Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Vaulting Camp




Oak Hills Vaulters Summer Camp

KyLynn James Warren


Oak Hills Vaulters hosted it’s first ever Summer Vaulting Camp June 17th-20th. The Camp was attended by 30 vaulters ages six to adult with vaulters ranging in skill level from very beginning walk to Silver. Vaulters and campers had the option to spend the night at camp, or arrive each morning for a full day of fun!

Camp opened each morning with completing various horse chores, preparing ones lunch for the day, taking special notes and instructions in their own ‘camp notebook,’ stretching, and of course a lot of fun and games! Our camp was split into three different groups and teams and rotated between barrel work, horse time, and dance instruction. Compulsories were broken down into each technicality and focused on both the horse and barrel. Freestyles were added to and perfected as well as our choreographing and creativity was worked on with the little help of a few balloons!

Special ‘field trips’ and activities involved swimming, volleyball games, playing in the park, and fun night games and dance off routines! Evenings were spent enjoying each others company, roasting s’mores around the campfire, snipe hunting, and playing hide-n-go-seek throughout the stables. Special non-vaulting clinicians were brought in to emphasize the importance of horse care and barn safety.

Our last few hours of camp were filled with a ‘dance-off’ performance by each team followed by awards for the winning team. Many friendships were made and strengthened for all during the days and nights we spent with each other.

Our summer vaulting camp was the highlight of the summer for many of our vaulters. We hope to have the opportunity to make this into an annual event! A special thanks to all the parents, loungers, clinicians, and horse owners involved in making this a week we are all sure to remember.

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