Following a season filled with muddy boots, campfire cooking, and new outdoor adventures, Ruby Ranch Barn has officially wrapped up its largest and most successful summer camp program to date.
The ranch welcomed a record 1,736 campers throughout the summer of 2026, marking the highest attendance in the organization’s history. The season culminated on Friday, August 28, with “The Great Summer Send-Off,” a day-long celebration featuring giant inflatables, classic yard games, campfire cooking, and final art projects.
For Director Ashley Rehder, the end of the season provides a moment to look back on the growing impact of the farm-based camp. “This was our biggest summer yet at Ruby Ranch,” she said. “It was pretty incredible to step back at the end of the summer and realize just how many kids spent part of their summer learning, exploring, getting dirty, trying something new, and making memories at the Ranch.”
A key driver of this year’s growth was the expansion into early childhood programming. In previous years, Ruby Ranch primarily catered to children ages 5 through 11. This season, the leadership team introduced three separate “Littlest Rubies” camps specifically tailored for children ages 3 to 6.
The new program allowed younger campers to explore farm life, interact with animals, and engage in age-appropriate nature learning. “The response was fantastic, and it is definitely something we hope to continue growing,” Rehder noted, adding that balancing long-time crowd favorites—such as Horse Camp, BB Guns & Archery, Art Camp, and Fun on the Farm—with fresh offerings remains a priority for the ranch’s planning team.
Beyond expanding age groups, Ruby Ranch placed a heavy emphasis on community integration this year, shifting the camp philosophy from basic activity scheduling to immersive hands-on experiences.
“We don’t want camp to simply be about keeping kids busy during the summer,” Rehder explained. “We want children to meet people from our community, discover different careers, learn where their food comes from, try new skills, and see how the things they are learning connect to the world around them.”
To bring that vision to life, the ranch partnered with a wide range of local businesses, educational groups, and civic organizations. Key collaborators this summer included:
- Agricultural & Animal Care: Big Gain Feed, Hasse Family Petting Zoo
- Health & Nutrition: Rasmussen University nursing students, The Real Food Dietitians
- Outdoor & Recreation: LAD Archers, All About Fun Inflatables
- Local Business & Construction: MEI, Nordaas American Homes, Bluth Brothers Construction, Wild Goat Designs
- Public Service & Media: Mankato Public Safety, Radio Mankato
“Each partnership brought something different to the kids and allowed us to create experiences that we couldn’t have created on our own,” Rehder shared.
The festive atmosphere of Aug. 28 brought the 2026 camp calendar to a energetic close. Campers spent their final day navigating obstacle courses, sharing campfires, and gathering on the group tarp for final goodbyes.
As staff turn their attention toward fall programming, Rehder expressed gratitude for the community support that makes Ruby Ranch possible. “After welcoming 1,736 campers this summer, we’re incredibly grateful for the families who continue to trust us with a piece of their children’s summers,” she thanked. “And to all of our campers, you made this summer pretty awesome.”
