The Art Component has been developed by professional working artists who have combined their unique skills, knowledge of their craft, and real life experiences to create their courses. In collaboration with The Arts program, the American Indian Component is taught by American Indian teachers. These teachers impart their history, values, and intimate knowledge about the earth through their art, story telling and ceremonial ritual. As the students enrich their self awareness through creative exploration, the American Indian component helps them extend that awareness to the earth and other living things, while embracing community and aspiring to leadership.

Hand-in-hand with the Art Component and the the American Indian Component, we offer a Sustainable Living Component that educates young people about the environment and specific renewable energy strategies through hands-on workshops taught by energy professionals. These workshops are designed to encourage young people to embrace healthy energy alternatives and introduce them to the many aspects of sustainable living. Also this component will be a platform whereby the students can use their imaginations, and their deep connection to the earth to experiment, create, and develop new ways of living on the planet. (A think tank of sorts.)

The collaboration of these three elements will create a learning experience that promotes creativity, leadership, respect for the earth, and preserves cultural traditions through cooperation, peer-to-peer teaching and the elder-student relationship.

Our vision is to extend this program to other American Indian regions in the country, promoting this collaboration of the Arts, environmental awareness, and preservation of American Indian culture.

Ganma is an aboriginal metaphor for “the mixing of two streams”

The Art Ranch will be located on a beautiful spacious site with mountains and wide open meadows. The site will consist of an array of safari type tents and teepees with a corral for the horses. Paths will lead to all the tented facilities and there will be designated quiet areas on the site. In the middle of camp will be our meeting circle with a circular camp fire and a large area for seating. The site has kitchen, bathroom, and shower facilities. There will also be an infirmary tent.

Morning Program

The whole camp meets for exercise and meditation. Instructors will lead the group through a series of movements incorporating elements of tai chi, yoga, and martial arts. Blue Thunder or a special guest leads a morning meditation.

Mid Day Activities

At our near by lake we will have swimming, canoeing, and tubing. An over night river rafting trip will be planned for group 3 on The Rio Chama.

The Art Ranch Evening Activities

At The Art Ranch, we encourage inclusiveness and intimacy. Our evenings consist of: camp fire shares, stories told by the elders, musical jams and sing-a-longs, short story/poetry readings, movies under the stars, and star gazing. In addition, our hand picked college counselors and counselors in training create fun games and evening activities. Because we encourage space and alone time, the evenings are an opportunity for this as well.

The Art Ranch’s Ganma Festival Weekend

The final weekend of the 3 week session is the Ganma Festival.  Ganma, the coming together of different streams, is when people gather to share knowledge and ideas. This sharing creates a deeper knowing and unity.

Group 3 students of Music, Visual Arts, Theatre, Circus Arts, Native Indian Culture and Sustainable Living come together during the session to create a group piece called The The Ganma Project. At the evening event at The Art Ranch local families are invited to attend a barbeque feast and watch a performance of The The Ganma Project. Special Guest Speakers along with various exhibits of the students’ work are also part of the festivities. Following The Ganma Performance there will be music, singing and dancing into the night.

Closing Ceremonies with Group and Individual Projects

The last day of our Ganma Festival Weekend is dedicated to our staff and campers. We watch all the performances and have an outdoor barbeque feast followed by an intimate closing ceremony under the stars that is full of surprises.

One third of the children will be from American Indian reservations and two thirds from diverse backgrounds from around the globe.

The Art Ranch also offers adult and family camps. Session Schedule and programs vary. Please visit our website for details.

Programs and Activities
* All programs and activities below are subject to change due to the different areas we are serving.

The Arts
Music, Theatre/Dance Story, Visual Arts/Sculpture, Circus Arts, Creative Writing/Poetry and Photography

American Indian Culture
Herbal Studies, Story Telling, Horseback Riding, Tracking, Moccasin Making, Drum Making, Pottery, Traditional Dance, Basket Weaving, Beading, Horno Oven Building, Cooking, Canoe Building, Skill Games, and Sweat Lodge
* All American Indian arts and practices are specific to the traditional ways of the American Indian culture that are being represented in the different areas we are in.

Other Indigenous Studies
Elders from around the world will come to share their practices and crafts along with imparting their deep knowledge and messages.

Sustainable Living Component
Hands-on Solar Energy Program
Hands-on Structural/Architecture Program
Hands-on Permaculture Program
The Art Ranch holds the vision to have Organic Farming on its permanent site; Ohlone Black Bear Village, Northern California.

Other Special Activities

The Art Ranch Sites consist of safari type tents and tipis with paths that lead to the various facilities. There are designated quiet areas on the site. In the middle of camp is our meeting circle with a circular campfire and a large area for seating. Kitchen, bathroom, and shower facilities as well as an infirmary tent are on site. Tipi lodging is for students and counselors, while the directors, teachers and guests have safari tent accommodations. A sweat lodge will be built on site by people who have been initiated to do so. Our campers will build a traditional horno oven in which to bake turkeys, breads and goodies.

Tipis - Tipis are Crow and Lakota style, ranging from 16’ to 24’ and sleep 5 to 10 campers and one counselor. The students bring their own sleeping bags and pillows from home.

Tented Lodging - Tented Lodging for Teachers and Staff are 10’ x 14’. Each tent has a 2’ blow up air mattress, side table, chair, lamp, and place for clothes. Tents are decorated with donated furniture, rugs, etc. Teachers will send their own pillows and sheets ahead of time and blankets will be provided on site. (Similar accommodations are used for the adults in adult and family sessions.)

Kitchen Tent - Kitchen Truck is well equipped with stoves, refrigerators, sinks and workspaces. The Kitchen truck will be tented. There is also an out door grill for barbequing. Tented or out door dining will be available depending on the weather.

Food -Nutritious, Flavorful Menus are created by Food Consultant/Nutritionist Debbra Gill. Using organic vegetables, fruits and meats from local markets, Debbra creates delicious meals that teach good nutritional habits. We are also very mindful about sugar intake so delicious “no sugar” or “low sugar” desserts are offered. Green Smoothies from “Green for Life,” by Victoria Boutenko are a staple.

Kitchen staff – Kitchen chef and staff are hired locally.

Shower Tents - Shower Tents are gender appropriate, with dressing room facilities.

Laundry Service - Laundry Service provides towels and laundering services for our staff and camper’s clothes.

Hospital - Hospital is made aware of our location and session dates. Some of our staff members are certified EMTs.

Transportation - Transportation to the site is provided upon arrival at local airports, as well as return service on departure day.

2006/2007 White Buffalo Camp, New Mexico
                  Serving Families and Adults from U.S. and Europe
      Focus: Drum making, Sweat Lodge, Totem Teachings, Pottery, Music, Sculpture, and Photography
                  Artists/Teachers from Taos Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo, San Filipe Pueblo, and Jemez

2005 Christmas in Mexico
                  Serving the Children of the Salvatierra Orphanage
      Focus: Art, Christmas Party and Fulfillment of Wish List for the Children and Orphanage

2005 Katrina Kids, Dream Center, L.A.
                  Serving Families who were relocated due to Hurricane Katrina
      Focus: Art, Music, Comedy, Story Telling, Art Therapy
                  Local professional artists and psychologists

Express Yourself Project, Vietnam
                  Serving Orphanages, Street Centers and children from impoverished families
      Focus: Art, Theatre, Sculpture, Music; and Computer Class
                  Professional artists from U.S. taught with local teachers to implement ongoing program

The following tribes will be participating in the symposium: