The Roughing It Blog

The Pony Express

Today is a great day to give your favorite pony a big horsey hug!  Today marks the 155th anniversary of the first Pony Express.  D’juno that from 1860 – 1861, America used ponies to carry the mail from Sacramento,California to St. Joseph,Missouri?  With the help of over 400 ponies, 120

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How to Choose a Horse Camp

One great way to introduce a new rider to the world of horses is through horse camp.  Children can learn all about horses in a fun, safe environment with their peers and become comfortable riding.  Unlike many barns, horse camp is exclusively designed for children of all ages and skill

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Insights Gained by Outdoor Adventures

We wanted to share an article written for our camp community by Ann Woods, our director, on the importance of experiencing the outdoors and the reason why she and Hobie (her husband) were inspired to found Roughing It Day Camp 43 years ago.  These messages and lessons still hold true

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Luck of the Irish Horseshoe

Happy St.Patrick’s Day!  Did you know that four-leafed clovers are not the only good-luck charm to come out of Ireland?  Irish horseshoes are considered the luckiest of all lucky horseshoes.  There are many different versions on how horseshoes came to be considered lucky.

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5 Important Questions to Ask Camp Directors

Spring is the perfect time to sign your child up for camp!  Many camps fill up during the early spring, so now is the perfect time to think about registering.  When choosing the right camp, it is important to visit the site, meet the directors, and ask questions.  If you

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Libby’s Adventures in Europe!

Libby is currently traveling around Europe before she starts nursing school this fall!  During her travels, she stopped by London to see a musical with Kath D, who is in her first year in a graduate program at the London School of Economics.  It looks like Libby is having a

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Reasons to be a Counselor Instead of an Intern This Summer

There is a lot of competition in the job world.  College students are under a lot of pressure to find a good job after they graduate, and the competition is fierce.  Many students spend their summers working as unpaid interns in hope that it will improve their resume and increase

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Happy Lunar New Year!

This is the first day in the Chinese Lunar New Year!  We wish all of our campers a year full of good luck and fortune during the Year of the Sheep!

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5 Great Reasons to Send Your Child to Summer Camp

Camp is a great way for your child to spend their summer!  There are countless benefits to sending your child to camp that will last them for the rest of their life.  Ann Woods, Director of Roughing It Day Camp, shares how camp can positively contribute to children’s development, based

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Happy Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day to one and all! Wishing all our campers, camper parents, alumni and of course all our staff a day full of love and joy! If you didn’t already see our Valentine’s video message be sure to check it out! 

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Why We Love Camp – Hear from our Campers, Staff, and Parents

It’s always heart-warming to hear from campers, staff, and parents about how much they got out of their summer.  We love the stories of campers learning how to swim, riding a horse for the first time, catching fish, climbing that steep hill to their secret forts, finding the daily D’junos,

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Fishing Tips for February!

Fishing is not just a summer activity!  Certain kinds of fish are more active when it’s colder outside, so make sure your fishing license is up to date, grab your fishing pole, and head over to the Lafayette Reservoir!

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Top Reasons to be a Camp Counselor This Summer

Camp is so much more than just fun and games, and campers are not the only ones who learn a thing or two at camp.  Working as a camp counselor not only gives hands on experience working with children, an essential skill for anyone interested in teaching, psychology, or any

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Why We ♥ Camp

February 1 is I ♥ Camp day!  This is a day dedicated to celebrating the magic of camp and how it positively affects our lives.  There are countless reasons to love camp, but here are 12 of our favorites!

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Why Is Roughing It Day Camp SO Expensive?

One of the most frequently asked questions that we receive every year is: why is Roughing It Day Camp and other great day camps SO expensive.  There are many reasons for the high cost of quality camps but mostly it revolves around our strong desire to provide the very best

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MLK Day

Wishing all our camper families a happy Martin Luther King day. We hope you are enjoying your three day weekend!

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Life Lessons Learned as a Camper and Junior Counselor

All of our campers have their own unique experiences every summer that they carry with them throughout their lives.  They take away valuable life skills from their time at camp, which help them in other areas of their life.  We wanted to share with you the experience one of our

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Tips for Choosing the Right Summer Camp for Your Child

January is a good time to begin looking for the right camp for your child! Many programs are just opening their registration so parents still have time to do their research. We are happy to offer some suggestions and resources for parents based on our 43 years of experience in

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Ann’s Favorite Holiday Activities For Families

Looking for something to do over winter break?  Holiday spirit is everywhere, and now is the best time to spend some quality time with your friends and family!  There are many different holiday activities available around the Bay Area, and here are a few on our list.

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Welcome Back Jennifer!

We are so excited to welcome back Jennifer, our Summer 2014 KP Counselor for our 43rd summer of camp! Jennifer was an enthusiastic counselor and came to camp everyday with a smile on her face ready to have a great time with her KP campers! Jennifer will be returning for

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