El Rancho Cima is located in the Hill Country of Central Texas, about 15 miles West of San Marcos. The Blanco River runs through the middle of the camp. There are two summer camps located at El Rancho Cima - Cockrell River Camp and Horseshoe Bend. Both are excellent camps. Horseshoe Bend has a high-quality horse program, and is a great place to study the Horsemanship Merit Badge. It has the flavor of the Old West throughout the camp. Cockrell River Camp has a good aquatics program, where fishing and canoeing are among the Merit Badges available. The Geology Merit Badge is quite a good one to take here, as the limestone hills are rich in fossils. The trip up Appetite Hill for dinner is an experience the Scouts will not forget!

I have been on staff at Horseshoe Bend for several years and hope to go back. Being on staff there has taught me many different things. There are also a lot of different activies that go on each night at Horseshoe Bend. There is Death March 1 and 2 the go on, there is a stockade program that offers the chance for scouts to get items branded. Also, we have an excellent Order of the Arrow program. There is also cowboy camp that is hold. On sunday night when the scout troops frist arrive we hold an opening campfire and then on friday night the night before they leave we have parents night where the parents of the scouts are welcome to come and we hold an Auga feast, following that there is a rodeo were the scouts and leaders are asked to help in, and then we hold the closing campfire where the scouts can say goodbye to the staff members that happened them that week. We have a very happy and dedicated staff. So as you are decieding which summer camp to attend please let this help you.

I+am+a+Scoutmaster+who+has+been+taking+my+Troop+to+El+Rancho+Cima+Horseshoe+Bend+for+the+past+11+years%2e++This+is+a+pretty+remarkable+statement+considering+we+are+from+out+of+council%2e++That+is+how+good+this+camp+is%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0aThey+not+only+have+a+very+remarkable+program+for+the+scouts%2c+they+have+a+very+well+planned+set+of+activities+for+the+adult+leaders+that+want+to+participate%2e++What+I+find+simply+amazing+is+that+the+staff+truly+cares+for+the+scouts+and+scouters+in+camp+that+week%2e++It+is+not+just+a+face+they+put+on+for+the+troops%2c+it+is+very+obvious+as+the+week+progresses+that+each+staff+members+goes+out+of+his+way+to+take+a+personal+interest+in+your+troop+and+scouts%2e++It+does+not+matter+if+it+is+week+one+or+the+last+week+of+camp%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aI+know+this+information+for+a+fact+because+for+the+last+10+years+I+have+had+scouts+from+my+troop+serving+on+staff+at+Horseshoe+Bend%2e++Some+have+been+there+so+long+that+they+have+now+moved+into+director+positions%2e++In+addition+my+two+sons%2c+both+Eagle+Scouts%2c+served+on+staff%2c+one+for+4+years+and+one+for+7+years%2e++I+have+also+served+as+volunteer+staff+for+1+weeks+each+year+for+the+past+10+years%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aI+believe+very+strongly+in+this+camp+and+this+council+in+what+it+has+achieved+in+this+camp%2e++So+strongly+that+I+sponsored+a+troop+from+Ocean+Springs%2c+MS%2e+to+travel+to+this+camp+on+2+different+occasions+and+they+still+talk+today+about+how+these+trips+were+highlights+in+this+troops+history%2e++%28That+troop+is+over+40+years+old%2e%29++%0d%0a%0d%0aBottom+line+is+if+you+are+considering+coming+to+El+Ranch+Cima+Horse+Shoe+Bend%2c+stop+considering+and+make+your+reservations+now%21%21++Trust+me+you+will+not+be+disappointed%21%21%21%0d%0a%0d%0a

