From staff reports
Heavenly Gaits Therapeutic Riding Center near Knox is taking registrations for several camps this summer.
All camps run from 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Thursday and include one hour of mounted instruction, grooming, tacking, games, crafts and snacks.
“On Wednesday we usually bath the horses and Thursday we paint and decorate before a short show of our skills,” said the center’s executive director Monique Nellis.
The cost for the camps is $100 and there is limited space available.
Sunshine Camps are open to riders with disabilities and are offered in two sessions.
There will be a four-day camp for riders needing the assistance of leaders and side walkers called Hearts and Hooves. It runs from June 26-29.
A four-day camp for independent riders of all abilities will be held during All Abilities Week from July 24-27.
All Abilities Week is about “bringing children together with and without disabilities … it’s an exciting opportunity for campers to explore and celebrate their differences while learning the importance of diversity, compassion, and respect,” Nellis said.
There are six to eight spaces available for each camp.
The center offers three community camps which are designed for the general public.
Lil’ Tumbleweeds is for children ages 6 to 10 years old and is designed for beginner campers with little to no horse experience. Sessions are held June 12-15, July 10-13 and Aug. 14-17.
Wranglers is for children ages 10 years old and up and is designed for campers learning or improving basic skills. Sessions are held June 19-22, July 17-20 and Aug. 7-10.
Western Camp is for children ages 8 to 14 years old who are independent riders at the walk and trot. Riders will practice western riding skills in the arena such as barrel racing, pole bending and obstacle courses. Weather permitting the camp will finish the week with a trail ride. It is scheduled to be held from July 31-Aug. 3.
Nellis said the center could also use some volunteers for the camps.
Volunteers can be “anyone with a passion for children or heart for helping ages 14 and over,” she said.
Aside from working with the horses, volunteers can also help with games and craft activities.
“This is a great experience for youth needing volunteer hours or crafty people,” Nellis said.
People may register for the camps by calling the center at (814) 221-1690 or emailing heavenlygaitstrc@gmail.com.