|
 Kids love Sylvan Dale! In addition to the organized youth programs for two age groups, young people experience the fun of exploring the ponds and grounds, playing pool, ping pong, horseshoes, volleyball, and basketball. They discover new strengths and skills, try new activities like dancing and white water rafting, see new birds and wildlife and make new friends. Most of all, a week at the ranch helps families re-connect with each other in ways that create lasting memories. Parents are often caught joining in on some activities, and kids ages 6+ can ride with their parents, too! Plenty of flexibility in each child's participation allows for as much family time as you'd like!
"... My kids have never ever wanted to participate in the children's program anywhere. We have paid for some amazing children's programs at Club Med, etc. and they were always stuck to us like glue! At Sylvan Dale they said "bye Mom" and never looked back. I would say to my 7 year old daughter "would you like to stay with me this afternoon?" She would look at me apologetically and say 'sorry mom.' I was thrilled. ..."
- Jane S.
read the full review
We will assume
all youth will participate in our special Youth Program, but there's plenty of flexibility for lots of family time, too!
Youth
Program Mission Statement
 "To
share the beauty of Sylvan Dale with the young and young-at-heart!
The Sylvan Dale Youth Programs are carefully
designed to fill your child's day with a variety of
age-appropriate horseback riding and non-horseback riding
activities which will: reawaken their innate creativity;
boost their self-confidence; and help them develop more
awareness of the wonders of the natural world."
Buckaroo
Youth Program, Ages 6-12 (Sample Program)
The
schedule is subject to change due to weather and the ever-changing nature of a real working ranch. We welcome parents and teens for some activities. "Older kids" will have a ball with us too! Come check it out and let that inner child cut loose!
|
| 8:45 |
Kids meet at the River Porch. Name games & other fun at the Kids Clubhouse and explore the Nature Center & its surroundings. Make a creative nametag for a memento. |
| 10:30 |
Let's learn horsemanship! Shake hooves with your new big buddy. Learn the basics of groundwork and riding. Saddle Up!
|
| 12:00 |
Time to meet up with the folks for lunch
|
| 1:00 |
Meet back on the River Porch
Games, games and more games! Plus a Horse Care Clinic back at the Barn, and a family trail ride later.
|
| 4:00 |
Meet back on the River Porch and get ready for family fun.
|
| |
|
|
| 8:45 |
Kids meet at the River Porch for a walk up to Colt Care. Meet the proud mamas of our new foals, while learning about the care of baby horses and their mares. All ages welcome! |
| 10:00 |
Saddle up with your partner for another riding lesson with your wrangler! And then practice what you learned out on the trail.
|
| 12:00 |
Meet up with the folks for lunch. |
| 1:00 |
Meet back up at the River Porch and head to The Big Thompson River for tubing or another sort of wacky water fun (if the river's too high)! Dry off on the way to Field of Dreams to set up for tonight's softball game.
|
| 4:00 |
Meet your folks at the River Porch and get ready for family fun & fishing. |
| |
|
|
| 8:45 |
Kids meet at the River Porch and head to the Barn for a serious clinic on "scooping poop" and the cycles of grass! :-) Learn to jog on horseback, then head out on the trail for another adventure, including jogging through the meadows!
|
| 12:00 |
Lunch with the folks |
| 1:00 |
Meet back up at the
River Porch for a Scavenger Hunt and "Let's
Be Crafty!" Then head out to the Big
Valley to check out our farming and hay operation
- take a ride on the big hay cutter with one of
the farm hands. |
| 4:00 |
Meet the folks at the
River Porch and get ready for family fun & fishing! |
| |
|
|
| 8:45 |
Kids meet at the River
Porch and have fun on the way to the Barn, with
a wacky wildlife scouting game. How many
rabbits, ducks, fish, snakes, birds, squirrels can
you find? |
| 9:30 |
Team up with your horse
for another lesson. Then team up with your
new dude friends to practice a drill pattern to
show off at tomorrow's gymkhana. |
| 11:00 |
Hit the trail or help
with barn chores if your "saddle area"
is too sore! |
| 12:00 |
Have a nice lunch with
the folks. |
| 1:00 |
Meet up on the River
Porch again, and head out for archery! After
shooting arrows, make your personalized "sign
off" stone to leave your mark at the Kids Clubhouse.
Paint your addition to the Kids' Ranch Mural, too! |
7:30 |
Meet at the River Porch for Eagle Ridge Hike and
Campout. Campfire fun—including stories,
games, stargazing, s' mores and more! |
| |
|
|
7:00
or so |
Return from Eagle Ridge
(Kids taken straight to the Dining Room for breakfast) |
| 9:00 |
Horsemanship and practice
the drill pattern again for this afternoon's big
show! |
| 12:00 |
Lunch with the folks
- and Afternoon Family Time (no organized program
until Gymkhana) |
| 3:00-5:00 |
Gymkhana! Fun
games with your horse! |
| 6:30 |
Ranch Party at Daddy
J’s, with Awards Ceremony, Family Skits, Poems
or Songs, Family Photos, and warm good-byes. |
“Let the screams of joy and
laughter echo in our hearts
and remind us of the simple things in life!”
|
