Author: Charlie Sommers

When I was asked to write a blog post for November, I was both excited and nervous – I am not by any means a writer and much prefer my “outdoor desk,” where I get to see the sun, and enjoy the sounds and smells of the Colorado wilderness. The desk where I get to watch campers grow as individuals and groups of teens transition into a family that will continue to defy their limits, together, over the years to come. So, I will attempt to bring my outdoor desk to this blog post.

As a child, I was fortunate enough to grow up participating in adventure and travel camps. It is where I learned to love the outdoors, appreciate my peers, and pause to take in the little moments. I am still close friends with my guides from these experiences, who are still role models to this day. Sadly, my outdoors experience did not come with a camp-based connection to Judaism. After I completed my Bar Mitzvah, I severed my relationship with my synagogue and thus with Judaism. I remained disconnected to my Jewish roots until I began my journey at Ranch Camp. The awe-inspiring beauty of our camp and this state, combined with the inclusive and truly unique Jewish experience found at camp, helped ignite a flame that encourages me to pass that same love for nature and neighbor along to all who walk through our gates. We have built a beautiful Jewish camp family with our campers, staff, and administrative team. This combination of humans creates a safe Jewish space where youth can connect to what it truly means to be human, be vulnerable, and be a family. It is my dream and goal that our impact as camp staff will encourage our current campers to do the same for others as their story with Ranch Camp continues to turn its own pages.

I was recently speaking with Courtney Jacobson, Director of Camp Shai, about her experience as a camper and staff in the Ranch Camp Tiyulim (trips) program. Something she said really stuck out to me about the value of these programs. She described that what they offer is a transcendent experience beyond what is possible within the realm of the physical plant of camp; ‘Sometimes you need to disconnect to reconnect to connecting.’

It hit me, in a different way, on so many levels. These tiyulim are more than disconnecting from traditional resources like running water, electricity, and our modern resources, like cell phones and internet. It is about the power of the soul of a group of people who are coming together in nature. Certainly a thematic element in historical and modern Judaism, as well as a core element of all Ranch Camp’s tiyulim. It made me reflect on my experiences at backpacking camps on the east coast, recalling my own challenges connecting to peers in school, connecting to Judaism, connecting to nature. I am in awe of what we are able to forge out in the wilderness with just a group of teens, their guides, and their tents. The power that each of these groups has to do something truly remarkable is truly remarkable.

Over the past few years, our team has spent a lot of time observing and listening to both campers and their parents regarding their experiences with Ranch Camp’s Tiyulim programs. We are continuing to do so as we move into a new decade of camping. The most consistent and common piece of feedback has been food on tiyulim. We hear you and we are continuing to make improvements to tiyulim meals, especially during the backpacking portions.

Our ‘common denominator’ practice will continue to stand strong in 2020: If there is a camper with anaphylactic food allergies, that food does not come on the trip. While we were able to provide allergen safe food in 2019, we did miss the ball with providing quality alternatives to removed products. We will focus on ensuring that each tiyul has enough proteins such as canned chicken or tuna. While we will continue to use dehydrated products for the backpacking portions of the trip, we will do a fresh produce food drop for our longer trips, T.A.S.C. and Teen Village,  when they shift from to car camping.

We are also adjusting food organization and preparation on each tiyul. Each tiyul group will be broken up into smaller meal groups. Those groups will partner with one of their counselors to measure out, package, carry, prepare, and eat their meals both prior to their departure and during their time out of camp. Each of these groups will manage their cookware and even have their own cookbook to reference. This will encourage new levels of responsibility, creating new connections and opportunities for campers, ones that make not have been present in years past.

While food is the cornerstone of our change for Summer 2020, we are dedicated to helping each tiyul continue to evolve and improve. It is important that each tiyul is providing an appropriately progressive yet challenging experience. We are cognizant of choosing trails and forest areas that are not overused as to avoid detrimental environmental impacts across our state. Additionally, beginning Summer 2020, all of our guides will be taking a Mental Health First Aid Training to ensure our staff are trained equally for physical and mental health while out of camp.

