Teen Ranch
Teen Ranch
If Long Point Conference Centre isn’t available on the dates required by your group, then Teen Ranch is one of several alternative venues which may be available.
Teen Ranch is a not-for-profit, non-denominational Christian venue located to the south-west of Sydney, in the village of Cobbitty, near the town of Camden. It is set on 40 acres of land on the banks of the Nepean River, overlooking the Camden Valley. Note that, as the name suggests, Teen Ranch only hosts groups of school-aged children and teenagers.
School and Holiday Camps for Kids
Teen Ranch runs fully programmed school camps of between 2 and 5 days for students from year 3 to year 12. It also runs school holiday camps known as “Round Ups”. These are week-long camps for juniors (age 10-13 years) or seniors (age 13-17 years), which all include a Christian component. Weekend camps can be booked during Terms 2 and 3 subject to availability. All the camps are fully programmed by the Teen Ranch staff.
Below is some more detailed information about Teen Ranch, to help you decide whether this will be the perfect venue for your group event.
What is Accommodation Like?
Teen Ranch can accommodate up to 217 people in two buildings. The main accommodation block is a large bunkhouse, and there is also a smaller cabin block. The minimum number for exclusive use of the camp is 30. Linen is not provided. Guests need to bring all their own bedding, including pillows.
The main accommodation block sleeps up to 140 people in 12 rooms and is used for campers and leaders. Two of the rooms have en suites. The building is fully air-conditioned.
The cabin block sleeps up to 77 people in 7 rooms, two of which have en suites. This building is also fully air-conditioned and is used by voluntary staff.
Teachers or other leaders can stay in motel-style accommodation on request.
Conference and Meeting Facilities
Although Teen Ranch is not used for conferences as such, there are some facilities for groups to meet in as part of the camp program.
There is a recreation/meeting hall which has a PA system, data projector and widescreen projector screen. This hall is used for meetings and evening entertainment. Here campers can also play table tennis, pool and indoor games, and relax in their free time.
In addition, there is a “Chill Out Lounge” furnished with tables, chairs and couches. This can be used for relaxation, being with friends or getting to know people.
All Camps Fully Programmed by Venue Staff
All camps at Teen Ranch are fully programmed and run by camp staff. If you are booking a school camp, Teen Ranch staff will liaise with you to design a program best suited to your students and your aims for the camp.
Generally campers will have two organised activities, some sport, and some free time during each day of their camp. All activities are run by qualified and experienced Teen Ranch staff; although for school camps some parts of the program can be run by teachers from the school by prior arrangement.
Adventure, Sport and Recreation Facilities
Teen Ranch has plenty of facilities for adventure, sport and recreation activities suitable for the older children and teenagers who attend camps there.
Outdoor activities that can be included in a camp program include high adrenaline options such as a giant swing, high ropes course, abseiling and rock climbing. Other options are canoeing, horse-riding, archery, low ropes course, bushwalking and orienteering. The “Challenge Course” is a purpose-built course in the bushland that requires teamwork to complete. Participants will develop co-ordination, lateral thinking and communication skills as they progress through the course.
There are plenty of sports facilities available at Teen Ranch, which are used for organised games and during free time. These include a full-size basketball court, Astroturf cricket pitch, tennis court, beach volleyball court and sports oval, as well as the table tennis and pool tables in the recreation hall. There is also an outdoor swimming pool and waterslide, which are used for organised activities and also simply to cool off during free time in warm weather. The swimming pool has a qualified lifeguard supervising it at all times when open.
Evening activities are also included in camp programs, and these range from campfires (weather permitting) and night hikes, to board game evenings. School holiday camps (“Round Ups”) also include a daily session called “Connect” which is a Christian session to share the message of the Bible. “Connect” sessions can also be included in school camps and other camps if desired.
Are You Looking For Venues with Catering Included?
At Teen Ranch, all camps are fully catered – self-catering is not an option. Teen Ranch staff cook and serve all the meals, as well as doing all the cleaning up and dishes. According to their website, kitchen facilities have been upgraded reasonably recently (2013) and consistently deliver good quality meals to large groups.
All meals are served in the dining hall. This building is fully air-conditioned, as well as having a fireplace for use during the cooler months.Any dietary requirement can be catered for by prior arrangement. Ensure you contact the venue to notify them if any member of your group has food allergies or other dietary requirements.
In addition to the dining hall, there is a snack bar which sells drinks and snacks as well as souvenirs and some clothing.
How to Get to Teen Ranch From Sydney
Teen Ranch is located in the small village of Cobbitty, near Camden. It is approximately 70 kilometres south-west of the Sydney CBD, or up to an hour and a half’s drive.
To get to Teen Ranch from Sydney, drive along the M1, then follow it, the M5 and the Hume Motorway/M31 to Narellan Road in Campbelltown. Take the Narellan Road exit and drive along Narellan Road for 8.5 kilometres until you get to Cobbitty Road. Turn left onto Cobbitty Road and drive for about 3.2 kilometres until you reach the entrance to Teen Ranch.
Comparison between Teen Ranch and Long Point Conference Centre
| Teen Ranch | Long Point Conference Centre | |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | Up to 217 guests Camps for children and teenagers | Up to 150 guests Available for all age groups |
| Camp Program | Camps programmed by venue staff | Camps programmed by guests |
| On-site Facilities | Recreation/meeting hall Dining hall Snack bar Swimming pool Water slide Other sport and recreation facilities | 200 seat auditorium 160 seat dining area Café Swimming pool Sauna Sports field with flood lights Other sport and recreation facilities |
| Catering | Fully catered only | Fully catered or self-catered |
| Distance from Sydney | Up to 1½ hours | Up to 1 hour |
Range of Local Attractions
As all camps run at Teen Ranch are fully programmed, there is not much opportunity to explore the surrounding area during camps here. However, there are some attractions in the local area which may be of interest to visitors.
The picturesque town of Camden is only 7 kilometres or approximately 10 minutes’ drive away from Teen Ranch.
Camden is a historic town which dates back to 1840. It has a number of heritage listed places including the Camden Post Office (opened in 1841) and Camden Park House and Garden (built from 1832-35 for John Macarthur).
Camden also has a Fresh Produce Market every Saturday, where you can buy a range of farm produce, home baked goods, flowers and artisan products.
The Australian Botanic Garden at Mount Annan is located about 10 kilometres or 15 minutes’ drive from Teen Ranch. This garden is the largest botanic garden in Australia. It is set on 416 hectares and features native Australian flora as well as wildlife. Entry is free and facilities include barbecues and picnic areas, and walking and cycling tracks. The garden hosts events and activities especially for children such as craft and education sessions. It also runs other events including festivals, markets, yoga sessions and many more. Parts of the garden can be booked for private events such as weddings or other occasions.