I+have+served+on+staff+at+Horseshoe+Bend+%28HB%29+in+1997%2c+and+I+will+have+the+opportunity+to+serve+on+staff+again+in+2002%2e+Horseshoe+Bend%92s+staff+has+became+an+extended+family+to+me%2e+Some+of+them+I+will+never+forget%2e+I+can+speak+for+everyone+who+has+ever+came+to+HB+as+a+camper%2c+leader+or+staffer%2c+by+saying+that+their+Scouting+experience+there+was+the+best%2e+Each+staff+member+puts+there+all+in+every+activity+that+is+offered+at+the+camp%2e+Not+to+brag+but+Horseshoe+Bend+has+the+best+scenic+view%2c+swimming+facility%2c+and+staff+at+El+Ranch+Cima%2e+I+recommend+all+troops+come+and+take+a+visit+to+Horseshoe+Bend%2e+I+promised+you+would+be+hooked%2e+And+it+you+are+16+and+up%2c+don%92t+be+shy+apply+to+become+as+staffer+at+HB%2e+It%92s+a+great+experience%2c+and+a+blast%21%21%21%21%0d%0a%0d%0aCima+Rocks%21%21%0d%0aAsh%0d%0a%0d%0a

Wonderful+Council+Marketing+Concept+%2d+Build+your+main+summer+camp+facility+hours+away+from+your+%28huge%29+council+borders+and+place+it+right+on+the+border+of+two+other+councils+%28San+Antionio+%26+Austin%29%2e++%0d%0a%0d%0aMake+no+mistake%2c+this+camp+serves+more+%22out+of+council%22+units+than+Sam+Houston+Council+troops%2e%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0a

We+were+at+Horseshoe+Bend+for+opening+week+this+summer+%28Troop+74%2c+David+Crockett+District%2c+Sam+Houston+Area+Council%29%2e+From+the+moment+we+arrived+until+we+drove+out+the+gate%2c+we+had+a+blast%2e+This+camp+has+the+most+excellent+staffers+imaginable%2e+They+not+only+take+the+time+to+ensure+each+scout+gets+the+attention+he+needs%2c+they+seem+ecstatic+about+doing+so%2e+The+Death+March+has+already+been+reviewed+so+I+won%27t+go+further+except+to+say+%22Don%27t+miss+it%22%2e+The+horse+program+is+outstanding+and+worth+attending+HB+for+that+session+alone%2e+The+aquatics+staffers+are+superb%2e+You+won%27t+find+a+more+enthusiastic+bunch+anywhere%2e+The+rock%2fwall+climbing+sessions+are%2c+without+a+doubt%2c+the+most+expertly+guided+lessons+a+scout+could+receive%2e+The+food%2e%2e%2e%2c+well%2c+the+food%2e+Camp+food+is+always+an+adventure%2c+and+I%27m+sure+HB+stacks+up+well+against+any+other+camp%2e+No+one+in+our+Troop+went+hungry+anyway%2e+The+staffers+make+dining+an+entertainment+with+outrageous+skits%2c+and+their+comraderie+becomes+infectious+as+the+week+goes+by%2e+I+cannot+recommend+this+camp+highly+enough%2e+I+can+only+hope+I+get+there+before+you+next+summer%2e+Andrew%2c+Rat%2c+Rachel%2c+Ash%2c+Climber+Zero%2c+Russel%2c+Dustin%3b+I+tip+my+hat+to+all+of+you%2c+and+thank+you+for+making+summer+2002+unforgetable%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aOne+Hen%3b+One+Hen%2c+Two+Ducks%3b%0d%0a%0d%0aHope+to+see+ya%27ll+next+summer%2c%0d%0aDoug%0d%0a

Just+got+back+from+Summer+Camp+at+Horsehoe+Bend%2e++Our+Troop+visits+this+camp+every+four+years+and+I+must+say+this+year+was+exceptional%2e++The+counselors+for+all+the+merit+badges+really+knew+their+stuff+and+several+times+had+to+run+kids+off+to+their+next+class+because+they+were+having+such+a+good+time%2e++Bob+Kennedy%2c+the+Camp+Director+has+assembled+a+top+notch+staff+and+they+present+a+great+program+all+around%2e++There+is+so+much+to+do+that+you+cannot+attend+all+the+evening+activities+in+only+one+week%2e++The+only+complainte+I+had+was+the+short+amount+of+time+from+the+program+areas+closing+%284%3a45PM%29+until+evening+flags+and+dinner+%285%3a15PM%29%2e+As+always%2c+the+highlight+of+the+week+was+Aquafest+and+the+Rodeo%2e++Also+the+weather+was+very+cooperative+with+hot+days+but+cool+nights%2e++All+in+all+a+very+enjoyable+week%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aA+big+thanks+to+the+Staff+of+Horseshoe+Bend+for+a+great+week%2e%0d%0a%0d%0aJerry+McNeil%0d%0aScoutmaster%0d%0aTroop+930%0d%0aLa+Porte%2c+TX%0d%0a