Whether Tiyulim starts this summer or is a few years down for your family, we hope that the threads that tie our Tiyulim programs into our greater camp community resonates with you. John Muir, the “Father of National Parks,” has a unique view on hiking that speaks to me, to our camp community, and to the impactful connections made betwixt campers and all they interact with throughout their journey in the Tiyulim program:

“Hiking – I don’t like either the word or the thing. People ought to saunter to the mountains – not hike! Do you know the origins of that word – ‘Saunter?’ It’s a beautiful word. Away back in the middles ages, people used to go on pilgrimages to the Holy Land. When people in the villages through which they passed asked where they were going, the travelers would reply ‘A la sainte terre,’ ‘To the Holy Land.’ And so they became known as sainte-terre-ers, or saunterers. Now, these mountains are our Holy Land, and we ought to saunter through them reverently, not ‘hike’ through them.”

L’Shalom,

Ryan Bocchino | JCC Ranch Camp Associate Director

 

Summer 2020 Tiyulim Itineraries

I am thrilled to share the itineraries. Please be in touch if you have any questions. 303-316-6330 or rbocchino@jccdenver.org.

Pack ‘n Ride

Rock ‘n Ride

T.A.S.C.

Teen Village

There are certain experiences you don’t forget from childhood- experiences that leave a particular impression on you, whether it’s because it was something so new or so ingrained, it happened so quickly or took so long. One such experience (that I am certain took months to complete when I think back on it) was labeling my clothes for Ranch Camp each summer. I remember staying up to help my mom iron my name onto every single sock I owned into the wee hours of the morning before the first day of camp. Those little Gold Toe socks were so important. I remember the whirlwind that was meeting my counselors at the J on the first day and getting on the bus in the blink of an eye. I remember how much extra time it felt like I had in the morning when I was in the “freebie” spot on the chore chart once a week. I remember searching through my bag, too big for 19 days of camp, for the awesome blue and white dress with a palm tree on it that I had picked out special for Shabbat.

What I remember most though was this feeling of awe on my first Friday night. We were singing tunes and reciting prayers that I knew from home… at camp Shabbat services! How could everyone at camp, all the way in Elbert, Colorado, possibly know the same prayers and tunes that I knew? Even more so, why did it feel so much more magical to be singing surrounded by people I had only just met? I mean, the horses running behind the Pavilions as we prayed certainly didn’t hurt the ambiance, but it was more than the beauty of the Black Forest. My first Ranch Camp Shabbat service in July of 2001 was one of the first times I really felt connected to something bigger than myself, which we can agree is no small feat for a sixth grader. It was my “ah-ha” moment.

Nearly two decades later, I still actively seek out and find myself in communities that energize me in the same way. Towards the end of this most recent summer I posted a photo at camp on Instagram with the hashtag #onemoreweek. My friend from camp, David, immediately commented, “You can’t say it’s only ‘one more week’ when we all know you haven’t really left Ranch Camp in the last, like, 17 years.” And David isn’t wrong. I found a space at camp that has excited, energized, and invigorated me. It makes me question what Judaism means to me, what it means to be a citizen of this world, and how to be the best version of myself. And I’m not looking to leave a community like this any time soon.

Now I’m on the other end of this experience in many ways, working to create opportunities for our campers to have their “ah-ha” moments. Noah, Ryan, and I often find ourselves in late night deep conversations about camp all year long. How do we give our campers the opportunity to live the middot, or values, that we hold as a community? How do we help them learn about Judaism in a way that touches their soul? Most of all, how do we help them hold on to the socks that their parents have meticulously labeled? That last one is a question for the ages.

This past summer we tapped into something new. Our campers walked away feeling a stronger appreciation for the celebration of Shabbat, the pause at the end of our non-stop week. They felt like they were giving back to the community in a meaningful way, whether it was in camp or on a trip, truly embodying the value of tikkun olam, changing the world. They felt like they were learning about and participating in Jewish rituals at camp to new levels. But most of all, and nearest and dearest to my heart, our campers left camp feeling like they were a part of something bigger, something greater than themselves.

