Slight Detour: Survivor: Horse-Camp Style

Gail Curless and I had to admit something yesterday in front of a horse-camp veteran.

The two of us, who participated in 4-H horse activities at Bonner County's old fairgrounds 60-plus years ago, each confessed that we were both getting a taste of horse camp for the first time ever.

Gail will be working as a clinician, focusing on the 4-H ranch horse project.

I just came to take a few photos and to say hi to CB. During my visit, I saw and heard many reasons that 80-plus kids have shown up for the week of horse activities and individual and team responsibilities.

The camp, which includes guidance from parent volunteers and clinicians, has been occurring every summer for a number of years, but this year's edition has kids and organizers fired up more than ever.

After all, it's been two years since the last full-fledged camp was held at the Bonner County Fairgrounds.

Because of the Pandemic, last year's edition was a significantly scaled-back event---just two days of instruction instead of the usual five, which includes a full schedule of classes, barn duty, meals, icebreaking activities and just plain camaraderie.

So, in 2021 horse camp, which offers a wide variety of horse disciplines for 4-H horse members, is back in its usual form with a very appropriate theme: Survivor.

As co-organizer Michelle Sadewic says, "We survived the Pandemic."

Hence the "Survivor" TV theme will help inspire and guide the week's activities. Participants have gone tribal, complete with tribe names and banners.

Fun Fillies

Pony Tale

Fast Chaps

Unstable

Hot 2 Trot

Hay Girl

and none other than

Manure Mob

Co-organizer Doris Kalin Walker, who may be limping her way through the week due to an ankle injury, created the banners for each tribe.

Organizers also created a schedule for learning, play, eating and chores.

One parent told me yesterday that when she first brought her daughter to horse camp a year or two ago and listened to the preliminary overview, she heard that kids and parents could expect every extreme in emotions and weather.

When the week had ended, "they were right," she said.

Former 4-H participant turned clinician Laurel Presser Bair, a local elementary educator, views the camp as "my favorite week of the year."

This week, expected hot temperatures will keep organizers and horse owners on their toes to see that everyone---two legged and four-legged----is fed and watered adequately to avoid any unfortunate incidents.

Michelle, who once enrolled in horse camp as an adult, says this will be her last year as an organizer. She'll hand her baton to another parent volunteer.

"But I'll always be promoting youth," she added.