Well, we're halfway through our last week of junior camp. After this, we've just got one final week of teen camp, and that's a wrap on summer! It's always so bittersweet. We're not going to lie -- after eight weeks of summer camp, we're tired. But we have loved every minute of it and were so happy to have another great summer with 800 amazing kids and teens!

But just because summer will eventually end, it doesn't mean our work around here is done! 

For starters, we have our 50th Anniversary Alumni Celebration Weekend coming up August 27-28 (the day after our last day of camp)! We are really excited about this. Birch Bay Ranch was founded in 1966, and it's been fifty great years of playing in the woods, riding horses, zipping down ziplines, singing our hearts out at campfire, serving more meals that we can count, making lifelong friends, and making life-changing decisions for Christ. What an incredible half a century it's been! If you were a staff, volunteer or donor over the past fifty years, we really want you to come to our celebration event. Just register online!

After the big party, our staff (and horses) will get a much-needed weeklong break. The Ranch is closed from August 30th to September 6th. But after that, we'll be in full swing for our fall rental season, and we'll be starting a new session of riding lessons.

If you came to camp (or if your child came to camp) and fell in love with riding horses, you're not alone. Horseback riding is an incredibly fun and rewarding sport and has all kinds of additional health benefits. Horses teach humans patience, perserverence, trust, confidence and courage. Riding is also great for your physical body, as it burns calories and builds muscle. 

If you're looking for a safe and non-competitive atmosphere to learn how to ride, sign up for riding lessons! Each session is six weeks long, and the lessons are taught in our indoor arena by Amy Frederick, our barn manager, who is a CHA Level 2 Certified Coach. You can read more about our riding lessons here.