Student Stories: Lauren Loves “Hosecamp!”
Hello, I’m April McKinnon the Volunteer Director for Blue Sky Acres. I am blessed to say that I serve multiple roles with this amazing organization. Not only am I on staff, I’m also a volunteer and a parent of a participant in our program!
My daughter Lauren participated in a six-week spring session of groundwork classes at a volunteer’s property. She groomed and led one of the minis named Teddy each week and called out specific body parts during the lessons. Lauren loved giving Teddy a treat for doing such a good job. She had the biggest smile on her face each week!
In June and July, Blue Sky Acres offered our first ever vacation bible school horse camp this year. Camp was held every Monday and Lauren was excited to attend. She learned many wonderful things at vbs horse camp such as a weekly bible story, a scripture verse and songs with some sign language added in. The crafts were unique and creative! Working with the horses was such a treat for all the campers. At the conclusion of each day, they ended with water games. I can’t think of a better way to end a warm day of camp activities! After the first Monday of camp, Lauren was asking to go to camp daily. She would do her sign for riding meaning she wanted to go to camp. The next day, (Tuesday) I tried to explain that camp wasn’t offered each day, only one day each week. Wednesday she was doing her sign for riding again wanting to go to camp. I found my calendar and showed her the days (Mondays) she had camp. Earlier that same morning, Lauren found a piece of paper and a crayon and wrote out “hosecamp.” I had some difficulty at first trying to understand what she wrote out. Cue the lightbulb aha moment. My nonverbal, sometimes hard to understand when she talks, baby was trying to tell me she wanted horse camp. This was very moving for me as a momma to understand just how much my girl looks forward to doing something she loves!
Lauren is currently participating in an eight-week fall session of groundwork activities during her class time. She grooms and leads her horse, Teddy. She is working on listening to instruction, focusing and getting back in sync with her horse. She is easily distracted at times, especially if we get a horse that is new to her. A couple of weeks ago she was introduced to Vinny. Lauren is very talkative during grooming time. She chats with her instructor Mrs. Jackie and the horse. During the spring session Mrs. Jackie would get Lauren to use her right hand by putting it on the horse for balance and to let the horse know she was there. She remembered this going into the fall session.
As a volunteer and a momma, I am pleased to see Lauren’s growth in just six months’ time! I know more growth, challenges and opportunities will be coming for my Lauren as we continue.