The Lodge at Blue Sky’s stunning mountain views are 27 minutes from Park City. It’s well known for romantic getaways, luxury family vacations and, now, summer camp.
The Little Vaqueros Kids Club opened last year for kids to explore nature, learn skills and go on adventures. Parents can register kids for summer 2025 now. It’s open to ages 6 to 10, and 5 to 12 for lodge guests.
“The Little Vaqueros Kids Club was born from the vision to create meaningful, hands-on experiences for younger guests at Blue Sky. During the early stages of development, we knew multi-generational travel would be a key part of our guest experience, and it was important to offer something as immersive and thoughtful for kids as we do for adults,” said Henry Hudson, ranch general manager at Blue Sky. “With 3,500 acres to explore and a working ranch as our backdrop, we saw an incredible opportunity to design a full-day program where kids could truly experience life on the land—caring for animals, learning horsemanship, exploring nature and engaging in ranch-inspired activities. It’s been a passion project from the start, and one we’re proud to see inspiring a deep connection to nature in the next generation.”
The camp takes a different group of eight kids each week during the summer. Different themes are explored each day of the week. One of the most popular, “Discovering Gracie’s Farm,” will take place on Fridays. Throughout the day, kids care for farm animals, learn about sustainable farming practices and complete farm chores. On Thursdays, kids will see how food goes from the earth to their plates by gathering edible plants along the property’s trails and then learning to bake in the lodge’s kitchen. All of the themes are listed below.
“The primary goal of Little Vaqueros is to provide children with an immersive educational experience that deepens their understanding of nature and ranch life. Through activities like exploring the land’s geography and history, studying local ecosystems and working on horsemanship skills—such as catching, grooming and riding horses—kids develop both practical and environmental knowledge,” Hudson said. “They also engage in culinary lessons, where they spend the morning collecting eggs and produce from the farm and then meet with the chef to learn how to cook with what they’ve gathered. Additionally, kids interact with animals at the Saving Gracie Healing Foundation, which teaches empathy and responsibility. By combining these experiences, we aim to foster curiosity, respect for nature and a sense of personal growth through hands-on learning.”
Since many of the participants will be vacationing at the lodge, Little Vaqueros gives local kids a chance to build friendships with kids from other parts of the state, country and world.
“While kids are off enjoying their day at Little Vaqueros Kids Club, parents can take full advantage of everything Blue Sky has to offer—from relaxing at the Edge Spa and enjoying lunch or a tour at High West Distillery to dining at YUTA or booking their own adventures like fly fishing, horseback riding and more,” said Hudson.
Little Vaqueros is $750 per week. Kids may bring their lunch or receive lunch from the lodge’s restaurant, YUTA, for an additional $25 per meal.
Email bsk.adventures@aubergeresorts.com for more information.
Weekly themes at Blue Sky’s Little Vaqueros
- Monday: Wilderness Explorers Hike Blue Sky’s trails while searching for natural treasures and learn the basics of fishing in local waters.
- Tuesday: Cowboys & Cowgirls Assist with horse care and morning chores, then saddle up to work directly with the horses in the riding arena.
- Wednesday: Mountain Creativity Forage along Alexander Creek to create nature-inspired crafts, then use natural materials to make birdhouses and mandalas.
- Thursday: Culinary Exploration Identify and collect edible plants along the trails, then learn baking secrets and test your skills in Blue Sky’s kitchen.
- Friday: Discovering Gracie’s Farm Care for rescued animals at Gracie Equine Healing Foundation, then assist with daily farm chores and learn sustainable farming practices.
- Saturday: Little Miner’s Search for geodes along Blue Sky’s trails, then explore the mining history of Park City through a geocaching course.
- Sunday: Love of the Land Help restore native plant species along Alexander Creek, then create paintings of Blue Sky’s rescue horses or scenic landscapes.
Discover more outdoor inspiration, and find all our Adventure coverage. And while you’re here, why not subscribe and get six annual issues of Salt Lake magazine’s curated guide to the best of life in Utah?