+Hey+if+you+want+a+good+time%2c+Horseshoe+Bend+is+the+place+to+go%21+I+have+been+every+year+since+I+became+a+Boy+Scout%2e+My+dad+went+when+he+was+a+kid+in+Scouts+30+years+ago%2e+It+has+a+great+aquatics+area+and+a+great+shooting+sports+area%2e+The+staffers+are+really+a+second+family%2e+By+the+end+of+the+week%2c+your+friends+with+every+staffer+up+there%2e+One+of+the+best+Order+of+the+Arrow+ceremonies+you+can+find%2e+I+really+encourage+every+troop+to+enjoy+the+experience+I+have%21+%0d%0a+%0d%0a++++Nathan+Seiler++++++++++++++++++++++++++++%0d%0a+++SPL+%2d+Troop++309%0d%0a+++Rosenberg%2c+Texas+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++%0d%0a

I+was+always+looking+for+a+way+to+say+how+great+Horseshoe+bend+Staff+was%2e+I+enjoyed+everything+about+it%2e+My+scout+enjoy+the+staff%2c+the+activities%2c+and+aquafest%2e+We+had+such+a+great+time+at+the+pool%2c+and+love+program+land%2e+The+staff+I+enjoy+the+most+was+Tim%2c+Ash%2c+Dustin%2e+%0d%0a%0d%0a%0d%0a++%0d%0a

Hey+ya%27ll%2e+Horseshoe+Bend+is+really+a+great+camp%2e+Every+year+that+I+had+gone+with+my+troop+to+Cima%2c+we+went+to+Cockrell%2e+It+just+happened+by+chance+that+when+I+went+as+a+junior+staffer+last+year%2c+my+friend+was+going+to+Horseshoe+Bend+so+I+decided+to+go+with+him%2e+I+had+a+great+time+and+I%27m+going+back+this+year+as+a+real+staffer%2e+I+would+definately+recommend+that+anybody+considering+a+summer+camp+go+to+Horseshoe+Bend%2e+I+had+a+great+time%2e+The+staff+is+like+family+to+everyone+%28especially+other+staffers%29%2e+I+want+to+thank+the+entire+staff+last+year+%282003%29+for+really+making+my+experience+a+good+one%2e+I+don%27t+have+time+to+name+everyone+by+name%2c+but+you+know+who+you+are%2e+Anyway%2c+thanks+again+and+I+cannot+wait+until+this+summer%21%0d%0a%0d%0aThanks%2c%0d%0aJason+Cockerham%0d%0a

I+have+been+on+staff+at+Horseshoe+Bend+as+a+retired+adult+for+one+summer%2c+and+can+honestly+say+I+was+very+impressed+with+the+staff%2e++Our+troop+went+there+this+pass+summer+and+had+a+great+time%2e+They+have+an+excellent+program%2e++They+have+plans+to+making+the+camp+even+better+in+the+near+future%2e++These+plans+include+both+Horseshoe+Bend+and+River+Camp%2e++This+is+a+very+large+camp+and+have+a+lot+of+room+to+keep+developing+it%27s+high+adventure+program%2e++The+food+has+always+been+good%2e++The+only+negative+is+it+does+get+a+little+hot+around+noon%2c+and+the+roads+are+dusty%2e+%0d%0a

The+Sam+Houston+Area+Council+closed+this+camp+in+2017+and+is+currently+in+the+process+of+selling+the+land+%282018%29%2e+All+efforts+and+funds+are+being+focused+on+the+new+Camp+Strake+in+Evergreen%2c+Texas%2e%0d%0a