EAST VALLEY RANCH WHERE RELAXATION MEANS REJUVENATION
RETREATS & HORSE PROGRAMS
FROST VALLEY YMCA
1
East Valley Ranch
A visit to Frost Valley YMCA’s East Valley Ranch provides families, groups, and individuals with the opportunity to relax and recharge, or find excitement and inspiration. During the fall, winter, and spring, East Valley Ranch provides a memorable experience for hundreds of guests – family vacations, Boy or Girl Scout troops, outdoor clubs, corporate retreats, and others – here at our secluded ranch in the heart of the Catskills. You and your loved ones can spend quality time together during one of our many weekend family retreats, during which you’ll enjoy time-honored activities and programs, reconnect with nature, and build new family traditions while creating lasting memories. East Valley Lodge provides cozy accommodations with modern amenities for our overnight guests as well as all the soothing comforts of a natural setting. Professional groups and organizations turn to us for conferences and retreats. Here, you and your colleagues or group members can enjoy western-style lodging, nutritious meals, teambuilding ropes courses, and fully-equipped indoor meeting spaces, while also having the opportunity to get to know your team on a more personal, relaxed level. East Valley Ranch’s renowned equestrian programs include girls-only summer riding camps that teach horsemanship skills and techniques for all levels of riders. Our experienced riding instructors are supportive, caring leaders and positive female role models who encourage campers to build leadership skills, develop character-enhancing values, and form lifelong friendships. Whether you’re looking to explore the scenic beauty of the Catskills, try new activities with the whole family, energize and motivate your group, or give a young equestrian a summer to remember, East Valley Ranch is your ideal destination. Tours are available upon request, and we invite you to visit our beautiful grounds! We look forward to your arrival! Sincerely, The East Valley Ranch Staff PH (845) 985-2291 EMAIL info@eastvalleyranch.org WEB eastvalleyranch.org
Accommodations & Dining
East Valley Ranch is located on a stretch of fields and woodlands along the Neversink River in the Catskill Mountains – just two hours north of New York City. Surrounded by panoramic mountain views and picturesque horse pastures, the grounds feature a 26-stall horse barn, arts and crafts studio, outdoor game areas and scenic viewpoints to enjoy the beauty of the Catskills. After exploring our hiking trails that cover miles of wilderness, you’ll appreciate our fresh and tasty meals prepared on-site by our private chefs, who are always happy to accommodate special requests and dietary needs. Stay overnight in our very own East Valley Lodge, a newly renovated ranch house, offering groups both privacy and the comforts of home. With eleven beautifully appointed guest rooms that sleep 2-4 people each, the lodge is expansive, featuring a spacious living room, family-style dining room, meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, and a wraparound deck – perfect for cozying up on an Adirondack chair as you listen to the river rushing by. Or perhaps you prefer to get even closer to nature. Mongolian Yurts are an eco-friendly structure that provide comfort, durability, and a light footprint. With a circular design and spacious interior, the yurt encourages both socialization and quiet contemplation. East Valley Ranch has five yurts that can accommodate 12 guests each. Located just steps away from our new, eco-friendly bathhouse, your yurt is also close enough to the lodge that larger groups can stay in both if preferences vary.
3
All-Girls Summer Horse Camps
The summertime at East Valley Ranch is all about horses, summer camp traditions, lifelong values, and lasting friendships. Our horse camp combines experienced horses, qualified instructors, compassionate counselors, and one of a kind facilities to create a positive atmosphere. Our goal is to teach campers and budding equestrians the fundamentals of riding, while they develop coordination, leadership skills, confidence, and self-esteem. Our program is accredited by the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA) and upholds the highest safety standards. In addition to time with horses, girls will enjoy swimming, teambuilding games, ropes courses, arts and crafts, and traditional camp activities that build character and gain a sense of community.
6
Summer Programs
EAST VALLEY RANCH 2-WEEK PROGRAM (AGES 10-16) During their two-week stay, girls learn wrangling, feeding, grooming, tacking, and cleaning. Campers will learn personal responsibility, as they care for their own horse each session. Every day, they spend one to two hours in the saddle, focusing on their riding technique during ring lessons and trail rides. Veterinary care, proper nutrition, and horse training skills are just a few of the fundamental equestrian skills learned at East Valley Ranch. Part of each day is also spent hiking, playing sports or games, and making arts and crafts. Several times each week, campers have the opportunity for one of their favorite summertime activities: swimming! Girls grow leaps and bounds, gaining confidence, centeredness, and developing respect and compassion for all creatures, great and small.
EAST VALLEY RANCH 4-WEEK PROGRAM (AGES 12-16) For the experienced rider, this month-long adventure will provide her with new challenges and opportunities to perfect her riding technique. Girls spend two to three hours each day in the saddle and have the opportunity to achieve new milestones in their riding abilities. Throughout the month they will design and practice their own drill team and perform for the two-week campers. In addition they will learn how to assist an instructor, how to school a horse, as well as participate in in-depth classes on horse health and care. This unique program turns young girls into strong female leaders, positive role models, and women of steadfast character.
