our story
Meet Jessica, Matt, and their family—the heart and soul behind Camp Serendipity. Their journey in creating a place where children can experience the magic of animals, the outdoors, and simple childhood joy has been truly Serendipitous.
Jessica and Matt’s story began years ago in a small town in Illinois, where they first met as elementary school classmates. Life took them in different directions, but fate (and a little help from Facebook) reconnected them in 2016. At the time, Jessica was living in Castle Rock, Colorado, while Matt was still in Illinois. They embraced the challenges of a long-distance relationship, cherishing their visits until, in late 2017, Matt took a leap of faith and moved to Colorado to be with Jessica and her son, Braxton.
With their growing family in mind, they dreamed of wide-open spaces, a life surrounded by animals, and a place where their kids could experience the simple joys of nature. In 2018, they found their slice of heaven—a beautiful 5-acre property in Kiowa, Colorado.
For Matt, it was the perfect spot to build his dream garage workshop and have space for all his projects. For Jessica, it meant she could finally have horses in her backyard, something she had dreamed about since childhood. Elbert County felt like home from the start, with its small-town charm, friendly community, and the peacefulness of country living.
While neither Jessica nor Matt grew up on farms, they both shared a deep love for animals. Jessica had spent years begging for horseback riding lessons, and when her parents finally said yes, she never looked back. She started riding lessons at Double Dunn Ranch in Carbon Cliff, Illinois. Eventually her family moved to Castle Rock, Colorado. Then by high school, she was fully immersed in the horse world, riding and even interning at Warren Performance Horses in Franktown, Colorado—an experience that left a lasting impact on her. She had dreams of studying Equine Breeding Management at Colorado State University, but instead, she followed another passion—education—earning her Director’s Certificate in Early Childhood Education and working as an Assistant Director at a large preschool center.
Matt, on the other hand, took a different path—one filled with mechanical expertise and craftsmanship. After graduating high school in 2010, he earned his welding certifications and later studied Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Arconic as a millwright and general mechanic before making the move to Colorado.
Together, they blended their talents—Jessica’s love for teaching and animals, and Matt’s skills in building, fixing, and creating—to build something special.
Their first year in their new home was filled with adventure and excitement as they embraced country living. They started small, bringing in chickens, goats, and a barn cat named Maggie. (Although, Maggie quickly decided the barn life wasn’t for her and became a spoiled house cat instead!) The first two goats, Skeeter and Pudge, came from Jessica’s mom, who raises dairy goats, and soon, their little farm was growing.
As they became more involved in the community, they moved Braxton to a local school and deepened their roots in Elbert County. Their family continued to grow as well, with the arrival of their two daughters—Logan Layne in January 2020 and Sawyer Lynn in May 2021.
Jessica’s love for animals, children, and providing hands-on learning experiences led to the creation of Camp Serendipity. She wanted to build something that blended education, adventure, and the joy of simple childhood play—a place where kids could experience life on a farm, learn about animal husbandry, and spend summer days unplugged from screens and connected to nature.
the evolution of serendipity
Sometimes, life leads you exactly where you’re meant to be—even when you don’t realize it at the time. That’s how Serendipity was born—a beautiful blend of passion, purpose, and a little bit of fate.
Around the time Matt and Jessica welcomed their first daughter, they had the opportunity to board a family friend’s horse on a small one-acre lot across the road from the main property. They weren’t quite ready for horses of our own, but this felt like the perfect way to dip their toes into the horse world again. When those horses left, something in them had changed—they were hooked.
They decided to post an ad, hoping to find someone else in need of a temporary boarding space. That’s when they met a wonderful family who boarded three rescue horses with them. Through them, we learned about the heartbreaking reality of kill pens—places where horses are sent to be sold at auctions, often with an uncertain fate. We learned about the urgent need for quarantine spaces to help these horses recover before moving on to new, loving homes.
Word spread quickly, and before they knew it, they were helping to quarantine rescue horses. Some people debate whether bailing horses from kill pens helps or harms in the long run, but for Matt and Jessica, it was simple: these animals needed a safe place, and they had the space to provide it.
If there’s one thing Matt and Jessica learned, it’s that once you have a few animals, people start asking if you can take in a few more. It wasn’t long before their small ranch grew into something much bigger. Chickens, goats, and rescue animals became part of their daily lives, and with each new addition, their love for this lifestyle deepened.
Then, in 2020, life threw them an unexpected twist—Jessica lost her job. At first, it felt like a setback, but it turned out to be the biggest blessing in disguise. She was able to stay home with Logan and Sawyer, soaking up those precious early years with them. But as much as she loved it, she missed working. She needed something that would allow her to care for their animals, be with their children, and still use her background in early childhood education.
One day, while spending countless hours mucking manure, an idea hit her: what if we shared this experience with others in a field trip type setting?
That’s when Jessica decided to invite local early childhood centers, after-school programs, and kids’ clubs out for farm field trips. It felt like the perfect way to combine animals, education, and hands-on learning. Jessica poured her heart into preparing—building pens, completing the barn, giving the chicken coop a facelift, and organizing every last detail.
As word spread, people started asking about birthday parties, family days, and full-day camps. What started as a small idea blossomed into something much bigger than she ever imagined. Before she knew it, they had created a place where children could unplug from screens, connect with animals, and experience the joys of a simple, old-fashioned childhood.
Why “Serendipity”?
Serendipity means an occurrence of events in a happy and beneficial way—and that’s exactly how this all came to be. We never set out to create a camp, a rescue space, or a farm that welcomes families from all over. But through a series of unexpected moments, small choices, and a whole lot of heart, it found us.
Now, Serendipity is more than just a place—it’s a community, a learning experience, and a second chance for animals and kids alike. We feel incredibly grateful and humbled to be on this journey, and we can’t wait to see where it takes us next.
From our family to yours—welcome to Serendipity!
ser·en·dip·i·ty
/ˌserənˈdipədē/
noun
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the occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way.
"a fortunate stroke of serendipity"