Warm Welcome to Session 3!!

Tuesday July 8th, 2008

Dearest Pony Farm Families,

Wow, did I come home to a terrific group of kids!!!! The staff and I already know that this is going to be a super session. Friendships have already rekindled or been born…Horse matches have been made with ease…Riding groups have been formed and smiles abound. Whatever you all have done as parents has truly worked with these kiddos. It is a true pleasure to have them here at the farm. Maybe you could just leave them with us for the next year or so………….until college that is!!!!

I am happy to report that there is not one shred of homesickness amongst the troops. Each girl seems happy with her “roomies” and, I must say…I am so fortunate to have the best staff that we have had in years. The two new counselors have turned out to be absolute treasures. The rest of the counselors who have returned are really superior. It seems like we have just the right combination of staff for this summer. I wish I could bottle “it” up and save “it” for years to come as the exact right combination is so hard to achieve. Add a lovely group of horses and ponies, wonderful weather and a gung ho group of campers and my job is made easy!!!!

As the sun peaks over the horizon and the day begins, it is an idyllic picture. The farm animals are grazing, the staff starts the early morning chores and I begin my day with quiet reflection….how lucky am I!!!

We had a great day yesterday. I got to camp early so that I could greet all the girls and wish them a glorious morn. The riding staff and I ate breakfast together while the rest of the staff ate with the kids. We divided everyone up into five bigger groups to assess whether the horse matches were appropriate and how to further divide them into riding groups. With a serious introduction of asking the girls to help us make sure they were in the right group and on the right horse, we announced the groups. We explained how our goal was that this was the best two weeks or month of their whole year. We also said that being on the right horse and in the right group was one of the major ways that we accomplished this goal. I said how sad it makes me to find out in September or October when we send out the camp evaluation forms that someone was unhappy with their riding experience. I told them that Kris and I could do nothing about that in the fall….that we needed to know now and that it was all of our jobs to make it right for each camper right now!!! Armed with the promise of working as a team to get the right mounts and the right groupings, off we all went.

With great cooperation from the weather and the horses, by lunchtime we had finalized all but about 2 horse matches. We also had made the temporary riding group assignments. I am delighted to report that the kids were most appropriate when they requested a change from a particular horse or pony. They hit the perfect ‘happy medium’ of making a request or a suggestion without being demanding or whiney! You have taught them well to ask for what they need. It sure makes our job easier and everyone happier. Being in the wrong group or on the wrong horse is not what we want!!!!

After the horses were cooled out, the tack put up, and all the critters munching, off we marched to lunch. As we all shared our meal, I could see friendships happening everywhere. It was a lot of ‘happy noise’ all around me, making me glad I was a Camp Director these many years later! Rest hour followed with everyone taking quiet time for a half hour and then enjoying their roommates for the next half hour.

With a good pause in our day under our belts, we all went off to try the riding groups and horse matches. To my delight, everyone seemed in the right group. We did a couple of horse switches again just to get it just right. Our riding day ended with smiles and good lessons. We are set for the session with the riding heads being happy with the final choices, the instructors echoing the placement and the kids saying they are happy! What more could I ask for!

Snack time followed and with it an introduction to Barn Chores….With the horses chowing down on their grain and the kids munching their snacks and juice, each barn team head counselor explained how to turn out, clean a stall and neaten up each barn. In jig time everything was accomplished and all the barns were sparkling. Showertime is a major carrot on the stick!!!

Dinnertime arrived and all the staff spread out to chat with their charges. Excitement began to build around ‘Bag Skits’….After 37 years of being a Camp Director, I still marvel at why this is such a huge hit with all the kids! The gist of this favorite evening activity is that each room chooses 6 things to put in a bag. The bags are then spread around so each room gets a bag from the kids in another room. Much planning then takes place as a skit is built around the contents of the bag. I marvel at the creativity and energy that goes into this process. With my head I know that this creates a good opportunity for each group to bond together. However, I am amazed at how much they love doing it. I will truly do anything to keep kids off computers, away from TV and doing simple, fun ‘stuff’ together. This activity certainly fulfills all the requirements of simple fun.

