REVIEW | Redemption Ranch Cowboy Camp

Church Camp. Four days and three nights with the brethren away from the comfort of home and the convenience of city life. This year we went to Redemption Ranch Cowboy Camp in Lipa, Batangas. 

This article will be a review of the campsite facilities as well as my suggestions on how they can further be improved. Let's get started!

Things I like about Redemption Ranch:

This super-instagrammable space. This is the entrance to the multi-purpose court which we used for most of the camp programs. Bentang-benta po ito sa mga nagse-selfie. 

They insisted to have a class picture taken here. I also have a portrait pic taken while in the midst of bougainvillea. Hindi ko na post dito. Medyo nakakahiya.

There are landscaped spots scattered within the property adding to the overall pleasant environment.

It's not overdeveloped. Campsites tend to compromise open space in favor of building structures to accommodate more people, causing the property to feel cramped. I like that there is more open ground here. In case there's no more room inside the houses, campers are allowed to pitch tents.

Good microclimate. Maaliwalas po dito. The site is near the foot of the mountain. Cool breeze can be expected at night and early in the morning.

The Snack Shop. If you haven't brought any snacks to camp, there is a snack shop within the site. They make halo-halo and fruit shakes too. Perfect for summer!

We ordered the fresh mango shake.

And just in case you forgot your toiletries they have a sari-sari store near the multipurpose court as well.

I suppose this place is still a little more comfortable than an actual ranch but the "ranch" and "cowboy" theme is presented cohesively throughout the property. I think it's charming.

Accommodations. There is plenty of room for campers. This particular ranch house have high ceilings. There's more than enough space for the height of triple-deck beds. We were not allowed to use the third deck for safety purposes (our church camp organizers decided this) but I think everyone did get a bed.

There is a bit of a queue to the shower stalls but that is to be expected every camp especially when everyone follows the same schedule. They do have enough toilet and shower stalls.

I'm not into sports but I know a lot will be happy to know that you can play basketball here. They have provisions for volleyball as well.

There's more than enough space for group/team-building activities. We had this relay activity. All three groups are doing activities in three different stations simultaneously.

Just being away from the city is a huge benefit for city dwellers like me. Do you agree?

What you may not like as much:

Sadly, pets are not allowed. Ipupuslit ko sana si Xena. (I thought I'll sneak Xena in. Maybe the camp staff will not send us home.) Good thing my brother-in-law volunteered to take care of Xena while we're away.

There are no electric fans. No need to worry about this because campers are allowed to bring their own. 

A curtain is the only one guarding your privacy while you are inside a toilet or shower stall. This is not really a problem when you're taking a shower. But imagine doing number 2 and a really strong breeze decides to lift the curtain not-so-slightly... I'm not obligating the campsite management to install doors. For now, I'm just hoping there's a way the curtains can stay closed while the person inside is doing his business.

Some of the bunk beds do not have enough vertical space between decks. Let's be clear. This is not the case for all bunk beds. There are just some wherein you won't be able to sit straight, you can only lie down when you're on the bed. It could be really uncomfortable but some campers were able to sleep on them while successfully avoiding hitting their heads to the bottom of the upper deck upon getting up.

Benches are uncomfortable for the elderly. They should provide monobloc chairs for senior citizens. Even young people are uncomfortable sitting on a bench for hours at a time but we can manage.

The dining space is a bit tight. There's a huge chance campers will be bumping into each other while getting meals. This may also be due to the fact that we are about 200 campers. There are outdoor tables and chairs available. You just have to walk farther away from the dining hall for a more comfortable dining experience.

Very poor network connection. You're in camp! You're supposed to relax, not check work emails. 

How campers can better enjoy Redemption Ranch:

Have the right attitude. So what if you can't enjoy the internet here? Smell the flowers! Take a lot of photos! Enjoy looking at the green grass. Appreciate the place.

Go ahead and bring an electric fan. It will make your after-lunch nap much more comfortable.

Bug lotion or spray. Always bring one if you're going to be outdoor most of the time (especially if you have Type O+ blood. Insects love us.)

Have a refreshing halo-halo or fruit shake.

Bring a shawl or extra blanket. If you want more privacy in your bunk, you can tie a cord to the bed posts and from there hang shawls as make-shift curtains. You can also use the shawl to cover yourself when it's cold.

Overall, I had a wonderful stay here and I will not object if our Church decides to reserve this place for Camp 2020.

★★★★☆

 More information on this campsite:

For some reason, Waze can't locate Redemption Ranch properly.

It will be better if you'll rely upon Google Maps instead.

facebook.com/redemptionranchcowboycamp

website: redemptionranch.org/redemption_ranch_camp

Contact details:

Office LL

63-43-404-0288

Mobile

0996-963-2692

Contact them before you attempt to visit the Ranch.

You will need a gate pass to enter the premises.

Images with watermark are mine.

Images without watermark are from Redemption Ranch's website and facebook accounts.

This post is NOT SPONSORED.