Good Hope Equestrian & Regenerative Farm
2022 Summer Camp
Come join us for an educational and fun–filled equestrian experience! Equestrian training will be complimented by other fun activities, such as arts & crafts, water games, baking and team building activities. This program caters to children and youth, ages 5-17.
2022 Summer Camp Dates:
June 13— 17, June 20th –24th,
June 27th – July 1st, July 11th—15th
July 18th—22th, July 25th—29th
August 1st–5th & August 8th– 12th Hours
8:30AM— 3:30 PM
Before/After Care available, if needed. Price: $350.00 per week
Many parents worry about whether horseback riding camp is safe, especially if their child does not have prior riding experience. Well, set your fears aside, Camp Good Hope puts extra attention to making sure your child has the proper gear, the right training, and close supervision by experienced professionals.
All children are provided with ASTM/SEI certified helmets and half/full chaps that properly fits their head and legs. Our team has a safety-first motto, so we perform several safety checks before and during each lesson. In addition, campers are matched with a horse or pony and the appropriate tack for their entire camp experience, and to their right training level, to ensure their safety and well-being.During the camp experience, participants will bond with their horse/pony through guided activities that show them how to nuture the relationship, all while having fun as they take pride in caring for their equine partner.
Character Building on Horseback
Building character in the equestrian program starts with the relationship between horse and rider. Every horse in our herd has its own personality and preferences, as does every camper. By tapping into this unique relationship, we teach our campers how to read and respond to non-verbal feedback, how to understand the ways that actions and behaviors affect others, and how to build a successful partnership with those who may be different than they are. The equestrian program strives to teach values centered on listening, empathy, leadership, and awareness.
Listening
90% of human communication is non-verbal. Learning to read a horse’s non-verbal cues provides excellent practice for campers striving to communicate more effectively with their peers and adults.
Leadership
As campers learn to read a horse’s honest feedback, they learn when to be assertive, when to back off, and how to lead their horse through a successful ride. Through the interactions with their horse the camper’s self-esteem will soar as they become a partner and a leader to their equine partner.
Empathy
Is the horse scared, excited, bored, or hungry? Understanding how a horse is feeling goes a long way towards understanding a horse’s behavior. Learning to empathize does not just help us build better relationships with horses, it helps us build better relationships with people.
Awareness
Riders must constantly be aware of their environment to ensure both the rider and the horse stays safe. Tuning into these environmental factors and looking out for the safety of their horse/pony gives campers practice thinking beyond themselves.
Incredible Lessons
Every morning and afternoon, campers will participate in high-quality riding lessons. All sessions are developed based on a camper’s skill level, which will assist them in enhancing their riding abilities.
Lessons maintaina 1:3 ratio that ensures that each camper receives individual attention with lesson plans based on their riding level. GHERF feels that by maintaining a smaller instructor- to-camper ratio we can help our riders to enhance their skills at their own pace.
In addition to participating in three hours of equestrian activities each day, the summer camp will provide children and youth with an array of fun-filled activities, such as arts & crafts, baking, gardening, and hiking along our 240-expansive facility.
“This New Beginnings project is supported by a grant through the Virginia Horse Industry Board.”