Our summer survey results helped us understand that how we incorporated Judaism and education this summer resonated with our campers. We saw a sizable jump in “spiritual, cultural, and religious life” at camp. These results have helped us identify the path that we will continue along next summer: Offering campers different opportunities to lead rituals and services and incorporating Judaism and Jewish values into all areas of camp whether it’s Teva Farm, Ropes Course, or Rikkud (Israeli dance). Hopefully what they experience and learn will continue to translate back to life at home. We hope that each camper, staff, and guest who passes through the Ranch Camp gates will look at the world with more awe. They will see their connection to the greater world, leaving with some moment that made them say “ah-ha!” Whether it’s realizing that they know the same tunes at services or that there is a community of people with their names also ironed on to every sock they own, they are a part of something bigger than themselves. I am confident that there was an 11-year-old at camp with us this summer that will also find themselves still at camp twenty years from now.

And in case any of you were wondering, I still have my hiking socks from Teen Village, and they still have my name ironed on the bottom of them.

 

L’Shalom,

Carly Coons | JCC Ranch Camp Assistant Director

Dear Ranch Camp Community,

For the year-round Ranch Camp team, Rosh Hashana is the time when we begin to move from reflecting on the summer that past and turn our eyes to the one that is coming next. We set goals for the next season. We build budgets to support those goals. It is very much our New Year.

With active recruitment for next summer slow until the Jewish High Holidays are over, we have a moment to ask the big question: How can we make everyone feel included, seen, and safe in our Ranch Camp community?

I want to share with you how our recently completed facility updates, as well as those planned for the near future, answer this question.

New bathrooms in the North and South villages, including a non-gendered bathroom and shower, allow us to house campers by their age groups. Our age groups (Chalutzim, Metapsim, and Toshavim) should be communities within our larger camp community. This will be so much easier for campers when they live on the same side of camp. We are also better-equipped to accommodate gender nonconforming members of our community.

A new flagpole and seating in the Commons establishes a central gathering point, where we can begin and end our sessions and our days as a community, in a circle, where we can see one another’s faces. We also removed many of the overhead electric lines, greatly improving the safety and beauty of our camp.

In the coming months, we will share news of improvements to our infrastructure. The goal of these projects is to address the safety of our roads, the integrity of our plumbing systems, and the reliability of our electric system.

As we continue to plan for Summer 2020, and we welcome the New Year, we will be looking at everything we do through the lens of the question: “Does this help us make every member of our community feel included, seen, and safe?”

 

Shana Tova!

 

Noah Gallagher | JCC Ranch Camp Director

There are a plethora of activities to try every day here at camp. From morning activities to chugim in the afternoon, evening programs to unit activities, each hour offers new opportunities and experiences. But many campers arrive on site with a specific destination in mind – the corral. It’s no surprise that horseback riding is one of the most anticipated activities of camp. With the horses etched into the camp sign and the saddles adorning the front gate, it’s made obvious from the beginning that the horse programs are an integral part of JCC Ranch Camp.

Each camper’s relationship with the corral begins on the first day of the session. With their cabins, everyone takes a trip to the “boot barn,” trying on the riding boots that are offered to those who do not possess their own pair. Once everyone’s comfortable with the boots they’ll be wearing, they learn about what they’ll get to do once they come for activities, maybe even getting the chance to pet a horse or two. As cabins leave for the next station, daydreams of trail rides float in their minds’ eye, excitement for the activity nearly tangible in the air.

This excitement has not yet abated by the time campers have the chance participate in the corral activity. The hour starts out with campers meeting their horses. Though many of these docile and well-trained creatures are new to camp this year, there are several who have come to call Ranch Camp a home in much the same way as the community’s human members – Seuss, Rojo, and Bones are some favorites, though every horse is well loved and cared for. The first time riding is usually spent in one of the arenas, learning the ropes of horse riding – spacing, steering, and commands are all quickly picked up.

The second (and sometimes even third) trip to the corral holds even more in store. Now that they’ve had some more basic experience, the campers are ready for a trail ride! A journey into the Outer 400 is always a peaceful and beautiful adventure, and some of the trails that the horses follow are also used for activities like hiking and mountain biking. But even if a camper has traveled a specific path before, going through the woods on a horse is an entirely new experience. A trail ride is the perfect way to connect with nature – there’s less talking in these activities, and quiet self-reflection is only natural in these moments, surrounded by trees on either side, sunlight filtering through the leaves and pine needles above, the setting punctuated only by the rhythmic thud of hooves on dirt.

