Visit Us

 

We love that you want to visit us!

Ranch Camp can host groups from 15 to 72 people overnight and can also arrange delicious, Mexican meals prepared for your group. We also have a fully functional kitchen for your use.

There are many opportunities to volunteer at Rancho la Hermosa Orphanage, the Mentorship House, and in the community. Please fill out this interest form to start the process.

VISITOR GUIDE
Ranch Camp Brochure

What to Bring

Accomodation

For only $17 per person per night, we can host groups from 15 to 72 people in comfortable rooms with a showers and toilets and use of a kitchen, dining room, large covered patio with seating, and fire-pit area.  All you need are sleeping bags (and recommended bottom sheets), pillows, towels, toiletries and food and snack items.

Meals

We can coordinate lunch and dinner for $12 per person per meal. The food is prepared by our Mexican friends from La Hermosa church. You may use the kitchen facility which includes a refrigerator, stove, oven, pots/pans, cooking utensils, coffee percolator, water kettle, plates, bowls, glasses, coffee mugs and silverware.


Water

Each person needs to bring a non-disposable water bottle. We have plenty of filtered water in the kitchen to refill bottles. Since trash is burned, please DO NOT bring disposable water bottles. You are not allowed to cross back empty water bottles to the U.S.


  • There are certain kinds of work that visitors CAN do and certain kinds of work visitors CANNOT do. For example, the orphanage has a full staff. They do laundry, make sure kids bathe, talk to them about personal issues, take them to school, etc. so we don't have visitors do the basic day-to-day caring of the kids. Visitors do the extras that we are either unable to do or unable to afford to do. 

    What we’d LOVE for you to do when you visit:

    • Buy, prepare, and serve lunch or dinner for our kids and staff! 

    • Paint, weed, or landscape around the property, if needed

    • Play soccer, basketball, volleyball or hang out on the playground with some of our kids

    • Read with our kids with Spanish books from our library

    • Bring approved-in-advance crafts, games, and activities you can do with our kids

    • Bring donations of these items with you (these are super-helpful for us!)

    • Buy paint and brushes and then paint one of our buildings, fences, walls, or picnic tables

    • Buy a dump truck of gravel and spread in our parking areas or driveway

    • If skilled, help with some technical maintenance around the property, if needed

    • If skilled, join the construction team at the Mentor Home property in town

    • Other ideas as needed! 

  • Day Visits

    • We would love to have you visit for a day! Here are the steps to make it happen:

      -Schedule your visit in advance

      -Visiting hours for day visitors are 9AM to 5PM

      -We will help you plan your visit and activities in advance

      -When you arrive we will give you a tour and share our story

      -From there you can stay in the public areas and/or do a service project

      Day Visit Project Ideas:

      -Prepare and serve lunch or dinner for the kids and staff

      -Paint, weed, or landscape around the property, if needed

      -Play soccer, basketball, volleyball or hang out on the playground with some of our kids

      -Read with our kids with Spanish books from our library

      -Bring approved-in-advance crafts, games, and activities you can do with our kids

      -Bring donations of these items with you (these are super-helpful for us!)

  • A passport is required to re-enter the U.S. from Mexico for all travelers 16 years old and older. For children 15 years and younger, bring a birth certificate or school ID.

    Also, it is illegal to drive without Mexican car insurance and your US car insurance will not insure you in the unlikely event of an accident. Go to Baja Bound Mexican Insurance at https://www.bajabound.com/ or another company and make sure you pay for the length of time you will be in Mexico.

  • Please feel free to bring any of the following with you on your visit!

    We are ALWAYS in need of:

    • Food (cans, jars, boxes, and bags of food, plus fresh melons, fruits and vegetables and meat in coolers)

    • Laundry detergent

    • Dish soap

    • Floor cleaner

    • Mop buckets, stand up dust pans

    • Sponges and dish rags

    • Shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene items

    • Jeans, new underwear, and heavy duty socks

    • Office copy paper

    TIPS for Bringing Donations:

    • We recommend that you spread the items out over a number of vehicles so that customs agents don’t mistake you for an import/export business. Every person is allowed to cross $75 worth of new items, otherwise the items must be declared and taxes paid.

    • CLOTHING: It is illegal to bring bags of used clothing into Mexico. However, we will accept donations of brand new clothing.

    • Instead of bringing items across the border, we do respect specified financial donations (for food, clothing, school supplies, etc.).  Also, gift cards from Costco, Walmart, or Home Depot are greatly appreciated and can be mailed to: PO Box 783, Yorba Linda, CA 92885.

    • Used vehicles (not just vans, but trucks and smaller cars are also a need)