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- How long have you been in business?
Mountain Meadow Ranch Summer Camp was started by Jack and Jacquie
Ellena. They held their first session of camp as a boys camp in
the summer of 1956 with about 35 boys. Mountain Meadow is now
owned and operated by second generation owner/directors, Jack
Jr. “Chip” and Jody Ellena.
- Where is Mountain Meadow Ranch?
Mountain Meadow is located about an hour and ten minutes north
of Reno, Nevada, just 2 miles west of Hwy 395 and ten miles southwest
of Susanville, California.
- How many campers attend Mountain Meadow each session?
We limit our enrollment to no more than 100 campers. We have found
this to be a camper population that greatly accommodates many
aspects of our camp philosophy. Some of the major advantages of
a smaller camp family include better and more thorough supervision,
greater familiarity throughout, quicker bonding and development
together, and better communication within the camp family. At
a hundred campers each individual will have greater participation
and access to activities and we can assure ultimately more personalized
care.
- What is the ratio of counselors to campers?
4 to 1. We have 25 counseling and supervisory staff spending their
days working directly with the campers. In addition, there is
a Doctor or RN on site, 9 kitchen and maintenance staff, 4 directors,
and our secretary.
- How old are the counselors?
Our counselors must be at least 19 years old and have completed
at least one year of college. The typical age range each summer
is 19-24 years old. Our Activity Heads and Assistant Directors
are typically between the ages of 22-30.
- Where do the counselors come from?
Our staff, as with our campers, come to us from all over the U.S.
and the world. Many of our counselors were campers with us. The
majority are from west coast universities.
- What is the rate of return for counselors?
We average 60% to 70% returning staff each summer.
- What is the rate of return for campers?
We average 60% to 70% returning campers each summer and occasionally
will hit 80% returning campers.
- How many campers are in each cabin group?
Eight per cabin group for our youngest campers and no more than
16 for our older guy campers. The middle- aged groups range between
8 and 14 campers per cabin group.
- How do campers select activities?
Just prior to each activity period (mornings at about 9:30am and
afternoons around 2:00pm) the camp family gathers to select activities.
At this time the head of each activity announces the particulars
taking place at their activity. Campers need to hear what’s
happening so that they may make better educated selections. For
example, a horseback riding activity for a given period could
be beginning, intermediate or advanced trail rides going in any
number of directions, or it could be games, instruction or western
dressage in the arena. After the campers hear of all their choices,
each activity instructor asks in turn who wants to go to their
activity. Campers choose by raising their hands and off they go.
If a camper should not be picked for their activity of choice,
they will have first priority at the next activity period. Upon
arrival to each activity a role is taken which in turn is fed
into our database. A resulting spreadsheet tells us who is where
and when.
- May I have references?
A list of references is included in each information packet. We’d
be happy to make others available to you upon request.
- What if a camper does not want to do a specific activity?
With choice of activities, campers may choose to participate as
little or as much in any activity area they desire. Campers always
need to be participating in a supervised activity, but we don't
dictate what that activity is. We offer choice of activities twice
each morning and twice each afternoon.
- What is the weather like?
At 4600’ elevation the climate is very comfortable. Daytime
temps average between 75 and 95 degrees and the nights average
between 45 and 65 degrees.
- Is there a doctor of nurse on staff?
There is always a doctor or RN on duty 24 hours a day all summer
long.
- How do campers get to Mountain Meadow?
Parents may drive their campers to the ranch, fly with them to
Reno where they may rent a car and drive them to camp, or fly
them to Reno where we will escort them to the ranch. For fifty
summers we have been escorting campers to and from the Reno-Tahoe
International Airport. Over half of our campers each summer choose
to fly into the Reno Airport where we greet each camper as they
exit their plane. We then escort each camper to baggage and home
to the ranch. Upon completion of their stay with us we escort
each camper to the airport, through check in and stay with each
until their plane departs. There is no extra charge for this service.
- What happens if my child is sick or injured?
We have a Doctor or RN on site and an urgent care clinic is just
8 miles from camp. We also have ambulances with paramedics and
air ambulance companies that serve our area just minutes away
from camp.
- When may I enroll my child in Mountain Meadow?
Enrollment Forms are first made available to our current camp
families from mid-summer until late September, after which enrollment
is open to all new and returning camper families.
- May I visit Mountain Meadow before summer?
Yes, we welcome and enjoy all visitors. Please call ahead to make
an appointment (we like to prepare some cookies or some such tasty
treat).
- What if my child becomes homesick?
Homesickness / Missing Home is a normal part of growing up and
is to be expected in varying degrees. Missing home is not a sickness
but certainly is part of being human. It's just missing home.
We are very open about “home sickness” and discuss
it as a camp family to help our campers and sometimes our staff
to face and understand how they feel. We tell them that it's a
normal and very natural feeling, and that it's OK. We encourage
campers to tell someone how they’re feeling, to get a hug,
but not to allow themselves to dwell on it. We help these campers
set goals and encourage them to stay positive about the independence
that they are developing, to stay busy, and make their families
proud. Our success rate is near 100%. Once in a great while, a
camper will really have a problem with homesickness. If, after
24 hours, the camper is still missing home and not able to participate
in camp activities because of it, we will call you and together
we will decide what to do.
DO NOT TELL YOUR CAMPER, PRIOR
TO COMING TO CAMP, THAT IF HE OR SHE IS NOT HAPPY, THEY MAY COME
HOME.
Having an "out" often sets a camper up to
fail. If things are not going well, they will focus on the "out"
you have given them, rather than working with you and us to find
a way to success.
- What about all the details to prepare for camp? What
should I bring to camp?
Each enrolled camper will receive a “Get Ready For Camp”
Information Booklet that will answer all of the particulars regarding
preparing for camp. It includes travel info, packing and equipment
lists, shipping details, do’s and don’ts, etc.
- What if I have questions not answered here?
Please do not hesitate to call or email
us with any unanswered questions or concerns.
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