At times like these, it’s obvious how important the corral is to camp, how integral these activities are in fostering the community and camaraderie that everyone leaves with. When given the opportunity to interact with these animals, the horses own calmness and quiet content spreads to those around them. The hard work that both campers and staff alike puts into their time at the corral comes back to reward them, building a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment, leaving everyone who comes through the corral with the knowledge that they have contributed a job well done.

The days at Ranch Camp start bright and early, the camp gathering for the morning circle at 7:45, and the hours spent under the bright Colorado sky are always filled with activity and energy. Most things at camp happen while the sun is high in the sky, but this is an overnight camp, and the fun doesn’t stop when the sun hits the horizon. The evening programs, always camp favorites, offer one more burst of excitement before bedtime, but on special nights, post-evening programs draw the end of the day on a bit further for a special treat.

Unlike evening programs, in which everyone at camp participates, the post-evening programs are generally divided by unit. Each unit – Chalutzim, Metapsim, and Toshavim – consists of three or four cabins, and these groups of campers have the opportunity to come together to solidify and strengthen their own communities during these times. This inter-cabin bonding begins with the first post-evening program (affectionately known as PEPs) of the session, a unit initiation. Generally taking place after opening campfire, the different units split off to their own campfires or unit areas to get to know the campers their age, returning campers welcoming the new. Sharing s’mores and campfire stories is the perfect end to the evening.

Other PEPs are a bit more energetic, adding some more thrill once campers are more comfortably settled in. Older campers might venture into the Outer 400 for a night hike or a game of camouflage. Others might put their mind to the test in an “escape room” in the Mo or a puzzle set out for them by a sibling cabin (raids being some of the most popular post-evening programs of all). Some evenings might find dance parties or movie nights, an extra special treat. For the younger kids, or just those who want something more relaxing before bed, storytelling with milk and cookies hits the spot. The rarity of these kinds of activities is part of what makes them so exciting – rest is one of the key parts of success at camp, so the opportunity to stay up past bedtime is always an adventure.

The other night, the Chaltuzim unit participated in a post-evening program, what ended up being one of the most meaningful nights of the session so far. The first group of Mini campers, the youngest cabins that only stay at camp for a week, were leaving the next morning, and the rest of the unit helped them make the night an extra special one. First, each Mini made a “Ranch Camp in a Jar” to take home with them, collecting leaves, flowers, and small rocks to create their own representation of camp – no matter where the next steps of their journey will take them, they will always have a little bit of Ranch Camp to call their own. Meanwhile, the unit’s older campers prepared a surprise at the pool. When the Minis arrived, they found wish boats prepared for them. As campers set the little wooden boats, each holding a tea candle, in the water of the pool, they made a wish that was released as the candles blew out. Standing around the pool as one community, illuminated by the light of the candles below, each and every person felt that those around them had, in the last week, become family.

These post-evening programs, like many other areas of camp, are what help to make this community such a special place. The things that happen when the sun goes down are obviously unique experiences that could not be had other places, bringing meaning to the words “sleepaway camp.” But more importantly, these are the times when campers are most able to connect with each other, the atmosphere created by these programs the natural setting for friendships to bloom. With every post-evening program, the bonds of the community grow ever stronger, building up the camaraderie that will still connect every member of camp long after the session itself is over.

The only predictable thing about the weather in Colorado is that it will be unpredictable. Luckily, we’re used to sudden weather changes here at camp, and even when an outdoor activity may not be possible, the excitement and fun of the day continue at the same level inside. For some campers, the back-pocket, rainy day activities are some of the most anticipated of the session, the fact that they come only every so often adding to the surprise and making them even more special.

Sunday was one of those stormy-weather days. The morning was just as warm as usual, the sun shining down to light the morning’s activities. On horses or mountain bikes, in the yurt for music or the Mo for drama, campers spread out around camp with water bottles in hand and sunscreen on their skin, ready to face the heat. The clouds that made their way over the horizon in the afternoon brought with them a reprieve from the temperature and the promise of one of those surprise rainy day programs. As the refreshing rain began to fall after dinner, the community made its way to the Mo for one of the most classic camp evening programs: Ranch Camp Idol! Each cabin worked together to create a lip-sync and dance to a song of their choosing, adding the finishing touches to their performance before going onstage and showing their friends their act! But Ranch Camp Idol has none of the judgement or competition of its namesake – passion and excitement are more important than talent, and the laughs of the other campers indicate everyone’s success.

