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Additional Adventure. Additional Growth.

At CCO, we offer a veriety of additional options to add on more adventure for your week. We recommend choosing one or two additional options, rather than all, to ensure your camper is still able to participate in other camp activities with their cabin group. The activities and options listed below are the only add ons availalbe, all other programming is included in the cost of camp.

Guided by MAD Adventures, this half-day rafting trip takes campers down a stretch of the Upper Colorado River at Gore Canyon near Kremmling, CO. MAD Adventures is licensed and all their staff are first aid/CPR and whitewater rescue certified. Each raft will have a MAD Adventures Guide, a CCO staff and campers. Everyone is required to wear personal flotation devices and a helmet provided by the guide, and go through a safety orientation prior to boarding the vessel.

*A waiver is required to participate.

Camp Chief Ouray's Horseback Riding Instruction Program offers five levels of western riding lessons for campers age 9+. Campers will gain confidence and learn valuable horsemanship skills; both on the ground and in the saddle! Campers enrolled in this program will spend multiple activity sessions at the CCO barn throughout the week (either the morning or afternoon for a desginated number of days) learning how to care for horses and improve their riding skills. The remainder of the day is spent participating in traditional camp activities as regularly scheduled.

The majority of lessons will be held in a riding arena but each level will also have the oppurtunity to take a trail ride.  At the start of the program riders are evaluated to ensure that they have been placed in the correct level of instruction. If the riding instructors determine that a rider belongs in a level different from the one they are registered for, they will be transferred to the appropraite level to ensure safety and a positive riding experience. This may also include moving a camper to a different class of the same level where their riding skills align with other campers to provide appropraite instruction.

In the event there is inclement weather, we make every attempt to continue lessons as long as it it is safe for riders, instructors, and horses. Otherwise campers will participate in indoor horsemanship lessons/games or return to regularly scheduled traditional camp activities.

This program can be added to any of our Traditional/Challenger/Two-Week Overnight Camp Sessions for an extra fee. Don’t wait, these do fill up. Please note if you sign your camper up for rafting as well, they will miss barn programming on Thursday. 

Not sure your camper is ready for instructional lessons or doesn't want to spend that much time at the barn? Check out our Intro to Horses program instead!

For those who wish to participate in the horseback riding program but find the price a deterrent, scholarships are available! Click here for more information on the David Hooker Fund.

Horseback Riding Insturction Program Levels:

Level 1 Tenderfoot: Learn the Basics (Ages 9-13)
Beginning riders will learn how to handle a horse on the ground and in the saddle. This includes learning how to lead a horse correctly, as well as hoof picking, grooming, and tacking up a horse. They will also learn basic riding position and how to control and steer a horse at a walk. This program will run for three-four days per week.
Prerequisite: Desire to learn about horses


Level 2 Cowpoke: (Ages 9-13)
Cowpokes continue the training received in Tenderfoot, but this level adds the additional challenge of learning to control a horse at a jog (trot). This gait is faster and bouncier than the walk. To advance to the next level, riders are expected to be comfortable leading, grooming, and tacking the horse, in addition to being able to maintain their riding position and control the horse at this faster gait. The Cowpoke level is the hardest level to pass and many campers are required to repeat the level to continue working on their horsemanship skils. This program will run for four-five days per week.
Prerequisite: Know how to lead/groom/tack with support and can demonstrate the ability to control the horse at a walk


Level 3 Wrangler: (Ages 10+)
Wranglers are expected to be able to demonstrate basic ground skills such as leading/grooming/tacking with minimal to no support and be comfortable controlling the horse at a walk and jog while maintaining their riding position. In this level, riders learn how to control the horse at a lope (canter). which is a smoother, but much faster gait than the jog. To advance to the next level riders must be able to groom and tack their horse on their own, and have demonstrated a strong ability to control horses of various temperments at all gaits with proper riding position in both the arena and on trail. This program will run for five days per week.
Prerequisite: Know how to lead, groom, bridle, & tack with minimal to no support and can demonstrate proper control of the horse at a walk and jog

Level 4 Trail Blazer: (Ages 11+)
Trail Blazers must be able to lead/groom/tack the horse on their own, and demonstrate a strong ability to control horses of various temperments at all gaits with proper riding position, both in the arena and on trail. The first day, riders are evaluated in the ring and all other days are intended to be advanced trail rides. If a camper is found to not be ready for this level, they will be moved down to level 3 to ensure safety. This is the final level that most campers will reach. This program will run for five days per week.
Prerequisite: Know how to lead/groom/tack and can demonstrate proper control of the horse at all gaits in both the arena and on trail

Level 5 High Rider: (Ages 12+: By Invitation Only, Session 4 only)
This is the highest level in the CCO Riding Program and very few campers reach this level. It is by invitation only and requires completing at least one session of Trailblazer and approval from the Barn Director. High Riders will spend both morning and afternoon activity periods at the barn learning about advanced horsemanship skills and riding. They will participate in the Camp Rodeo at the end of the week. These riders are expected to be able to control horses of various temperments at all gaits and maintain good riding position both in the arena and on trail. They must be comfortable riding for events including but not limited to barrel racing, pole bending, and drill routines. Campers in this program will test multiple horses but will be assigned a designated horse for riding in the rodeo. High Riders do not sign up for additional camp activities and will spend the majority of their time with the other high riders. 
Prerequisite: Invitation

Safety at the Barn: 

All campers and staff are required to wear helmets and long pants when riding.  Closed toed shoes are required at all times, with boots or sturdy shoes with a heel required for riding. Campers will be matched with horses by the discretion of our barn staff based on skill level. Campers will have the oppurtunity to ride multiple horses in order to build their horsemanship skills and work with horses of different temperments. Barn staff will teach campers how to properly tack their horses but will complete a final safety check before allowing campers to mount their horses. 

Trail rides are required to have atleast two barn staff present, who will carry a first aid kit and radio for emergency communication. All campers will be given an orientation on safety procedures prior to any trail rides. 

Horses are evaluated at the beginning of the summer and assigned to certain levels based on temperment and skill level needed from a rider. If needed, campers will be reassigned horses to ensure safety for both camper and rider. In the event that a horse is found to have a severe injury or illness, they will be removed from programming and a different horse will be assigned to the lesson. All tack is inspected regularly for safety.

Our barn staff includes a Barn Director, Assistant Barn Director, and Cabin Counselor: Riding Instructors; all overseen by our full time Program Director. Staff undergo an intensive hiring process and must have prior experience working with horses and participate in extensive barn staff training in addition to our standard counselor training. Staff are trained on emergency procedures and must demonstrate knowledge and skills aligned with CCO policies and procedures. 

CCO's Intro to Horses program is an oppurtunity for campers to spend some time at our barn and participate in a short beginner trail ride. Campers enrolled for this activity will spend one morning at the CCO barn. They will participate in a short ground lesson, learning about how to approach, lead, and groom a horse. The trail ride is approximately 30 minutes and will include a quick orientation on how to steer and stop their horse. 

Intro to Horses is a great way to introduce your camper to the world of horsemanship and gage their interest before committing to the Riding Instruction Program offered to overnight campers. This program is available for campers enrolled in both day camp and overnight programs, but is unavailable to leadership and trip campers. 

See  "Riding Instruction Program" above for more information about safety at the CCO barn. 

View transportation options here

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