Experienced equestrians and complete beginners can both find a home at the Widji Ranch. Ranch Camp at YMCA Camp Widjiwagan provides campers ages 6-16 the opportunity to experience all aspects of horsemanship, from skills in the saddle to feeding and mucking stalls. Campers not only learn about horses, but about themselves as well.
HELPING KIDS GROW
Camp Builds Strong Kids
ENCOURAGING CONNECTION
A connection with any animal is special, but learning to trust and work with a horse as a partnership is extra special. Overnight Ranch Campers are assigned their own horse for the week and together, horse and rider build a relationship built on trust and respect, forming the ultimate connection.
ENCOURAGING RESPONSIBILITY
Horses are hard work. Each week, Ranch Campers step up and help take care of their horse by feeding, filling water buckets, cleaning stalls, and learning basic horse care. Ranch Campers spend the week experiencing not only how much fun horses can be, but how much care and responsibility they require.
STRONGER COMMUNICATION
The first lesson Ranch Campers learn is that communicating with horses is different than communicating with fellow campers. Is the horse tired? Bored? Hungry? Horses use body language and a different set of cues, and it requires campers to listen, to pay attention, and be patient as they learn this new “language.”
SAFETY
Safety is our top priority at the Ranch, as well as Widji as a whole. With strict safety procedures in place, Ranch Campers can expand their comfort zone and equine skillset in a safe environment.
SAFETY GEAR
Every rider wears an ASTM/SEI certified helmet in proper condition that correctly fits their head. Long pants are recommended and closed-toe tennis shoes or boots with a heel are required at the Ranch.
SAFETY PROCEDURES
Before each ride or ground lesson, a proper safety check is performed that checks the horse, rider, and tack.
QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS
Safety first starts with knowledgeable staff. Our Equestrian Director is a Certified Horseman’s Association instructor, and all Ranch staff go through a week-long equestrian training prior to the start of camp.
BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
Ranch Campers get the best of both worlds; they spend a portion of their day at the Widji Ranch, but also participate in daily swim time as well as traditional camp activities. Time at the Ranch is comprised of two parts.
Note: Ranch activities canceled due to weather may not be rescheduled.
GROUND LESSONS
While at the barn ranch campers participate in ground lessons. Ground lessons teach skills that are needed outside of the saddle, such as how to properly groom and tack a horse, hot to lead a horse, or how to give a horse a bath. Ground lessons also include purely fun activities like paint-a-pony (with animal safe paint) or making horse treats.
RIDING LESSONS
Each day, Ranch Campers, with the exception of Farm Camp, have a riding lesson with one our riding instructors. All riding levels are welcome and campers will be paired with a horse that matches their experience level. Lessons are progressive throughout the week, so no matter the riding level, each camper learns new skills during their week at Ranch Camp.
OVERNIGHT RANCH CAMP
Overnight Ranch Campers are the heart and soul of Widji Ranch. Campers in these programs participate in riding lessons, ground lessons, barn maintenance and traditional camp activities each day.
MORE TIME AT THE BARN
Overnight Ranch Campers spend more time with our horses and at the Widji Ranch than anyone else at camp. Our overnight ranch campers are the only campers who participate in daily riding lessons with their own horse that they are paired with for the session.
SPECIAL ACTIVITIES
Being at camp in the mornings and evenings has its perks. Ranch Campers have the opportunity to do special activities that Day Ranch Campers simply cannot do, like a sunrise or sunset trail ride, assisting with evening chores or helping to herd our horses in and out of their pastures.
SPECIALITY CAMPS
For a truly special horse experience, Specialty Ranch Camps are overnight camp programs that have an extra unique twist. Rodeo Riders get to try riding the (inflatable) bull and have a roping lesson, Girl Power campers participate in activities focused on boosting confidence and teambuilding skills, and Advanced Ranch Campers might take a trotting trail ride, allowing these campers to have a Ranch Camp experience unlike any other.
