Rawhide Ranch

WELCOME TO CAMP:
A PARENT’S GUIDE OF FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs | GETTING READY | GETTING THERE | GETTING HOME

How do I send mail to my camper?
The daily mail is delivered after lunch to the campers by our Pony Express Riders. The campers always look forward to receiving letters, funny cards, photos (PLEASE no candy or food - ranches have ants and mice) from family and friends during their stay.

Send U.S. Postal Service mail to:
Camper’s Name/Session Date
Rawhide Ranch
PO Box 216
Bonsall, CA 92003

(For other delivery services—UPS, FedEx, etc.), use 6987 W. Lilac Rd.) Remember to allow an extra day or two, even for overnight delivery, due to our rural location. We suggest postmarking letters/packages no later than Tuesday to give you the best change of getting mail here on time.

If time constraints prevent getting mail sent to your camper there is also a one-way email option available via the online Parents’ Corral at www.rawhideranch.com. PLEASE DO NOT USE THE RANCH FAX NUMBER OR RANCH EMAIL ADDRESS FOR CAMPER CORRESPONDENCE. Refer to your confirmation letter for log-in information.

Are campers allowed to receive “care packages”?
We ask that you do not send candy or food to your camper. There is no food storage area available and we no longer allow food to be stored in your camper’s cabin. Consider sending small gifts or additional “pony bucks” instead – coffee break times are a big event and the campers love choosing something from one of the snack areas.

Does my camper need spending money?
Pony Bucks are the “currency of choice” during each camper’s visit. You may purchase Pony Bucks during check-in as well as leave money on account “in the bank”. Daily coffee breaks give the campers time to relax, have a cool drink or snack, and visit our camp store. Campers generally find $15-20 per week sufficient.

Are laundry facilities available?
The ranch provides the opportunity for campers staying for two or more consecutive weeks (summer sessions only) to send their laundry out. The cost is based on total weight with a minimum charge applied. Cost is subject to change but is generally in the range of $15 per camper per week.

Will my camper be bunked with his/her friend as requested?
We make every effort to place campers with requested bunkmates. We have learned from long experience that placing three or more requested campers together can, at times, have a negative impact on cabin dynamics. Therefore, we ask that campers request only one bunkmate and that both bunkmates request each other. Campers are bunked by age so bunkmates need to be close in age (within one year). Our program is designed for campers to have the opportunity to spend their entire day together within their program groups so if your camper is attending camp with a group of friends they will be assured of spending most of their time together.

Is a phone available for camper use?
We encourage campers to experience keeping in touch “the old-fashioned way” - writing and receiving letters. If you must check on your child’s progress during the camp session please call the ranch office; we will check on your camper and give you a call back.

Can families visit during the camp session?
Part of the magic of camp is making great friends while being away from parents and loved ones for a short time. We ask that there be no visits to campers during the week’s session as we are very busy and involved with our campers and they only have a short time to be at camp. Campers look forward all week to their family’s arrival for the big show on Saturday morning…..see you there!

Is a shuttle service available from the San Diego airport for arriving/departing campers?
Rawhide Ranch does not have a regular shuttle service available but special arrangements may be made with an additional fee. If your camper will be arriving/departing by air, please contact the ranch office BEFORE booking a flight. A confirmation will be sent to parents prior to camp session confirming pick-up/drop-off arrangements.

How do I contact the ranch in case of family emergency?
In case of a medical or family emergency contact the Rawhide Ranch office at (760)758-0083. After office hours, our voice mail system will give you an emergency pager number you may use and/or an opportunity to leave a message for the Camp Director. The pager number is for immediate emergencies only—callers needing general information are asked to leave a message and the call will be returned first thing in the morning.

What if we have to cancel the reservation at the last minute?
The camp fee includes a $200 non-refundable deposit but the remaining camp fee may be refundable if the reservation is cancelled prior to the deadline. Please refer to the most recent copy of the Parent's Guide booklet which was included with your confirmation packet or call the ranch office for deadline dates for refunds. In order to provide the highest quality horse program we must plan well in advance based on confirmed reservations. No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after the deadline date.

FAQs | GETTING READY | GETTING THERE | GETTING HOME

How to get to Rawhide Ranch:

From Los Angeles/Orange County:
Drive INTERSTATE 5 South to Oceanside. HWY 76 off-ramp is just past Oceanside Harbor; head EAST on HWY 76. In Bonsall, turn RIGHT on CAMINO DEL REY, cross the bridge, stay LEFT at the Y in the road and just at the corner of the golf course turn LEFT on WEST LILAC ROAD. Rawhide Ranch is up the hill (approx. 3 miles); you’ll see the sign on the RIGHT.