A similar storm followed on Monday evening, the clouds that would soon give way to rainbows beginning to appear around dinnertime. Luckily, the scheduled program for the night was already meant to take place indoors – it was time for the Shuk! The perfect way to close out Israel Day, the Shuk is one of the most highly anticipated evening programs. Campers had been preparing all day to set up their station in the traditional Israeli market, and as they hung up their posters and set up their wares, the colors and energy in the Chad (or dining hall) perfectly mimicked the real thing. The room was soon full of excitement and cheer as campers took turns selling the goods they had worked so hard to produce, browsing the other tables in the meantime. With hot chocolate and brownies, nail painting and temporary tattoos, personalized bracelets and balloon animals, there was plenty to do and see, the Shuk over much too soon.

The schedule for the next week and a half is already full, so many experiences to be had and opportunities to share – but some of the most fulfilling times, the things that will stand out in memories, are not on the schedule. The unexpected and unplanned is always embraced here. Whether it’s a rainy-day program or a surprise raid from a sibling cabin, an impromptu song session or spontaneous game of gaga, the moments in between the planned ones often spark the most spirit and creativity. When thinking back to the summer many months from now, it is these memories that hold the strongest feeling of community, that will bring back the warmth of camp’s camaraderie.

Just as there is a first time for everything, there is a last time as well. Yesterday was one of those days, the last opening day of a session for the summer. Though it may seem to some, such as campers who come to camp for multiple sessions, that the end of the summer is all too close, the start of school too soon, the end of this most beautiful of seasons was the furthest thing from everyone’s mind as the front gate swung open to welcome the third session campers! The sounds of the crunch of gravel under the tires of buses and cars, the release of air as the doors swung open, and the cheers and shouts of excitement fell on ears like a symphony, the music of a community finally together. The song went on throughout the rest of the day as campers settled in. With cabins traveling together to take a dip in the pool or try on boots at the corral, the property was truly alive with the people who make it Ranch Camp.

This session is the largest one this summer, a fact that was evident as the group gathered before lunch for the opening circle. With so many members of one community, the opportunities for bonding and friendship skyrocket, and as everyone sang the Ranch Camp song, the spirit and enthusiasm in the words were such that the boy scouts on the bordering property must have heard every line. This energy, the beginning of what will stay with everyone through the session, did not abate in the afternoon, carrying through bonding games and unpacking time to Bombardier, the trivia-tag-teamwork evening program that has quickly become a camp tradition.

By the time the community gathered together the next morning, camp already felt like home, the rising morning sun a perfect way to awaken from such a good night’s sleep. Soon the voices of camp were waking up as well, birds chirping in trees providing a backing track to the songs integral to the morning circle. Modeh Ani comes first, welcoming our souls back into our bodies. Then comes both the American and Israeli national anthems. The circle is finished off with Shigaon, energetic and fun, to learn a new Hebrew word each day – today was “agvaniot” for tomatoes! Though the first three songs are tradition, Shigaon is newer, but equally as loved.

The combination of old and new is part of what makes Ranch Camp such a unique setting. Tradition is part of what keeps members of the community coming back for summer after summer, passing down the heritage of camp from one generation to the next. Even many of the staff members grew up here, now dedicating themselves to keeping the spirit of Ranch Camp alive. But just like the Shigaon song, or the introduction of exciting new activities such as Bombardier, the new parts of camp are just as important. And just as these new aspects of camp come to fit perfectly into what may be more traditional, it doesn’t take long for new members of the Ranch Camp community to realize that they are in a place where they belong. Returning campers take the hands of the new ones, showing them the ropes, teaching them the words, making sure they are included and involved. By the end of the day, old and new campers are nearly indistinguishable, all equally comfortable with the knowledge that they will be cared for and accepted unconditionally. Everyone in the community stands on an equal playing field, hand in hand, ready to spend the next two and a half weeks together as one.