Each skit was soooo cute. Several were just plain fun and funny. Even the youngest rooms put together a skit that ‘hung together’. We have budding actresses among us! I was glad this kind of creativity and energy is channeled in the right direction.

Following the skits, we had the kids from Cottage do the Evening Vespers. They shared why they had come back to camp for so many years. It always makes my heart happy to hear what they say. The friendships with each other ranks at the top of the list, right beside their connection to the horses. Their relationship with the staff also is always mentioned, as is their love for the farm itself. Hearing all their lovely thoughts as the candles on the Vesper Log burn puts a gentle and happy end on the active day.

Holding hands, we then all say what we are thankful for that happened during the day. Kids were most eager to share their appreciation. This was followed with singing two of the favorite songs. Kids then tiptoed off to bed as the songs ended, putting a lovely close on our first full day together. As I sat there in the glow of the candlelight, I too was grateful that I was part of this loving, peaceful and happy group.

Today has dawned bright and without a cloud in the sky. We are going to do riding lessons for each group this morning. During rest hour, the girls will prepare to get their camp portraits done with their horse. This afternoon we will do a combination of pictures, trimming the horses for the pictures and the upcoming show, doing the swim test in the pool and playing with the farm animals. The swim test is simply a matter of making sure that all the kids can swim the length of the pool and tread water without being winded. After this test time, the kids will swim a lot and we won’t have to worry that someone is going to have trouble.

Playing with the farm animals is one of my favorite times with the girls. They love jumping the miniature horses. We have small jumps set up on the lawn and wow, do the kids and minis fly. The goats and donkey don’t seem to love it as much as the minis. The bunnies all have harnesses and leads. They hop around like mad with their kids attached…the bunnies walking the kids in effect! The guinea pigs love to snuggle as do the chicks. Even the bigger chickens love to be held, having been handled since they were one day old. The favorite this summer however is swimming the ducks. They have one of the horse water troughs and wow do they splash around. The kids get just wet enough to think it is a riot…and love to watch the ducks as the water truly does roll off their backs. The expression is really true!

After this packed afternoon of fun and frivolity, the kids will again have snack time, barn chores and dinner. Tonight we will gather around the fire pit outside the lodge and roast marshmallows….what is camp without a good S’More?!? With the fire burning bright, we will tell stories. We are hoping my mom will come and regale us with her stories from her day in the Wild West and driving the ambulance in Washington, DC during World War II. The kids love her stories and she swears they remember the ending better than she does anymore. She gets such a kick out of coming…Again, how lucky am I to have both my parents living at the top of the hill.

The rest of this week will be spent on preparing for the horse show. We will be organizing what classes each of the kids will be entering. The show will be held out on the Outside Courses in the big field below the barn. I love the show out there…. No dust and lovely courses. Seeing all the beautiful kids and fat, shiny horses on a field of green is a lovely sight for sure. I do hope that you all might be planning on coming.

As we get closer to show time, I will write to you and let you know approximately what time your child is showing. We will probably have one or two who do not want to compete. They will get a morning lesson and then join us at the show grounds to help pass out ribbons. We welcome parents to come see the show and to spend the day with us. I do try to let you know when your child is showing so that you don’t struggle to get here too early or arrive after she is finished her classes. We will have a food truck on the show grounds. Also, you are welcome to take your kiddos out to ice cream or swimming if that would be fun for you.

So, that is the story for now and I’m sticking to it!!!! I end as I began by saying how delighted I am that this session has come together so quickly and nicely. Your children are a true pleasure to have.

I was sorry not to be here to meet you in person. I look forward to seeing you this weekend if you can come….If not this weekend, then let’s spend extra time together next weekend. I do appreciate your understanding and support about my being with my own girls and grandchildren this 4th of July weekend. I had a great time and came back to camp all refreshed and ready to roll.

Have a great day and rest easy knowing your child is happily engaged in good clean fun!

Most fondly,

Boo