Our Airport Procedures

Mountain Meadow Ranch has utilized the Reno-Tahoe International Airport since the days of the twin engine prop planes and driving our summer camp truck out onto the tarmac to load camper lockers directly onto the planes. Owner/Director Jack “Chip” Ellena is at the airport on travel days himself to oversee camper escort procedures. Airline and Airport staffers are informed of our travel details prior to our arrival, and work with us to ensure a smooth and safe journey for all the kids.

MMR Staff-Escorted Flights

For our camp family’s security and peace of mind, campers flying from Southern California or the San Francisco Bay Area may select our escorted flights where MMR Staff will meet campers at check-in and escort them through security, onto their flights, fly with them to Reno and escort them here to Mountain Meadow Ranch. We also provide escorts on selected return flights to these same cities. There is no extra charge if you choose this escort service, however please note that airfare is not included. It is a fun, smooth and safe process and a great way to start an amazing camp adventure! Our Escorted Flights for Summer 2012 can be found here .

Day-Of-Travel Escort Procedures

For flights to camp, camper families meet MMR Staff at the airport check-in area 2 hours before departure. (Please have your boarding passes printed 24 hours prior to the flight by checking in at southwest.com; flight itineraries are e-mailed to participating families once flights are booked). One hour prior to the flight, our staff will escort campers through security to the gate of departure. Parents please check-in your camper with our escort staff before leaving the airport. Camp families arriving later than one hour before flight may find MMR Staff at the gate of departure. We will stay with and supervise campers at the gate, onto the plane, and fly with the campers to Reno. After landing, we escort campers off of the plane, gather luggage and accompany the campers home to Mountain Meadow Ranch.
For flights from camp, families may meet our staff and their campers at the gate of arrival or at the baggage claim carousel. Parents please sign-out your camper with our staff before leaving the airport. We will escort campers off of the plane and to the baggage claim carousel and remain with the campers until parents arrive and sign-out the camper.

For Non-Escorted Flights and Flights from other cities

Be assured, a staff member wearing a MMR staff shirt will greet your child at arrival gate whenever he/she arrives and provide escorted transportation to the Ranch. If you are selecting a flight not listed on our escorted flight list, please try to arrange for your child to arrive at the airport as close to noon as possible.

On travel days, Mountain Meadow Ranch staff are stationed at key locations throughout the airport; baggage claim, security checkpoints, the main terminal, and our “home base” at the Food Court on the lower level. A camp director or Mountain Meadow Ranch staff member will meet each camper personally at their arrival gate in Reno and provide escorted transportation to the Ranch via our camp vans or by bus. It is a short hour and a half drive from the airport to Mountain Meadow.