Summer Camps with Horses
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Summer Camps with Horses
May 2009
We just moved back to the Bay Area but are returning to an
amazing co-ed horse camp in New Mexico. They are a family run
camp that taught our daughter independence, self esteem and
responsibility while giving her the summer experience of her
lifetime. Camp is two weeks long - July 12 - 25 and is only $800
for everything. Our daughter is flying from Oakland and being
met by camp owner. If you are looking for a wonderful experience
that is cost effective this is a great camp. Greg Evans the
owner is from Berkeley and has an amazing family owned camp.
Would love to see some Bay Area kids at this exceptional camp
this summer.
Rebecca
Jan 2009
Hello Group:
My 11-year old intense, animal-loving daughter is dying to go
to sleep away camp. Can anyone recommend any good ones? I'm
especially interested in camps that offer one-week sessions,
since this will be her first time away for more than a couple
of nights. Thank you!
-Ann
The Girl Scouts have a horse-oriented sleep-away camp in the
Santa Cruz mountains called Skylark Ranch. You don't need to
be a girl scout to go, and the prices are very fair. My
daughter went last year at age 8 and is going again this year,
and she had a blast!
Their website is camprocks.org. Look for Skylark Ranch (they
have several camps).
HTH,
Erin
Check out Girl Scout camps! The Bay Area Council has two horse
focused camps: Skylark in Santa Cruz Mtns. and
Sugar Pine in
the Sierra foothills. Well run programs, relatively inexpensive
(compaired to others), and I know many girls who have had a
blast there. Go to http://www.camprocks.org/
Girl Scout fan
The Girl Scouts have a week-long horse camp in the Sierras at their
Sugar
Pine
location, which is very nice. If your daughter is not a Girl Scout, it
costs $10 to join
and the camps are affordable, too (horse camp is more).
For a sleep away camp with horses, please check out Far View
Ranch Camp. Go to www.farviewranch.com. Although the sessions
are 2 weeks rather than one, the times flies by for the kids. I
went there almost 40 years ago and my two kids went as long as
they could and absolutely loved it. In addition to horses they
have many other animals that the kids help taking care of -
goats, cows, pigs, kittens, etc. The staff do a great job
making sure each camper is happy and making friends. The only
downside is the drive to get there as it's about 2 1/2 - 3
hours from Berkeley, but it's worth it for the kid's sakes.
former camper
Jan 2007
The postings about local horse camps are outdated. Tilden horse
area is being renovated and Wildcat Creek seems to be defunct.
Can anyone recommend other horse camps for my 9 year old
equestrian?
Betsy
Rancho del Lago
in Briones has a great camp for young riders.
Camps are offered in the summer, but also during school breaks
as well, ie. spring and winter breaks. Most of the horses are
ponies, which makes them a great size for learning to groom and
tack-up. My daughter started at camp there and continues to
take lessons there. There is a newly formed pony club for the
older riders as well. Check them out at http://www.rancho-del-lago.com/
aki
Jan 2003
Greetings - We're interested in recommendations for horse-
riding sleepaway camp for our almost 10-year-old daughter.
She's old enough to welcome a sleepover camp for a week or so
next summer, but short of that, a regular day camp within a
reasonable drive from North Oakland would also work. Have
checked the archives but there's nothing on sleep-away riding
camps. Thanks very much.
Deborah
Try Skylark Ranch of the San Francisco Bay Girl Scouts. The
camp is a couple of miles back from the water near
Pescadero (between Half-Moon Bay and Santa Cruz) and
the most affordable riding and horse tending experience for
girls of all skill levels. You can find them via Google.com. My
daughter went two years and enjoyed it a lot.
Heather
Roughing It Day Camp
is an excellent local camp with horse programs.
http://www.roughingit.com/. If you are looking for sleep away camps the
best place to start is the American Camping Association
www.acacamps.org where you can search by area and activity. You
also have the peace of mind knowing that they are accredited.
Jennifer
April 2002
My 8 year old daughter is interested in spending part
of her summer at a horse day camp. I checked the web,
but anything I find is also extremely expensive.
Anyone know of a local horse daycamp that's reasonably
priced?
Cathy
Tilden Park's Pony Ride offers a horse day camp:
--Pony Ride at Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley, Camey
Thompson (operator), (510) 527-0421
http://www.ebparks.org/dropdown/horse.htm
carolyn
I highly recommend the farm/horse camp at Wildcat Creek
Stables, 6102 Park Ave Richmond, CA (510) 232-6344.
You can read more about it at www.wildcatcreekstables.com.
This stable is set as a rescue stable, which I think
teaches the kids a lesson about how animals should be
treated once they are past their prime, (not to say that
the horses there aren't GORGEOUS and well behaved - they're
just not going to win their race at Bay Meadows any longer).
Because it is a non-profit, their horse camps are much
less expensive. Be aware that the day is not spent riding
all day long. The kids also learn about animal care
(there are also goats, geese, a donkey and many dogs
and kitties roaming the property) and get involved in
clearing the stables. My son was lucky enough to attend
over the week a horse gave birth last year and saw a
colt take its first few wobbly steps. All in all it is
much less pretentious and casual than many stables I've
been to in the bay area. When they ride they do both arena
work and go on beautiful treks through the regional park
right behind their property. The only downside is that
I think they are closing soon as the owner is very involved
in animal research somewhere in Nevada.
- Jen (horse lover)
Tilden Park has a horse day camp--ask at the pony ride.
(no personal experience, but I've seen their flyer)
Deborah
Regarding a horse day camp, try the Girl Scouts Camp
Chameleon in the Oakland Hills. As far as I've been
able to tell, the Girl Scouts offer the only bargain
for horseback riding, though it is only two hours a day
at the stables. The camp is sponsored by the Girl
Scouts of the S.F. Bay Area. My daughter has participated
in Girl Scout sleep away, but not the day camp.
Good luck.
Ellen
1999
I have a daughter who loves horses and has been taking lessons for about 6
months. Can anyone recommend a good horseback riding day camp in the area for
the summer? Thanks.
Wildcat Stables on Park Ave in East Richmond has a summer day camp program
that I hear is great fun. It's very woodsy up there, next to Wildcat Canyon.
My son spent a fun week at Bottomly Farms one summer taking riding
lessons. It's near Martinez. Ginger
Feb 2008
Re: Walnut Creek daycamps for 5th grade girl
On a slightly different tack (no pun intended...), my daughter
has gone to Castle Rock Arabians for two summers now. It goes
week by week and they may give you a discount if you book
multiple weeks. They made riding really fun and the kids learn
lots about horses, grooming them, caring for the tack, etc. My
daughter adored it! It is up near the foot of Mt. Diablo past
Walnut Creek High School.
kl
April 2007
Re: Sewing, horseback riding, and cooking camps?
You might check into Roughing It Day Camp in Lafayette for horseback
riding. They
pick your child up each morning and drop them off in the afternoon
--less time in the
car for you! My neighbors' twin nine year old girls attended last
summer and had a
fabulous time (we live in Montclair). Some years ago, my sister was a
camp counselor
and her best friend was the riding instructor, so I know they've been
around for a long
time and have a good track record.
Monique
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Last updated: Jun 27, 2009
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