The days here at Ranch Camp start out bright and early, most cabins shaking off sleep around seven. Unlike what may be the case during the school year, these mornings are met with no complaints or groans – instead, the day is greeted with excitement. Anticipation for what the next few hours will hold pours out of every cabin, dousing the camp in energy. This particular morning was especially bright and early, the excitement in the air especially energetic. Instead of being woken by their counselors, campers were roused by pounds on doors and blowing horns amid cheers and shouts of “It’s Maccabiah!”

The entire camp poured out of their beds at once, racing to throw on their brightly-colored clothes and meet at degel, the morning circle, fifteen minutes early. Most were already familiar with Maccabiah, and had been anticipating it all session. Those who had yet to experience this special day caught on quickly with help from their peers, learning that Maccabiah is an all-camp, all-day color war. The entire community splits up into four teams – green, yellow, blue, and red – and spends the day engaged in friendly competition, taking part in all sorts of competitions to earn points for their team. Each Maccabiah has its own unique theme, with today’s being Harry Potter, each color representing a different Hogwarts house.

At breakfast, each team gathered in the commons to cheer on three games of volleyball (one for each age unit) before heading inside to the Chad, where the meal was spent sitting with their teams instead of cabins. Though Maccabiah may appear to be just a full day of fun and games on the surface, a closer look at moments like these reveals the opportunities for cross-cabin friendships to be fostered and teamwork to be strengthened that appear all throughout the day. The ruach, or spirit, of the cheers and chants never tear other teams down. Instead, they lift each other up, instilling confidence and camaraderie in the community, the room brimming with the true spirit of Maccabiah before the first meal of the day is even over.

By the end of breakfast, the sun had warmed away any cool drafts of air from the night before, the sky blue and clear as campers scattered underneath it. Each team spent time creating their own chants, songs, skits, and posters to present to the other groups. Afterwards, the age units traveled around to different stations, competing in trivia, various sports, and even cake decorating, varied and diverse activities that had something for everyone. Next was a silent lunch, both a fun challenge and a respite from the shouting and cheers of the rest of the day, followed by Menucha. In the afternoon was the Macc-o-peel, for many the pinnacle of Maccabiah.

The Macc-o-peel (or, to stick to the theme, the Magic-o-peel) is an all-camp relay race spanning the entirety of the Inner 40. Starting with a race up from the front gate and ending with a water-moving challenge, this is another activity that has a place for everyone. By the time they’ve reached the sports field for the race’s finale, campers might be soaked with water, covered in face paint, or sticky from whipped cream, each contentedly exhausted and proud of their contribution. No matter which team comes in first, everyone celebrates together with a color-powder party. Tonight, as everyone danced together amidst the bright (and washable!) powder, the teams mixed together, no longer separated, all united again as one community.

Such an active day could only be closed by one of the most unique evening programs: a movie night. Though it may seem a basic pastime, movies become novel once again at camp, a projector and a screen suddenly unusual and exciting against the background of the technology-free environment. Campers relaxed and enjoyed the film together, staying warm with the feeling of camaraderie around them despite the setting of the sun on the horizon. The camp was especially quiet tonight, most everyone asleep as soon as their heads hit their pillows, quickly deep in dreams of color and competition, teamwork and strength, ruach and cheer.

When the words “Ranch Camp” are spoken, a very specific image comes to mind for many. Maybe some picture the Ranch Camp sign, where cabin photos are taken at the beginning of every session. Others may imagine the front gate, the first thing that lets people know they’ve finally arrived. Or maybe it’s the Chad, the Mo, a cabin, a favorite activity area. These images of camp are widely varied, but all have one thing in common – they exist in the inner 40 acres of camp.

The camp property is split into two parts: the Inner 40 and the Outer 400, each named for their respective acreage. Though most members of the community spend the majority of their time in the Inner 40 (where many of the previously mentioned classic camp images reside), the Outer 400 exists as a wealth of experience and opportunity, a sliver of the natural world that campers are able to engage in on a frequent basis.

While most activities are located close to the cabins, there are a few exceptions that take place past the fence. One of these is archery, a camp favorite and highly anticipated by all. Trained instructors teach the campers how to load, aim, and shoot their arrows, everyone taking part in this long-established sport while surrounded by the environment that it was designed for. Another one of these activities is ropes. Sometimes visible through the trees, the ropes course can be spotted during the drive up the main road. Activity groups bond and take their teamwork to the next level on low ropes before making their way further up the path to the high ropes course, where the beautiful scenery can be taken in from the best vantage point at camp.

