Rancho del Chaparral celebrated its 50thAnniverary in July 2019! Rancho is located outside of Cuba, NM in the Jemez Mountains in a forested area covered in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer on more than 1,100 acres. Campers will experience the beauty and wildlife like deer, elk, and a variety of native wildlife that can be spotted near camp.

Rancho is home to the Wengard Art Center (aka “Crafty’s Closet” after a former staff member), four outpost campsites, a section of the Rio de las Vacas, and our resident burros – Maisy, Gladys, and Betty. Housing units include platform tents, Adirondacks, and hogans with cots or bunk beds with mattresses. Each unit has a pavilion or shelter for group activities, a campfire circle, and a wash area with sinks and latrines. Meals are served family-style at Casa Grande Dining Hall.

Campers will explore Rancho’s creek and the Mystery Tree, visit the archery range, riding arena and tails, do arts & crafts, go on trail hikes, learn about natural sciences, cook over the campfire, and go overnight camping under the stars. Troops and families can also experience the adventure by attending one of our weekend camps or by renting camp for an adventure of their own.

{What types of summer programming does Rancho del Chaparral offer?}
Sessions at Rancho will run for six (6) days from Sunday afternoon to Friday morning. Limited bus transportation with stops in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, and Cuba will be available for most sessions. Programming for the summer will start and end with a weekend camp, one for troop and one for family.

Rancho focuses on outdoor skills (campfire cooking, propane stoves, orienteering, shelter building, tent camping, hiking, backpacking, etc), horseback riding, archery, team building, crafts, and learning about the environment.

Rancho is slightly more rustic than Elliott Barker. While we have hot showers, all bathrooms are latrine style and outdoor wash stations are cold water only.

Camp is a safe space for every camper, adult and youth. Plus, campers say camping is their most memorable outdoor experience in Girl Scouts! Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails welcomes girls, families, and staff of every race, ethnicity, income level, sexual orientation, and religion, and reflects a spectrum of gender identity. All camps are open to nonbinary youth who are affirmed in a girl focused environment. Girl Scouts is dedicated to all aspects of DEIRJ (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Racial Justice); not just at camp.