Summer Day Camp 2012

Slide Ranch Day Camps will leave your child with lasting memories of feeling nourished by the natural world.  Our educational emphasis at Slide Ranch is on firsthand experience and exploration.  Campers are encouraged to touch, taste, smell, hear, observe, and ask questions.   We focus on teaching respect for animals, plants, the earth and each other. 

Your child will actively participate in farm routines to gain an appreciation of the origins of our food and clothing, and to learn a care-taking role with plants and animals.  Much of the camp focuses on farm and garden experiences like milking goats, feeding and collecting eggs from chickens, carding and spinning wool from our sheep, creating nature-based crafts, preparing compost, planting seeds, and harvesting and cooking from our organic garden.  Your child will also explore the tide pools and trails of our beautiful coastal wild lands.

Our experienced Teachers-in-Residence lead the week’s activities in small, age-based groups of about eight campers, tailoring the activities and focus to the interests, age, and needs of the campers in their group.  Occasional large circle activities complement their camp experience.  The personal attention campers receive inspires them to deepen their sense of wonder and connection to the natural world, each other, and themselves. 

Camp culminates in a special Slide Ranch Farmers Market that the campers organize and share with their families and friends, “selling” the organic produce they have harvested from the garden and crafts they have made during their week of camp.  Enjoy the Farmers Market one hour before the close of camp on Friday.

Junior Camp Counselor Program (Ages 13-18)
Junior Camp Counselors work closely with Slide Ranch teachers to encourage and inspire younger campers.  This is an opportunity for you to build on previous Slide Ranch experiences and learn new leadership skills.  Junior Camp Counselors must be at least 13 years old and have an interest in working with children.  To apply, mail us a completed registration form along with a one page description of why you want to be a Junior Camp Counselor.

2012 Slide Ranch Summer Camp Schedule

Please note: if a program is sold out, you may register and request to be placed on the wait list.

Dates ---------------Age group--------------------Time
6/11-6/15         Ranch Rangers (ages 5-8)        9:00-1:30
6/18-6/22         Ranch Rangers (ages 5-8)        9:00-1:30
6/25-6/29         Ranch Rangers (ages 5-8)        9:00-1:30
7/2-7/6*           All Ages (5-12 years)                9:00-1:30
7/9-7/13           Ranch Rangers (ages 5-8)        9:00-1:30
7/9-7/13           Jr Camp Counselors (13-18)     8:45-2:00
7/16-7/20         Junior Farmers (ages 8-12)      9:00-3:00
7/23-7/27         Ranch Rangers (ages 5-8)        9:00-1:30
7/23-7/27         Jr Camp Counselors (13-18)     8:45-2:00
7/30-8/3           Junior Farmers (ages 8-12)      9:00-3:00
8/6-8/10           All Ages (5-12 years)                9:00-1:30
8/13-8/17         All Ages (5-12 years)                9:00-1:30

*Summer camp WILL be held on the July 4th holiday.

How to register

Click here to download the 2012 summer camp registration form. Forms must be completed and mailed to the Slide Ranch admin office and will be processed in the order received. If a program is sold out, you may still fill out a registration form and request to be placed on the wait list.

Mail completed forms to:
Slide Ranch Admin Office
2025 Shoreline Hwy
Muir Beach, CA 94965

Our summer camps sell out quickly, so mail your forms to us as soon as possible to ensure you get the spots you want. Thank you!

Scholarship Program

Scholarships are available for low-income families and will be awarded on the basis of need and availability.  Please download and send in the additional Scholarship Application with these forms to be considered for a summer camp scholarship.

After Care

After care is available Monday - Thursday until 5pm for $5/half hour. It consists of supervised childcare in the Slide Ranch setting provided by a rotation of Slide Ranch teachers. You may sign up with your camper's teacher the first morning of camp, or on a daily basis during morning drop-off. Please bring exact change in cash each afternoon at pick-up.

Carpooling

Slide Ranch encourages carpooling.  Four weeks before the start of your child’s summer camp week, we will send you a list of the other families enrolled for that week, sorted by town or city.  We will help facilitate carpools on the first morning of camp, but it may be helpful to call or email another family from the carpool list prior to the week of camp.  We are located 30 minutes from San Francisco and 15 minutes from Mill Valley.