a one- or two-week program (see details below) for students interested in a more in-depth exploration of animal science. This camp will run from 3:00 Sunday to the following Saturday noon. Open to 20 students 13 to 18 years of age.Devil's Gulch Ranch is a diversified production agriculture enterprise with hands-on opportunities. Throughout the two weeks, the students will study pigs, sheep, horses, poultry, and rabbits. The morning curriculum will closely follow the California State Agricultural Animal Science Curriculum, covering anatomy and physiology, reproduction, digestion, and processing. The afternoon program will include traditional skills, archery, rapelling, textiles, and ceramics as well as nature lore. Evenings will offer leadership activities and time for socializing.
Students may attend either or both of the two sessions, which will cover different animals. Attending both sessions will allow students to take projects in tanning and pottery through to fruition. An overview of the curriculum covered in this intensive program is available here.
Overnight camping at Devil’s Gulch is a very special part of this program. However, if overnight camping presents a difficulty for your family, you may contact us about a daytime-only option.
Before registering for this camp please read through the Advanced Agriculture Curriculum.
Native Adventures
Native Adventures is a stand-alone class which spends the entire week exploring the outdoors and having lots of fun while learning wildlife lore and native skills. In this day-camp program, we will wander and play in the Golden Gate National Recreational Area hiking, tracking animals, eating wild plants, making shelters, doing nature-based crafts, making primitive musical instruments, telling stories and much more. Learn the essential skills of a naturalist through games and adventure.Please Note: This class meets separately from the rest of the camp, has its own registration form, and is dependent on registration.
Bridles, Bivouac, and Beaches: New Summer 2008
Devil's Gulch Ranch is blessed with access to the beach on horse trails through forest and rolling hills. We will saddle up at the ranch and spend 3 days in each direction to reach the beach, camping along the way.
Our horses require skill to control, and the trail is challenging. For this reason, this trip will be open to only 5 campers ages 14 to 18 with verifiable intermediate to advanced horsemanship. Riders selected for this trip must be looking not only to enjoy the ride, views and ocean, but also to develop new friendships, participate in the camp experience including cooking and chores, and learn about the geology and biology of the area and about the horses they will be riding. Campers must apply and be approved by our staff.