Family Camp

Ultimately, every weekend of the year, weather permitting, Pepper Tree Farm will be filled with children with disabilities and their families.

The impact on each member of a family which includes a child with challenges, is tremendous. Family Camp supports the entire family and is about fun and friendship.

Music, dance and drama will allow boys and girls to be both participants and part of an audience. Everyone’s performance will be celebrated at Pepper Tree Farm.

Taking our cues from Special Olympics, the Farm will offer games everyone can enjoy. Kite flying, bubble blowing, badminton, horse shoe toss, wiffle ball, water balloons and other games will add to the fun. Plus, once per session, campers will enjoy time at the gorgeous Topanga Beach. 

Among the many benefits of Family Camp are parent to parent support and sibling to sibling support.

As for the boys and girls with special needs, they often find themselves the only child with different abilities in their immediate and extended families; on their block; in their neighborhood and in their classroom. Meeting friends they can relate to goes a long way toward easing loneliness.

At Family Camp, parents and children will enjoy a picnic lunch along with horseback riding, caring for miniature animals, hiking, gardening, arts and crafts, music, and sports.

Getting close to horses and being able to hug, pet, groom, feed, walk, and ride them increases children’s self-confidence, enhances their ability to show emotions, and boosts their capacity for concentration.

Family members will take home t-shirts, an album filled with photos of the day, plants, and other goodies. Additionally, everyone will receive contact information for all participants and, best of all, fabulous memories.

FAQ

    1. Closed shoes & long pants for riding.

    2. Change of clothes due to water play, arts & crafts.

    3. Jacket.

  • All children will be able to ride and, if necessary, will be able to use adaptive saddles. 

  • If it’s raining hard, Family Fun Day will be postponed. 

  • Breakfast – a light snack of juice/milk and a muffin.

    Lunch – A hearty meal with lots of options.

  • For the safety of your fellow campers and staff, please do not attend if anyone has been exposed to Covid. We gratefully invite you to reschedule your visit. 

  • If you can drive yourself, that would be excellent. If you need help, options are available. Please contact Liz Spencer at LSPENCER@WESTSIDERC.ORG or at 310-258-4099.

  • Pepper Tree Farm, known as MILL CREEK RANCH, is located at 1881 OLD Topanga Canyon Road, Topanga 90290. It is reachable from the West Side via P.C.H. &  the Valley via Old Topanga Canyon Rd.