Information About Far View

Rural Adventures

There once was a time when summer meant clear hot days on Grandpa's farm; cool dips in the swimming hole, milking the cow, picking corn, eating fresh slices of watermelon, collecting farm eggs, caring for animals, and horseback riding. Today, only a few children get to experience that kind of rural adventure. Far View Ranch Summer Camp provides a real "summer on the farm" experience; a taste of what life was like in the past, and a distinct contrast to present life in a busy urban setting. Following a sixty year camp tradition at Far View, kids have first hand experience caring for farm animals, growing and harvesting vegetables from the garden, becoming a member of a larger farm family, & taking part in a range of activities.

Farm Activities

Picking wild blackberries - husking corn - milking a cow or goat - learning about farm machinery - pumping water from the well - making ice cream - panning for gold in local creeks - riding horses - doing farm chores - making jam and bread - driving the tractor - mending fences - churning butter - visiting nearby farms - swimming - fishing - boating - going on hayrides in the five-ton truck. These farm activities are part of daily life at Far View Ranch.

The magic of an evening campfire - glorious sunsets over 1000 acres of open foothill country - breathtaking rides on the giant Far View swing - a refreshing water skirmish on a blistering day - home cooked farm meals in the big ranch dining room - bunking down in the evening in a cabin full of friends. These are the special moments, building camp memories that last a lifetime.

Creative Arts

In the midst of farm activities, campers can stretch their imaginations and learn new skills through sketching and painting, creative writing for the camp newspaper, jamming in the junk band, performing in the campfire play, developing pinhole photos, producing natural crafts, and working up clay creations in the pot shop. The country setting presents endless opportunities for creative expression. Music is also a big part of camp, with group singing after meals, at campfire and evening circle, in cabins, on hayrides & in the living room around the piano.

Staff

Our skilled camp counselors are hand picked to work and live closely with campers in a warm family environment, providing support and guidance for kids who join our camp family during the summer. Counselors are key adult members of the Far View family and play an important role as parents, teachers, confidants, and friends in one-on-one daily contact with campers. Counselors remain available 24 hours a day, leading daily activities and residing with their cabin group at night.

Location

Far View Ranch is surrounded by 1000 acres, with a lake and miles of open country, in the foothills of the northern California Sierra, conveniently located in the heart of the "Gold Country", 3 hours from the San Francisco Bay Area and 1 hour northeast of Sacramento. On the crest of oak and pine covered hills, visitors to the Ranch can see hundreds of miles of rare, unspoiled California countryside, with views of the Sutter Buttes and coast range.

The main camp facility is situated on a 100 acre hilltop. There is a large and comfortable ranch house (built in the 1930's), a variety of bunk cabins, shower houses, machine shop, barn, chicken yard, well, pottery shop, tack house, corral, riding arena, garden area, nature porch, campfire circle, and spacious grounds.

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