Jump. Slide. Bounce. Splash.
Guadalupe River Club, where adventure and excitement meet in a thrilling aquatic playground! Our inflatable water park promises an unforgettable experience for thrill-seekers and water enthusiasts of all ages.
Dive into excitement with our sprawling inflatable obstacle course, designed to test your agility, balance, and determination. Race against friends or challenge yourself to conquer every obstacle as you navigate through tunnels, slides, climbing walls, and bounce platforms. The perfect way to cool off this summer!
Guadalupe River Club is just for fun without qualifications and patches.
This activity is available to Wranglers and Cowboys.
Designed for the older campers, Mountain Bikes is a camper favorite. Campers learn to care for their equipment then master many of the same trails as the horseback riders.
Bikers get fitted on one of the camp Trek or Specialized bikes and are ready to test their skills. An important aspect of Mountain Biking is the care and maintenance of equipment. Campers receive training and practice on the proper way to repair flats, adjust gears and replace brakes. Beyond this, safe execution over an exciting array of trails, skills and obstacle course is the goal for Mountain Bikers at Camp La Junta.
This activity is offered to Cowboys and Tophands (Grades 4-7)
Texas and hunting have long gone hand in hand. As more young boys are raised within the city limits, the need for skilled instruction in proper shooting technique, hunter safety and hunting ethics has increased.
Hunter Safety at La Junta is a combination of shotgun shooting and safe hunting information. All skill levels in Hunter Safety combine shooting skills with safe hunting tests. After establishing a basic skill level, each camper receives extensive instruction and practice in the safe use of various types of hunting firearms, from shotguns to deer rifles. Campers learn new shooting positions, shoot 100 yard targets and try their hand at skeet shooting.
The goal of our shooting sports programs is to produce a boy who knows how to hunt, respect his firearm and use a variety of firearms safely and effectively.
This activity is offered to Tophands (Grades 6-7)
One of the highlights of many boys’ summers is their time on the La Junta Rifle Range. A good eye and a steady hand when combined with a natural love of shooting, produce some excellent marksman on the safe and well-equipped rifle range. At La Junta our emphasis at the range is on marksmanship, the safe handling of firearms and a proper respect toward these potential weapons. The range is run with military precision by trained staff to ensure safety and efficient use of time, so all have ample opportunity to increase their skill.
All boys, including even the youngest, fire rounds, with single shot, bolt action, .22 caliber rifles throughout their session at camp.
This activity is offered to all campers.
Canoeing is a water sport older than summer camp itself, and one to be enjoyed by the youngest and oldest campers alike -an experience not to be missed. Campers become familiar with canoe lingo and terminology to safely venture further and further from the dock. Intermediate paddlers practice in the stern as they learn the “ways of the water” and how to manipulate it to get your boat where you want it, and when. Advanced paddlers hone their skills; combining strokes, adapting to wind conditions, navigating and self-rescuing. The most adept paddlers will have time solo paddling and helping to teach the less experienced boaters.
The mission of the canoeing staff is to teach the safe, proficient handling of one and two-man canoes. Camp La Junta has a mile of shimmering Guadalupe riverfront for canoeing, covering all types of water – rapids, to quiet shallows, deep water – all to develop various skills for the sport. For safety sake, campers may not take part in canoeing until they’ve shown swimming proficiency in deep water, and all must wear life jackets in the boats.
This activity is offered to all campers.
In Nature Crafts, the boys spend unforgettable moments combining craft work with nature appreciation. This could include hiking, drawing, building, collecting rocks and fossils, learning to identify plants and insects and even seeking Indian artifacts. The emphasis in this class is on outdoor education and developing creativity. Projects often include experimenting with wood working, plants, rocketry, nature trails, beadwork, candles, clay and paints. Typically, projects are structured as a mix of planning, doing and testing. Boys can construct and decorate wooden boats before racing them down the rapids. They may engineer and paint “2-liter rockets” to launch them for time and distance, create marble tracks and races down the La Junta hillside, design and build slingshots, make paint “bombs” and so much more. Each year, we modify the class projects to keep Nature Crafts new and interesting.
This activity is offered to all campers.
What better place for teaching swimming lessons, enhancing skills and just having fun cooling off than in the pristine waters of the Guadalupe River?
For over seven decades, the attraction of the crystal clear, spring-fed Guadalupe River has drawn campers and parents alike to the Hill Country.
