Ranch Camp - Bridging Past and Future with the Equestrian & Agricultural Arts

Green space, park access, and trees

South LA Gateway Cities East LA Other

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

The City of Compton has experienced tremendous changes since its origins an agricultural hub in 1887. Born and raised within city limits, Connection Compton's Founders have seen their city's culture stray far from its original focus on horses, animal care and working with the land. Connecting Compton's team, comprised of physical education teachers seeks to provide youth with a safe place to gather, filled with active and creative activities that will spark their interest - as an alternative to unsupervised activities. Our goal is to design an evolving program where the traditions of agriculture and horsemanship flourish, inspiring future generations to engage with Compton's legacy. Ranch Camp teaches horseback riding, animal care and agricultural traditions. Through these local and organic resources we empowers youth learn new skills, and learn values such as perseverance, responsibility and compassion for themselves and others.

Connecting Compton, an arts and culture focused nonprofit is seeking support for our Ranch Camp initiative. This program geared towards youth 10-17 takes place on a working ranch nestled in Richland Farms. Richland Farms - a neighborhood within Compton's city-limits has the distinction of being zoned for Agriculture - which means in this 10 block radius residents can keep horses, goats and chickens. Connecting Compton was established in 2019 by Hector Gomez and Daniel Zepeda. Ranching is part of their shared Mexican-American heritage. Ranch Camp blends horsemanship, animal care, and agricultural arts with socio-emotional learning components which are age appropriate and engaging for youth aged 10-17. This holistic approach helps participants build confidence, responsibility, and teamwork skills while connecting with animals and the land.
Our curriculum includes:
Week 1 Orientation/Safety Equipment/ Intro to Ranch Life; Week 2 - Got Milk? Milking & Cheese Making
Week 3 Horse Handling & Care - Cleaning, Showering, Feeding, Saddling; Week 4 Roping and Riding - Let's ride!
In 2024, our team was honored with the 1st prize from the Calley Foundation, a funding partner of the LA2050 Grants Challenge. This was our first sizeable grant enabling us to invest in essential safety equipment helmets, saddles and gear. This year hiring dedicated staff as Riding Instructors and purchasing a horse trailer, and nutritious food for our participants and volunteers will help our program thrive.

We are proud to be life-long residents of Compton, living within Los Angeles County. If Connecting Compton's initiatives are successful than our local youth and the culture of all Angelenos will begin to feel the effect. Our local youth - as well as all Angelenos interested in learning more about horses, animals and ranching will have the opportunity to spend their summer engaged, actively learning, thriving through our immersive programming. Our youth will gain not just physical strength through fitness challenges of Ranch Camp's programs but it is our hope that their confidence and self image will be restored and improved. Their individual stories are unique and beautiful and we want our youth to know they are valued members of the fabric of our community. Ranch Camp is an important first step - in reconnecting the rising generation of youth with the agricultural traditions of equestrian-led community.