Dearest 2012 Camp Moms and Dads,
We are
delighted that you have chosen to send your wonderful daughters to Pony Farm.
Thank you so much for entrusting them to us. We promise to do everything in our
power to have them have the time of their lives while learning a lot and
staying safe. We pride ourselves in
‘safe fun’ and joyous times on a peaceful farm with loads of beautiful horses
and ponies to help!
I hope you
can tell from the Pony Farm weekly updates, the Touchstone Farm Facebook and
the Blog on our website that we are mighty excited about your arrival and our
summer plans for you all!!! As I begin
my 41st summer of doing Pony Farm, I cannot remember a summer about
which I was more excited. I also can’t
remember a time when we will better prepared for that first car to roll in the
driveway. So many great things are being done before the start of camp that I
feel certain you will be impressed with the beauty and efficiency of the farm
itself.
Best of all, our staff team has been
strongly committed to fully participating in their training to be top notch counselors,
instructors, cooks and life guards. The new bunk beds are about to arrive. The carpets for the bedrooms and the new
kitchen floor are in the works. The new
ring fencing and footing starts this Monday.
Horses and ponies are being assessed by our team every single day. We are thrilled with the caliber of mounts
that we will be able to offer this year. The only thing that is hard right now
is that camp is still nearly seven weeks away.
I wish it was all starting tomorrow!!!
Despite all the fun things we do during the rest of the year, camp is
still my favorite. I love being a part
of the special haven that is created each summer. Someone once remarked that I get to live life
as it should be rather than as it is.
This is so true!!!
I wanted to once again say that
Becky and I are eager to speak with you on the phone or via email if you have
any last minute questions or nerves about camp.
Our goal is to have a seamless transition for your daughter between
home, school and camp. The more that we know about any struggles she has had
this past year, the better we can plan for her arrival. The right roommate,
pony, counselor or strategy put in place ahead of time most always does ‘the
trick’ in terms of making camp come alive for each kiddo. Our entire goal is to have her time at camp
be the highlight of her summer. We also
strive to have her create life-long friendships and a love of horses. We truly believe that two way communication
with YOU, our terrific camp Moms and Dads, helps make our mutual goals
happen. So, do not hesitate to be in
touch.
We also wanted to highlight an
upcoming weekend called our SPRING FLINGFAMILY WEEKEND, beginning with dinner on Friday night May…and ending after
lunch on Sunday, May…. This is a super
opportunity for any families to get away together and enjoy all the terrific
things that a farm can offer in the springtime.
It is a fun ‘early dose’ of Pony Farm for campers who already know and
love camp. Perhaps, best of all, it is a
perfect introduction for a new camper and her family. It is so good for a new girl to ease into
camp with Mom or Dad by her side helping get to know the ropes and catch the
spirit of Pony Farm. We have found that homesickness is practically unknown to
a new camper who has been with us for a specialty weekend prior to her actual
stay for camp. We welcome families of
any configuration…Whether a Dad wants a special time with his daughter, a
couple wants to bring the whole gang, or a Mom wants a peaceful weekend with
someone else doing the cooking and dishes, we are delighted to have YOU join
us. We also offer a discounted rate of
50% off for Grandparents. We love so
having three generations with us that we try to ‘sweeten the pot’ by giving a
discount.
This Spring Fling Weekend is going
to be especially fun. We will be doing
five brand new things amidst lots of time tested treats! First, we will be
introducing our new riding trail system.
With the mountain laurel blooming and a trust steed beneath you, enjoy a
beautiful ride through the glorious woodlands surrounding the farm. Secondly, we will have a carriage ride with a
pair of the “Southern Six”, as they are called. Wait until you go to Connolly’s
for ice cream pulled by two sleek, shiny black Welsh Cobs. Thirdly, we will be
offering a Vaulting experience (gymnastics on horseback) with our beautiful new
Clydesdale called Gruffy. He stands 18.2
hands high and is gentle as a lamb. Even the tallest of dads can experience
riding him with a surcingle and even standing up on him!!! Next, for the more experienced riders, we
will be offering lessons on some of the brand new ponies and horses. You can help us get them ready for camp and
do some of the training with our team.
Finally, I am gleefully happy to be able to offer a longer morning ride
up “the Mountain”. This will be for our
guests who can surely walk, trot and canter in good control. We will venture up
through the beautiful mountain roads and high fields to a spot which overlooks
Boston to one side and Mt. Washington to the other.
With yummie food, rocking chairs on
the front porch, a little wine or Mint Julep using our own mint, a comfy bed
and a roaring fire, this weekend should refresh and renew any spirit. We do hope you will join us. We have a few
more spots and would love to welcome you.
Until your arrival, please do keep
track of the farm happenings via our Blog, website calendar and Facebook. We
would love to have you and your daughter friend us on Facebook as we are
growing our new Touchstone Facebook as we phase out the Pony Farm and Horse
Power one. We want all of us to be under the Touchstone Family rather than run
three separate Facebooks!!! Having one
website instead the three we formerly had, has proven to be far more effective
as a communication tool. We are working on doing the same thing now with our
Facebook effort. I am especially
delighted as we will soon be having a seasonal ENewsletter to share with our
growing Farm Family! Technology combined with simple pleasures is the best
combination of all.
Stay well until we can welcome you with open arms. We can’t wait until you roll in that
driveway. We will be delighted to greet you.
Warmly,
Isabella
(Boo) Martin, Founder & Exec. Dir.
On
behalf of the staff and horses!!!
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