Dearest
Camp Moms and Dads,
Welcome to our 41st summer of Pony
Farm!!!! We are thrilled you have left
your treasure(s) with us…two and four footed. Thank you for choosing Pony Farm.
I hope you are reading this letter as you drive away, leaving your daughter(s)
in our charge. I know that it is so hard
in this day and age to trust people outside of our own immediate family circle,
but I want to sincerely reassure you that we will take good care of your
children. We are so committed to doing a
super job for each and every camper. We
have worked extremely hard to get everything ‘just so’ for her arrival and
stay. We just wanted to reiterate to you
how seriously we take our job of providing “safe FUN”!!!
Right now, your daughter is meeting many the staff
members. The rest of the team will be
here bright and early tomorrow morning. We have a truly wonderful staff. I can
tell you without reservation that we have terrific staff, all of whom have
received lots of training specific to how Pony Farm operates. The whole staff has really come together as a
team with each person having the right skills and commitment for his or her
job. It is a pleasure to lead such a
team of fine people, young and old!
We will begin the orientation to
camp, starting with the all important motto of “Taking good care of each other,
our horses and the land”. Not only will
they learn how to do this, but we will take them through the steps of barn
safety, horse care, mail call, medicines, meal times and house capers. We have carefully designed each part of their
day so that it is like a big, well run family with all sorts of caring adults
that guide them through each activity from dawn to dusk!!! The fun and joy of being together has begun!
Tonight, we will have dinner and
then begin with some getting to know you games, first by rooms and then by the
whole group. Part of this is an “All
Farm Scavenger Hunt” so everyone gets to know her way around the farm. Following some of this orientation, we will do
some singing to make everyone feel comfy and cozy! The Counselors-in-Training have prepared
Vespers for tonight to help set the tone of respect, care and
consideration. Vespers will then be done
with each room taking their turn.
Vespers is a peaceful ending to the day which lets the kids slow down
and prepare to go off to bed. This is a
circle of thanks and reflection on everything from horses, being together, and
loving our family and friends. Sometimes
the staff or children write poems while other times they bring special books
like “Chicken Soup for the Horse Lover’s Soul” and read passages. It is so beautiful with all their sweet
smiling faces bathed in candlelight with our Vesper Log lighting the main room
of the lodge.
We then sing special camp songs and each room
tiptoes off to bed. They get changed and
brush their teeth, and then their Room Counselors come tuck them in bed. For the littler kids, they read or tell them
a bedtime story. It is a peaceful ending
to a day filled with activity! Tomorrow
morning they will wake up and catch their pony for morning feed. Following that, they will begin their riding
and get sorted into just the right group and onto just the right mount. We take huge care to do this correctly.
It is really
easy to stay in contact with your daughter or camp staff. Emails are the best way to be in touch with people
at camp, whether it be your daughter or staff. You can e-mail your daughter bsanborn@touchstone-farm.org. Emails are checked, printed and delivered to
your daughter daily. We are truly not by the phone because we are out with your
kiddo….so do email. The staff and I have committed to checking e-mail before
11AM each day….I will check once more before the evening is out.
Contact Information
E-Mail Addresses
E-Mail
your daughter: bsanborn@touchstone-farm.org
Boo’s
e-mail address: bmartin@touchstone-farm.org
Becky’s
email address: bsanborn@touchstone-farm.org
Denise’s
email for horse related questions: dhopkins@touchstone-farm.org
Blog
Please
check out the Farm Blog. It is updated
frequently while your daughter is at camp.
Please go to www.touchstone-farm.org,
of the left-hand side click “Farm Blog”.
Phone Policy
The
office phone, 603-654-6308, is answered every M, T, TH, from 8:30 – 2:30. On
Wednesday, Fridays and after 2:30, it is answered as someone is available, and
the answering machine is checked regularly.
Emergency Phone Information
If
there is an emergency at night, you can call our Emergency Phone # which is always carried by one of the
Becky or a Senior Staff members. It is 603-769-1853.
This is reserved for truly emergency use only. I will also give you my personal
cell phone which is 603-321-5255. Please keep in mind these are to be used only
in a dire situation or one in which you have true concerns about your child.
Mostly however, we are pleased to
have your child with us. Thank you for
your confidence in us. We will do everything we can to make her stay
fabulous. Rest assured that we will call
if there is even one little question!
Together, we will make this a fantastic time for her, creating memories
she can take with her the rest of her life!!!!
Most sincerely,
Isabella (Boo) Martin, M.Ed
Founder and Exec. Director of Pony Farm
CHA & PATH, Intl. Master
Instructor
Certified Driving Instructor
ARIA Instructor of the
Year-1997
NH Horse Person of the
Year-2003
NARHA Life Time Achievement
Award Winner - 2009
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