Letter to Parents Summer 2021
| summer_2021_parents.pdf |
My child has no experience with horses! I'm nervous!
We are geared to beginners! For the group riding lesson there will be one riding instructor, plus their group leader and "helpers" for each kid/horse in the riding ring. Kids will get as much or as little help as they need.
My kid has been taking horseback riding lessons for a while-will Summer Session be too easy?
Students who have riding experience will be grouped together so the riding instructor can teach to their level. Lessons will be at a walk and trot.
Should my 5 or 6 year old attend pre-school Summer Session or grade school Summer Session?
As long as your 5 year old has completed kindergarten, we'll leave the decision up to you. We do group kids together by age for the grade school Summer Session, so 5 and 6 year olds will be together with other 5, 6 and 7 year olds (we don't group older kids with younger kids unless that is specifically requested). As long as your 5-6 can handle the 9am-2pm day, it's OK with us.
What do you do all day?
In the morning, we'll play a group game (all 15 grade schoolers and group leaders), then one group will go in the barn to tack up the horses and the other 2 groups will start on the day's activities including: learning more about horses in an unmounted lesson, working in the garden, learning about the other animals on the farm, plus fun stuff like snack time and planning their Friday skit. Each group will have about a 45 minute group riding lesson. We'll have lunch at the picnic tables by 12:30pm and then take a hike back to the brook to wade in the water and look for minnows and frogs and shiny rocks. By the time we hike back up to the barn area, it's almost time for pick up. We'll get packed up and play a game before it's time to go.
Preschoolers will do similar activities, just geared to their interest and ability. They'll hike to the brook one day during the week and get to the garden one day as well. They'll have opportunity for snack, but we won't have time to change clothes. Preschoolers can wear shorts and sneakers that can get wet, though especially on very sunny days they may prefer very light pants because the saddles can get hot against their skin.
Preschoolers will do similar activities, just geared to their interest and ability. They'll hike to the brook one day during the week and get to the garden one day as well. They'll have opportunity for snack, but we won't have time to change clothes. Preschoolers can wear shorts and sneakers that can get wet, though especially on very sunny days they may prefer very light pants because the saddles can get hot against their skin.
You mention work...... Is Summer Session work or fun?
Summer Session is FUN! We will do lots of work on the farm: in the barn, in the garden and out in the field. But our activities are planned so that work IS fun. It is important for kids to learn that they can make a difference and accomplish big tasks (even if it takes them longer than an adult, and they need supervision). And work is a great way to learn about the animals and environment around them. There is no life on the farm without work. Kids will do many of the chores that Farmer Kate does every day, just under the supervision of their group leader and probably not as fast. But DOING is one of the best ways of LEARNING!
What should my child bring to Summer Session?
Your child should come in the morning dressed in clothes to ride: long pants, a boot with a heel, and weather appropriate shirt/jacket. Always assume we will be outside (even if it is raining)! They can wear or bring a bathing suit, and bring shorts and water shoes (they'll need to ALWAYS have shoes on), their lunch and PLENTY of water. Kids should apply sunscreen and bug spray before coming to the farm.
What if I need to switch the weeks we signed up for?
If your session is more than 2 weeks away and we have room in another session, we are happy to accommodate the switch! Just send us an email to ask!