As with other La Junta activities, class time is mixed between skills instruction and fun. A typical swimming class is split between perfecting the backstroke, learning to float and/or fun skill-building games. Our swimming class is closely supervised by certified lifeguards.
This activity is offered to all campers.
Different from our other individual, lifetime sports and skills, Field Sports class is an opportunity to participate in team sports. Campers are offered an opportunity to develop coordination and skills in sports such as ultimate frisbee, flag football, soccer, handball, and kickball (to name a few), in addition, to some sports unique to La Junta, such as angleball, flickerball, tennis baseball and many others.
With each class, the importance of teamwork, fitness and good sportsmanship are emphasized.
This activity is offered to all campers.
Ever feed Cheese Whiz to a catfish while you lay on your back on the bottom of a river? Ever delved the deeps of the Guadalupe, after dark, with just a spotlight?
At La Junta, SCUBA Diving is not only innovative, but one of the most exciting and popular activities. We start in shallow water (around 3 ½ feet), but as the camper’s skill and experience increase over the years, so do their exposure to deeper water and additional adventures. No matter what the skill level, we have a program for you. Each class is broken into different skill levels, based on camper ability. Our instructors work closely with each camper to develop all aspects of diving including equipment care, diving knowledge, problem solving, rescue techniques and deep water entries.
This activity is offered to Cowboys and Tophands (Grades 4-7)
Archery is a classic example of an activity that seems difficult to master at first, but with determination and consistent effort applied throughout the term, success at qualifying skill levels is a certainty.
Campers get individualized instruction and much practice on La Junta’s spacious archery range. Bows, arrows, and other necessary equipment are furnished by the camp and are used under the closest supervision of qualified instructors.
As the camp session progresses and skill levels improve, archers often get the opportunity for field archery, unique games and occasionally bow fishing. The most skilled Tophand archers each term are selected for a special, late night archery hunt.
This activity is offered to all campers.
In the heart of every young boy is a deep down desire to relive some of the excitement of the old west…to be a cowboy.
Our goal is not only to teach how to ride, but to experience the challenges and rewards that come with true trail riding. Our campers ride along, across and even swim through the river. They ride up the La Junta hills, crashing through the brush, and climbing stone bluffs. Our staff teach the boys how to sit (and stay in) their saddle in numerous conditions along various terrains. Rarely do they settle for a straight, flat, simple trail ride. Our goal is to produce confident horsemen.
Instruction begins for all campers in the riding arena with direct counselor supervision and campers progress over the term to the picturesque riding trails that criss cross the La Junta hills and riverfront.
La Junta’s stables, round pen and arena complex make the perfect home base for this traditional activity. We own our entire string of over 30 camp horses, helping to assure not only healthy animals but a continuity which allows our riding staff to properly pair horse with rider.
This activity is offered to only four week campers.
When a boy becomes a Tophand (finishes 6th grade), he may choose the fast-paced excitement of Tophand Extreme. This class provides our oldest campers an opportunity to leave their comfort zone and get their adrenaline pumping through various action-packed activities like Zip Line, High Ropes Course elements such as The Pole, Tactical Laser Tag, Extreme Dodgeball and even some time on the Go Cart track.
The goal of Tophand Extreme is for each camper to challenge themselves mentally and physically by trying new activities that take excitement and adventure to a new level.
This activity is offered to Tophands (Grades 6-7)
Camp Crafts immerses your child in the wonders of their surroundings where they have an opportunity to connect with the natural world, in traditional camping skills – living in the great outdoors. This might include navigation, exploration, and pathfinding (tracking and nature observation), fire making, water location, treatment and filtering methods, animal tracking, nature awareness, outdoor cooking, and survival shelters and raft building.
This activity is offered to Wranglers and Cowboys (Grades K-5).
Trailblazer allows campers the opportunity to be creative, challenge themselves and be a part of a team. They will get the chance to hike the hills of camp and discover the wonders of nature in the woods. As a Trailblazer, campers will create delicious desserts for camp, innovate obstacle courses and create racetracks on the hillside. In addition to pure energy, fun and excitement, campers work together as a team to overcome challenges and accomplish goals they have set out for themselves.
This activity is offered to Wranglers and Cowboys (grades K-5).
