Arrowhead Ranch Retreats, Conferences and Outdoor Science School

Our Owner, Kathy

Kathy Graves Farley is our Owner/CEO.  She is a mother of two boys ages 15 and 8. Kathy started working for Arrowhead Ranch in 1993. Being a mother herself, she found it to be one of the most eye opening, life changing events for each student who came to the camp. Kathy has worked in every position the Ranch offers. She began as the administrative assistant, moved into the Director of Marketing, has taught and been a cabin leader. In 1998, Kathy bought the controlling shares of the Corporation and made her own changes to create a safer and better learning environment. 

Kathy does all the hiring of the Naturalists who teach the children. She mandated the background checks, drug testing and fingerprinting of each staff member working with the kids. When Megan's Law became available to the public she uses this as another avenue of ensuring the student's safety.

She maintains a close family feeling among staff to ensure their happiness and positive well being. Each pay day an in-service is presented with lunch to bring the staff together to blow off steam and discuss positives that occur during the week. Any negatives that may have presented themselves are discussed and solutions are found to keep the program strong.

Kathy also maintains a strong influence in the community by serving as a board member to the Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce. She activly participates in her childrens activities and is a classroom volunteer. She will participate in the Lake Arrowhead Home Tour Commitee, Wooden Boat show and the Lake Arrowhead Chamber Ball for another year.

Kathy not only brings with her a love of the children to the program, but invaluable experience improving the lives of all who come to camp. When she is not the woman in charge she is with her children and husband. They enjoy horseback riding, wakeboarding, snow skiing, dirt bike riding, hiking on the local trails and having family time. With her love of kids and her family she also enjoys gardening and surfing.

Arrowhead Ranch Outdoor Science School Staff
Our staff is hand selected and hired based on their experience working with kids, a desire to make a difference in the lives of the students and a love for the outdoors. Each staff member undergoes a thorough background check and is fingerprinted as well as drug tested to assure our children's safety. We have cabin leaders who stay in the cabins with kids overnight. They go out on the trails with the kids and attend all meals with them. The kids are NEVER left alone. The Naturalists are our teachers. Each has a college degree  in one of the sciences. They are trained as first year teachers in how to teach to groups of children in the outdoor environment. They are very interested in our youth and making a difference.

Our Directors are both very experienced camp professionals who have dedicated their lives to ensuring that our Environmental Education program meets all of the California State Science Curriculum Standards.  They are always updating programs to keep them current and exciting, meeting both the educational requirements of teachers and parents while still making every day fun for the students.

As an ice breaker we have the kids do line dancing by a certified square dance caller. He gets the kids going and they have a wonderful time. After the dance the kids watch our creative team of staff get up on stage and do some funny and entertaining skits.

We also have at least one full-time medic on staff at all times. Our medic deals with all of our child related issues including homesickness, headaches and stomach aches. He assures each child will receive any prescribed medication sent to camp at the appropriate time.

Our staff is the most dedicated, energetic, outdoor loving, kid friendly group of people who work hard every day making each day a special occasion in the lives of the children who come to camp.

To reach any of our staff, please send letters to:

Staff
c/o Arrowhead Ranch
P.O. Box 87
Lake Arrowhead, CA  92352

or email to:  mzcamp@hotmail.com