From canoeing, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding on Lake Minnie, to rock climbing on “Lions” and “Baboons” or engaging
creativity at our arts & crafts station, Glacier View Ranch’s summer camp program is all about fun! Highly trained instructors
lead campers in each activity while encouraging learning, cheering participation, and assuring safety.
Campers ages 8 to 17 are sure to have a blast at Glacier View Ranch and Mills Spring Ranch!
Big News: High Ropes Course Coming Soon to GVR!
Lake Minnie
GVR Only
Lake Minnie is a pristine, alpine lake and Glacier View Ranch’s pride and joy. Campers can enjoy the lake for more than it’s panoramic view of the Continental Divide by choosing to participate in the following activities:
Canoeing
Stand-up Paddle-boarding (SUP)
Kayaking
Chatting on the dock (a Teen Camp favorite)
Swimming & Pool
GVR Only
The crisp mountain air is what some would call “refreshing” after a quick dip in Lake Minnie. Fortunately, we do most of our swimming in our fantastic indoor pool facility! Complete with a water slide and basketball hoop, our indoor pool has a roof to keep it warm and is surrounded by walls to keep out the Moose. Red Cross certified lifeguards are on site at all times, making swimming at GVR fun and safe!
Nature Center
Located on the shores of Lake Minnie, our Nature Center opens for business at the beginning of camp each summer. Summer staff work diligently to stock the Nature Center with animals that vary by season. Expect to see and hold animals such as: kittens, bunnies, lizards, snakes, turtles and song birds. There may even be a surprise creature this year!
Nature classes also take advantage of the natural beauty of GVR, comprising educational exploration of the alpine habitat. That means fishing, salamander spotting, bug catching and nature hikes. Every summer, we spot native animals like ducks, rabbits, otters, and moose!
Wilderness Survival
Across from the boathouse stands an encampment of authentic Native American teepees. Our Wilderness Survival class begins with an educational component inside of the large teepee before heading out into nature to apply concepts and participate in fun activities. Whether its learning how to start a fire with flint, creating sandals by crafting leather or sipping tea brewed over a campfire from a homemade bowl — campers of all ages are sure to have a blast!
Rock climbing
Glacier View Ranch’s natural rock formations are unrivaled for exhilarating rock climbing and rappelling. Taking the space of two activity periods, campers venture into the “outback” for beginner climbing at the “Baboons” formation or intermediate and advanced climbing at “Lions.” Our climbing directors each years hold higher level certifications while every staff member who interacts with the climbing program holds a belay certification. Our high standards of training ensure that every camper enjoys a safe, fun and educational experience while rock climbing and rappelling at GVR.
Arts & Crafts
At Arts & Crafts, campers engage creativity in group and individual projects. Various forms of painting (water color, oils, pastels), braiding and leatherwork are a few of the more popular activities. Other special projects include engineering slime, constructing with papier-mâchè, or molding with clay, all under the direction of our enthusiastic arts & crafts instructors!
Mountain biking
At GVR, mountain biking is truly MOUNTAIN biking. Beginner bikers build confidence riding on the forest roads while campers with intermediate to advanced skills can take advantage of the biking obstacle course and nearly endless miles of flowy, technical and challenging single track that wind through GVR’s campus and the surrounding National Forest. Mountain biking instructors are prepared to teach biking basics, explain bicycle care, and supervise campers of all skill levels as they “shred the gnar!”
New feature: in 2020 we added a pump track for bikers of all skill levels
horsemanship
One of Glacier View Ranch’s most popular activities, horsemanship affords campers a variety of opportunities to interact with horses in both an educational and recreational manner. In addition to enjoying Rocky Mountain trail rides guided by our expert wranglers, campers learn various components of equine management from feeding and brushing to tacking and hoof picking! Horse Camp riders have the opportunity to participate in the weekly rodeo, where young cowboys and cowgirls show off their equestrian skills. At GVR, all of our horses and wranglers are calm, well behaved, and ready to show campers a hootin and hollerin good time!
Archery
Our USAA certified archery instructor leads classes focused on instructing campers in the disciplines of archery, safety protocol and technique, and of course, how to score a bulls-eye. As the week progresses and campers hone their skills, young archers have a blast competing in games such as tick-tak-toe, bingo, and balloon pop. Older campers always look forward to the end-of-the week ultimate obstacle course showdown. May the best archer win!
team sports
Campers of all ages and skill levels enjoy participating in friendly competition at the wildly popular team sports activity. Over the course of the week, sports enthusiasts learn about and participate in various games from basketball (pictured) to soccer, football, softball, volleyball and frisbee golf. Sign up for team sports and get ready to throw up the X, cause you’ll score a load of fun and make new friends along the way!
GVR Exclusive
Archery Tag
msr exclusIVE
Badminton, sand-volleyball, and 9-square-in-the-air
GVR is the place
for me!