JCC Ranch Camp

★L Stone

I so much wished I would not have to review this camp. I spoke with the camp director as well as the Board of Directors in hopes that our conversations could turn the negative experiences around. In the end, I did not feel they were honest with me, and I was incredibly disappointed they would do nothing to make things right. The EQ Program. What we were told – their program was designed for beginners as well as intermediate riders with two separate groups, there would be AAHS Certified instructor and a highly qualified assistant, there would be an off-site field trip like a show or visit to get tack, there would be a competition “buckle” series, campers would spend 5 hours a day with their horse riding 2x day morning and afternoon 6 days a week, riding time would be split between arena work and trail riding. What actually happened – there were only beginner students and instruction was only at beginner level, The instructor, presumably certified, was not a good teacher and would give a bunch of empty “good jobs” instead of teaching beginners. She offered nothing to the three intermediate riders (2 of which were my kids and their one friend). The “highly qualified assistant” was not. No off-site trips, and no competition event. At most 3 hours a day spent with their horses and usually less. They only rode once a day. There was very little time in the arena (where instruction and form can be assessed) because the two arenas designated to EQ were dilapidated (more on that). In addition, at least one of the horses in use was severely underweight and appeared to have health issues. The arena. There are actually 3 arenas at ranch camp. One good one is used for campers not in the EQ program. EQ makes use of two dilapidated arenas with poor footing. Even footing is essential for safe riding. It doesn’t need to be expensive, sand is fine. But it needs to be maintained. These two arenas were lumpy, with rocks and weeds. Overnight rains flooded areas of these arenas. Anything more than walking is not safe. Director told me it was fine. Only one of the arenas was fine. I focus on EQ because that was the big draw for us. We could have found a camp closer to home that would have saved us travel costs. We also could have selected another camp like Ramah of the Rockies that only costs $3,200 instead of the $5,375 we paid for JCC Ranch Camp for the same amount of time, better location, and more time with horses. But we didn’t because of the misinformation provided to us on the JCC Website and in all of our conversations with them before camp. When my kids told me after camp about everything that was missing, I thought there must have been some last minute problem. Had there been a last minute issue, a call from the camp to tell us how our program would be different than what was advertised would have been very much appreciated. Then we could have decided whether to go ahead with it or not. But we were not given that choice. Turns out some of what they advertise hasn’t happened for years. Additionally, we had no contact with our kids as their letters did not start to arrive until after they returned from camp. Had we known it would be so different I would not have sent them there. But there were other issues as well that non-EQ campers should know about. Main dish food rationing, half a piece of fruit as “snack”, shower/bathroom breakdowns – unavoidable? But how do you explain lack of supplies and cleaning? Open camper files in full view in front office, updates to parents were very vague and non-specific. There was an accumulation of things like this that indicated it was just not administered well. To be fair there were some good things. Most of the counselors were very good, some were amazing. They bring in a number of foreign counselors from all over the world and that was a good exchange. And my kids made friends and enjoyed the other kids. My kids made the best of it and made it through the entire session. But this camp they attended was not at all the camp they advertised to parents.