Spring Break on the Ranch: Your Teen’s Chance to Grow, Learn, and Lead

Welcome to the ranch, where your teenager will experience more than just a camp—this is an opportunity to build resilience, persistence, and life skills that will last a lifetime. At the Borlands’ Ranch, located in beautiful San Benito, California, we’ve created a one-of-a-kind experience that cultivates the growth mindset every teen needs to succeed in life.

Why This Ranch Experience is Like No Other

This isn’t just another camp.

The Borlands have spent over 15 years creating an authentic, hands-on hospitality experience where young people learn from seasoned mentors who have dedicated their lives to helping others grow.

This experience offers teenagers a chance to immerse themselves in ranch life, discover their own potential, and walk away with a deeper sense of purpose.

Over the course of one week, teens will engage in meaningful activities that push them to develop their character and life skills, all while being part of a supportive, tight-knit community.

From learning ranch life skills to the principles of hospitality and the value of hard work, this program will help your teen realize that the road to success isn’t always straight, but it is always worth the effort.

A Program Built for Real Growth

We believe in the power of resilience—the ability to overcome obstacles and turn them into opportunities. At Borlands’ Ranch, your teen will experience firsthand the power of persistence, hard work, and continuous improvement.

We’ve created a program that centers on these principles, with structured activities designed to challenge and empower your teen in ways they will remember forever.

Age Eligibility

Spring Break Camp is limited to:
- High school sophomores
- High school juniors
- High school seniors


If your child does not meet this age requirement, then please join our “Rising Interns” list for future updates.

Dates and Availability

- March 30-April 5, 2025
- April 6-12, 2025
- April 13-19, 2025


Each week, only 4 high school interns will be accepted, making a total of 12 slots for teens to join us this spring. These spots are limited, and we expect them to fill quickly.

What Your Teen Will Experience

Our program is divided into four key areas of focus:

1. Hospitality and Life Skills: Teens will be involved in all aspects of hospitality, from meal preparation to learning the etiquette that makes a lasting impression. They will practice skills like shaking hands, making eye contact, and the respect inherent in ranch life. They’ll gain hands-on experience and confidence, making them stronger leaders.

2. Ranch Life: Our interns will learn the ropes—literally! From caring for horses to roping and round penning, cleaning stalls, and helping with animal feeding, your teen will be active in all aspects of ranch work, building both character and competence.

3. Community and Connection: Each night we’ll come together for family dinners and community activities like line dancing, game nights, and campfire chats. Our interns will find themselves part of something bigger than themselves, a supportive environment that encourages connection, communication, and trust.

4. Personal Growth: Through reflective activities and real-life lessons, we help teens strengthen their growth mindset. We help them work through challenges, build resilience, and understand that success is about persistence.

Sample Daily Schedule

- 7:00 am – Wake up, Morning free time: Read, journal, exercise, etc.
- 8:00 am – Morning chores
- 9:30 am – First breakfast (family-style meal)
- 10:30 am – Ranch skills: Riding, roping, horse training
- 12:00 pm – Second breakfast
- 1:00 pm – Life skill development: Teamwork & leadership activities
- 2:30 pm – Ranch chores: Stall cleaning, tack maintenance, and animal care
- 4:00 pm – Outdoor adventure: Lawn games or shooting range
- 6:00 pm
– Dinner (family-style meal), Hospitality and etiquette training
- 7:30 pm – Evening activity: Line dancing, campfire, or community discussions
- 9:00 pm – Reflection time: Journaling & group discussion
- 10:00 pm – Lights out, rest for the next day

A Week to Remember, A Life to Shape

Each week at the Borlands' Ranch concludes with a community celebration—line dancing at Doc’s Bar, a heartfelt awards ceremony, and a final family dinner where everyone reflects on their week together. This experience offers your teen the chance to connect with others, build lasting friendships, and gain skills that extend far beyond the ranch.

