A typical day begins with the buzz of anticipation as campers gather at the fence after breakfast, eager to choose their morning activity. Our campers have the opportunity to select two activities each day. Our program provides a variety of classic camp activities and unique Wyoming adventures. Our campers are free to choose their adventure, as they have power of choice in their activities day to day. After lunch and rest hour, they return, ready for an afternoon of exploration. Some set off on day trips — fishing in remote mountain streams, hiking to alpine lakes, or riding horses through high-country trails — while others stay on the Ranch, honing skills and embracing camp life.
2,300-acre Crooked Creek Ranch near Dubois, Wyoming, in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, surrounded by Bridger-Teton National Forest and near Grand Teton National Park.
Arrival Day is one of our favorite days as we feel the surge of energy as our campers arrive. We find that when parents linger, it has a negative effect on homesick campers. Your camper will be immersed into camp life as soon as they leave your side. They will have many activities available with other campers in the Dining Hall, on the Green, and in their cabin. Getting campers integrated into their cabin group and camp life as quickly as possible has shown great results in lowering homesickness.
Do not give them 'an out.' Do not say, 'try it for a week, and if you don't like it we will come pick you up.' Your camper may be having a wonderful time, but if they have it in their mind that they are going home after a week, they will hold you to that expectation. Don't feel guilty about signing up a reluctant child for camp or encouraging them to stay once the going gets hard. For many children, camp is the first step toward independence and plays an important role in their growth and development.
At TVRC, Campers are divided into five Adventure Groups based on age and experience: Yearlings, Rough Riders, Top Hands, Wranglers, and Trailblazers. Each summer builds on the previous summer's experience and each year campers have new opportunities to challenge themselves and learn new skills. Cabins are organized by Adventure Group, so campers are living with peers of a similar age. Two to four cabins comprise one Adventure Group and each Cabin is led by two co-counselors. Typically, campers start as Yearlings (11 years old) or Rough Riders (12-14 years old) and progress through the adventure groups with many campers completing the full five-summer program.
The Rough Rider adventure group is TVRC's largest and oldest program. Rough Riders are a mix of returning campers from their Yearling summer and new, first year campers between the ages of 12-14. Counselors and staff members work together to foster a camper's sense of self-confidence within the TVRC community, as campers master new skills. At the end of the session, Rough Riders will have the opportunity to participate in Teton Valley Ranch Camp's oldest camp tradition — the Rough Ride.
No two days at TVRC are the same! Every season we have our very own TVRC Olympics and a River Day. During Boys' Season we celebrate the 4th of July with all-camp games, and Girls' Season campers learn to Square Dance during our annual Square Dance. Ceremonies week is a chance for each Adventure Group to have a capstone experience to celebrate and test everything they have learned throughout the summer. As each group completes their challenge, the rest of camp cheers them on in true TVRC fashion.
At Teton Valley Ranch Camp, we believe parents are looking for more than just a fun summer camp; they are looking for a partner to provide formative life experiences that build lasting grit, confidence, and resilience. In a world of instant gratification and digital screens, we lean into the "slow growth" of the natural world. We are proud of our 90% return rate, which reflects the deep bond we share with our families as we work together to create future leaders ready for the challenges ahead.
Arrival Day July 16; Final Rodeo August 13; Departure Day August 14 for campers flying home alone. 4 Yearling spaces remaining; Rough Rider waitlist only.
We have three delicious family-style meals and a snack each day at the Ranch. Our meals are balanced and nutritious to keep our campers healthy during their time with us. The special diets we are able to offer include: Vegetarian, Dairy Free, Gluten Free, and Nut Aware (Sunbutter is used as an alternative to Peanut Butter). Please alert the office to any food allergies your camper may have prior to arrival at camp. Allergy/dietary restriction notifications are distributed to the kitchen, infirmary, counselors, and trip foods department. If your camper's allergy is life threatening or would require immediate medical care, contact Cora Ligori to discuss if TVRC is the safest camp option.
TVRC — Marshall Cherry: Program Director, former camper, ACA award recipient
Marshall immersed himself in the world of camp throughout his childhood years at the Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center in Dowling, MI. At the age of 12, he ventured off with his brother to Wyoming for his Rough Rider summer at Teton Valley Ranch Camp. Despite crying for the first ten days due to homesickness, Marshall returned for summer after summer, fostering an unshakable love for, and belief in, TVRC along the way. Marshall returned to TVRC in 2021 as the Assistant Program Director, and began serving as the Program Director in 2022. In 2024, Marshall received the ACA's Jack Weiner Leadership Award for his service to the TVRC community and the ACA.
All TVRC Cabin Counselor applicants must undergo at least two interviews with members of the full-time team, and have a minimum of three personal and professional references checked, before being offered a position. Once hired, Cabin Counselors complete applicable pre-season training exercises and attend two weeks of mandatory staff training prior to the start of the camper season. Due to the depth and importance of the skills and information learned in staff training, we require that all Cabin Counselors attend the entirety of our staff training period as a condition of their employment. At the end of the staff training period, Cabin Counselors are paired with a co-counselor and assigned a cabin group that compliments and maximizes their personality, skillset and strengths.
Cabins are organized by Adventure Group, so campers are living with peers of a similar age. Two to four cabins comprise one Adventure Group and each Cabin is led by two co-counselors. The youngest Adventure Group, Yearlings, live in either Cabin Paintbrush or Cabin Moran, both located nearby the Camp Green, office, infirmary and dining hall. Cabin requests are solicited through your camper application and preseason forms. Campers with matching requests have the highest chance of being honored, so be sure to reach out to your camper's requested bunk-mate before submitting the form to make sure you match.
At Teton Valley Ranch Camp, we believe all kids deserve the opportunity to adventure in Wyoming's wilderness. TVRC offers need-based financial aid to new and returning families for whom the cost of attendance is a barrier. Financial aid applications open annually on October 1 and close on February 15. In addition to financial need, TVRC considers a camper's motivation for the experience, previous attendance at TVRC, extenuating family circumstances, and family legacy at TVRC. Each summer, we award approximately $100,000 in financial aid.
TVRC — Homesickness: TVRC's approach and parent partnership
Many parents have concerns about homesickness when sending their camper to TVRC for the first time. We believe, however, that almost every camper will not only be able to cope with being away from home but will also thrive and build resilience as they push themselves independently. We ask you, our camper parents, to be our partners when helping your camper overcome homesickness. The American Camp Association research has shown that only 7% of really severe cases lead to needing to go home — TVRC's numbers are even better!
