2027 Dates
A few carefully planned weekends
Three signature immersion trips are set for 2027, with additional private dates opening as the season allows. Lambing, shearing, the seasonal move between canyon and mountain range, and family availability all come first.
What these dates mean
What time here is like
A weekend on this list is not a schedule of activities. It is a few days inside the rhythm of the season, which is why we only open dates the family can host well.
- 01
Learn through doing
Guests take part in the work of the day rather than watching it happen. Come ready to listen, work, eat, and learn.
- 02
Spend time with sheep and land
Sheep set the schedule. Water, feed, weather, and the move between winter canyons and summer mountains shape everything.
- 03
Sit and talk with the family
We talk about family history, stories passed down, and Diné life now, including work, school, and Navajo Nation government.
- 04
Your fee stays with the family
It pays our hosts fairly. It helps us keep the sheep and stay on this land.
Signature Navajo Family Sheepcamp Immersion Trips
Signature Navajo Family Sheepcamp Immersion Trips
Our four-day, three-night signature immersion trips are our most communal Sheepcamp experiences. Guests share portions of the experience with members of the Benally family and may also learn alongside university groups, faculty, returning partners, and other invited participants. Each trip includes a blend of nights camping at Sheepcamp and local hotel accommodations, and the final day generally includes time in Window Rock, Arizona, near the Navajo Nation capital area and government offices.
The flock grazing summer meadow after the move up, in greener, mountainous country. 8 spots remainingAnnual Navajo Family Sheepcamp Immersion Trip I
June 17, 2027 – June 21, 2027
- Length
- Four-Day/Three-Night Signature Experience
- Starting point
- Begins in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Capacity
- 8 guests
- Season
- Early summer, as the family prepares for and begins the move into the higher summer grazing country.
Water and meadow on the summer range in the Lukachukai Mountains. Greener, mountainous, more alpine. Limited availability · 6 spots remainingAnnual Navajo Family Sheepcamp Immersion Trip II
August 11, 2027 – August 15, 2027
- Length
- Four-Day/Three-Night Signature Experience
- Starting point
- Begins in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Capacity
- 8 guests
- Season
- Late summer in the mountain country, when monsoon storms move through and the meadows are green.
Fall color on the mountain, looking out over the desert below. 8 spots remainingAnnual Navajo Family Sheepcamp Immersion Trip III
September 2, 2027 – September 6, 2027
- Length
- Four-Day/Three-Night Signature Experience
- Starting point
- Begins in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Capacity
- 8 guests
- Season
- Early fall, with steady weather, cool nights, and the season turning back toward the lower country.
Our standard private and signature experiences begin in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where guests arrive, secure their rental vehicle, and begin the journey toward the Navajo Nation.
Our four-day, three-night experiences generally conclude with time in Window Rock, Arizona, including the Navajo Nation capital area and government offices. While meetings with officials are not guaranteed, this part of the visit helps place Sheepcamp within the broader civic, cultural, and contemporary life of the Navajo Nation.
In addition to time at Sheepcamp, we may help guests visit other places that deepen their understanding of Diné history, landscape, community life, and the Navajo Nation more broadly.
Each trip runs four days and three nights, with a blend of nights camping at Sheepcamp and local hotel stays in Chinle, Arizona. Arrival and departure dates for the 2027 trips are still being confirmed with our family, so the date ranges shown may shift by a day. Sending the inquiry form does not confirm a trip or a spot.
Seasonal Private Experiences
Choose a Season
Private experiences are arranged within seasonal windows rather than offered on fixed dates. Tell us which time of year interests you, and we will discuss what is available based on the sheep, family schedules, weather, road conditions, and the land.
- Dates by request
Lambing Season
Typical window
March to mid-June
Spend time in the lower country during lambing and the first greener weeks of the year. Activities depend on the timing and needs of the flock.
- Likely setting
- Winter Sheepcamp
- Typical format
- Two to four days, with Friday–Monday options
- Dates by request
Shearing Season
Typical window
May to mid-June
Trips during this period may include shearing preparations, wool work, sheep care, and conversations about the place of wool in Diné family life.
