If you'd like to help out in our Birmingham office, or if you are interested in one of our Work Weeks out at the Ranch, be sure to check out our website by clicking on the "How Do I Get Involved?" button on the Home Page. Or you can call our office at 800.242.1224.

Though we'd like everyone to be able to stay as long as they'd like, our housing is limited during the summer. Often times, a new program begins the same day one ends and 200 new campers arrive. We are sorry, but we will have a bed for you only as long as you are registered as a camper.

Though we'd like everyone to be able to come and stay as long as they'd like, our housing is limited during the summer. Often times, a new program begins the same day one ends and 200 new campers arrive. We are sorry, but we have beds for our registrants only.

Although we draw campers from all 50 states and many countries, the Birmingham area has been our largest area of draw. From our beginnings in 1980 we have annually had many campers from the Birmingham area. This concentration of campers and supporters led us to have our offices here. During the off-season most of our presentations and staff recruiting are in the south.

This question is best answered with the following quote,

"I first had doubts about letting my son miss summer workouts for 2 weeks. But now his leadership skills have made an impact on this team. I will send him again this summer - is it really going to kill him to miss weightlifting for 2 weeks? Remember, we are in this coaching business to have a positive impact on the lives of young people."
-	Joey Jones Head Football Coach Mt. Brook High School Birmingham, AL

Arrive Sacramento no later than 2pm. Depart Sacramento no earlier than 10:30am.

Our JH Staff arrive at 8:00am at the Delta baggage claim wearing JH Ranch Staff T-shirts. The Sacramento airport is relatively small and our staff are easy to spot. After a warm JH welcome, our staff will direct your child to collect his/her luggage from the baggage claim and place it with the rest of the JH luggage. We begin to load all camper luggage into our U-Haul truck at 1:00, and begin boarding campers onto buses at 2:00. Once the kids are on the bus, we will take a final roll call. If a camper is unaccounted for, we verify our flight information with the airline, then call home to communicate the situation. In order to guarantee your child's safe transition from the terminal to the buses, we must have their flight information as soon as you make arrangements, at least two weeks prior to arrival. Please e-mail this information to info@jhranch.com.

A van stays behind to retrieve any luggage that is lost or re-directed. Should any luggage not make it to the airport before the van leaves, the airport will deliver it to the Ranch, usually within a day.  JH Ranch is not responsible for communication with the airlines regarding lost luggage.

Due to the large numbers of people we host at the Ranch at a time, we are not able to deliver packages to individual guests.

No phones will be available during the first three days of Second Wind for camper use. Campers are not permitted to field calls from the office except in an emergency. The best way for you to get a message to your child is to email us at camper@jhranch.com. EMAIL IS RESERVED FOR PARENTS ONLY. We will deliver the message at dinner time. Please put your child's name, program, and the words PARENT EMAIL in the subject of the e-mail. We cannot guarantee any email sent after 3:00 Pacific time will reach your child the same day. You can also call and leave a message, and it will be delivered at dinner time as well. However, please note that we prefer email.

Call in with your credit card number and we will charge the amount to your card, plus an additional 3% to cover the cost of the exchange. We accept Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. You can reach our office at 1-800-242-1224.

We recommend borrowing a backpack from a friend if you can. If this is not possible, you may rent a backpack from us for use during your program.  We use framed backpacks that are around 2,500 cubic inches. It is important that the backpacks be this size or bigger to accomodate the sleeping bag, clothing and food for two nights, along with other miscellaneous gear.

Yes, each team's coach visits each camper three times during the course of the 24 hour solo. Boys and girls sleep in seperate designated areas. We encourage each camper to take advantage of their solo time, as they will greatly benefit by spending this time alone in thought and reflection. Many campers look back at their solo time as the most life-changing experience of the entire program.

For each week our programs are in session, we have a medical doctor and a registered nurse on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week and living on Ranch property.

Please put labels with your name and phone number on all items. Please submit a detailed description of the item misplaced, the session attended, and the address to which you would like it returned. We prefer to receive this information via an e-mail sent to info@jhranch.com. We will get back to you within a week to let you know whether or not we have recovered the misplaced item.

