River crossing with horses at Sonshine Ranch Outdoor Centre led to an impressive influx of fifty reservations in just one night for their holiday programme. Curious about the aspects of their culture and business operations that drive such remarkable success, we reached out.
Tanja manages the administration and supports camp operations. She shared her passion for the ranch and offered insights into what makes their programmes stand out. Keep reading to discover their sought-after range of activities and how Enrolmy’s software solution lessens Tanja’s administration time and makes bookings a breeze!
The Heart of Sonshine Ranch
At its core, Sonshine Ranch is more than just an equestrian camp; it's a sanctuary where young people can safely enjoy the outdoors, make life-long friends, learn to take care of animals and celebrate their faith. Tanja’s main responsibilities as the administration manager include handling bookings and inquiries. She also supports the camp manager with health and safety and camp operations which she enjoys.
First of all, I love Sonshine Ranch! This place is very special to our family. It's wonderful to be able to share Sonshine Ranch with so many young people and to provide a safe place where they can come and experience the outdoors.
What Makes Sonshine Ranch Stand Out
What sets Sonshine Ranch apart from other camps is its comprehensive riding programme that includes lessons, treks, holiday camps and school programmes. They also run a special “Own A Pony Day” where students learn the ins and outs of looking after a horse. Staff teach the students good grooming skills, how to feed, saddle and ride. This experience imbues them with valuable responsibility and independence, and the opportunity to care for their ‘very own’ pony.
The horses are a huge attraction. Sonshine Ranch provides the opportunity for kids to learn to ride, even if they may never own a pony.
Alongside riding programmes, Sonshine Ranch offers other adventurous activities that range from the flying fox, giant rope swing, kayaking, waterslide and a huge climbing tower. Notably, what makes their holiday programme unique is that Sonshine Ranch Outdoor Centre is a specialised Christian-based Charitable Trust. This means Tanja and her team rely on volunteers and trained leaders to assist with the running of their programmes.
Without the generosity of so many people, we simply could not offer the many types of camps and programmes each year.
Embracing Enrolmy’s Software Solution for Efficiency
Tasked with most of the administration for their holiday programme, Tanja reflected on some of the challenges that led Sonshine Ranch to use Enrolmy’s booking software. She explained that their very initial system for managing bookings involved processes such as collating cheques that were sent by mail and sending out physical confirmation letters. This was admin she described as “very old and time-consuming”.
It was only 3 years ago where we were still sending out camp registration forms by email and manually inputting applications into an excel sheet.
Even after a website update and the introduction of online forms, processing camper details and payments was still very manual. However, Tanja knew there were much more effective and simpler systems out there, it was just a matter of finding one that suited their operation.
We tried another system two years prior to changing to Enrolmy. They fit with some of our requirements however, after the trial period, there were just too many factors and aspects of the software that didn’t work.
How Enrolmy Transformed These Challenges Into Success
When I was approached by Enrolmy to look at their software, I was pleasantly surprised by the monthly subscription cost, versus what we were paying previously.
With an attractive and considerably more affordable rate compared to other online booking software, it was a no-brainer for Sonshine Ranch!
There is no paper or money to handle and transferring campers to another activity is now a breeze.... One of my favourite aspects is the Xero Sync and the fact that you don't have to pay to have this add-on.
Tanja explained that once the activity was set up, everything became automated - from parents booking, payments being made and then syncing with Xero. Making the switch to Enrolmy, catered to Tanja and her team’s exact needs. Its functionality was unparalleled compared to other software solutions.
The Onboarding Period
Once I was shown my way around the administrative back end of Enrolmy, I found it very simple to use and navigate.
Tanja found that, like with any technology, the more she used Enrolmy, the more familiar she became with it. Now that all their camp bookings and riding lesson enrolments are set up with Enrolmy, she uses the software daily. Speaking accolades about Enrolmy’s Customer Support and help centre, Tanja recalled receiving answers to any question within an hour using their intercom chat service.
The customer support would have to be one of the best things about Enrolmy. The support I received during the set-up period was second to none.
Not only was Enrolmy user-friendly and straightforward for Tanja as a provider, but parents have also given extremely positive feedback, finding the transition to the new booking system smooth and easy to use.
Prior to agreeing to change, I informed Enrolmy regarding what I needed from a software. Although not everything is in place yet, I feel they are extremely open to my advice and are prepared to look at ways to improve, and also find solutions to any problems found along the way.
Would Tanja Recommend Using Enrolmy to Other Providers?
“Switching to a new system always has its challenges, so make sure you plan when you want to make the change and that it will fit into your season. When we changed over, I only used Enrolmy for riding lesson enrolments. I ensured I was happy with the setup before switching all our camp bookings and activities over.”
I am still in the early stages of working with the camp activity, but so far the system is doing most of what I need it to do which I'm absolutely thrilled with.”
As we envision the future of kids' activities, it’s clear that programmes like Sonshine Ranch's are making a significant impact. At Sonshine Ranch, it's not just about riding lessons; it's about nurturing confidence, responsibility, and a love for the outdoors in every child. By using cutting-edge tools like Enrolmy, Tanja and her team can concentrate on what truly matters: offering an enriching and memorable experience for every young rider. With Enrolmy streamlining the administrative side, Sonshine Ranch can continue to inspire and support children in their journey with horses, paving the way for future adventures and growth.
If managing your programmes feels like a big challenge, Enrolmy is here to lend a hand. Our platform simplifies the administrative side of things, so you can focus on creating unforgettable experiences for your clients.
Enrolmy streamlines various aspects of your programme, including:
- Effortless Enrolment: Make the registration process a breeze for families.
- Smooth Booking System: Easily manage class schedules and activity bookings.
- Hassle-Free Payment Handling: Simplify payments and invoicing without any stress.
- Effective Parent Communication: Keep parents informed and involved effortlessly.