First Official First Full Day of Camp!

Dearest Moms and Dads, Family Friends and Extended Family Members,

Big Salutations from all of us on this first day of our 38th year of Pony Farm’s summer camp!!! It gives me great pleasure to write this first Blog of many. I love recounting all the fun things that we do here at the farm. The kids are so great and we surely have a staff to be proud of this summer. It is a Camp Director’s Dream.

First of all, thank you for bequeathing your children to us. They are such a bunch of ‘cutie pies’. It makes our job so easy when they all listen as we tell them about their riding groups or horse care…go to bed when we ask…get up when we ask... and generally just enjoy camp. So far everyone is getting along famously. It is always my job to ask each kiddo how things are going. The last one so far the answer is “Its great here.” Or “Everyone is so nice.” Or “I love my roomies already.” Or “My pony is the greatest.” These are all music to my ears, of course. We tell them that it is our goal to have this be the best week of their summer, if not their year. We are working hard to make it so! Thanks for parenting such good kids.

Last night on Opening Night we started with introductions from all the staff. Hearing how long everyone had been here made me so proud. It is easy to lose track of time but to hear that young people of today have been coming to Pony Farm for 8 year, or 11 years, or even as much as Jamie for 20 years and Kris for 31, sure makes me feel lucky! The kids listened intently as they tried to memorize all the names. We then moved on to how to feed the ponies and horses. Everyone trooped down to the barn with their buckets, boots and sponges. With all the ponies’ dinner in place, the kids then came back to the lodge to meet with Kris and I for a more formal introduction to the day in the life of camp. We talked about everything from dinner time to bed time to how we sorted out the horses. They were good as gold.

Once the staff came up from turn out and quick barn chores, we had dinner together. Staff mixed in with the kids so that everyone had a ‘buddy’ for sure on the first night of camp. We want everyone to feel welcome. After a yummie dinner with the ‘raindrops still falling on our heads’, they played a fun Scavenger Hunt all over the farm. Each room of girls joined with their staff to go on this expedition all over the property. They had to go as quickly as they could while still getting the right answers to all 10 questions and working together. We have found that this is a fun and energetic way to start getting to know each other. Most everyone found the right answers and got to know the farm a lot better. Luckily there was a break in the rain so they didn’t get too wet.

We then gathered and the kids introduced themselves to each other. We stress the importance of getting along and knowing each other, especially all names from the first day forward. We then wrote up a whole list of fun things they were eager to do during this week. They are a gung ho bunch…The list is too long for me to report in detail but you can see the schedule we made for the week when you come on Saturday.
This list making was followed by bedtime routines and ‘what ifs’ for night time. They all seemed genuinely up beat as we started singing songs by candlelight. The counselors in training did Vespers, our quiet reflection time of the day. It is moving to hear why they come back year after year. I think it sets a nice tone for the whole week. Following the singing and Vespers, they tiptoed off to bed. Each set of room counselors ‘tucked’ them in bed…I got to visit each room and ‘sit for a spell’ with them. I love this one on one time with each room. So often I am talking with parents or organizing something that I cherish my time with the girls. It is why I started this, after all!

We are happy to report that not one kiddo was homesick or worried on the first night. Bedtime went smoothly and without incident. I was here until about 10:15 and then tottled down to my little Cottage where I, too, slept soundly!!! The kids all slumbered through the night, and were up and ready to start their exciting first day when I got to camp at 8AM. The drizzle does not daunt these darlings!!!

The riders were each grouped in four biggish groups for their Evaluation Ride. We take a good deal of time and effort to match the right kiddo on the right horse and in the right group. Several staff went around to see each larger group and decide how to split them into smaller units of 4 to 6 children. We mostly made good matches but did do some switching. After lunch and rest hour, the girls will be told what groups they are in and what horse/pony they will ride. This afternoon we will then try the final matches and groups to make sure we did it right. Even after today, the kids can still change if the kiddo or the staff feels it is appropriate. We are committed to making sure that the kids are correctly and safely mounted, as well as placed in the appropriate group so they each learn a lot without being over faced or bored.

They will then learn how to do barn chores, take nice warm showers and have dinner together. We will then enjoy an all camp favorite… Bag Skits…a silly skit game where each room gets 6 items together and puts them in a bag. These bags are then spread around to other rooms, each of which needs to create a skit using all 6 items. For some reason unbeknown to me, they adore this game…It does get the rooms collaborating and creative, so its all good with me. I love seeing the results. Tonight, Rooms 1 and 2 will do their vespers and then we will end with more new songs. “Good Night Circle” will follow where the kids remember all the good things that happened during the day. It is a sweet and peaceful way to end the day.

The kids voted to go on a camping trip with the ponies on Thursday night…and to have the Hunter Pace too as the big main events. We have tons of other activities but they most wanted to do this so, Please push the right weather buttons so this can happen. I especially love the pony camping trips…

Mostly, I thank you for trusting us with your treasurers….We are all working hard to make this a most memorable time. Will write more tomorrow but knew you would want to know how the first day was going…Until then, stay well and enjoy some fun yourself!!!

Warmly, Boo