Here are some photos from the last couple of days; starting with where our journey began (the airport) and where we are now (loving the Ranch)!
Arrived at the Ranch, getting to know each others and the RAs.
The morning view!
Games after breakfast.
Helping put the clean dishes away.
Academics time!
Enjoying the snow!
Learning to work together.
Spending some time at the barn; meeting Picchu the alpaca and Faith, one of the horses.
Hanging out after dinner
We made it safely to the Ranch last night! We were greeted by some snow and rice krispies treats! We’ve had a chance to meet all the Ranch staff and learn some of the rules and expectations. We got a good night’s sleep and this morning we had a hot breakfast. The rest of our day will be spent doing some academics, including spending a lot of time at the barn meeting all the Ranch animals!
Check back tomorrow for a bunch of photos from today’s activities!
Here are some of the things our students had to say about today:
We did rotations between learning about the horses, completing packets, and doing group games. — Chloe Clark
All the RAs are amazing and terribly nice. We couldn’t have been better taken care of. The rooms are comfortable and the views are just breathtaking. Food here is absolutely delicious. We had three groups today and three different activities. We all got a chance to do everything. We got to meet all the animals. We also had games that helped us get to know each other and open up. Yes some things were personal, but that was by choice. — Karla Pardo
At the ranch it’s a constant flurry of activity. We’re learning more about nature, ourselves, and the people around us. But there is something that always stays the same here. We’re all friends in these mountains. — Luis Romero
We are going to start off with some photos from Monday (before the snow).
Here’s a barn work project.
Also on Monday we took a little tour in Estes.
Then back to the Ranch…
Tuesday was another fun day at the Ranch! The snow was really great and it made work projects go by really quick.
Then we had horse rides!
More work projects.
It’s snowing here at the Ranch! It’s so beautiful! This morning one of the voluntary activities before breakfast was animal feeding. The students that participated in the activity had the first chance to enjoy the winter wonderland.
It’s already snowed about 7 inches this morning and we are expecting some more this afternoon and overnight. It’s surprisingly warm outside (warm here means around 32 degrees!), and we are carrying on with normal activities. Rides are still scheduled today, so some of the students will have the unique, and pretty, opportunity to ride in the snow.
We had a fun and relaxing weekend! Here are some photos.
Wow! We have been busy! We’ve been getting to know each other and the Ranch. We’ve had time to play some games, but also been active with a lot of academics and hiking!
Exploring the ranch…
Enjoying the view!
Playing some games outside.
Learning about the horses.
Hanging out with an alpaca.
Group picture on today’s hike – it was beautiful!
Just a note, we don’t blog over the weekends here at the Ranch, but make sure to check back Monday afternoon for a few updates and photos from Saturday and Sunday. Over the weekend, the students get to sleep in and take a break from the academics. Some students will have a chance to horseback ride and everyone will get to go on a hike on Sunday afternoon!
We made it to Colorado! Everyone is safe, sound, and accounted for here at the ranch. Tonight we got to meet the program facilitator and all the RAs who will be with us during the trip. We learned what kind of behavior is expected of us during our stay and we even got a sneak peek at some of the activities we will be doing over the next ten days. Our arms are already stronger from dragging our suitcases up an entire flight of stairs to the bedrooms on the second floor of the ranch. Whew! If tonight is any indication of what is to come, the next few days are going to be filled with fun times and growth. Tomorrow is going to be an awesome day. We are all excited to get to know each other (an ourselves) even better. We will keep you updated as the days go by so make sure you check back here on the blog to read updates and see pictures of our adventures at the Rocky Mountain Pathways Ranch! Have a good night!
We are happy to see smiling faces on the first night!
Some of us really hit it off right away!
It is strange to think today is our last full day here at the Ranch! The students have all had a wonderful time, but a lot of them are looking forward to seeing their families tomorrow!
Wednesday we took another trip to college! This time we visited UNC. It was quiet on campus (students are on spring break) and very warm! It was around 80 degrees, which is pretty warm for this time of year in CO. Here are the some students in one of the dorm rooms on campus.
Last night’s activity involved dressing up, being a little silly and talking about our futures…
This morning (Thursday), the final optional morning activity was a sunrise hike. Thanks for daylight saving time sunrise was just after 7am.
Tuesday we hung out with the small animals some, and had more horseback rides!