The Investment: $1995 for a Transformational Week

This is more than just a camp. It's a life-changing experience that fosters resilience, persistence, and a growth mindset—all in an authentic, community-driven environment. The ranch has been home to countless interns over 15 years, teaching valuable life skills, personal growth, and real-world hospitality. The Borlands and their team of mentors have created an experience that not only teaches essential life skills but emphasizes the importance of human connection and doing life together.

The $1995 investment includes:

- Authentic Ranch Experience: Spend a week immersed in ranch life, learning from the Borlands' 15 years of experience in community building, hospitality, and life skills.

- Growth Mindset Focus: Develop resilience, persistence, and the ability to grow in every situation.

- Life Skills Development: Learn valuable, everyday life skills such as making eye contact, shaking hands, removing your hat, and more.

- Mentorship: Receive personalized guidance from three experienced ranch hosts and six gap-year interns, creating a supportive learning environment.

- Community Building: Forge lasting connections with fellow interns and staff, working together and supporting one another through every activity.

- Teamwork and Responsibility: Participate in hands-on ranch chores, fostering responsibility and teamwork in a real-world setting.

- Hospitality Training: Discover the art of hospitality with lessons in customer service, meal prep, and community care.

- Physical and Mental Challenge: From horse training to roping, experience activities that push you beyond your comfort zone and help build both mental and physical strength.

- Emphasis on Personal Growth: Develop a growth mindset that helps you approach challenges with a positive and resilient attitude.

- Real-World Application: Apply what you learn in a true working ranch environment, where every task contributes to the overall success of the ranch.

- Daily Engagement: Engage in meaningful conversations, problem-solving, and activities that promote learning and growth, day in and day out.

- Family-style Room and Board: Share meals around the table with your community, learning the importance of respect, communication, and teamwork. Campers will stay in a three-bedroom ranch house, which includes 2 private bedrooms to be shared by 2 campers of the same gender each, and the Borlands as house parents in the third.

- Connection to Nature: Experience the healing and grounding benefits of spending time outdoors, working with animals, and connecting to nature.

- Fun and Relaxation: Enjoy down time with activities like line dancing, poker night, and lawn games, while connecting with your peers in an informal setting.

- Leadership and Confidence: Build leadership skills as you contribute to the community, strengthening your confidence and your ability to lead and follow.

This program is intentionally designed to cultivate an environment where kids are encouraged to embrace growth, learn through action, and develop resilience in the face of challenges. The Borlands and their team believe that true growth happens when we do life together, supporting one another, learning from each experience, and building a community based on trust and mutual respect. All these elements combined make the $1995 investment a transformative experience that lasts far beyond the week itself.

Our spots are limited, and the deadline to apply is February 28, 2025. Click the link below to complete an application. Please note that completing the application does not guarantee enrollment, as the spots are competitive.

Join the Waitlist

I learned a lot about ranch life and animals in general, but I think the two most important things I learned were teamwork and what hard work really was. I was expected to get up in the morning, feed animals, work horses, fix fences, interact with guests, and more. I also learned that while the work was hard, there was also plenty of time to play. Work hard, play hard was one of the biggest things I learned in my time at the ranch.

Emma

Each day brought new challenges and learning opportunities, whether it was fixing vehicles that broke down or fixing broken water pipes. I gained many skills and the satisfaction of being able to look back and see that your
work is valuable.

Mitchell

I was shy and not particularly comfortable carrying conversations with adults. Through hands-on experience with leading trail rides, teaching guests how to care for animals, and helping them learn about how a ranch operates, I came out of my shell. I learned I had a voice that people wanted to hear and that what I had to say could be interesting and important. I now carry the valuable skill of communication
wherever I go.

Maleah

Give your teen the chance to grow into the resilient, confident young adult they are destined to become.

Spring Break on the Ranch is your teen’s chance to grow, learn, and lead to set them on a path to success!

We can’t wait to welcome your teen into our ranch family!

Happy trails,

Tim & Michelle
Bar SZ Ranch

A photo of the Borland family, owners of the Bar SZ Ranch