Frequently Asked Questions

Agoura Hills: 16+

South Bay: 18+

Ranch Days & Seasonal Camps: $220 per day. There may be an additional aide fee to cover community expenses for the support person.

Evening Social Club: $55

GHR is a private non profit that is not vendored with any Regional Center. GHR accepts Self Determination funds and Social Recreation Funds through the Regional Center.

Golden Heart Ranch prioritizes the safety and well-being of all Ranchers and staff. All GHR staff are First Aid and CPR certified, and we have two lifeguard-trained team members on staff.

While at the Ranch, we maintain a comprehensive emergency evacuation protocol to address a variety of potential situations. Additionally, Rancher emergency contact information is kept readily available both at the Ranch and during community outings to ensure quick access if needed.

Any Rancher requiring personal support for restroom assistance, constant supervision for seizures, elopement concerns, or aggressive behaviors will be asked to provide their own 1:1 support aide. This aide must be background checked and will be required to complete the following prior to participation:

• General Waiver

• Swimming Waiver

• Golden Heart Ranch Expectations Contract

All Golden Heart Ranch staff are trained and certified in First Aid and CPR. In addition to this, many of our team members bring degrees and professional certifications in a variety of specialized fields. Every staff member also completes comprehensive Golden Heart Ranch training to ensure they are prepared to provide a safe, supportive, and enriching experience for all Ranchers.

Golden Heart Ranch does not provide transportation to or from the program day. On select mornings and afternoons (as noted on the monthly program calendar), we offer an optional off-site drop-off and pick-up location at Kanan & Agoura Road. This service is available at no additional cost, but families must complete the weekly van ride request form in advance.

Transportation is provided for all outings during program hours. While we do our best to accommodate aides in our vehicles, there may be occasions when an aide will need to drive separately if there are not enough available seatbelts.

Golden Heart Ranch provides lunch for Ranchers each program day. The monthly menu will be posted on the program calendar. GHR accommodates for dairy-free, gluten-free, and nut-free diets. Any additional allergies or dietary restrictions will need to be accommodated by the parent or guardian.

Each balanced meal includes a fruit, vegetable, and water. Healthy snacks such as fruits and veggies are available to Ranchers throughout the day. Ranchers are also welcome to bring their own meals from home. A microwave, silverware, plates, and other essentials are available for their use.

When possible, staff aides may be offered a meal if there is enough food available, though this is not guaranteed.

On designated picnic lunch days, the meal may include a sandwich (such as sunflower butter & jelly or turkey & cheese), fruit, vegetable, chips, and water. Aides are asked to bring their own sack lunch on these days, as additional lunches will not be provided.

Golden Heart Ranch understands that aides may occasionally be unavailable due to illness, vacation, or other personal reasons. We believe it’s important for Ranchers to continue participating in their programs whenever possible. To support this, a parent or family member may step in as the Rancher’s support person for up to 5 program days per calendar year.

This helps maintain consistency for the Rancher while ensuring their support needs are met.

While the time and cost are the same, the structure and focus of each program is different — and they do not run at the same time. It’s either Ranch Days or Seasonal Camp, depending on the time of year.

Ranch Days take place during the ‘school year’ and focus on life skills, vocational experiences, and social growth.

• M/W/F are single day registration.

• Tu/Th require a full month commitment to allow for more in-depth experiences with a consistent group.

• A typical Ranch Day schedule includes:

  • Mondays: On-site at Golden Heart Ranch

  • Tuesdays & Thursdays: Hybrid days (part Ranch, part community)

  • Wednesdays: Full community-based outings

  • Fridays: Theme Days — with a full month dedicated to exploring a particular topic like gardening, music, or water activities.

Seasonal Camps are held during school breaks (summer, winter, and spring) and are all about fun, adventure, and social connection.

• These are single day registration.

• There’s no set weekly schedule for when we’re at the Ranch versus out in the community — each day is designed to be engaging and memorable.

Important: Ranch Days and Seasonal Camps do not happen simultaneously. We transition between them based on the calendar year — so you’ll either be registering for Ranch Days or for Seasonal Camp depending on the season.