Our Program

Ramah Outdoor Adventure is your exclusive doorway to the grandeur of one of the most pristine and unspoiled wilderness areas in the United States.

Here is your opportunity to:

• hike breathtaking mountain passes
• forge deep river canyons
• ride horses through picturesque alpine meadows
• climb soaring rugged cliffs
• restore and rescue natural forest habitats
• bicycle mountain paths

…all in the magnificence of the Rocky Mountains.

Ramah Outdoor Adventure will guide you toward discovering the serenity of the outdoors where, each week, we join together as one community to celebrate the traditions, spirituality and peace of Shabbat.

Ramah Outdoor Adventure blends the best of outdoor adventure camps and larger traditional camps.  Our older chalutzim spend a significant amount of time out on the trail honing their adventure skills in small groups as well as time at base camp learning a variety of skills and becoming a part of a much larger community.  Our younger Chalutzim spend most of their time at base camp, though also venture off of the ranch for overnights and rafting trips.  All Shabbatot are spent at base camp as part of the larger community.

For our older chalutzim, each session begins with a few days at base camp, followed by a spirited Shabbat.  Early in the week (usually Sunday or Monday), the older  Chalutzim leave on an extended excursion in the area of their choosing (horseback riding, hiking, rafting or climbing).  Chalutzim return to base camp on Thursday or Friday and spend the next week engaged in programs at base camp.  Following the next Shabbat, Chalutzim set out on their second excursion followed by a final Shabbat and week of programming at base camp.  (Two week participants go on one excursion during their time at Ramah Outdoor Adventure).

For our younger chalutzim each week at base camp is filled with activities ranging from biking, to climbing to horseback riding to wilderness survival.  At base camp, they live in walled platform tents and live according to the natural rhythms of the day.  Throughout their session, they venture off the property for day trips to surrounding lakes, hikes in the national forest and also camp outs in Pike National Forest.

A typical schedule for base camp:
6:00 Wakeup
6:30-7:15 Teffilot (caring for our souls)
7:15-8:15 Exercise (caring for our bodies)
8:15-9:30 Breakfast & clean up
9:45-11:00 Activity A (Activities may include: horseback riding, wilderness survival, mountain biking, ropes course/ Rock climbing, camping skills, wilderness arts & crafts, mining, duathelon training, sports, orienteering, service projects)
11:15-12:30 Activity B (Activities may include: horseback riding, wilderness survival, mountain biking, ropes course/ Rock climbing, camping skills, wilderness arts & crafts, mining, duathelon training, sports, orienteering, service projects)
12:45-1:30 Lunch & Shira
1:30-2:30 Rest hour
2:30-3:15 Edah learning
3:30-4:45 Activity C (Activities may include: horseback riding, wilderness survival, mountain biking, ropes course/ Rock climbing, camping skills, wilderness arts & crafts, mining, duathelon training, sports, orienteering, service projects)
5:00-5:45 Camp wide sports & activities  including, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, football, jogging, biking yoga & meditation
6:00- 7:00 Dinner
7:15-8:15 Peulat Erev
8:15-8:45 Quiet free time
9:00 Bunk time

There is no such thing as a typical schedule while on excursions.  Each morning begins shortly after the rising of the sun, and each day includes time for prayer, study and eating.  But each excursion is unique, so on some one might be hiking for eight hours a day and on others one might spend 4 hours learning to set up a top rope course and then a few hours practicing rappelling or climbing.  The goal of excursions is to master a specific set of skills that one can take home and apply in one’s own life and on one’s own adventures.

Excursions:

At Ramah Outdoors, we invite our chalutzim to take a journey of self-discovery: to go beyond expectations, to realize new strengths, to be resourceful and courageous. Our time is divided between overnight adventures into Colorado backcountry & other environments and at our base camp. In both settings we build and strengthen partnerships with each other and explore the wilderness and beauty of nature.

Excursions include (depending on the age of participant):

• Horseback riding
• Canoeing
• Whitewater rafting/Biking
• Rock climbing
• Hiking & Backpacking
• Farming
• Service learning

Our four-week session includes at least two extended excursions (between two to six days, depending on the age group) as well as several day trips. Our two-week sessions includes at least one extended excursion.

Base camp activities include: climbing, horseback riding, bike riding, mining, duathlon training, sports activities, wilderness survival, reforestation, and orienteering.

Our one-week session includes one overnight excursion.