JCC Ranch Camp Receives ­Donation Of 194 Acres Of Land

The Camp Now Sits On 574 Acres And Is The Largest Jewish ­Sleepaway Camp In Colorado

JCC Ranch Camp, owned by the Staen­berg-Loup Jewish Com­mu­nity Center (JCC Denver), re­ceiv­ed a generous do­nation of 194 acres of land — including a house and a few other smaller structures — from a former neighbor of the camp who has asked to remain anonymous. JCC Ranch Camp, which formerly occupied 380 acres of land in Elbert, Colorado, is now the largest Jewish sleepaway camp in the state by acreage, with 574.

“We are beyond grateful for this generous donation,” said Katelyn Skeen, director of JCC Ranch Camp. “We have already started to use the land for our Outdoor Adventure Program and 7th grade Toshavim camping trips. We’re excited by the possibilities to further expand the Outdoor Adventure Program in this new space with programs like trail scouting, geo-caching, and more. After much success in 2024, we plan to continue to host our 7th Grade Toshavim camping trips on the land. During this trip, kids can scout out and develop new trails for hiking and mountain biking. They can also help establish new camp sites and more outdoor activities. This new property empowers our campers to steward the land, and we are seeking their input for how we can use it in the future.”

In the past five years, the camp added a new ropes course and zip line, a modernized new pavilion stage, and new bathhouses. Future plans for how the camp will expand to make use of the new land are in process.

Registration for summer 2025 sessions at JCC Ranch Camp is now open, and available for kids in 1st through 11th grades. Sessions run from June 9 through August 3, 2025.

JCC Ranch Camp is available for off-season rentals and events in the fall and spring when summer camp is not in session, including business and school retreats, b’mitzvahs, weddings, and other life events. Recently, the JCC Denver held a fall festival at the camp where 150 attendees spent the day decorating pumpkins, making soaps and lotions, enjoying hayrides, meeting animals, and getting a peek at all the camp has to offer.

JCC Ranch Camp, celebrating 71 years, provides opportunities for campers to explore and connect with other Jewish kids, and have an enriching summer experience. Camp activities include hiking, biking, a top-notch equestrian program, climbing and zip-line at the challenge course, swimming, arts and crafts, sports, and many others. To learn more, watch the Ranch Camp video at https://youtu.be/vgHAEzWPE70. For more information and to register for camp, visit https://www.ranchcamp.org, call (303) 648-3800 and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @JCCRanchCamp.