THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 22, 1994 TAG: 9407200173
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SUSAN SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 153 lines
THE COWBOYS and cowgirls were sleepy-eyed, but most had smiling faces as they drifted from their outpost cabins and down to the lodge.
It was time for a family-style breakfast and then off to the trails, the barn, the pond or the Critter Coral at Chesapeake's Triple-R Ranch, a Christian-affiliated camp.
The Tabernacle Church of Norfolk started the Triple-R Ranch in 1960. Thirty years later, the camp became a separate, non-profit organization. Although it has kept its Christian affiliation, officials said the camp welcomes everyone.
Every Sunday afternoon, about 200 new campers check into the ranch off Benefit Road. For kids, it's a summer camp full of horses, nature trails, new friends, crafts, canoeing, swimming and adventure.
``We have such a great day that we don't mind getting up early,'' said Lindsey Cole, one of the campers.
With 34 years of summer camp experience, the staff at Triple-R know how to turn a hot July day into one filled with exciting and challenging experiences.
The camp lasts a week, but the memories last a lifetime, said Don Dunlap, the camp's executive director.
On a recent morning at the camp, about 10 children - ages 11 to 14 - piled onto the back of a green, straw-covered wagon for an early morning hayride around the farm.
Stan Loewen, the hayride driver and horsemanship director, flicked the jingle-bell reins across the backs of Joe and Chester, and the two mules settled into an easy walk.
The gang in the back of the wagon found a comfortable spot and a sweet piece of hay to chew. As the wagon bumped down Commanche Cut Trail, Loewen - the master of tall tales and short stories - began to talk.
He told of the slaves who had dug out the now leaf-filled canal that borders the trail. Loewen pointed in wonder to a towering, ancient, hollow tree that still had a large green canopy at the top.
Loewen's stories are just one aspect of the camp, directors say.
``The appreciation for nature, personal challenge, development and the beauty and love of God's world is a vital part of the camp's different programs,'' said Scott Hall, program director.
The mules pulled the wagon past the ``ropes and initiatives'' course, where teens 14 to 17 spend a week discovering their physical and mental strengths. During that week, they camp overnight and take a canoe trip on the Northwest River. The camp costs $290 a week.
The Horselovers Camp, more expensive at $320 a week, is another Triple-R speciality. This camp, for children 11 to 14, includes morning classes on barn management, theory, horse care and riding. The week's highlights include a chuck-wagon breakfast and a Thursday night horse show.
There's also a soccer camp for children 8 to 13 who want to improve their skills. In the afternoon, soccer players join other camp activities. The camp costs $320 a week.
At the hayride, campers Page Schalle and Lauren Masters talked about their favorite camp activities. Page chose the rifle range, but Lauren had more trouble deciding.
``It's hard to pick my favorite, but I really love the baby calves,'' Lauren said.
The hayride rocked along as the trail curved, went through the woods and moved behind the barn. Donkeys, burros, cows, mules and Amos, a mammoth jackass, eyed the wagonload of summer campers.
Braying mules and bleating sheep called out for their share of attention. In the Critter Corral, 3-week-old calves cried for their morning bottles.
Critter Corral is a special spot for many of the summer visitors. Goats, sheep, lambs and rabbits are good-natured about the petting and hugs. But fuzzy yellow biddies and a tough looking rooster only pay attention to sprinkles of corn.
``Tilt the bottle up,'' advised Kim Mallette, a counselor for one of the corral groups.
Brad Rawls juggled a large milk bottle for a hungry, bawling calf. Some of the campers giggled when they got a swipe of a sandpaper-like tongue as the greedy babies pushed and shoved for a slurp of the bottle.
Besides feeding and petting, the Critter Corral visitors participate in several other projects. They've made butter, leather crafts and even bathed a goat.
This is Mallette's fourth summer working at Triple-R. She started out working the barns and the feeding stations and is now a teacher and counselor.
Many of the counselors spent their earlier years as campers and then moved through the ranks to counselors-in-training. The counselors live in the cabins with about 12 campers who are assigned by age.
Greg Habeeb, 18, has been to Triple-R every year since his eighth birthday. Now he is a counselor for boys from the Trailblazer's cabin.
Dressed in blue jeans, boots, scarf and bowie knife on her belt - Virginia McBurney is known as ``McBee.'' In the spring and fall, the 73-year-old woman works a horseback riding program for disabled youth. But every summer, she returns to camp to instruct the beginners' riding program.
Another long-timer is Bryan Rupert, 22. Rupert - one of the ranch cooks at the Longhorn Lodge - spent five years here as a summer camper.
``It's just too much fun to leave,'' he said.
Two of the working wranglers are Josh Brown, 15, and Mat Merrill, 16. They feed the animals and help out with the barn chores.
``And we scoop a lot of poop,'' said Brown.
Suzanne Hatch and Karen Harper are the vaulting or gymnastics-on-horseback instructors.
At this class, Ben Williams, Lindsey Cole and Lucy Jones practiced on a mat-covered oil drum before actually trying their tricks on Casey the horse.
Hatch is a firm believer in the benefits of vaulting.
``Vaulting teaches coordination, self-confidence and control,'' she said.
``Besides, it's fun doing stunts on a trotting horse,'' said Jones, a Utah native. She came to Virginia to visit her grandmother and to go to camp.
In addition to hayrides and horse rides, campers might also get the chance to go to a morning nature class. In Jessica Barlow's class, the kids carried cane fishing poles, a soggy carton of worms, a handful of rocks and a net.
A few minutes later, one camper was trying to catch a snapping turtle, while others were fishing or skimming pebbles across the pond.
Everyone crowded around as Micah Chambers caught a 4-inch carp. It was his third catch of the day. Chambers was too busy to comment as he quickly baited his hook and returned to his favorite spot.
But Phillip Hanner passed along a fishing tip.
``Use only a tiny piece of worm,'' the Iceland native quietly advised. Hanner is in Chesapeake to visit relatives and try the ranch experience.
Like any good cowboy town, the Triple-R Ranch boasts a livery, a sheriff's office, a Wells Fargo Depot and, of course, the Trading Post.
The old-time store advertises ``Everything a Cowboy Needs.'' There are spinning ropes, lariats, stuffed bears, rabbit's feet and fox tails. The store also sells copper bracelets, leather pouches, soft drinks, ice cream and bubble gum.
During the campers' week, the afternoons and evenings include swimming, picnics, a country fair, sing-along, a Thursday night horse show and a practice for the Saturday morning rodeo.
The campers in each cabin form a team and accumulate points during the week for everything from housekeeping to game skills. And when it's time to head back down the trail, tired campers drift back to their cabins to dream about another day on the ranch. MEMO: For more information, call the Triple-R Ranch camp at 421-4177. ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photo on cover by STEVE EARLEY
Matthew Jampol, 8, takes aim at the archery range at Triple-R Ranch
on Bunch Walnuts Road in Chesapeake.
Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
A canoe class gets ready to head down the creek as instructor Chad
White pushes off the boats.
From top to bottom, Alex Hampton, James Grimes, and Brad Rawls write
letters while resting in their bunks. Usually 12 children and two
counselors share a cabin at Triple-R Ranch on Bunch Walnuts Road.
Wrangler Meghan Walker waits for the children she'll lead on a trail
ride.
Campers head back to the ranch after a 45-minute trail ride.
by CNB