7
More Information For more information on our horse programs, or to find out which program would be the best for your child, please email horses@frostvalley.org or call 845-985-2291 ext 240. Frost Valley’s main camp also offers several horse programs. Mustang Village is our overnight horse program on main camp, designed just for girls ages 7-10. We also offer horsemanship day camp to children who live locally!
Fall, Winter, & Spring Programs
Each fall, winter, and spring a variety of groups join us for their getaways, including family reunions, retreats, specialty weekends, church groups, scouts, schools and much more. Thanks to our secluded location, we’re able to tailor our programs to meet the needs of each group that comes to East Valley Ranch. Groups and families enjoy cozy lodging, nutritious and delicious home-cooked meals, and a variety of programs for guests of all ages and interests.
10
Program & Activity Descriptions
HIGH ROPES
EDUCATIONAL CLASSES
Test your courage 30 feet in the air! Teams will work together to complete our static challenge course, crossing a rope bridge, a tight rope, and Postman’s Walk. Our experienced staff will coach and support you as you challenge yourself to achieve feats you never thought possible.
History of the Catskills, Outdoor Survival Skills, Wildlife Ecology, Forest Ecology, Fire Tower Hikes, Water Ecology, Night Awareness, and much more!
ARTS & CRAFTS Explore your creative side and get in touch with your own artistic flair. We offer a variety of arts and crafts projects including painting, scrapbooking, knitting, children’s crafts, candle making, tie dye, and more.
FLY FISHING We’re a stone’s throw from the head waters of some of the most famous fly fishing rivers in the country. Try your hand at catching native Brook Trout in the Neversink right outside our back door.
Whether it’s soil, snow, or leaves crunching underfoot, here’s your chance to head out for a hike on our private trails and enjoy the natural beauty of the Catskills. In winter we provide cross country skis and snowshoes so you can enjoy a wintry wonderland unlike anything you’ve seen.
GROUP ACTIVITIES There’s never a dull moment with activities scheduled for all ages, including scavenger hunts, trivia contests, Bingo, board games, limbo, country line dancing, campfires, and much more!
HORSE PROGRAMS
Just a hayride or short hike away, guests of all ages love to get in touch with Mother Nature and explore a real working farm, featuring a large garden, greenhouse, barn, and friendly farm animals.
Our western décor and sprawling horse pastures might just inspire you to get in the saddle! We offer lessons and trail rides to groups (depending on the ages of participants). Enjoy lessons on proper veterinary care, horse nutrition, grooming and tacking.
LOW ROPES COURSE
CUSTOMIZABLE CLASSES
All groups benefit from enhanced trust. Guests spot and support one another as they take turns navigating a series of obstacles several feet in the air on our low ropes course.
We hire staff with a wide range of skills. Please feel free to contact us and we can help coordinate the perfect programming for your trip!
EDUCATIONAL FARM
11
EAST VALLEY TRAILS
FAMILY SAMPLER WEEKENDS SEPTEMBER 4-7, 2015 SEPTEMBER 11-13, 2015 OCTOBER 9-12, 2015 East Valley Ranch is ideal for families who want to spend time reconnecting. These weekends give families the opportunity to try a wide range of activities. Venture to our educational farm to meet our animals, tour our gardens, and taste fresh produce. Borrow our equipment and learn the basics of fly fishing in our private waters along the Neversink River. Hike along scenic trails, challenge yourself on our high and low ropes courses, and try some of our arts and crafts projects. These weekends are a great way for you and your loved ones to sample a variety of activities sure to please every member of the family.
Theme Weekends
FAMILY WINTER WEEKENDS JANUARY 1-3, 2016 FEBRUARY 12-15, 2016 MARCH 4-6, 2016 East Valley Ranch is a glistening landscape of snow and splendor in the wintertime. Join us for our family winter weekend and spend time exploring the Catskills. Try cross-country skiing or a half-day snowshoe hike and explore the true beauty of winter. Our staff will also teach you survival skills for the cold, including shelter building, how to start a fire in winter, and campfire cooking techniques. Learn to track animals in the snow and how they adapt and thrive in this unique environment.
JUST US GIRLS WEEKEND MAY 8-10, 2015 This is a wonderful weekend just for the girls! Mothers, daughters, nieces, sisters, grandmothers, and friends, join our all-female staff for a memorable weekend focusing on relaxing together and spending time with horses. We take care of all the details so you can simply enjoy yourselves and one another. Everyone has the opportunity to participate in a riding lesson, take a trail ride, and learn all about horse care. Try our high and low ropes courses or take a guided hike. Challenge yourself in any way you choose – even if it’s simply to relax and let go of your day-to-day stress. Minimum age for children is 8.
