OPENING DAY!
Dear Camp Families,
Welcome to our 45th summer of Pony Farm! Thank you for choosing Pony Farm. We know that it is hard these days to trust people outside of our own immediate family circle, and we want to sincerely reassure you that we will take good care of your camper(s). We are 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 our terrific staff, many of whom have been with us for years. The camp staff has received lots of training specific to how Pony Farm operates, and in other essential skills, such as first aid and emergency response. They work together as a team, each person having the right skills and commitment for his or her job.
We begin camp orientation with our important motto of “Taking good care of each other, our horses and the land”. We take all campers 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 to guide campers 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. An “All Farm Scavenger Hunt” helps everyone get to know her way around the farm. Next, we sing together some favorite camp songs (“Barges,” anyone?) to make everyone feel comfy and cozy!
Our Counselors-in-Training have prepared Vespers for tonight to help set the tone of respect, care and consideration. Vespers is a peaceful ending to the day which lets the kids slow down and prepare for 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 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.
Then we 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, counselors read or tell 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 chores. 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.
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 at camp@touchstone-farm.org. We check, print, and deliver any emails to your daughter’s mailbox every day. We are truly not by the phone because we are out with your kiddos….so do email. We are committed to checking e-mail before 11AM each day….and check once more before the evening is out.
Becky’s email address: bhawkes@touchstone-farm.org
Andi’s email (for horse related questions): asnow@touchstone-farm.org
Just to remind you…Here is the phone call policy: The office phone, 603-654-6308, is answered as much as is possible and the answering machine is checked regularly. You are welcome to call and leave a message for your child to call you back after the first week.
If there is an emergency at night, you can call Boo’s cell phone at 603-321-5255. Please reserve this for emergency use only. We are all only a phone call or an email away and like to work with parents to resolve any issues while they are small. Please look at our blog - http://touchstonefarmblog.blogspot.com/ and Facebook pages – Touchstone Farm and Pony Farm for camp updates!
We want to say again how pleased we are 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!
Best,,
Becky Hawkes
Camp Directors of Pony Farm Summer Camp
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