Summer Camp makes 65 year postive Impact in Florida

Florida has changed a lot in the last 65 years, but one Florida institution that has stood the test of time is Circle F Dude Ranch Camp.   This classic sleep-away camp and guest ranch, which still looks much like it did when it started in 1952, is situated on a private lake among 500 acres of oak trees in central Florida. The bunkhouse style cabins and the Lasso Lodge dining hall has hosted 3 generations of Floridians and still, to this day, host campers and guest from Miami to Tallahassee and around the world. “The real legacy of our camp is in all of the amazing individuals that have been campers, camp families, guest, and staff over the years,” said Ben Moss Camp Director, “I look forward to seeing them at this year’s camp reunion.”   The camp is preparing to celebrate 65 years of camping on Feb 11, 2017 at the camp facility with an event that invites back all former campers, camp families, guests, and staff.    “What amazes me is how often I hear from those individuals how their grandparents, parents, and themselves have all attended camp at Circle F.  I think that is the best testament to what we do,” stated Mr. Moss. 3 Generations of camp families have made Circle F their camp home and, in doing so, Circle F Dude Ranch has become part of the fabric of Florida.  Ask around just a little and you are sure to run into a person in Florida that over the years has attended the summer camp, a family or dad and daughter weekend, school trip, or private event at the ranch.  Camp Owner, Paul Wells, noted, “65 years has not been without some changes, but I am most proud that who we are and what we do here has never changed. What brings so many of our campers and guests back is the effect this place has on making them gain a better understanding of themselves.”   It is true that over the years cabins have been updated, air conditioning added, new adventures like climbing walls and skate parks added to the activity lineup, while classics like swimming, horseback riding, archery, and nature lore have stood the test of time.    “It’s about more than just the activities or the place,” stated Mr. Moss, “it’s about the experience every camper and guest receives. The chance to step outside of their normal lives and become something more.” Circle F has held true to its core ideas of teaching campers to respect others, inspire those they meet, to play with a purpose, be positive and be a leader within their community and, most importantly engage in the world around them. These fundamental ideas extend into every program at Circle F and can be seen in the way the campers and staff interact with each other each day.   The “Circle F Experience” whether attending a school trip, weekend program, or the summer camp, has always been about investing in the idea of helping participants connect with nature while growing on a personal level. This basic principle has resulted in tens of thousands of lives being positively impacted over the past 65 years of the camp. Check out the video below to find out you can be involved with the Circle F Reunion.