pic courtesy of Don Starnes

Summer Day Camp

Students will meet at 9 AM each morning in the small town of Nicasio and ride up to Devil's Gulch Ranch in an old wagon. After a full day of activities, we will return to town at 4 PM. Enrolment is limited to 15 students each week.

Early Registration Discounts available if registered before April 1st 2008. Yes we are accepting registrations for 2008

Please call 415.662.1099

"I spoke to Emma last night and it is clear that she has had a truly extraordinary experience at Devil's Gulch this week.  I know she'd love to come back and spend some more time with you and the folks at Devil's Gulch." Kathryn

The Mission of the Educational Services at Devil's Gulch Ranch:

To develop an awareness of the role of agriculture in our daily lives, to nurture an appreciation for the experiences that are unique to rural life, and develop agricultural and traditional skills.

Devil's Gulch Ranch Camp is for 20 kids ages 6-17 who want to:

• Build with their hands
• Work in the shop
• Care for animals
• Work in the gardens
• Explore nature
• Learn skills and crafts from the past
• Make new friends
• See their accomplishments
• Get dirty and have fun

photo courtesy of Amanda Thordsen

A Typical Day at Devil's Gulch Ranch Camp:

• A wagon ride through the forest to the ranch.
• Helping the staff with care of the animals, gardens, and equipment.
• Supervised but undirected free play.
• Learning new skills and crafts.
• Hiking, rappelling, archery, swimming, and trail rides.

pics courtesy of Amanda Thordsen

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 Elaina, but for myself as well.

We wanted to write and say "Thank You" for the opportunity to attend your camp. Elaina 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 Elaina Walker

Agricultural Mechanics:

Summer is the time when many agricultural mechanics projects are undertaken at the woodworking, welding, and tractor shops or in the fields. The campers may choose to be involved when their skill level and maturity is appropriate to the project. In most cases the students will learn on real project that will be in use at the ranch for years to come.

Summer of 2006 students built racks for a flat bed truck and help restore a vintage manure spreader.

Summer of 2005 the students at camp help build 50 Kw wind turbine. This turbine produces about 1/2 of the electricity that is used by the ranch and can be seen from the town of Nicasio.

Summer of 2004 the kids at camp built a solar hot water heater.

pics courtesy of Amanda Thordsen

Animals at Devil's Gulch Ranch Camp:

• The livestock at the camp is all used for production, this is not a petting zoo
• Rabbits, sheep, pigs, and chickens are all raised at the ranch.
• Everyday the students do chores dealing with the livestock...
• Pigs are born through out the summer.
• The older students will help foals learn to lead
• The students will gather eggs and feed the free range chickens,
• Rabbits need to be weighed and records kept.

pic courtesy of Don Starnes

The Gardens at Devil's Gulch Ranch:

The gardens located on the Ranch supply us with much of our fresh produce throughout the summer and the vineyard provides grapes for high-quality wines. The gardens give the campers hands on experience weeding, planting, harvesting, and enjoying the fresh vegetables from the gardens. Garden activities are enjoyed by campers and staff alike.

photo courtesy of Don Starnes

Photo courtesy Jack Petersen

Opportunities and Resources at Devil's Gulch Ranch:

The Ranch is blessed with a wealth of natural beauty and is a wonderful place for observing plant and animal life at close range in our forests, meadows, and creeks

Devil's Gulch Ranch is adjacent to Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Samuel P. Taylor State Park with abundant hiking, riding trails, and camping.

Newts, frogs, fish, lizards, wild turkeys, vultures, deer, and bobcats all make their home around the ranch.

Recreation

Archery at Devil's Gulch Ranch:

Archery is popular with campers and staff. Our archery instructors are NAA trained and does training for American Camp Association, BSA, GSA, and others nation wide. . The campers will learn on Olympic style recurve bows. The staff at Devil's Gulch Ranch conducts archery instructors.

The JOAD Program provides archery instruction and competition for young archers across the country and in foreign countries. Through the JOAD Olympian Awards program, these archers can earn incentives as they develop and improve their scores.

Level 1Archery Instructors Certification

Those students that are 15 years and older may take the level 1 archery instructors certification course.This certification will allow the student to assist during archery instruction. The student can take this course during all sessions but the week of July 30th. This course will require 12 hours of instruction and a final test will be given which must be passed at 75% or better. This program is limited to 5 students each week and there is an additional materials fee.  If the student wants to take this course For more information please see the Archery page.

pic courtesy of Don Starnes

pics courtesy of Amanda Thordsen

Rural crafts and skills may include:

• Drop spindle spinning & weaving wool from sheep at the ranch
• Rope and string making from plant materials
• Candle making
• Basketry from natural fibers (new 2007)
• Felt doll-making from wool from sheep at the ranch
• Pigments and paints from plants and soil (new 2007)
• Ceramics (new 2007)
• Soap making with ashes and milk
• Animal anatomy
• Arrow head knapping (new 2007)
• Fly Tying (new 2007)

Please Note:

Yes this is the small print. The specific daily activities are determined by what tasks must be done on the ranch at that time. For example, lambs may not be born when your child is in camp.

The specific daily activities are also determined by your child’s skill level, strength, size, temperament, and ability to follow instructions.  

Some facilities and resources may not be available at all times throughout the summer.

Devil's Gulch Ranch Camp is centered around agricultural, traditional skills, and nature activates, if your child does not have a passion for these things, please make room for others that do.