Roundup River Ranch Launches First Behavioral Health Camp Session in 2026
Summer Camp 4: Behavioral Health Conditions
This summer, Roundup River Ranch continued its commitment to expanding behavioral health programming, launching its first full behavioral health camp session in Gypsum for children navigating mental and behavioral health diagnoses. It was an expansion of the mission that the organization had long carried out for kids facing other physical and medical challenges, now reaching new families.
Dr. Paige Baker-Braxton, Senior Director of Behavioral Health at Vail Health, has helped shape the behavioral health session since its earliest stages. As a member of Roundup River Ranch’s Medical Advisory Committee for nearly two years, she played a key role in developing the behavioral health session and recruiting local campers.
“Being part of Roundup River Ranch is not just a role or a responsibility; it’s a profound privilege that continually inspires and renews my commitment to behavioral health. Here, I find a community where healing translates into happiness, where every challenge overcome is a shared victory. It’s where I, too, learn, grow, and find joy in the resilience that is so vividly displayed around me,” she said.
When Roundup River Ranch set out to expand its mission to serve children with behavioral health diagnoses, Dr. Paige became a key partner in moving the initiative forward. After attending The Bullseye Roundup fundraising event, she felt called to help and offered her expertise, resources, and team to support the development of the program.
Once camp was in session, she was surprised by what she witnessed.
“I think what surprised me was how much the kids were doing for each other. As a therapist, I was prepared to use all the tools in my toolbox. But not only did the seasonal staff intervene, but the kids were supporting each other really well in a beautiful way, and I don’t think I was prepared for how much they would lean into each other.”
It was a moment that captured what made this program different. Clinical care was essential, but so was the connection that happened when children felt safe enough to support one another. Dr. Paige did not expect to witness that level of peer support unfold so naturally, but it became one of the clearest signs that the camp was accomplishing exactly what it was designed to do.
“As a behavioral health provider, I often meet children and families on some of their hardest days. Roundup River Ranch gave me the extraordinary opportunity to see kids at their very best experiencing joy, connection, courage, and belonging,” she shared. “I watched a kiddo who, in the clinic, talked about being bullied and feeling like he had no friends take the stage with his camp bestie and receive a standing ovation. I also supported a camper experiencing a panic attack who said, ‘I know people here understand. People at home don’t.’”
The behavioral health session combined expert clinical care with what Roundup River Ranch does best: creating a camp community where children feel understood, supported, and free to be themselves.
“Camp created a place where these kiddos could feel truly seen and understood. It was an incredible experience to witness their resilience and joy which gives me hope, which helps me as provider keep persevering.”
As the session came to a close, one thing was clear – The Power of Camp creates connection, builds confidence, and reminds every child they belong.