These activities are some of the best around, but sometimes, the Outer 400 is best experienced without distraction. Campers in the EQ and Beginner Horsemanship programs (and very often those in the regular ranch programs as well) take their horses on trail rides, becoming one with the nature around them through their collaboration with the beautiful animals. The mountain bike activities are perfect for those who crave a more fast-paced kind of excitement, and for those who prefer to take their time and fully envelop themselves in the natural world, the teva wild hikes offer a wide and varied range of experiences. From the wide and sunny meadows to the cool and shady sand caves, the Outer 400 offers new discoveries and diversity at every turn.

But for many, time in the Outer 400 is best spent in one specific way: camping. Younger kids may sleep at Eddie’s Corner, an outdoor area mostly used for services that allows quick and easy access to bathrooms and cabins, making sure that what may be someone’s first foray into sleeping out is an experience that is both exciting and comfortable. Older kids might trek out farther, taking their sleeping bags to well-known campsites like Cold Mountain or Upper Mushroom. Campfires, s’mores, and storytelling round out these picturesque evenings under the stars. Even if the destination is a bunkbed rather than a tent, night hikes are the perfect opportunity to observe the world of Ranch Camp from a different perspective, moments for meditation or just quiet reflection offering a chance to process the excitement and experiences of the rest of camp.

Summer camp exists to many as a respite from the outside world, a place full of peace and joy, where community is prioritized and everyone is accepted just as they are. This is exemplified all over camp, but especially strongly in the Outer 400, where all experience levels are welcome, the awe fostered by nature is shared by all, and the surrounding natural world strengthens the bonds of all who enter and experience it together.

Most mornings, upon waking up, the campers know what to expect from the day ahead of them – track activities in the morning, cabin activities and chugim in the afternoon, snacks and cabin time in between. Though the schedule may be the same, every moment holds potential for excitement and new opportunities. Some days, however, vary from the norm. Days like Maccabiah, the all-camp color war, or Israel Day. Most of these camp “holidays” make an appearance every session, but the session two campers are always in for a special treat, as they get to experience an extra special day at camp: the Fourth of July!

Like most days, the morning schedule consisted of tracks activities, breakfast and degel (the opening circle) taking place at the usual time – but the excitement in the air that began building with the sunrise made the morning feel different. Decked out in red, white, and blue, the camp community gathered to begin the celebrations, joining together into some especially rousing renditions of Modeh Ani, Hatikva, and, of course, the Star Spangled Banner. Breakfast reflected the mood of the day, pancakes topped with strawberries, blueberries, and powdered sugar to match the classic American colors.

The real celebrations, however, kicked off at lunch. Many people have traditions on the Fourth of July – perhaps a family camping trip, a barbeque, a trip to see fireworks. Ranch Camp is no different. Every year, the camp gathers on the field next to the pool instead of the Chad (or dining hall) for lunch, the smells of sunscreen and chlorine overpowered by the delicious scent of a classic Fourth of July picnic. Burgers, potato chips, and coleslaw are enjoyed while resting on towels in the shade, happy conversation floating on the breeze. Once they’ve eaten their fill, campers are free to jump in the pool or enjoy the annual camp carnival. Snow cones and cotton candy are a fitting dessert to the nutritious meal, enjoyed in between turns at a blow-up water slide, poses at the photo booth, friendly competition at various games, and a chance to soak counselors at the dunk tank.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky it became obscured by clouds, afternoon storms so reliable here that they are nearly a part of the schedule – but the weather didn’t put a damper on the celebrations, the festivities at the carnival bringing in the true atmosphere of summer. Like the chugim offered most afternoons, campers were free to choose which activities they took part in, but the sense of community that the mingling of age groups and genders brings was felt even more strongly than usual. Instead of splitting into groups for the free choice activities, every person at camp took part in the same activities at once, sharing the joy and enthusiasm that the carnival fostered. By the time it was over, it felt less like a carnival and more like a party, a gathering not of strangers but of friends and family. Bedtime came with the knowledge that the next day would return to the regular camp schedule, but the companionship and cheer fostered in just one afternoon is something that will not fade with the experiences of the days ahead.