Jewish Community Center Ranch Camp Records

The Jewish Community Center Ranch Camp is located on 175 acres in the Black Forest near Elbert, Colorado. Ralph Hubbard purchased the land in 1916 and sold it in 1943. His property was a working cattle ranch known as "The Ten Sheep" or "Hubbard Ranch." The Loup Jewish Community Center of Denver purchased the property in 1952 and the camp opened in 1953. Jewish organized camping began on the east coast in the late 1800s. Jewish camps began spreading into the midwest and during the resettlement movement from 1907-1914, initiated by east coast urban Jews, Jews were sent directly from Europe to the port of Galveston, Texas. Founded in 1949, Camp Shwayder was the first Jewish camp in Colorado and the first Reform camp in the United States. However, the camp did not serve the needs of the orthodox and conservative Jewish children. Originally known as the J-Bar CC Camp, the Jewish Community Center Ranch camp had a Kosher kitchen and blended a ranching and outdoor program with Jewish education and culture. The camp activities included, horseback riding, pack trips, square dancing, cook outs and fireside singing. There was also an emphansis of learning about the Native Americans.