- Likely setting
- Winter Sheepcamp
- Typical format
- Two to four days, with Friday–Monday options
- Dates by request
Moving to Summer Camp
Typical window
June to early August
This is the season when the sheep move toward higher country and cooler mountain weather. The exact timing follows the flock, land conditions, and family responsibilities.
- Likely setting
- Summer Sheepcamp or the seasonal transition between camps
- Typical format
- Two to four days, with Friday–Monday options
- Dates by request
Wildflowers and the Return
Typical window
Late August through September
Mountain wildflowers, cooler days, and the gradual return toward lower country shape this part of the year.
- Likely setting
- Summer Sheepcamp or the seasonal transition toward winter country
- Typical format
- Two to four days, with Friday–Monday options
- Inquiries open
Fall Foliage
Typical window
Late September through October
Crisp days, changing oak and aspen, and some of the final camping opportunities before winter conditions return.
- Likely setting
- Based on the location of the flock and seasonal conditions
- Typical format
- Two to four days, with Friday–Monday options
- Limited availability
Winter Country
Typical window
November through February
Winter visits are quiet and limited. Dates depend heavily on snow, mud, road access, animal needs, and family availability. Camping generally pauses during this season.
- Likely setting
- Winter Sheepcamp
- Typical format
- Custom winter visit by request
Seasonal activities and conditions cannot be guaranteed. The sheep, weather, roads, family responsibilities, and land determine what each experience includes.
We open a limited number of private weekends each season based on family availability, sheep and land responsibilities, weather, and site conditions. Guests submit an inquiry for an available weekend before a trip is confirmed.
Dates are confirmed individually and remain subject to family availability, weather, road and land conditions, safety requirements, and applicable approvals.
University and Organized Group Programs
2027 university and organized group calendar
We do not publish fixed group packages. Tell us the date ranges that work for your institution and how many days you have available, and we will build a program around them.
Spring semester 2027
Weekend and mid-week date ranges open for planning conversations.
Summer 2027
Summer Sheepcamp in the mountain country. Good for longer field programs.
Fall semester 2027
Late September through October, alongside private fall weekends.
University and organized groups may coordinate a different starting point through a custom program agreement.
Custom Program Requests
Let Us Customize a Broader Navajo Nation and Southwest Journey
Tell us how much time you have and what you hope to understand. Drawing from experience across more than 50 historical, cultural, scenic, educational, and civic sites, we can help shape a thoughtful itinerary around Sheepcamp and the broader region.
Fall 2027
Fall Private Sheepcamp Experiences
Select fall 2027 dates will be available for small private groups seeking a slower, relationship-centered experience at Sheepcamp. Experiences may include time with the sheep, shared meals, land-based work, family stories, outdoor learning, and conversation about contemporary Diné life. Each trip is shaped by the season, weather, family availability, land responsibilities, and what is appropriate to share.
- Group size
- Usually 2 to 6 guests
- Length
- Four days, Friday through Monday, with one or two nights camping at Sheepcamp
- Season
- Select dates from late September through October 2027
- Pricing
- Custom flat-group pricing provided after an initial conversation
- Status
- Private inquiries open
Private guests do not need to be connected to a university or organization. Families, couples, friends, and small groups are welcome to inquire directly.
Northern Arizona
Planning a Fall Visit
Fall color moves through northern Arizona by elevation. Higher-elevation aspens near Flagstaff and the San Francisco Peaks often begin turning in late September and are frequently strongest during early to mid-October. Oak and mixed foliage at lower elevations, including Oak Creek Canyon, generally follows later in October. Timing varies each year with weather and elevation.
Sheepcamp does not guarantee fall foliage. This information is provided to help guests plan the broader northern Arizona portion of their trip.
Check Current Flagstaff Fall ColorsReady to start planning?
Tell us about your preferred dates, group, and what you hope to experience. The form takes only a few minutes, and answering every question is not required.
Submitting an inquiry does not reserve or confirm a trip. Sheepcamp reviews each request individually based on family availability, seasonal responsibilities, weather, site capacity, and applicable requirements.
Having trouble opening the form? Email Tim at timothy.benally10@gmail.com.