14
Clinics & Conferences
CERTIFIED HORSEMANSHIP ASSOCIATION CLINICS (CHA) EQUINE FACILITY MANAGER CLINIC APRIL 27-29, 2015 The Equine Facility Management (EFM) program is a twenty-hour certification clinic to evaluate participants on their skills and knowledge of equine facility management. Participants will demonstrate skills and take a written test at each of the four levels of certification. Each participant starts at Level 1 and may proceed to the next level upon successful completion of each level and can receive up to Level 4 Certification during the twenty-hour clinic.
STANDARD INSTRUCTOR CLINICS MAY 17-22, 2015 JUNE 7-12, 2015 Become a CHA certified riding instructor in English and/or Western disciplines. Five levels of certification can be achieved in the clinic, ranging from assistant instructor to CHA clinician. Your certification level will be at the sole discretion of the clinic staff and no certification of any kind is guaranteed. The certification process is comprised of an evaluation by two certified CHA clinicians over the course of the five-day clinic. The clinic will involve teaching at least four practice lessons, a riding evaluation, a written test and participation in workshops on risk management, teaching techniques, professionalism, and herd management.
WILDERNESS FIRST RESPONDER COURSES JUNE 14-21, 2015 DECEMBER 26-JANUARY 1, 2016 The Wilderness First Responder program is the ideal emergency medical training for leaders in remote areas. Outdoor educators, wilderness guides, members of the military, professional search and rescue teams, field researchers, and individuals involved in disaster relief will gain valuable skills from this comprehensive and practical curriculum. The course includes the essential principles and skills required to assess and manage medical problems in isolated and extreme environments for days and weeks if necessary.
15
Interested in Hosting a Conference? Interested in hosting a Clinic or Conference at our facility? We host a variety of private clinics and conferences each year. Please contact us for additional details: email horses@frostvalley.org or call 845-985-2291 ext 240.
Girl Scout Weekends
Girl Scout troops make a tradition of coming to East Valley Ranch to bond as a group, make memories, and build skills. In addition to our scheduled theme weekends, we are happy to customize a weekend for your troop during most weekends. Contact us today to get started!
CAMPING SKILLS MAR 20-22, 2015 • MAY 15-17, 2015 SEPT 11-13, 2015 • JAN 29-31, 2016 MAR 18-20, 2016 Develop camping skills such as knot tying, fire building, and campfire cooking as well as learning about wildlife during hikes both day and night to earn your Camper Badge.
HIKING & SENSES MAR 27-29, 2015 • NOV 20-22, 2015 MAR 25-27, 2016 Learn to plan for day hikes by finding out what to wear, what snacks to prepare, and what to bring. On the trail, discover new and exciting things about the forest as you earn your Senses and Hiker Badges.
BROWNIE PONY TAILS APR 10-12, 2015 Let Learn grooming, tacking, and horse care as well as enjoying two pony rides - one Western saddle and one bareback. This weekend also includes a hike, horsey crafts, and a hayride.
ART & NATURE APR 17-19, 2015 • OCT 9-11, 2015 JAN 8-10, 2016 • FEB 19-21, 2016 Let the season’s idyllic backdrop inspire your artistic creations while exploring the outdoors to motivate new art techniques you’ll learn as you work toward the Collage Artist Badge.
HORSEMANSHIP APR 24-26, 2015 • MAY 1-3, 2015 • MAY 8-10, 2015 • MAY 29-31, 2015 • JUNE 12-14, 2015 Get to know our horses! Learn about veterinary care, behavior, grooming, and nutrition. Enjoy a lesson and trail ride, as well as numerous non-equestrian activities.
TRAILBLAZERS JUNE 5-7, 2015 • NOV 6-8, 2015 Discover how to be a safe, confident, and capable woodswoman. Learn to pitch a tent, cook over a fire, read maps, and prepare your gear. Challenge yourself at our high ropes course and spend a night camping the woods with our staff as you earn your Trailblazing Badge.
DOWN ON THE FARM SEPT 25-27, 2015 Learn about livestock animals and their care, and then learn how produce is grown, harvested, and prepared to make delicious, garden-fresh meals.
CHEF FOR A WEEKEND DEC 4-6, 2015 Our chef will teach the basics of cooking, give a tour of our kitchen, help plan healthy meals, and offer international sandwiches that you can make yourself. By the end of the weekend, your troop will prepare a variety of dishes, including dessert, to earn the Simple Meals Badge.
TEAMWORK & LEADERSHIP DEC 18-20, 2015 Face challenges head on, overcome fears, and achieve real success during a weekend of skill building. Try our high ropes course, navigate the hiking trails, and learn to read the stars at night (ages 12+).
10
FROST VALLEY YMCA 2000 Frost Valley Road Claryville, NY 12725 TEL (845) 985-2291 EMAIL info@eastvalleyranch.org WEB eastvalleyranch.org facebook.com/frostvalleyymca frostvalley.org/donate