From Sacramento:
Take I-5 North to Yreka. (Approx. 3hrs 45min) Upon approaching Yreka, take the 1st exit (Highway 3 Etna, by McDonald's). Take a left at the bottom of the exit ramp, and at the first light take a left onto Highway 3 South towards Fort Jones and Etna. Follow Highway 3 to Etna for about 26 miles. Just before you reach Etna, look for a restaurant called Dottie's. Take a left at Dottie's, and continue on Highway 3 for approx. 8-10 min. untill you reach a sign for French Creek Road. Take a Right at French Creek Road and stay on the road until you see a sign on the right side of the road for the JH Ranch. After crossing the bridge, veer to the left. Then, when the road splits, bear right, driving up the hill to the lodge and proceed to check in.

From Medford:
When leaving the Medford Airport, take a left onto Biddle Road. Take a left at the second light. After you turn, immediately get into the left lane. You will cross an overpass. On the far side of the overpass, at the light, turn left onto Interstate 5 South towards Ashland. Stay on Interstate 5 South until you reach Yreka. Upon Approaching Yreka, take the 3rd exit (Highway 3 Etna, by McDonald's). Take a left at the bottom of the exit ramp, and at the first light take a left onto Highway 3 South towards Fort Jones and Etna. Follow Highway 3 to Etna for about 26 miles. Just before you reach Etna, look for a restaurant called Dottie's. Take a left at Dottie's, and continue on Highway 3 for approx. 8-10 min. until you reach a sign for French Creek Road. Take a Right at French Creek Road and stay on the road until you see a sign on the right side of the road for the JH Ranch. After crossing the bridge, veer to the left. Then, when the road splits, bear right, driving up the hill to the lodge and proceed to check in.

We strongly recommend bringing only one child per program, although we make exceptions for attending a program with two children if you are unable to attend separate programs. Our program is designed around one-on-one activities for a parent and child, where the focus can be placed on the specific needs of your relationship.

Our office cannot provide an internet connection to Ranch guests with laptops, and we do not permit guests to use the office computers except for emergencies. If you cannot avoid a business appointment, please call ahead so we can make arrangements to accommodate your needs. Please consider leaving all business matters at home and truly escaping to the Ranch. We have built the Ranch in a completely undistracted environment on purpose. After an incredible week of bonding with your child, you will realize that no business matter you could have attended was more important than offering a solid, undistracted week of your life as a gift of love to your child.

Cellular signals work sporadically due to the mountainous terrain of the area.  We encourage people to leave their phones at home as they can detract from their experience.  Pay phones are located around the lodge for your convenience.

Unless unavoidable circumstances demand that you miss a day of the program, we ask that you attend the full week. Each planned activity builds on another and missing even a day of the program will detract significantly from your experience.

Transportation from Sacramento or Medford to the Ranch is not provided for the Parent & Son/Daughter programs. Please arrange to rent a car in Sacramento for the week. Consider arranging a carpool with another couple for the duration of your week. If you are interested in carpooling, but don't know anyone attending, please email info@jhranch.com and we will help you contact another couple attending your program.

Not necessarily. We try to honor requests to be placed on the same team as another couple from your area. When organizing teams, we take into consideration two main factors: First, and most importantly, age of child. Secondly, we attempt to diversify each team by placing no more than two couples from the same area on a team.

No one is required to participate in any activity, and your level of participation is determined by what your desire and ability is for that activity. You progress at your speed. We do, however, encourage you to take risks and step outside your comfort zone in order that you might develop greater levels of trust and character.

"I learned that I've got to make the most of life I can't worry about what anyone else thinks except for God. Life is an everlasting adventure, and you miss out if you hold back. Give it your all."
- Kelly Spitler, camper.

Because this program runs simultaneously with our Parent & Son/Daughter Adventures, housing is limited. Therefore, we do not have married couples accommodations. We house all the wives in one cabin and the husbands next door in another cabin.

No one is required to participate in any activity, and your level of participation is determined by what your desire and ability is for that activity. You progress at your speed. We do, however, encourage you to take risks and step outside your comfort zone in order that you might develop greater levels of trust and character.

"I learned that I've got to make the most of life I can't worry about what anyone else thinks except for God. Life is an everlasting adventure, and you miss out if you hold back. Give it your all."
- Kelly Spitler, camper.