Riding Summer Camps

Irvine, CA, USA  (2007-01-01)

Riding Summer Camps

Special Camp Section - Summer Camp

In the olden days (well, a few years ago) the only way you could find out about a summer riding camp was to write or call the director and ask her to send you a color brochure about the camp. Today, thanks to the Internet, you can find out a lot more about a summer camp. And the more you know about all of the different camps out there, the more likely you are to pick the perfect riding camp for you.

Are you thinking about going to camp this summer? You had better start looking for one right now. It’s not too early! Riding camps fill up quickly, and by March or April all of their bunks may be reserved and if you don’t act soon, you’ll be sitting at home being bored this summer instead of riding at a wonderful camp.

So, how can you find a great riding camp? The first step is turning on your computer! We’ve found six sites that will introduce you to loads of camps so check them out:

MySummerCamps.com

www.kidscamps.com

www.allensguide.com

www.camppage.com

www.gocamps.com

www.summercamps.com

You can probably spend hours trolling through these sites. Kidscamps.com lets you break the camps down in areas so you can find a camp in your state or a nearby state. The Allen’s Guide can help you find a horse camp that also offers other activities you might like to do, such as drama classes or sailing lessons. MySummerCamps.com has a news section that will give you up-to-date info about camps.

Once you log on a camp guide site, you can look for horse camps. Once you click on the horse riding section, you’ll be given a list of horse camps located all over the USA and Canada. Then you can click on the camp names and if the camp has a website, you can check it out.

You’ll be able to learn about the camps riding program, its horses and the other activities it offers. You’ll also want to find out how much time you’ll be spending in the saddle. Will you ride the same horse the whole time? Will there be horsemanship classes so you can learn more about looking after a horse? Will the camp hold any shows while you’ll be there? It’s always fun to enter a horse show!

If you’re a picky eater, you’ll want to find out what kind of food is offered at the camp. Check out if it’s a co-ed camp and how many campers it has during each session. Find out when the sessions are held and how much they cost. You can look up where you’ll be sleeping—will you be in a tent or a cabin? There are a lot of things to consider before filling off the application form and sending off a check to secure your bunk!

If you still have questions after snooping around the site, you can usually send an e-mail via the site to the camp director. He or she should be happy to answer your questions.

Once you’ve narrowed your choice down to a few good camps, you need to sit down and talk to your parents about your options. Your mom or dad will want to look at the camp sites too so they can help you make a choice.

Take a look at all of the great camps advertised in Young Rider’s special summer camp section in the following pages. You’re sure to find a camp that suits you.