Pony Express 4-H Horse Day Camp, Superior, WI (05/16/09)

5/16/09 Pony Express 4-H Horse Day Camp, Head of the Lakes Fairgrounds, Superior, WI

What a great way to spend a Saturday even if it was a very cold, windy day with tiny flakes of SNOW in the air. Most of the stations were outside but we were inside.

This event is sure proof that our younger generation is doing just fine. These kids, ages K-8, were so well behaved, polite, respectful, creative, and fun to be around. It was pure joy to be there. Kathi made the remark that the event was one of the best organized she had seen. The kids were in 5 small groups of 6-9 which made it easy to have good quality time with them.

Gramma Carole and Kathi helped me with setting up the 2 Legacy tables, a craft table, and a horse activity area. Even though Kathi was leaving at 5 AM Sunday morning she spent her Saturday at the day camp. Kathi has impeccable taste when it comes to the layout of the Legacy tables. Our Legacy tables look so professional. They look simple but elegant. They are tasteful and inviting to draw you in on the Life and the Spirit of WindChill.

The craft table was a hit. Kathi had warned me several months ago that kids would want to decorate more than 1 horse head so Betty W., Gramma Carole, and I cut out 300 horse heads. It is a good thing we did because these kids did 2-3 each. They were so creative with the yarn, beads, sparkly glue, colorful pens, and decoration stickers. They kids were very involved. Besides being right about the amount, Kathi was also right when she said a lot of kids would want to choose the color of their horse to decorate. I went with bright splashy colors. Next time there will be more brown, black, and white horse heads.

Brianna and Gramma Carole started out working the craft table. They did a great job and made it look so easy. Amara and Joann started out working the horse tool bag activity. They made it look so easy too.

Polly helped with talking to parents who stopped by the Legacy table. She was also there with some of her Equestrian club members. Her students are just wonderful and very willing to share their knowledge.

Our enthusiasm was contagious, both with the crafts and the horse tool bag activity. You could tell the kids were really into it. We held their undivided attention. We made it a very personal hands on experience for each child.

Joann is a natural teacher with wonderful skills and patience. We all watched her work the horse tool bag activity, trying to learn her style and flair. The kids were ENTRALLED as they surrounded Joann. Besides describing what the tool did, she also demonstrated its purpose on the kids. The 4 kids around her were totally focused on what she was saying. Axel would be so proud of his special person. He has taught her so much. There is nothing like sharing your real life experiences. When the kids guessed a stirrup, I never thought its main purpose was for balance. I thought it was just a place to put your dangling feet. Joanne made each child put their foot in it. With the sweat scraper she scraped each child’s shoulder. With the reins she held them up to her face to show how they connect with the bit. With the fly mask she held it up to show how it goes on a horse’s head and let the kids look through it.

During breaks kids would come over to try the horse bag activity again. On one such time, a young girl was doing the horse bag activity and after doing it got to pick licorice or taffy for a prize. Kathi was helping Gramma Carole and eating taffy. She told the girl her favorite taffy flavor and in turn the girl told Kathi hers. They are both eating taffy and Kathi says my second favorite flavor is and a whole conversation ensued about the flavors of taffy. It was such a cool tender matter of taffy discussion.

Amara and Brianna are so mature for their ages but also fun, exciting laughing teenagers. What neat people to have in The WindChill Family. They work anywhere and have the instincts to do what needs to be done. They were so good at the craft table and bag table. They did the crafts along with the kids.

Every group that came up asked me who did those beautiful horses up on the bulletin board. Amara even decorated one of Layla using a picture on her cell phone. The bags made by Joyce Biscoe were a big hit. The display I had a friend make is so eye appealing and at the eye level of the children so they can choose each bag. In fact they are so eye catching, one parent wanted to know how much they were so she could buy one. Kathi was amazed at how many thingees we have collected. Again this all came together due to our WindChill Family members. Gramma Carole and I never knew there were so many inventive colorful sweat scrapers, mane combs, bits, brushes, etc.

Then our very own out of towner, Darlene from Hawaii did a great job of talking to the kids who stopped by our Legacy table. She said “I loved how the kids so involved themselves. They’re like sponges…soaking it all up. And the questions they asked me when we were watching WindChill’s video. They were so interested.”

At the end of the day I gave a 12 minute WindChill power point presentation.

During the day we also got to see how each of us got to shine with our unique skills we bring to The Legacy. We all saw how WindChill’s family young, old, and older all worked together for WindChill. All the people attending saw how dedicated we are to WindChill. What really was so cool was that WindChill’s Family worked so smoothly. Whenever someone went out to take a break another person filled in.

Finally the day ended with a real life lesson about what to do when you see a horse that is being neglected. Kathi gave us all a lesson on what to do. One of the horses brought to this camp was in poor condition and very skinny even with its winter coat still on. Kathi talked to the owner. The owner said the horse does not winter well. Kathi made the necessary call. She also talked to the people in charge of the camp. I remember when we got Miste. Kathi had to work really hard get Miste up to par to make it through the winter. With the proper diet Miste put on the needed pounds. The Legacy took action to help this horse.

As we were leaving we were thanked many times for coming. Gramma Carole and I were very excited as we were given DESIGNER water bottles with a horse picture on it. What a way to end a day.

All the people attending saw how dedicated we are to WindChill. People knew we put our heart and soul into this, all for WindChill-The Legacy in action.