Mountain Meadow Ranch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mountain Meadow Ranch, also known as MMR, is a family owned three-week summer camp for boys and girls aged 7-17, located near Susanville, CA on the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains, 75 miles northwest of Reno, NV. It is proud to boast one of the highest return rates of any camp, averaging at about 70% campers returning to come the next year.
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[edit] History
Originally a hunting camp for the indigenous Maidu Native Americans, in 1902 the ranch came under the ownership of wealthy hunter George Wingfield, who first homesteaded the area. After going through several other changes, Mountain Meadow Ranch was founded as an all-boys summer camp in 1956 by professional football player Jack Ellena, Sr. and his wife Jacquie Ellena when they acquired it shortly after Jack graduated from UCLA. At the insistance of sisters, the camp opened to girls in the early 1960s, and it has been open to both genders ever since.
[edit] Activities
Mountain Meadow offers a wide range of activities, including:
- Horsemanship
- Mountain Biking
- Riflery
- Archery
- Tennis
- Drama
- Ceramics
- Arts & Crafts
- Photography
- Swimming
- Sailing
- Canoeing
- Fishing
- Fencing
- Campfires
- Basketball
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Football
- Lake Sports
- Adventure & Challenge Activities
- High Ropes Course
- Low Ropes Course
- Backpacking Trips
- Fishing Trips
- Water-Ski Overnights
- Archeology Expeditions
- Desert Adventures
- Summit Expeditions
- C.I.L.T. (Campers in Leadership Training)
[edit] Staff and Directors
The ranch is owned by Jack "Chip" Ellena, Jr. and wife Jody Ellena, who have been running the camp as head directors since 1993. Also directing as co-directors are Chris Rauen, Chuck & Casia Smith and "Big Wave" Dave & Lydia Kniffin.
The staff (counselors) at Mountain Meadow are typically between the ages of 19-24 and have completed at least one year of college. They come from all around the world, from Australia to the United States to Ukraine. Having such a diverse group of counselors truly adds to the camp experience.
[edit] Philosophy
Mountain Meadow's philosphy is simple: to provide a fun, safe environment for children to enjoy their summers, offering new experiences and allowing development of new social and physical skills.
[edit] Camp family
While Mountain Meadow certainly offers an impressive range of high-quality activities, it is the sense of camp family that keeps campers coming back year after year. Described as a "home away from home" by many returners, camp is a place where one can forget his or her insecurities, sit back and enjoy life. Antagonism between fellow campers is rare; rather, everyone comes together as a family and sets aside their differences for three weeks.
[edit] Áj Ypékanbe
A Maidu saying meaning "serve all," the principles of Aj Ypekanbe (ajsh-ip-ay-kan-bee) were introduced in the summer of 2005 by directors Chuck and Casia to target the "core ideal of the Mountain Meadow Camp Family." It helps campers and staff alike to grow as individuals and improve their character traits, enhancing the camp experience as a whole. The six core characteristics are as follows:
- Inclusiveness
- Listening
- Empathy
- Encouragement
- Stewardship
- Service
By reminding themselves of these guidelines, the campers and staff at MMR make an effort to develop their characters and become better people.
