Comparing Dude
Ranch Youth Programs
Many guests have told us that they have gone to
places that advertise a youth program, only to find that the
program really seems to be an afterthought. We recommend that
you get very specific information that indicates the commitment
the property has made to their program. We have put together
some questions and notes to help you make some comparisons.
How many full time youth counselors do you
have? Compare this to the number of children that
are typically vacationing there during the period if time you
are interested in. Many programs use staff
members whose primary function is in another area to
facilitate youth activities. Most common are "kiddie
wranglers," who put together activities after taking out rides.
They should be able to give you very specific information.
Answering "enough" or avoiding the question is a red flag. 
At Rock Springs, our counselors work only in our youth program (with the possible exception of one part time counselor) and not in another department, such as the stables or office. The reality is that the skills of a wrangler are not always the best fit for the skills of a youth counselor. For us, this means that our counselors are hired because of their rapport and interest in children.
We found that when looking for an employee who is exceptional at both entertaining children for hours at a time as well as horsemanship, we often had to compromise on one area or the other. Because of this, we hire counselors whose sole focus is the vacation experience of our younger guests. We have four full time, and one part time youth counselors. A typical week has about 12 - 18 children in the program. Allowing for days off, we have 2 or 3 counselors at any given time.
What are the hours of your program?
Youth programs at ranches range from a couple of hours in the
afternoon to full day adventures. Because many ranches use
"kiddie wranglers," who actually work in the
stables, there may not be alternative activities for
children who would like to miss a ride. Some properties also
ask that you make arrangements with them for the times that you
would like "childcare." Many ranches vary the number of
activities and program hours from week to week. This means that
children in some weeks may have a good program, while others
may not.
Rock Springs - Our program hours are from 9AM to 8:30PM, six
days a 
week, with 2 or 3 counselors on at all times. This
allows us to offer the same quality of experience to all of our
guests in the program. It also allows us to offer a wide
variety of activities, both spontaneous and those that
happen each week.
What activities are offered? Activities should be varied, and include options for different interests and ages. It should also allow flexibility to accommodate the interests of those younger guests in the program at any given time.
Rock Springs - Much of what we do each week stems from the interests of the children vacationing with us. Some of the activities we offer each week include building a piñata, staging and talent show, and going on a hayride complete with a camp-out. Other activities range from a scavenger hunt to capture the flag, to craft projects and swimming. For specific information about our program activities, see the youth program page of our website.
Where does the program take place? Programs
which do not have a central space of their own may not have the
same flexibility in the program. Alternately, a program
confined to a single area or room in the lodge may not
hold your child's interest.
Rock Springs - We have a dedicated building for our program, but it is used mostly as a meeting place and for crafts. A good part of the children's days are spent all over the property.
Are TV, movies, and video games a part of the program? If so, how much time is spent on this activity? Obviously, your child can watch movies anywhere, and doing so does not provide an experience which will create lasting memories.
Rock Springs - We do, a couple of times each summer, offer a rainy evening movie for the children, but most guests do not even know there is a TV on property.
As a business, how much of their focus is on the
youth program? This is not so much a question you
can ask, as a general sense or feeling you should get from all
of your contact with them. Their marketing materials, such as
their website or brochure, should have an obvious focus on
children and the program the property offers for them. The
people you might talk with about the children's program should
place a high value on the experience of your children.
Your children should be viewed as their guests, not the children of thier guests, and their vacation experience should be as important to the rancher or property as yours.
We have guests repeatedly tell us how wonderful our program is and how much it means to their vacation experience. There are many good programs out there, and there are also many that miss the mark.
" I have been to about 8 - 10 ranches, all have pluses and minuses. I must say (our) entire family had absolutely one of the best times here. Kids were happy 100% of the time... The best kid's program of any ranch we've been to. No other ranch comes close, especially the amount of time the kids are supervised...Thanks for everything."
- Jerry Marks and Sue Mooney