From San Diego:
Drive INTERSTATE 15 NORTH to OLD HWY 395/US-395, turn LEFT at end of ramp. Go to top of hill; turn LEFT onto WEST LILAC ROAD. Ranch is approx. 1.6 miles ahead on your left.

From Riverside/San Bernardino:
Drive INTERSTATE 15 SOUTH past Temecula. Take HWY 76 exit WEST towards PALA/OCEANSIDE. Turn LEFT onto OLD HWY 395 (at gas station plaza). Go up to top of hill. Turn RIGHT onto WEST LILAC ROAD. Ranch is approx. 1.6 miles ahead on your left.

What To Bring (printout our checklist here)

Jeans
Shorts (required for vaulting... "Official Vaulting Shorts" available at our Country Store)
T-shirts
Pajamas
Socks/Underwear
Jacket/sweatshirt
Tennis shoes (required for vaulting)
Cowboy or hiking-type boots (required for riding/animal care)
Shower shoes
Hat (Cowboy or baseball-style)
Bandana(s)
Toiletries (soap,shampoo,comb/brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
Bath towel/washcloth
Swim suit (no bikinis please) -weather permitting -summer season only
Pool towel
Warm sleeping bag/pillow - an extra blanket is great for cooler weather
Favorite stuffed animal
Spending money ($15-20)
Camera/film
Pre-addressed/stamped envelopes
Stationery/pen
Sunscreen
Bug spray (optional)
Flashlight
Water bottle
Rain gear - just in case (for Winter WonderCamp & Spring Break Camp)

What to Leave at Home*

All electronic games/equipment
Cell phones (see note below)/pagers/CD players/radios
Pocketknives

*For safety reasons, pocket knives and hazardous materials (e.g. matches, fireworks, weapons, etc.) are prohibited. Any prohibited item (or other inappropriate /hazardous item) brought to camp will be held at the office until the end of the camp session. Any cell phone brought to camp will be safely stored in the office until the end of camp session.

— Why we do not allow cell phones at camp —

Time at camp can play a vital role in the social development of children. In the fast-paced media saturated society we live in today camp helps kids slow down a little bit. Much communication takes place over the phone or while sitting in front of a computer screen. How many of you have waited in the checkout line of a grocery store next to someone who will not get off the phone and communicate with the clerk?

Camp encourages its participants to connect with the people around them, and to develop a sense of community. Peer relationships, social comfort and one-on-one communication are skills that camp can pass on to this new generation of children. Camp is a great way for children to test out their ability to adapt to change, welcome new peers into their social circle, and develop as an individual. We find that cell phones disrupt the camp program and can keep campers from fully integrating into the camp culture.

However that does not mean that we do not want to communicate with parents. If there is ever a problem we would be happy to talk with parents. We also want you to know that if there is a serious problem, we will let that child communicate with you. Parent and child are never truly out of communication. We thank you in advance for helping us to insure the safety of our campers and staff by respecting these policies for attending Rawhide Ranch.

Lost & Found
Rawhide Ranch is not responsible for lost, damaged or stolen items. Please leave all expensive items and clothing at home. Label every item plainly with your child’s name. All lost and found will be held for thirty days after camp session before being donated to a charitable organization. Rawhide Ranch asks to be reimbursed for cost of returning any found items.

FAQs | GETTING READY | GETTING THERE | GETTING HOME

What To Expect On the First & Last Day Of Camp

(for Winter WonderCamp session -
refer to Parent's Guide booklet in your confirmation packet)

Sunday Check-In
Check-in is between 1:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Typically, the busiest time at check-in occurs from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Please consider delaying your arrival until after 2:00 p.m. Our staff will be involved with final preparations for camp until 1:00 p.m., so an earlier check-in is not possible. Please do not ask us to make an exception. The check-in process begins on the porch of the Hotel on Main Street. For the safety of our animals and visitors, please leave your pets at home.

See Photo Tour of Check in Day

All campers (regardless of age) must be accompanied by adult to check-in.

Be prepared to walk to the cabin areas with your camper and their luggage. Check-in time at Rawhide Ranch is filled with lots of fun and activities for everyone to enjoy. We encourage parents help get their child settled in and take time to meet their child’s counselor and cabin mates. We kindly request parents leave camp prior to camper orientation, which begins at 4:00 p.m.

Wondering what your camper’s day will be like?
Here’s a typical day:

6:45 a.m. Wake up call
7:30 a.m. Breakfast
8:00 a.m. Animal Care
8:45 a.m. Class/Elective 1 & 2
10:15 a.m. Coffee Break
10:45 a.m. Class/Elective 3 & 4
12:15 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m. Rest time/Mail call
1:30 p.m. Class/Elective 1 & 2
3:00 p.m. Coffee Break
3:15 p.m. Class/Elective 3 & 4
4:45 p.m. Animal Care
5:30 p.m. Dinner
6:00 p.m. Organized free time followed by all-camp activity
8:30 p.m. Coffee Break
9:30 p.m. Lights Out

The daily class schedule includes riding, animal science, horse science, and vaulting.

