Our riding camp is for boys and girls ages 8 years to 15 who would enjoy a western holiday. A high standard of moral character is maintained at the Bates Bar J and enrollment is exclusive to young people who fit this standard.

The aims of the camp are to promote good fellowship, appreciation of outdoor beauty, wildlife and domestic animals and to strengthen high standards in moral character. Young people should develop new skills, make new friends, improve character, assimilate the beauty of mountains, hills, streams, wildlife and woodland, all the while having good fun.

Boys and girls will participate in real ranch life featuring horseback riding. They are taught riding, grooming, feeding and care of horses. Proper use and maintenance of tack and rigging is also included.

Campers are divided into six groups. Three groups ( A, B and C ) ride in the morning and three groups ( X, Y and Z ) ride in the afternoon. Groups A and X are for beginning level riders, groups B and Y are for junior level riders, and groups C and Z are for senior level riders.

The program also includes swimming in a natural pool in the creek, fishing, games, campfires, crafts and a Friday night dance. A nature awareness program offers hiking and wilderness survival.

This is one typical day. The riding is scheduled every day, but the stay back activities are rarely duplicated. In one week, weather permitting, each camper will ride every day and participate once in wilderness survival, obstacle course, nature awareness walk, etc.

A visit to the local mud pit brings the meaning of good clean fun to a whole new level.

Swimming is available at the river swimming hole on warm days. After the "clean" fun shown on the left, the swimming hole is really necessary because even the horses won't go near you looking like that..

A tuck shop with a limited amount of confectionery is opened one evening a week at the ranch. We suggest that the campers have a small spending allowance.