Most International Event Attendees will stay at the camp all day Saturday. All off-site events will return to camp in time for lunch.
On Saturday, Shabbat, you will have the opportunity to sleep late and remain at camp to enjoy all that the JCC Ranch Camp has to offer and we’ve planned a day packed with activities! All meals, including breakfast, will be scheduled for later times than other days. Even though you’re sleeping later, you’ll have more time for activities since you won’t spend any time on buses driving off-site to other locations! Almost everyone will remain on property on Saturday. There’s no need to register for any of Saturday’s activities on-site, with the exception of Ninja Acrobats, so you can have the flexibility to play it by ear and decide last minute.
Below is the schedule for Saturday daytime activities:
(subject to change)
Visit the Colorado Balloon Classic to Watch/Photograph Morning Launch. The Colorado Balloon Classic was organized in 1977 and has grown to be the largest and the longest continuously running hot air balloon festival in the Rocky Mountain Region as well as the State of Colorado. Mass ascension of dozens of balloons is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, so we will need to depart camp at 5:30 a.m. SHARP. Note: If you go to the Balloon Classic, you cannot go to the Castlewood Canyon hikes. Included. Easy/Moderate 3.2-mile Hike in Castlewood Canyon State Park. The park features gorgeous views of Castlewood canyon which is mottled with scrub oak and large, massive rounded boulders, pine trees and the occasional cluster of wild flowers. It is a good park for bird watching too. After exploring the Visitor Center, we’ll descend to the Inner Canyon Trail and meander along the creek. We’ll join up with the Lake Gulch Trails, making a loop in this spectacular rock-walled canyon. After having lunch in the covered picnic pavilion near the Visitor Center, we’ll walk along the paved Canyon View trails to take in beautiful overlooks into the canyon. This is a repeat of Friday morning's hike. Included. Moderate 4-mile Hike on the East Canyon Preservation Trail in Castlewood Canyon. Explore the canyon’s newest trail. Start at the Visitor Center and head out along the rim of the canyon. The trail drops into the canyon for a loop that includes rock formations, pools of water, and pristine flora and fauna. Stay on the trail as this area is part of a preservation effort. You’ll climb back up and back along the rim to complete this “lollipop” hike. This hike is a duplicate of Friday's. Included. Shabbat Morning Services. Join us in the gorgeous Eddy’s Corner Amphitheatre in the pine woods at the top of camp for Shabbat morning services at camp. Included. Ninja Acrobats. CANCELLED. Olympic Gymnastics Coach John Reardon provides us with a program of “Martial Athletics,” which includes aspects of self defense, acrobatic tumbling, trampoline skills, confidence building games and physical activities that are safe, FUN, and transformational! No special skills required. All levels welcome. Cost: $22. ***This event has been cancelled due to lack of interest, but the afternoon session is still available*** Shabbat Morning Hike with Goats. We’ll hike the 3+ miles of trails and pastures of the JCC Ranch Camp with two friendly goats along for the walk. Hike passes through pine forest and meadows with highlights including a view of Pike’s Peak, a peek at longhorn cattle, wildflowers, a neighboring pond, and more. Although short in length, this trail is steep in places, and for our purposes will be considered easy-moderate. Included. Nature Walk with Dave. We’ll walk over to the Boy Scout Camp to explore the flora and fauna in and surrounding their farm pond OR we’ll explore the nature on the trails ion and surrounding JCC Ranch Camp with our very own expert, Dave Liebman. Included.
Sports and Games at Camp. We'll have Israeli Dodgeball, volleyball, field games, pool games and more available during the afternoon. Included.