Regularly scheduled electives include swimming, riflery/archery, vaulting, driver’s ed (pony carts); camp newspaper, drama, roping, sports, country dance, craft, movie.

Rotating scheduled electives are based on the talents and interests of our counselor and program staff. Previous electives have included dance, nature study, astronomy, singing, exercise, first aid, etc.

If there is any elective that you prefer your child not select, please discuss this with your child.

Camp Photos
We offer the opportunity during check-in for families to order camp photos (both all-camp and cabin photos). Photos are mailed to your home by the photographer and take 4-6 weeks for delivery. Cash or checks payable to the photographer at time of order. (No credit cards accepted for photo orders.)

Pony Bucks
Be sure to stop at the Pony Bucks table to exchange your camper’s “allowance” for Pony Bucks. The campers do not use cash during their stay at Rawhide Ranch. Campers generally find $15-20 per week sufficient.

Camper Health & Medication
A health care specialist is in residence at our Health Lodge. All medications (including prescription or over-the counter drugs, vitamins, and all other supplements) must be brought to camp in the original container (as purchased or issued). Containers must detail the name of the child, name of medication, directions for dosage and the name of the person ordering the medication. All medication (as specified above) taken at camp must be noted on the health form and will be held by the health care specialist. It is important for the safety of all campers in a cabin that ALL medications (even over-the counter medications) be kept in the Health Lodge — medication that is safe for one child may not be safe for another. To avoid any unforeseen health issues we also ask that parents not use camp sessions as a time to try new dosages or new medications for their child.

We reserve the right to send a child home if our health care specialist or a physician so advises. If you plan to be away for any length of time during your child’s time at camp, please arrange for a relative or neighbor to be available to pick up your child should he/she become ill. Please indicate this person on the Camper Release Form when you check your child in at camp.

FAQs | GETTING READY | GETTING THERE | GETTING HOME

Saturday Check-out
(for Winter WonderCamp session - refer to Parent's Guide booklet in your confirmation packet)

Plan to arrive on Saturday between 9:00-9:30 a.m. to check-out your camper. Stop at the hotel to complete the check-out process and then proceed to the show arena. For the safety of our campers identification is required at check-out. The show begins at 9:45 a.m. Please do not go into the housing areas prior to the show as our campers are changing and preparing for the show during this time. Your camper will meet you at the show arena after their event. For the safety of our animals and visitors, please leave pets at home.

Consecutive Sessions (summer only)
Campers registered for consecutive sessions will participate in the program we have in place for them Saturday afternoon until Sunday afternoon when the next group of campers arrives for the week. Parents/guardians are welcome to come for the Show on the Saturday between their camper’s sessions. If you are planning to take your camper out for a few hours on Saturday we do request they return no later than 5:00 p.m. If the return would be later than 5:00 p.m. we ask that the camper wait and return on Sunday morning. If your camper would like to leave the ranch on Saturday afternoon with an adult other than a parent the ranch must have prior written authorization from the camper’s parent/guardian.

Closing Show
Each camper has the opportunity to participate in the closing show on Sunday. The show begins at 9:45 p.m. and ends around 12:00 noon. Your camper could be riding, showing an animal or pony, or vaulting in the show. The campers are judged in a fashion similar to a 4-H style show. Each camper will receive a recognition of participation and could receive a first through third place ribbon. The highest award is the Grand Champion Award given to the highest scoring camper. The show is designed to be a fun event with the awards as a part of the event - not the only reason for the activity.

How can I help my camper with signs of homesickness?

Our approach to homesickness is one that we have found very successful and have compiled through many years of experience. We feel it is important to listen to and acknowledge a child’s feelings, but it is also important for parents and counselors to focus on the many positive aspects of camp, such as exciting activities and new friends. Please do not make any “private deals” such as “Just call me if you are unhappy and we will drive up and take you home”. These “deals” tend to undermine a child’s ability to get through any initial homesickness period. For a parent, it is naturally difficult to not give in to a homesick child’s wish to leave camp. We have found that campers make the best of their summer experience when parents fully support their efforts to gain independence and strength while spending valuable time away from home.

Help your camper develop realistic expectations.
If possible, make a pre-camp visit or spend time together looking at our web site to become more familiar with the facilities.
Practice separation

For more tips on dealing with homesickness and what to expect should your camper become homesick, be sure to consult the “Welcome To Camp: A Parent’s Guide” which will be included with your child’s camp confirmation packet (week-long camps only).