BUSD approves Rawhide Ranch day trip agreement

Joe Naiman

Village News Reporter

The most recent agreement between the Bonsall Unified School District and Rawhide Ranch will provide day trips for students to participate in Rawhide Ranch activities.

The BUSD board voted 4-0 April 17, with Michael Gaddis absent, to approve the facility and program reservation agreements with Rawhide Ranch. The school will pay $79 per student for up to 75 students for each session, and five adult chaperones will join the students.

“We are so grateful for this partnership,” said BUSD superintendent Joseph Clevenger. “Rawhide Ranch is one of the finest animal camps in the nation.”

The Bonsall Unified School District had previously approved agreements with Rawhide Ranch for a 12-week veterinarian and animal science internship program for BUSD students in fourth through eighth grades and, on Feb. 15, the BUSD board meeting approved not only a new internship agreement but also a pair of three-day camps.

The internship program allows up to 24 students to participate for 11 or 12 weeks (depending on holidays) on Friday afternoons. The camp agreement provides overnight sessions for fifth grade BUSD students. “They have a great experience there,” Clevenger said.

The internship program is called Rawhide Ranch Days and emphasizes livestock animal science and horsemanship. The subjects include safety protocols and handling, grooming procedures, stable management, animal first aid, anatomy, nutrition, and dairy production.

Clevenger noted that the local program provides opportunities for students to learn about careers working with animals. “One of the things we’re doing is ensuring we’re getting our kids out to those opportunities,” he said.

The day camp agreement will be for fifth-grade students. Two sessions will be offered, so at $79 per student (the chaperones will not be charged) the cost for 150 students totals $11,850.