Adventure Sports combines exciting, challenging and important teamwork skills, such as leading, listening and communicating with exciting adventures and challenges which test young men’s courage and ability to overcome fear.
Adventure Sports truly gives campers an opportunity to have fun, participate in unique, exciting events and to grow closer to their camping peers, by working as a group to conquer a 40 foot climbing wall and numerous team challenges, progress through our curriculum of trust-building events, navigate some low and high ropes course elements and test their balance on a Slackline.
Staff are specifically trained before camp on the most recent safety procedures, regulations and techniques by certified instructors.
This activity is offered to Cowboys (Grades 4-5)
Leisure Sports is La Junta’s introduction to relaxed, pure-fun outdoor games. This class is designed for campers with a spirit of strategy, cunning and finesse (less emphasis on athleticism). Campers compete on teams throughout the term to see who can accumulate the most wins and points. Typical games in Leisure Sports include SWAT, Nine Square, Badminton, Croquet, Horseshoes, Washers, Bean Bag Toss, Four Square, Frisbee Golf, Lawn Bowling and Shuffleboard.
Activity award patches are not earned in this activity, but points are given.
Offered to all age groups
Court Sports class is a combination of multiple court, paddle, and racquet sports – Basketball, Tennis, Ping Pong, Pickleball, Bombardment, 9-Square and Ga-Ga Ball – are geared for all levels of players.
Beginner basketball, tennis, pickleball and ping pong players will learn the fundamentals: rules and positions, proper etiquette, and attire, and how to effectively handle the basketball and racquet. Intermediate players hone their skills as they practice dribbling, passing, and shooting, as well as service and volleys through a mix of technical instruction, drills, and group games, then playing one another in singles and doubles matches. Advanced players further their knowledge and comfort level with all the of sports as they face off in even more competition with each other.
This activity is offered to all campers.
Every boy loves the challenge of dropping a line in the Guadalupe and waiting to see what may bite at the other end. La Junta’s fishing program is designed to capture this desire and give it the foundation of skill to make it enjoyable for life.
La Junta’s fishermen go through most every facet of fishing as a sport – from casting and knot tying, to selecting bait and identifying fish, to catching and cleaning the big one. Equipment and classes vary with age. Little guys start with cane poles and while the older, more experienced campers might work their way up to fly rods and tying their own lures.
With our series of dams, Camp La Junta can feed and cultivate a number of “secret fishin’ holes” hiding bass, perch, sunfish and catfish – ample fish for everyone. Although we mostly catch and release, the term ends with a lesson on how to prepare a tasty outdoor meal, sampled by all.
This activity is offered to all campers.
Sailing is an exciting addition to our waterfront lineup and culmination of skills for our older campers. Using a fleet of Sunfish-style sailboats boys learn the daily rigging and de-rigging of a boat, basic maintenance, boating safety rules, and righting of a capsized boat. Each camper also learns to tack and jibe, sail backwards, round marks, and how to race using strategy and tactics.
By the end of each term, sailors pit their expertise and experience against each other for Ranch points. However you set your goals for this exciting water sport, you will be encouraged to push the envelope as you build confidence in your skills and judgment as well as respect for the forces of wind and water – or just enjoy the great Hill Country breezes.
This activity is offered to Tophands (Grades 6-7).
First time kayakers begin by learning the equipment basics – life jackets, skirts, parts of the kayak and paddle – then progress to various kinds of paddle strokes and fundamentals of safe boat handling. Balance and posture also play a very important role in kayaking and each paddler receives specific one-on-one instruction in correct position and wet exits. Intermediate and advanced paddlers then venture further away from the dock as they fine-tune their boat-handling skills and learn kayak-over-kayak rescues, different strokes, and various hand rolls and tricks. By the end of the term, the class is ready to hit the La Junta rapids and the faster water for a little more excitement.
Swimming proficiency is a pre-requisite and life jackets are required by State law.
This activity is offered to Cowboys and Tophands (Grades 4-7).
Water Games is designed to be a break from earning points and picking up activity award patches, to just enjoying friends on the cool Guadalupe River – with maybe a little adrenaline rush on the side. In Water Games class, campers can enjoy the thrill of our traditional rope swing, tubing the rapids, jumping off the “Bravery Tree”, racing down La Junta’s speedy water slide or competing in a match of water volleyball or basketball. All is pure fun and does not involve any activity award patches.
This activity is offered to all campers.